Monday Night Raw
Date: January 19, 2026
Location: SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

It’s another afternoon show as we wrap up the European tour. That’s a big deal as we are less than two weeks away from the Royal Rumble. As a result, it is time to start getting ready for the show’s namesake matches, as only Cody Rhodes has announced himself for the Rumble. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Here is Gunther to get things going. The fans are NOT pleased with him and tell him that he tapped out. Gunther says AJ Styles made a mistake last week because he forgot who he was facing. We hear Gunther’s accomplishments and he is officially in the Royal Rumble. Cue Styles, who gets right to the point: he wants a rematch with Gunther at the Royal Rumble.

Gunther doesn’t want to wrestle twice that night so it’s a no, but Styles calls him a little b****, which actually isn’t enough for a yes. As Gunther goes to leave, he says hang on as there is one way he’ll do it. The fans at Gunther, who eventually says he’ll do it if Styles puts his career on the line. Gunther tells Styles he has until the end of the night to decide.

Maxxine Dupri runs into Natalya, who is here to support her against Becky Lynch.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch

Dupri is defending and has Natalya with her. Dupri wrestles her down to start but it’s too early for the ankle lock. A dropkick puts Lynch on the floor instead but she’s back with a hard forearm as we take a break. We come back with Dupri hitting a step up legdrop to the back of the head for two but she misses a kick and gets caught in the Disarm-Her. That’s reversed into the ankle lock, which is broken up as well.

Dupri gets crotched on top and superplexed back down, with Lynch rolling into a DDT for two. Lynch pulls the turnbuckle pad off but almost gets sent into it, allowing Dupri to hit a high crossbody. That’s rolled through for two and Dupri gets the ankle lock again. Lynch gets out again so Dupri kicks her in the head…and Natalya puts Lynch’s foot on the rope. Dupri is stunned and walks into the Manhandle Slam to retain the title at 11:33.

Rating: B-. This might as well have had a countdown until Natalya turned on Dupri, as they weren’t even hiding what was going on. That being said, it was a good way to get out of the match while protecting Dupri. This really needs to be it for Dupri vs. Lynch, as Dupri needs to get revenge on Natalya while Lynch just needs a fresh opponent. Dupri has come a very long way in this feud though so well done indeed.

Post match Natalya jumps Dupri and lays her out, including the Sharpshooter. It’s broken up but Natalya does it again.

We recap Adam Pearce suspending Bron Breakker last week but also putting his hands on him, which Paul Heyman didn’t like.

Pearce asks AJ Styles what he’s doing about Gunther and Styles says he’s going to call his wife. With Styles gone, Paul Heyman comes in to ask how Pearce’s week went. Pearce said it was good and Heyman is surprised, but Pearce says they’re in Belfast. Heyman: “Couldn’t find an arena in London?” Pearce: “What do you want?” Heyman: “A lot.” Anyway, the Vision has a six man tag tonight and they’ll both be ringside.

Video on CM Punk vs. Finn Balor.

Raquel Rodriguez says Stephanie Vaquer is still out of action but she’s ready to win the Women’s Title when she gets the chance. Liv Morgan says this is going to be the Judgment Day’s year because they’ll all win titles.

Here is Jey Uso to announce that he’s in the Royal Ru

IMG Credit: WWE

mble as well. And that’s that.

New Day and Grayson Waller want their Tag Team Title shot, with Adam Pearce agreeing. But that’s if they win a four way next week. Ranting ensues.

Vision vs. Rey Mysterio/Penta/Dragon Lee

Paul Heyman and Adam Pearce are both here too. Lee takes over on Theory to start and it’s quickly off to Paul vs. Penta for a strut off. Penta takes him down by is quickly dropped by Paul, meaning it’s off to Mysterio vs. Reed. Mysterio is knocked down with the power but manages a kick to the head. It’s back to Penta to take over and the three good guys hit big stereo dives (that looked great) to the floor as we take a break.

We come back with Lee not being able to lift up Reed but avoiding the sitdown splash. A powerslam gives Reed two but he misses the running backsplash. It’s back to Mysterio to pick up the pace and hammer away at Theory in the corner. Penta comes in for a scary Penta Driver to Theory as everything breaks down. Paul is sent outside and Lee’s big flip dive hits Reed.

Back in and Theory brainbusters Penta onto the knee for two and it’s time for Heyman and Pearce to get on the apron. Paul tries to slide Theory the knuckles but Pearce breaks it up, earning some yelling from Heyman. Pearce yells at him, allowing Mysterio to pick up the knuckles and knock Theory silly. The Destroyer finishes for Penta at 15:03.

Rating: B+. This was a heck of a match with a bunch of stuff going on but it stayed coherent. The stuff with Heyman and Pearce is interesting and I’m curious to see where it goes. At the same time, Mysterio using the knuckles was a bit of a surprise but it still worked. Pretty awesome stuff here.

Post match the winners celebrate as Heyman has his phone out.

CM Punk’s plan to beat Finn Balor: be the best in the world.

Paul Heyman yells at Adam Pearce and suggests he’ll be fired. He suggests that Pearce answer a phone call, which Pearce does, though we don’t hear who it’s from.

Here are Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky for a chat. They’re ready for their title defense at Saturday Night’s Main Event, but then they’re both in the Royal Rumble. Cue Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez to interrupt, with Morgan saying Ripley will turn on Sky, as she always does. Perez says the two of them, and Raquel Rodriguez are going into the Rumble as well, which has Ripley mockingly laughing. Cue Rodriguez and the fight is on, with Perez chop blocking Sky. Oblivion leaves Ripley laying.

Lyra Valkyria talks to Bayley, saying it’s hard to be positive when she has let her best friend down. Bayley can’t believe that idea because Valkyria can’t let her down. Now one of them is going to win the Royal Rumble! A hard hug ensues.

IMG Credit: WWE

Je’Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano

Los Americanos are here too. Evans gets an early rollup for two and flips around a bit before they head outside. A jump onto the steps lets Evans knock him down again and we take an early break. We come back with….the match ending at 6:21 as Evans was injured during the break. He seems to be favoring his shoulder or pectoral muscle. Not enough shown to rate but dang that’s discouraging. Hopefully it’s not too bad.

Finn Balor is ready to win the World Title.

Preview of Unreal season 2.

Video on Oba Femi.

Adam Pearce talks to the Vision, saying that he won’t be lifting Bron Breakker’s suspension but he wants Breakker here next week to talk things over. Heyman says Pearce better be on his best behavior. With the Vision gone, AJ Styles comes in and he’s in for the match with Gunther, so it’s official.

Saturday Night’s Main Event rundown.

The Kabuki Warriors aren’t happy, with Asuka blaming Kairi Sane for their recent losses. Sane says she’ll help Asuka win the Royal Rumble, which seems to soothe things over.

IMG Credit: WWE

Raw World Title: CM Punk vs. Finn Balor

Punk is defending and Balor has the old theme song for a great entrance. Feeling out process to start with a takedown going nowhere so they trade posing. Balor loads up the Sling Blade but instead grabs a jumping chinlock for a bit of a weird spot. That’s broken up and Balor is sent outside for a suicide dive as we take a break.

We come back with Balor fighting out of a chinlock and the two trading shots to the head. Balor strikes him into the corner but he seems to come up favoring his leg. The Coup de Grace takes too long and Punk catches him on top for the superplex. Their legs lock for two so Punk drops him with a running clothesline.

Back up and Balor hits the Sling Blade, followed by a running clothesline out to the floor. The big running flip dive connects but the Coup de Grace misses back inside. Punk hits a quick GTS for two but another attempt is escaped. The shotgun dropkick sends Punk into the corner and Balor does it again, setting up the Coup de Grace for a VERY close two. Punk manages to get back up and another GTS retains the title at 16:12.

Rating: B. Yeah this was good, with Balor feeling like enough of a threat to make the match work. It was interesting to see Balor as the clear good guy in the match, though Punk was basically neutral rather than being a heel. That’s not something you see very often but it made for an interesting dynamic here. Good main event, and now Punk can move on to something a bit bigger for the Rumble.

Post match respect is shown and they’re cool with each other.

Overall Rating: B+. This was the wrestling heavy show, with a pretty awesome main event, an outstanding six man tag and enough stuff being set up for the Royal Rumble to make the show feel more important. I had a great time with this one, as the crowd made it even better. Heck of a show here as the European run comes to a close.

Results
Becky Lynch b. Maxxine Dupri – Manhandle Slam
Rey Mysterio/Dragon Lee/Penta b. The Vision – Canadian Destroyer to Theory
El Grande Americano b. Je’Von Evans via injury stoppage
CM Punk b. Finn Balor – GTS

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Main Event
Date: January 8, 2026
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Vic Joseph, Blake Howard

So for some reason this was put up on the WWE YouTube channel. I have no idea if that’s going to be a regular thing, but I can’t imagine me doing this more than once anyway. This is as low on the main roster totem pole as you can get and you’ll see what I mean if you’ve never seen this before. Let’s get to it.

Opening sequence.

Talla Tonga vs. Apollo Crews

Solo Sikoa and the MFT’s are here with Tonga. Crews is wrestling his first match in WWE in nearly a year, allowing commentary to make snake jokes as he is from Stone Mountain, Georgia. Tonga knocks him into the ropes but gets kicked out to the floor, with a dropkick through the ropes making it worse.

Back in and Tonga hits a running corner clothesline, followed by a full nelson slam. A chokeslam doesn’t work though and Tonga misses a charge into the buckle. Crews starts going after the knee and hits an enziguri, followed by a moonsault onto the back for two. Tonga isn’t having this though and kicks him out of the air, setting up the chokeslam for the pin at 5:04.

Rating: C-. Well, Crews is indeed back and he’s in the same spot he was in before. There was nothing to see here other than Crews getting to do some quick athletic stuff. That’s been his issue for a long time, as he’s more than crazy athletic, but there’s just nothing to make him connect with…well anyone really.

From Raw.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors are defending and we start fast with the champions being sent outside for the running flip dive from Ripley. We take a break and come back with Ripley missing a second flip dive off the apron, allowing the Warriors to kick her down inside. Ripley throws her way out of trouble though and it’s off to Sky to Sling Blade Asuka. Sky gets draped over the top though and a top rope knee to the back gives Sane two.

We take another break and come back again with Sky getting bent around in a Liontamer. Sky gets twisted too far though and kicks Sane in the ribs, allowing the tag back to Ripley. House is quickly cleaned with Ripley hitting a Razor’s Edge into a missile dropkick. Ripley gets kicked by Asuka and the ankle lock goes on. She gets up but Asuka traps the leg for a German suplex (Ripley: “OH S***!”) and the Warriors fire off the kicks. The assisted Insane Elbow gets two, with Sky making the save. Sky kicks Asuka into the Riptide from Ripley, setting up Over The Moonsault for the pin and the titles at 16:29.

Rating: B. This is the right call as they set the match up as a big deal and then paid it off with the title change. Ripley and Sky have been needing to get another big win sooner or later and this is about as big as you can get. Sky continues to establish herself as one of the top stars in the division and Ripley gets back to some success, which she’s been needing for a good while.

Video on Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch.

From Raw.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri

Dupri is defending and we get a Stranger Things intro, saying this is Chapter Three: It’s Not Just Her Saying It. They take turns backing each other into the corner and Lynch knocks her into the corner to take over. A Thesz press lets Dupri hammer away and we take an early break. We come back with Dupri fighting out of trouble and hitting a running knee to the head. Dupri loads up a backslide but then drops down, leaving commentary unsure what that was supposed to be.

A high crossbody misses for Dupri and the threat of an ankle lock sends Lynch over to the ropes. Lynch misses a middle rope legdrop in the ropes though and gets caught in the ankle lock. The Disarm-Her is reversed into the ankle lock, which Lynch reverses into a DDT for two. Lynch’s ankle lock is broken up and Dupri suplexes her into a high crossbody for two. Lynch catches her on top but Dupri rolls into another ankle lock. This time though Lynch stacks her up and grabs the rope to get the title back at 10:35.

Rating: B-. It had to happen sooner or later and that’s ok. What matters the most here is that Dupri has gone from pretty much a joke to someone who looks like she can hang in there with bigger names. There is zero shame in losing to Lynch, who is simply on a higher level than Dupri. I’m not sure what is next for either of them, but this would be a fine enough way to close the story.

From Raw.

CM Punk isn’t worried about the spear because if he’s the underdog, Bron Breakker will underestimate him.

We look at (in rapid fire):

Matt Cardona returning
Trick Williams debuting on Smackdown
Je’Von Evans signing with Raw
Giulia regaining the Women’s US Title

War Raiders vs. Los Americanos

El Grande Americano is here too. Bravo shoulders Erik to no avail to start so Rayo comes in for a double shoulder. Rayo misses a charge into the ropes and gets atomic dropped, allowing Ivar to come in for a double clothesline. The Raiders launch them at each other for a midair crash and we take a break.

We come back with the Americanos starting in on the leg, including a double wishbone. A quick distraction draws Erik in so the double stomping can ensue. Ivar clotheslines his way to freedom and brings Erik back in to clean house. Everything breaks down and Grande hits a loaded headbutt to Ivar, setting up a Russian legsweep/top rope headbutt combination to give Rayo the pin at 7:36.

Rating: C+. It’s so strange to see the War Raiders fall this far. They have gone from being the champions to losing on Main Event in less than a year. The entire Raw tag division has just collapsed and they’re certainly on the list. At the same time, Los Americanos are fun, but they’re just kind of there. Much like El Grande Americano actually.

Video on CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker.

From Raw.

Here is Gunther for a chat. Gunther has been asked to show respect, but what about respect for him? He brings up making John Cena tap out but here is AJ Styles to interrupt. Gunther immediately cuts him off though, saying Styles is punching above his weight. He’s the man who made Cena tap out like a little B****, so what is little AJ going to do about it? Gunther gives him a You Can’t See Me so Styles slaps him in the face. They get in each others’ faces and Styles says that’s what he thought.

From Raw.

Raw World Title: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker

Breakker, with Paul Heyman, is defending. Punk grabs a headlock to start and cranks on the arm, including a takedown. Breakker catches him with a powerslam though and we take an early break. We come back with Breakker slamming him down again and hammering away with right hands. Another throw drops Punk again and he is looking rather rocked.

Some trash talk wakes Punk up though and he strikes away but the GTS is escaped. Breakker’s fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two but the running spear around the ring is cut off with a clothesline. We take a break and come back with Breakker not being able to hit the super Frankensteiner and crashing backwards. Punk’s top rope elbow gets two so he goes back up, where a super Frankensteiner brings him back down for two.

The gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two and they slug it out. Punk knocks him down but goes after a distraction Heyman. Cue the Vision for a distraction, allowing Theory to hit a Stomp. Cue Dragon Lee, Penta and Rey Mysterio to brawl with the Vision, leaving Breakker’s spear to hit the post. The GTS gets two and dang they had me on that one. Punk hits a piledriver for two so he tries the GTS, which is reversed into a Fujiwara armbar.

That’s reversed into the Anaconda Vice but Breakker powers up and hits a hard clothesline for two. Breakker tries a GTS but Punk reverses into the STF. Heyman gets on the apron for a distraction though and gets punched in the face, only for Breakker’s spear to miss. Punk tries a suicide dive, which is punched out of the air for a nasty landing. Breakker knocks him onto the announcers’ table for the big elbow from the top, through said table in a nasty crash. Back in and the spear is kneed away and the GTS gives Punk the pin at 26:45.

Rating: A-. There were multiple times in there when I wasn’t sure who was going to win and there is no better feeling to have in a match. They did a great job of having Breakker look like a monster with Punk just barely surviving, including NOT having Breakker hit the spear, which can be saved for later. Awesome match here as Punk still has it and Breakker’s time will come one day.

Punk celebrates to end the show, including dropping the title in a funny bit.

Overall Rating: B. Welp, the show continues its run of doing the exact same thing for the better part of ever. It’s an exclusive match, recaps, another exclusive match, and more recaps. That’s what this show has been for longer than I can remember and it’s kind of hard to get mad about that. The fact that it’s just on YouTube (at least this week) makes it better, as it’s not like it’s taking up a valuable space. Nothing show of course, but it featured highlights from a stacked Raw so call it a success.

Results
Talla Tonga b. Apollo Crews – Chokeslam
Los Americanos b. War Raiders – Russian legsweep/top rope headbutt combination to Ivar

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 12, 2026
Location: PSD Bank Dome, Dusseldorf, Germany
Commentators: Michael Cole, Wade Barrett

We’re live overseas this week and in this case that means it’s time for a big showdown. This week features Gunther vs. AJ Styles, who is not happy with how Gunther has been acting since defeating John Cena last month. Other than that, the Royal Rumble is rapidly approaching and that could make for some interesting situations. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Opening recap.

Here are Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky to celebrate their title win last week. They’re thrilled to be champions and are ready for anyone so here are Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez to interrupt. Morgan talks about how she never lost her title and wants it back but here are Bayley and Lyra Valkyria to interrupt. Bayley wants a title shot as well, but we do pause for the fans to sing to her. Sky seems ready to face them both but here are the Kabuki Warriors to start the big brawl. The champs clean house.

AJ Styles is ready for Gunther and is rather serious.

Finn Balor is in the back playing video games but Liv Morgan comes in and yells at him for not being serious enough. Roxanne Perez agrees.

Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano

Bravo slaps him to start but misses a charge and gets slapped right back. A running hurricanrana takes Bravo down but Bravo drops him rather quickly. The chinlock doesn’t last long and Evans is back up with a kick to the face. Bravo is right back with the spinning torture rack, even with no hands, as Cole can’t quite place who Bravo reminds him of from history. Bravo goes up and is super Spanish Flied right back down, setting up the OG Cutter (top rope cutter) for the pin at 6:17.

Rating: C+. This was all about Evans getting his feet wet and that worked out fine. He’s quite the athlete and it should be interesting to see what he can do on the main roster. Being able to do that kind of stuff in the ring will get him far enough, though I could go with a halt on all the top and middle rope cutters from everyone for a long time.

Post match the Americanos go after Evans, who jumps over the announcers’ table and escapes.

Adam Pearce tells Paul Heyman to inform Bron Breakker to go home if he’s going to have bad intentions. Heyman doesn’t care to be a messenger boy but seems to agree.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is CM Punk for a chat. Punk talks about how he’s going to be champion for a long time and the people here make him believe he can do anything. After surviving against Bron Breakker, he’s looking forward to finding out his next challenger. Cue Finn Balor to interrupt, saying he’s not waiting for the Royal Rumble or the Elimination Chamber. He heard Punk say he wanted to face Balor so now he wants a title shot.

Punk likes that idea because he’s a Balor fan. He’s a fighting champion today so he’ll get his boots on for a match tonight. Balor says no because they’ll do it next week in Belfast. Punk is fine with that, but apologizes to the fans in Belfast for what is going to happen to Balor next week.

Video on Gunther vs. AJ Styles.

Lyra Valkyria/Bayley vs. Kabuki Warriors vs. Liv Morgan/Roxanne Perez

The winners get a title shot at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Bayley rolls Morgan up to start but misses the charge into the corner. Asuka takes both of them down and it’s off to the other three. Perez gets two off a rollup but Valkyria knocks her away, with Sane taking both of them down. Everything breaks down and Sane hits the big elbow off the top to the floor.

We take a break and come back with Valkyria cleaning house but Asuka cuts her off on top. That sets up the Tower Of Doom to bring everyone down before it’s Sane getting caught in a backbreaker. A middle rope elbow gives Bayley two and Perez’s Pop Rox gets the same. Back up and Morgan hits a quick Oblivion to pin Sane at 13:20.

Rating: C+. They had a bunch of stuff going on here but it’s hard to argue with the result. Morgan and Perez are the most logical choices for the title shot and it should be a good title match. At the same time, Valkyria and Bayley are kind of floating around and that might not bode well for their futures.

Becky Lynch recaps her issues with Maxxine Dupri before they face off again next week in Belfast.

Preview of Unreal season two.

Maxxine Dupri is ready to beat Becky Lynch again. After telling Otis and Akira Tozawa that they can be as successful as she is, Dupri promises to make Lynch tap out next week.

Here is Raquel Rodriguez for a chat with Michael Cole. Rodriguez isn’t sorry for attacking Stephanie Vaquer last week and hurting her ankle. Cue Vaquer to chase Rodriguez off, but as Vaquer yells at the camera, here is Rodriguez to jump her again and go after the ankle.

Otis and Akira Tozawa want a Tag Team Title shot at the Usos. Jey says he’ll talk to Jimmy, but be careful what you ask for.

Penta/Dragon Lee vs. Vision

Penta kicks away at Theory to start but it’s quickly off to Reed to crush him in the corner. That’s broken up and it’s off to Lee for the kicks to the chest, only for Reed to run him over. Reed sends him hard to the floor and we take a break with the villains in control. We come back with Theory going after Lee, including a snap suplex for two. Lee manages to reverse a powerbomb into a quick DDT, which is enough for the tag to Penta. House is cleaned but cue Bron Breakker to spear Lee for the DQ at 9:26.

Rating: C. I wasn’t exactly feeling this one, but the ending spear was almost worth the extra time as Breakker got some serious impact. The Vision continues to be up and down, but a ticked off Breakker gunning for the World Title should be great. As for the other side…just give us the Lucha Bros already.

Post match Adam Pearce comes out to yell at Breakker, leaving Reed to wreck people. Pearce goes to yell at Reed, allowing Breakker to hit another spear. Breakker even grabs Pearce, with the Vision having to make the save. Even Paul Heyman seems to realize that was too far.

Post break Je’Von Evans checks on Rey Fenix and Dragon Lee, saying he’s there if they need him.

Adam Pearce yells at Bron Breakker, even suspending him indefinitely. Paul Heyman comes up to say that was a mistake. From Heyman’s vantage point, Pearce put his hands on Breakker first. Uh oh.

We get a video of various celebrities wanting to be involved with Wrestlemania. HHH, watching the video, says it’s going to be a long Road To Wrestlemania. And yes, he does sit at his desk in the leather jacket.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Video on Oba Femi, who has vacated the NXT Title.

Gunther laughs at the idea of AJ Styles beating him.

AJ Styles vs. Gunther

Gunther grabs a waistlock to start so Styles kicks him in the head, sending Gunther outside. A headlock takeover doesn’t work for Gunther either as Styles is up with a dropkick to the floor. There’s the slingshot forearm over the top but Gunther is back in with the big chop. We take a break and come back with Gunther chopping him down again.

Styles gets smart by grabbing a dragon screw legwhip and putting on the Calf Crusher, with the leg being in big trouble. Gunther makes the rope so Styles goes to the ropes, where a big of a slip allows Gunther to chop him down. Another twist of the leg around the rope puts Gunther down, with a springboard flipping legdrop (cool) hitting the leg for two. The Phenomenal forearm is countered into a sleeper, but Styles backflips into a rollup for two more.

The big clothesline into the powerbomb gets two and they both need a breather. Back up and they strike it out until the Calf Crusher goes on again, sending Gunther back to the rope. Styles puts it on again and rolls into the middle, with Gunther possibly tapping on Styles’ leg. That’s enough for Styles to let go, but the referee says the match continues. Gunther hits him low and the powerbomb finishes Styles at 17:47.

Rating: B. I’m not sure on that finish, but it seems like we’re setting up a rematch, possibly at the Royal Rumble. Gunther cheating to win is acceptable enough, and it should be interesting to see what is next for Styles. He only has so much time left in the ring and this very well could be one of his bigger remaining stories.

Styles is upset and Gunther smiles to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This really wasn’t the most wrestling heavy show, with the second match starting just a few minutes before the second hour. It also didn’t help that the main focus seemed to be setting up next week’s Raw, though after last week’s stacked card, that kind of hard to be the case. The Rumble has still barely been mentioned and while there is still time before the show, there isn’t that much time. Maybe get on that sooner than later?

Results
Je’Von Evans b. Bravo Americano – OG Cutter
Liv Morgan/Roxanne Perez b. Kabuki Warriors and Bayley/Lyra Valkyria – Oblivion to Sane
Penta/Dragon Lee b. Vision via DQ when Bron Breakker interfered
Gunther b. AJ Styles – Powerbomb

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: January 5, 2026
Location: Barclays Center, New York City, New York
Commentators: Corey Graves, Michael Cole

It’s a new year and we have a special show here, as this is a crossover with Stranger Things. That’s going to be a huge night, as we have three title matches, including CM Punk defending against Bron Breakker. There’s also that whole Royal Rumble thing in less than a month so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The Stranger Things vibe is strong here, as the screen turns Upside Down and commentary gets out of a radio van from the Stranger Things radio station. And no, I’m not going to list off every Stranger Things reference, as it could make for a very long night.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky vs. Kabuki Warriors

The Warriors are defending and we start fast with the champions being sent outside for the running flip dive from Ripley. We take a break and come back with Ripley missing a second flip dive off the apron, allowing the Warriors to kick her down inside. Ripley throws her way out of trouble though and it’s off to Sky to Sling Blade Asuka. Sky gets draped over the top though and a top rope knee to the back gives Sane two.

We take another break and come back again with Sky getting bent around in a Liontamer. Sky gets twisted too far though and kicks Sane in the ribs, allowing the tag back to Ripley. House is quickly cleaned with Ripley hitting a Razor’s Edge into a missile dropkick. Ripley gets kicked by Asuka and the ankle lock goes on. She gets up but Asuka traps the leg for a German suplex (Ripley: “OH S***!”) and the Warriors fire off the kicks. The assisted Insane Elbow gets two, with Sky making the save. Sky kicks Asuka into the Riptide from Ripley, setting up Over The Moonsault for the pin and the titles at 16:29.

Rating: B. This is the right call as they set the match up as a big deal and then paid it off with the title change. Ripley and Sky have been needing to get another big win sooner or later and this is about as big as you can get. Sky continues to establish herself as one of the top stars in the division and Ripley gets back to some success, which she’s been needing for a good while.

Video on CM Punk.

Adam Pearce congratulates the new champions on their win. With the two of them gone, Gunther comes in but Pearce tells him that a lot of people are watching. He asks that Gunther show some respect out there, with Gunther not sounding impressed.

Here is Gunther for a chat. Gunther has been asked to show respect, but what about respect for him? He brings up making John Cena tap out but here is AJ Styles to interrupt. Gunther immediately cuts him off though, saying Styles is punching above his weight. He’s the man who made Cena tap out like a little B****, so what is little AJ going to do about it? Gunther gives him a You Can’t See Me so Styles slaps him in the face. They get in each others’ faces and Styles says that’s what he thought.

Video on Maxxine Dupri vs. Becky Lynch.

Ivy Nile tells Adam Pearce she is not going to the back of the line. Gunther and AJ Styles storm in, saying they want to fight. The match is set for next week.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch vs. Maxxine Dupri

Dupri is defending and we get a Stranger Things intro, saying this is Chapter Three: It’s Not Just Her Saying It. They take turns backing each other into the corner and Lynch knocks her into the corner to take over. A Thesz press lets Dupri hammer away and we take an early break. We come back with Dupri fighting out of trouble and hitting a running knee to the head. Dupri loads up a backslide but then drops down, leaving commentary unsure what that was supposed to be.

A high crossbody misses for Dupri and the threat of an ankle lock sends Lynch over to the ropes. Lynch misses a middle rope legdrop in the ropes though and gets caught in the ankle lock. The Disarm-Her is reversed into the ankle lock, which Lynch reverses into a DDT for two. Lynch’s ankle lock is broken up and Dupri suplexes her into a high crossbody for two. Lynch catches her on top but Dupri rolls into another ankle lock. This time though Lynch stacks her up and grabs the rope to get the title back at 10:35.

Rating: B-. It had to happen sooner or later and that’s ok. What matters the most here is that Dupri has gone from pretty much a joke to someone who looks like she can hang in there with bigger names. There is zero shame in losing to Lynch, who is simply on a higher level than Dupri. I’m not sure what is next for either of them, but this would be a fine enough way to close the story.

Video on Oba Femi.

Long preview of Unreal Season 2.

Here are the Usos for a chat in the crowd. They’re glad to be back as tag team royalty and they’re ready to face any team anytime. Jey calls this a warning shot.

Here is Stephanie Vaquer, in a walking boot, for an in-ring chat. She’s happy with everything that happened in 2025, but her biggest dream come true was winning the title on her shoulder. She wants to face everyone because she is the best in the world…and here is Raquel Rodriguez to jump her from behind. Rodriguez works on the leg and hits a Tejana Bomb but Adam Pearce prevents the Pillmanization.

Post break we see what happened pre-break….and Rodriguez jumps Vaquer again.

We look back at Penta saving Rey Mysterio from the Vision.

Dragon Lee and Mysterio reaffirm their friendship. Penta comes in and says he isn’t going to let the Vision do that to Mysterio. They respect lucha libre and have cero miedo.

Lyra Valkyria vs. Liv Morgan

Bayley and Roxanne Perez are here too. Morgan knocks her down to start and smiles a lot but Valkyria is back up with a takedown. A bridging northern lights suplex gives Valkyria two and she kicks Morgan out to the floor. Valkyria gets kicked into the floor just as fast though and we take a break.

We come back with stereo clotheslines connecting for a double down. Back up and they trade forearms until Valkyria gets in a tornado DDT. A crucifix gives Morgan two but Valkyria rolls her up for the same. Nightwing is loaded up but Morgan reverses into a Codebreaker. Perez gets in a cheap shot and then goes after Bayley, who chases her to the back. The distraction lets Morgan grab Oblivion for the pin at 8:55.

Rating: B-. It’s good to have Morgan back in the ring and it seems like she hasn’t missed a step. There were some nice shenanigans in this match to kill some time and let Morgan keep her breath and such. The ending isn’t likely going to go well for Bayley and Valkyria but this was more about Morgan than anything else.

CM Punk isn’t worried about the spear because if he’s the underdog, Bron Breakker will underestimate him.

Raw World Title: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker

Breakker, with Paul Heyman, is defending. Punk grabs a headlock to start and cranks on the arm, including a takedown. Breakker catches him with a powerslam though and we take an early break. We come back with Breakker slamming him down again and hammering away with right hands. Another throw drops Punk again and he is looking rather rocked.

Some trash talk wakes Punk up though and he strikes away but the GTS is escaped. Breakker’s fireman’s carry gutbuster gets two but the running spear around the ring is cut off with a clothesline. We take a break and come back with Breakker not being able to hit the super Frankensteiner and crashing backwards. Punk’s top rope elbow gets two so he goes back up, where a super Frankensteiner brings him back down for two.

The gorilla press is countered into a DDT for two and they slug it out. Punk knocks him down but goes after a distraction Heyman. Cue the Vision for a distraction, allowing Theory to hit a Stomp. Cue Dragon Lee, Penta and Rey Mysterio to brawl with the Vision, leaving Breakker’s spear to hit the post. The GTS gets two and dang they had me on that one. Punk hits a piledriver for two so he tries the GTS, which is reversed into a Fujiwara armbar.

That’s reversed into the Anaconda Vice but Breakker powers up and hits a hard clothesline for two. Breakker tries a GTS but Punk reverses into the STF. Heyman gets on the apron for a distraction though and gets punched in the face, only for Breakker’s spear to miss. Punk tries a suicide dive, which is punched out of the air for a nasty landing. Breakker knocks him onto the announcers’ table for the big elbow from the top, through said table in a nasty crash. Back in and the spear is kneed away and the GTS gives Punk the pin at 26:45.

Rating: A-. There were multiple times in there when I wasn’t sure who was going to win and there is no better feeling to have in a match. They did a great job of having Breakker look like a monster with Punk just barely surviving, including NOT having Breakker hit the spear, which can be saved for later. Awesome match here as Punk still has it and Breakker’s time will come one day.

Punk celebrates to end the show, including dropping the title in a funny bit, to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. The main event is more than enough to carry the show, but the opener worked well too and the other matches were more than fine. They also set some things up for the future, with Styles vs. Gunther being quite the main event for next week. This felt like a huge show and they paid it off with a pair of title changes and an outstanding main event. The build to the Royal Rumble can really start next week, as they had to get this big one out of the way. As luck would have it, they did that very well.

Results
Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky b. Kabuki Warriors – Over The Moonsault to Asuka
Becky Lynch b. Maxxine Dupri – Rollup while holding rope
Liv Morgan b. Lyra Valkyria – Oblivion
CM Punk b. Bron Breakker – GTS

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: January 2, 2026
Location: KeyBank Center, Buffalo, New York
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the new year and we are getting ready for some big stuff around here. The biggest change came last week, when Drew McIntyre announced that he and Cody Rhodes would be facing off in a Three Stages Of Hell match for the World Title. That alone should be enough to carry things for a bit, but we’re back to three hours a week and the Royal Rumble is in less than a month. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Drew McIntyre challenging Cody Rhodes to the Three Stages match last week before leaving Rhodes laying with a Claymore.

Here is a ticked off Miz, who wants to air his grievances of 2025. He was left out of John Cena’s retirement tour because he should have been the one to make Cena tap. Instead, he’s stuck here in BUFFALO. Then he offered people help but got mocked by the people backstage and every ones of the fans. Third, he was passed over for Marty Supreme so he’s coming for Timothee Chalamet.

Fourth, Joe Hen…he who shall not be named brought back a FAKE TRUTH about Miz’s anatomy. Miz lists off everything he has done and says he is the locker room leader, but Randy Orton is back. After quite a bit of posing, Miz asks the fans to give it up for Orton and then puts himself on Orton’s level. They could be Miz-KO! And that’s an RKO to leave Miz laying, followed by a HAPPY NEW YEAR and another RKO.

Nia Jax and Lash Legend interrupt the Kabuki Warriors and are ready to help them win tonight in exchange for a future title shot. The Warriors don’t seem impressed, though Sane seems scared of Asuka.

Post break, Randy Orton runs into Cody Rhodes and says after Rhodes is done with Drew McIntyre, he’s coming for the title. Rhodes seems to understand and Orton leaves, with Nick Aldis coming up to remind him that he can’t touch McIntyre, which Rhodes seems to understand as well.

Nia Jax/Lash Legend/Kabuki Warriors vs. Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky/Charlotte/Alexa Bliss

The villains jump them from behind to start and the brawl is on fast. Asuka kicks Ripley in the face and then the ribs but the sliding knee is cut off. The Warriors are sent outside for a flip dive from the legal Bliss and we take a break. We come back with Bliss diving over for the tag to Charlotte to pick up the pace.

A flipping clothesline drops Legend and a moonsault gets two on Jax. Back up and Jax runs Charlotte over, setting up the legdrop for two more. Charlotte shrugs that off and puts Asuka in the Figure Eight, which is broken up by the Insane Elbow. Sky gets the tag and missile dropkicks the Warriors but Legend tags herself in. A pump kick knocks Sky out of the air and we take a break.

We come back again with Asuka forearming away on Sky, who manages to avoid a forearm. Sky flapjacks her way to freedom and it’s back to Ripley to clean house. Everything breaks down with the parade of knockdowns until Ripley pulls Sane out of the air. Riptide into Over The Moonsault finishes Sane at 14:33.

Rating: B-. Pretty standard match here but the extra time let them showcase themselves a bit more. It helped avoid everyone feeling like they had to rush through things, even with the two breaks. Ripley and Sky get some momentum before their title shot on Monday, which could even see a title change.

Nick Aldis talks to NXT’s Jordynne Grace, who he wants on the roster. Chelsea Green comes in with Alba Fyre and doesn’t seem interested in Grace, who says some people make her decision easier. Green has issues with people coming after her but Aldis threatens to strip of her of her title.

Here is Kit Wilson to complain about the toxic fans but he has an opponent.

Kit Wilson vs. Matt Cardona

Apparently Cardona is officially back on Smackdown and shrugs off a dropkick to start fast. Some forearms and a clothesline put Wilson on the floor for a dropkick through the ropes. Back in and Wilson gets in some right hands in the corner but stops to call Cardona toxic, earning himself a middle rope dropkick. The Reboot connects and a tiger driver gives Cardona two but Wilson hits a Tourniquet (Twist Of Fate) for two of his own. That doesn’t get him very far though as Cardona is back with the Rough Ryder for the pin at 4:17.

Rating: C. Good for Cardona. He’s a prime example of someone who was told he had a ceiling in WWE, went out and recreated himself, and apparently got another chance. I have no idea how well it’s going to go, but it’s proof that you can change the company’s mind if you’re willing to put in the work. Nice job, and I’m curious to see what he does around here this time.

Damian Priest has spent six months fighting Aleister Black and everything is done tonight in an ambulance match. Tonight, it’s Black’s turn to fade to black.

The Wyatt Sicks ask Solo Sikoa what it means to be part of a family. Sikoa was kicked out of the Bloodline, but the Wyatts’ family have millions of Fireflies. It’s time to chop down Sikoa’s family tree at the root.

Here is Sami Zayn for a chat. Zayn talks about how he was in the crowd for John Cena’s last match and his son asked why Cena was the “Never Seen 17.” He explained that it was due to Cena being the first ever 17 time World Champion, but Zayn’s son asked how many times Zayn had won that title.

Zayn had to explain that it hadn’t happened….but that is changing this year. It is his time, but here is Trick Williams to interrupt. Yes he is indeed here and he is this tall, dark and handsome. He is 6’5, 250lbs and he looks like he could be a champion, but it won’t take him 20 years like Zayn has. Zayn is impressed, but is looking forward to humbling Williams. Violence does not ensue.

We look back at Carmelo Hayes winning the US Title last week.

Ilja Dragunov praises Hayes for his win last week and confirms that the US Open Challenge is staying open. They’re both interested in running it back. Hayes moves on to see Miz, who is responsible for Hayes winning the title. Without Miz leaving him alone, it would never happen so thank you very much.

Trick Williams comes up to Nick Aldis and Rey Fenix to rant about Sami Zayn. Aldis doesn’t like it and makes Williams vs. Fenix for next week.

US Title: Johnny Gargano vs. Carmelo Hayes

Gargano is challenging and has Candice LeRae with him. Hayes dropkicks him down to start fast but Gargano is back with the rolling kick to the head. A knee sends Gargano to the floor but he’s out of the way before the dive. The slingshot spear drops Hayes again and we take a break.

We come back with Hayes in trouble until a headscissors drops Gargano for a change. That’s enough to send Gargano outside and the big running flip puts him down again. The Fadeaway gives Hayes two back inside and he goes up top, where Gargano gives him a Kevin Owens swinging superplex for two as we take another break.

We come back with Hayes striking away but getting superkicked out of the air. Gargano gets out to the apron, where his slingshot cutter is kicked down. The Fadeaway misses and Gargano is back with a tornado DDT. A super Air Raid Crash gives Gargano two but he walks into the First 48. Hayes gets up top so the Fadeaway can retain at 16:46.

Rating: B+. This was two talented wrestlers getting the chance to showcase each their talents for a good while and it made for a solid match. What matters the most here is making Hayes feel like he belongs on this level, as he could still use some more success to really move up the ladder. This was a good start, as Gargano knows how to wrestle this style so well.

Shinsuke Nakamura has some tense words with Tama Tonga before leaving. Tonga turns to see Solo Sikoa, who announces an eight man tag, family vs. family match next week against the Wyatt Sicks.

Aleister Black, with Zelina, says Damian Priest can do whatever he wants but Priest has changed.

Jade Cargill says she didn’t intentionally hurt Michin at a recent live event. Jordynne Grace comes in and says she wants to see the competition. Cargill introduces herself as “that b****”, which Grace seems to confirm.

Cody Rhodes runs into Sami Zayn and heard what Zayn said about the title. Zayn seems to still respect Rhodes but wants the title….and here is Nick Aldis. He hasn’t seen Drew McIntyre, but Rhodes is heading to the ring.

Video on Oba Femi.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is Cody Rhodes, rocking some suspenders, for a chat. He isn’t the biggest, strongest, fastest or youngest, but he’s still the champion. Every week, he gets here at 2pm and makes sure the younger wrestlers see him so they think of the title. Then comes the envy in the form of Drew McIntyre. Rhodes’ secret is that he plays dumb backstage but when he looks at McIntyre, he sees lunch.

McIntyre pops up on screen to call Rhodes predictable. They’re going to have a Three Stages Of Hell match so let’s get to the stages: regular match, falls count anywhere and steel cage. That’s assuming Rhodes is still champion next week because if he touches McIntyre, he’s no longer champion. McIntyre is in front of Rhodes’ bus, where he has been, and found a photo of Cody and Dusty himself. The photo is smashed and Cody gives chase, but McIntyre is in the ring, where he lights the photo on fire and throws it in a trashcan as Cody is held back.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Women’s US Title: Chelsea Green vs. Giulia

Green, with Alba Fyre, is defending and Kiana James is here with Giulia. They start fast with Green getting sent into the corner for the early stomping. A kick to the face sends Green outside but a Fyre distraction lets Green get in a suicide dive. We take a break and come back with Green slugging away, which just seems to annoy Giulia. The Un-Pretty-Her is blocked so Green settles for a Rough Ryder instead. Green goes up but gets butterfly superplexed back down. The northern lights bomb gives Giulia the title back at 7:35.

Rating: C+. That’s what it should have been, as the point of Giulia is that she’s a better and more physical star in the ring than Green. While Green is able to hang in there through cheating and her own skill, Giulia is on a different level and gets the title back. Now do something with Giulia already, as otherwise it’s just a waste of time.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are ready to get the Women’s Tag Team Titles back. Charlotte and Alexa Bliss come up to say good luck, though Ripley isn’t sure if they are to be believed. Oh and Charlotte wants the first shot. That’s more like it for Ripley.

Video on Aleister Black vs. Damian Priest.

Fraxiom mocks Johnny Gargano on his loss and recommend that he grows up. They also want Axiom’s mask back but Gargano says no. Axiom says he’s going to get a match with Gargano to get the mask back. Rather than, I don’t know, punching Gargano and taking it.

IMG Credit: WWE

Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black

Ambulance Match and Zelina is here with Black, who jumps Priest at the bell to start fast. Black kicks him in the face and the fight heads out to the floor to open both ambulance doors. Priest fights back and whips out a stretcher, which he drops Black onto face first as we take a break.

We take a break and come back with Priest hitting a clothesline and a running elbow in the corner. A Pounce sends Black over the announcers’ table but Black manages to kick a chair into Priest’s face for a breather. Back in and Priest snaps off a super hurricanrana, earning himself a kick back to the head for the double down.

We take another break and come back with the fight up by the ambulance again, where Black sends him into the set. Zelina opens up the doors but finds Rhea Ripley, who takes her into the ring for the Riptide. Black knocks Priest into the ambulance but only closes one door, allowing Priest to kick him back out.

Priest is back out with a crutch but Black knees him in the face. A fire extinguisher blast and fireball knock Black down, allowing Priest to pull out a table tech equipment. The Razor’s Edge is blocked and they sent each other into the side of the ambulance. Black wheels out an ambulance case but Priest gives him a Razor’s Edge into the windshield. That sends Black climbing onto the ambulance, and Priest chokeslams him through the tables. Priest throws him inside and wins at 24:00.

Rating: B. This was a rather long match and that made it feel like a match worthy of being on a pay per view. Priest winning isn’t a huge surprise, as the idea seemed to be more about Black getting inside his head than winning. At the same time, Priest absolutely needed a big win, as he has fallen way off the map since losing the World Title. They had a big time main event here though and that helps both of them quite a bit.

Overall Rating: B. This was a good start to the three hour era of Smackdown, but I have a feeling that this isn’t going to be the way the show goes most of the time (shocking there I know). They packed in a bunch of stuff into one night and the same will be true next week. What matters the most here is the fact that the show didn’t feel long, which is one of the biggest issues that a three hour show can face. Next week should be huge as well, but for now the new Smackdown is off to a good start.

Results
Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky/Alexa Bliss/Charlotte b. Kabuki Warriors/Nia Jax/Lash Legend – Over The Moonsault to Sane
Matt Cardona b. Kit Wilson – Rough Ryder
Carmelo Hayes b. Johnny Gargano – Fadeaway
Giulia b. Chelsea Green – Northern lights bomb
Damian Priest b. Aleister Black – Priest put Black in the ambulance

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 29, 2025
Location: Kia Center, Orlando, Florida
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re wrapping up the year right here with the show before we get to the big show next week. That could mean a few different things but hopefully this one can end the year on a high note. If nothing else we’re live again and now we get to see where things go on the still long road to the Royal Rumble. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

The opening recap looks at Austin Theory seemingly having a successful audition with the Vision last week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is the Vision to get things going. After some CM PUNK chants, Paul Heyman talks about how you’re looking at the future Wrestlemania main eventers right in front of you. We get some OTC chants, with Heyman thanking the fans for their irrelevant opinions. That brings Heyman to Austin Theory, who says he has a lot to talk about, starting with Bron Breakker.

Heyman explains that the goal of the team is bigger than that of any member, but here is Punk to interrupt. Punk says Theory is already drinking gallons of the Kool-Aid but he’s here to talk to Breakker. The title match is already set for next week and yeah he could come down there and get beaten up, but then there’s no title match next week. Punk comes to the ring and actually gets inside, where he asks Bron (“Kid”) what he has.

Breakker is ready to take Punk out because he’s tired of being called the future because he is the now. Everyone is waiting for Breakker to fall apart but go find someone like him. Go find someone with so little experience who has taken wrestling over and is as much of a dog. Yeah he came from a wrestling family but it just put more pressure on him. While Punk was on the indies, Breakker was on the field with the Baltimore Ravens. Next week, Breakker is going to put Punk in the ground and take the title.

Punk says Breakker is more ready than anyone back there, but Punk isn’t ready. If Breakker wants the title, which Punk lays on the mat, pick it up, because it’s heavier than Breakker believes. He’s not ready to let it go and stop coming into these sold out arenas and say how great it is to be alive on a Monday night in Orlando, Florida. They aren’t the same and that’s because one of them is CM Punk. One day someone is going to beat him for this but it won’t be Breakker on January 5. Punk was bringing the fire here and as usual, it’s where he shines.

Raquel Rodriguez promises no tricks in tonight’s title match. Liv Morgan comes in and says Judgment Day needs the win tonight, especially with Dominik Mysterio out for a bit. Roxanne Perez comes in and agrees they want Rodriguez to win the title, though Rodriguez doesn’t need luck.

IMG Credit: WWE

Women’s Title: Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer is defending and rolls Rodriguez up for an early two. Bella breaks up an early Devil’s Kiss attempt and Vaquer is knocked outside. A running dropkick on the floor has Vaquer in more trouble and we take a break. We come back with Rodriguez pulling Bella’s high crossbody out of the air, setting up a fall away slam. A Gory Stretch goes on and Rodriguez leans her forward for two. Bella is back in and Rodriguez has to break up the Devil’s Kiss so Bella snaps Rodriguez’s leg on the rope.

A high crossbody hits Rodriguez but Bella sends Vaquer into the post. Bella puts Rodriguez in an STF (Fans: “THANK YOU CENA!”) but Rodriguez twists it into a leglock, with Vaquer adding a double Devil’s Kiss. Vaquer twists Rodriguez’s knee out of the corner but Rodriguez is able to knock both of them down again.

We take another break and come back with Bella sunset bombing the other two down for two each. Vaquer’s double underhook faceplant into a Codebreaker gets two on Bella with Rodriguez making the save. Rodriguez counters a tornado DDT but gets small packaged for two instead. Back up and Rodriguez tries a double Tejana Bomb but Vaquer slips out and sends Rodriguez outside. That’s enough for Vaquer to steal the pin on Bella and retain at 17:05.

Rating: B. I liked the match well enough, but this needs to be it for Bella getting title shots. She did well enough with two others out there, but it’s just over by this point. Vaquer has beaten her multiple times now and while I could go for more of Vaquer facing Rodriguez, it needs to be without Bella. There is a place for Bella in modern WWE, but it shouldn’t be such a prominent one.

Gunther reminds us that he made John Cena tap out but R-Truth comes in to say the disrespect has to stop. Saying it over and over again makes him a piece of…and R-Truth whispers something in Gunther’s ear, which Gunther doesn’t like. Gunther takes this as a challenge and the match is set.

Here are the Kabuki Warriors to brag about beating Rhea Ripley last week. Iyo Sky never should have attacked Kairi Sane, but Asuka cuts Sane off. Cue Ripley and Sky for the brawl, with Sky being sent into the announcers’ table. She’s back up to save Ripley from the assisted Insane Elbow though and Sane has to escape Riptide. Instead the Warriors both get kicked outside to send them running.

Rey Mysterio runs into CM Punk and says he has some backup for tonight. Punk approves.

Gunther vs. R-Truth

R-Truth jumps him to start but gets dropped with a quick chop. The pace slows way down and Gunther chops him again, only to take too long doing You Can’t See Me. Some shoulders stagger Gunther but he kicks R-Truth in the face. The powerbomb gets two as he picks R-Truth up so the sleeper can get the tap at 3:29.

Rating: C. That’s exactly what it should have been as Gunther barely broke a sweat here. They’re setting up the idea that someone is going to have to step up to Gunther sooner than later and that’s going to be the next bit feud. R-Truth is the kind of person who can get beaten up and get some heat on Gunther in the process and it worked well here.

Jey Uso isn’t sure about this but Jimmy Uso gives him a pep talk.

Video on Oba Femi.

Je’Von Evans runs into AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, who praise him for the match at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Wherever Evans winds up, let them know so they can run it back. Evans appreciates this but runs into Los Americanos. El Grande Americano speaks a lot of Spanish, though Evans doesn’t understand.

Paul Heyman officially welcomes Austin Theory to the Vision, and they officially have each others’ backs. Heyman even sends Logan Paul to the ring with Theory for some quality time together.

IMG Credit: WWE

Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory

Logan Paul is here with Theory, who powers Mysterio into the corner to start. A backbreaker just wakes Mysterio up a bit and the middle rope hurricanrana drops Theory. That’s fine with Theory, who elbows Mysterio in the face to cut him off. Theory sends him hard into the post and we take a break. We come back with Mysterio hitting a top rope seated senton into the running headscissors. Theory tries something like a torture rack but gets spun into a DDT for two. The 619 is loaded up but Paul jumps Mysterio for the DQ at 7:30.

Rating: C+. Well, at least he didn’t get pinned, though this was hardly the best sign for Theory’s future. It plays off the idea of the Vision having Theory’s back and he dominated a good chunk of the match, though that’s only so encouraging. Hopefully there is something more for Theory than being the team’s whipping boy, as he has more potential than that.

Post match the beatdown is on but Penta returns for the ring clearing save.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are ready to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles next week.

Here is Maxxine Dupri for a chat. She thanks the fans for helping her get this far and brags about making Becky Lynch tap out last week. Now she’s ready to defend her title next week but here is Lynch to interrupt. The ONLY thing she tapped out on was living in Orlando, but the fans should cheer for having her.

Dupri threatens to make her tap out again but Lynch says she isn’t here to start a fight. She’s here to give Dupri cr…cred…..CREDIT, for working so hard. Dupri has gotten a tiny bit better but that’s not going to be enough. Dupri laughs it off and says next week, everyone, maybe even Sports Illustrated, is going to be saying Lynch tapped out. That’s WAY too far for Lynch, who talks about how people and publications say she’s so great. Next week, it’s time to find out what Dupri is, because Lynch already knows. Dupri’s upward mobility over the last few months deserves some kind of an award.

Trick Williams meets with Adam Pearce, who seems interested in having Williams around. Williams leaves him his card when Bayley and Lyra Valkyria come in to say they want the Women’s Tag Team Titles. Pearce mentions Judgment Day getting the title shot and Bayley snaps, calling Pearce a bald idiot. Valkyria seems to think they have a deal but Pearce wants a drink. Pearce continues to be outstanding in this role.

Tag Team Titles: AJ Styles/Dragon Lee vs. Usos

The Usos are challenging. Styles knocks Jey into the corner to start and hits him in the face a few times. The champs send Jey outside and Jimmy is tossed out to join him as we take a break. We come back with Jey getting a cheap shot to Styles but not looking happy about it. Lee comes in and grabs a hurricanrana on Jimmy, followed by a sitout powerbomb for two on Jey.

Back up and Lee is knocked outside, with Jimmy loading up the announcers’ table. Styles is knocked onto said table and we take another break. We come back with Lee in trouble but managing to knock Jimmy into the Tree Of Woe. The top rope double stomp drops Jimmy and it’s back to Styles to clean house. A backbreaker drops Jey but he powers out of the Styles Clash.

The superkick hits Lee and a spear drops Styles, setting up Jimmy’s Superfly Splash for two. Everything breaks down and Jey misses a charge and hits the post. Lee hits the big running flip dive to knock Jimmy onto the announcers’ table (that looked good), leaving Styles to Pele Jey. The Styles Clash gets two so Styles loads up another, only for Jimmy to make the save. Styles loads up the Phenomenal Forearm but gets superkicked out of the air. 1D hits Lee for the pin and the titles at 18:43.

Rating: B+. Good stuff here, as the Usos get back to the top while Styles and Lee, who were never going to be a long term team, get to end their reign with a nice match. I’m not sure how long the Usos are going to be champions, but at least they got a win to boost them back up. It helps that the Usos can still more than go in the ring and Styles/Lee had chemistry together. I liked this and they did the right thing.

Overall Rating: B. One of the good things about modern WWE is they have made the non-World Titles feel a lot more important. No the Raw Tag Team Titles aren’t on the top of the list, but the main event did at least come off as something that mattered. It made for a better show and things were set up for the future as well. I wasn’t expecting much coming into this show and it wound up working, which is always a nice surprise.

Results
Stephanie Vaquer b. Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez – Tejana Bomb to Bella
Gunther b. R-Truth – Sleeper
Rey Mysterio b. Austin Theory via DQ when Logan Paul interfered
Usos b. AJ Styles/Dragon Lee – 1D to Lee

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: December 26, 2025
Location: Van Andel Arena, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Commentators: Michael Cole, Corey Graves

It’s the second taped Smackdown in a row as we wrap up Christmas week. That means it’s time to get ready for the new year, which is going to feature more Cody Rhodes vs. Drew McIntyre. Other than that, it’s almost time to start getting ready for the Royal Rumble so let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of Drew McIntyre vs. Cody Rhodes, with Rhodes possibly getting on the bad side of GM Nick Aldis.

Rhodes arrives and runs into Aldis, who says McIntyre isn’t here yet. Aldis says McIntyre has signed the contract so once he publicly apologizes and pays a fine, Rhodes can’t lay a finger on him. Rhodes understands and says to tell him when McIntyre shows up. Aldis agrees but runs into Miz, who wants nothing to do with….that guy with the name. Aldis accuses him of being a grumpy Grinch and points out that Joe Hendry is in the ring.

We go to the ring where Hendry has dancing elves, Otis and Akira Tozawa and a bunny. The song is about the size of Miz’s testicles and mentions how he can’t beat Carmelo Hayes, gets thrown out of the locker room a lot, and can’t do well in Hollywood. Miz comes out to complain and gets serenaded again. Cue Aldis to make a Miracle On 34th Street Fight right now.

Joe Hendry vs. The Miz

Street fight with a bunch of Christmas weapons at ringside. Hendry shoulders him down to start and grabs a delayed suplex for quite the positive reception. It’s time to head outside where Hendry finds a guitar but Hendry finds a ukulele. With that not working, Miz pulled out some rather tiny….ornaments. A hiptoss sends Miz into a Christmas tree and it’s time for a table (with a bow). Miz gets rather frustrated and stomps on a bow, followed by some elbows onto a present as we take a break.

We come back with Hendry hitting a fall away slam to Miz, followed by another to a tree. They go outside, with Akira Tozawa grabbing a cookie (Graves: “PUT THAT COOKIE DOWN!”) but getting dropped. Otis steals the Singapore candy cane and Hendry hits Miz low, allowing all the good guys (and the Easter Bunny) to get inside. Finishers abound, Otis has a cookie, the Bunny is R-Truth (complete with a hopping Five Knuckle Shuffle), a guitar to Miz sets up the Standing Ovation through a table to give Hendry the pin at 11:31.

Rating: C+. This falls under the definition of goofy fun as they had the annual themed fight. It’s an easy way to get Hendry into the mix as beating Miz is almost the introductory badge these days. The match was silly and featured R-Truth getting the wrong holiday, so it could only be so bad.

Fraxiom and Carmelo Hayes are in the back, with Ilja Dragunov walking to talk to Hayes alone. He talks about their chemistry last week but Dragunov says the Open Challenge is closed because Hayes has a title shot tonight.

Drew McIntyre arrives and won’t say the stipulation he’s picking for his match against Cody Rhodes. For now, he seems off to take a nap.

Video on Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black, with Black swearing to end this.

Jade Cargill isn’t happy with Michin attacking her with a kendo stick. Cargill doesn’t need weapons because she is a weapon.

B-Fab doesn’t want Michin to get hurt by standing up for her. Michin thinks Cargill is worried and they can use that to their advantage next week.

Lash Legend vs. Charlotte

Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss are here too. They fight over wrist control to start and neither can get very far. Legend powers her into the corner to start and hits a clothesline, followed by a heck of an uppercut. Charlotte gets in a kick to the head and tries a running hurricanrana, which is reversed into a powerbomb as we take a break.

We come back with Legend holding Charlotte up and bouncing Charlotte’s head in between the top and middle ropes. Charlotte fights up and tries the Buckshot Lariat, only to get pump kicked down for two (after pausing due to a bit of mistiming). Another powerbomb looks to set up the Lash Extension but Charlotte reverses into a DDT. Charlotte’s moonsault gets two but Jax gets up for a distraction, earning a choke from Bliss. Back up and Charlotte’s sunset flip finishes Legend at 10:52.

Rating: B-. This match told a good story with Legend being a younger, possibly more athletic, but also less experienced Charlotte. It made for an interesting match as you don’t often see someone who can match Charlotte for athleticism and power but Legend is quite the athletic marvel in her own right. It could be interesting to see how far Legend goes, because she certainly has some pieces in place.

Trick Williams (former NXT/TNA World Champion) is in Nick Aldis’ office and asks if Smackdown is going to match an offer from Raw. Before Aldis can answer, Cody Rhodes comes in to ask if Drew McIntyre has paid the fine and apologized yet. That’s a negative to both, but Williams says he doesn’t like Rhodes interrupting him because he is the hottest free agent around.

Solo Sikoa, with the MFTs, isn’t wild on Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks. Howdy hides behind a bunch of people wearing masks while Sikoa has created a family. The fireflies are fading away and the lantern is burning low. We even get a little He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands.

IMG Credit: WWE

US Title: Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes is challenging and chops him into the corner to start. That earns him some rolling German suplexes, as Dragunov is known to do. Back up and a running boot to the face sends Hayes outside and we take a break. We come back with an exchange of chops until Hayes hits a springboard clothesline. The spinning faceplant gives Hayes two and he kicks Dragunov down again.

Dragunov gets back up and goes up, only to get kicked out of the air. The Constantine Special drops Hayes and the top rope backsplash gets two. We take another break and come back again with Dragunov putting him up top but getting shoved down.

Nothing But Net is kicked out of the air to leave both of them down. Dragunov superplexes him down and hits the H Bomb for a VERY near fall, leaving Dragunov shaken up. Another superplex is loaded up but Hayes reverses into a cutter (that was so quick I wasn’t even sure what he did at first) for two of his own. They fight to the apron where Dragunov hits a Death Valley Driver but dives into the First 48. Nothing But Net gives Hayes the pin and the title at 20:44.

Rating: B. This wound up being rather good and they pulled the trigger on Hayes, which is more than a smart enough move. Hayes has been around for awhile now and hasn’t done much on his own (or with Miz either) so it’s a huge step forward. I could go for seeing him as someone getting some more focus and at least he won a title on the top level. It helps that the match was rather awesome as well.

Post match Dragunov presents Hayes with the title for the big show of respect.

Alexa Bliss and Charlotte are ready for the Women’s Tag Team Titles but Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky come in to say they’re going to win the titles. Nia Jax and Lash Legend come in to argue, with Nick Aldis getting in between them. The Kabuki Warriors come in to say it’s an eight woman tag match next week.

Carmelo Hayes thanks Ilja Dragunov for everything, including remind Hayes that he is Him. Johnny Gargano jumps Hayes from behind and says that title is his.

Chelsea Green/Alba Fyre vs. Kiana James/Giulia

Green and James shove each other to start and can’t get very far. Fyre comes in so it’s off to Giulia, who wants to face Green. Giulia settles for swinging at Giulia, allowing the tag off to Green, who gets knocked into the corner. Giulia’s missile dropkick hits Green and she sends Fyre outside. The northern lights bomb finishes Green at 3:16.

Rating: C. This was as by the book as you could get and it worked out well for Giulia. The idea is that Giulia can crush Green if they’re going straight up and that’s what happened here. Green is much better when she cheats and gets to connive a lot, which should be happening when they have the inevitable title match.

Kit Wilson is in Nick Aldis’ office and says he wants to showcase his new version. Cody Rhodes comes in to ask referee Dan Angler if McIntyre has apologized yet. He hasn’t, but McIntyre comes out to the ring for a chat, with Aldis and Angler going to join him.

Video on Oba Femi, who seems to be coming to the main roster.

Here’s what’s coming next week, with the show returning to three hours.

IMG Credit: WWE

Drew McIntyre is in the ring with Nick Aldis and Dan Angler, and hands Aldis the check for the fine, which seems to be enough. That brings McIntyre to Angler and he apologizes for the Claymore. Angler accepts, but McIntyre apologizes for Angler clearly wanting to be a wrestler but not being being good enough. McIntyre apologizes to Angler’s wife for not having a husband like him and to Angler’s children for having a corporate stooge for a father.

Cue Cody Rhodes to interrupt, with McIntyre saying he knows Rhodes wants to hurt him. McIntyre tries to goad him into a fight, even bringing up Rhodes’ wife and kids. With that not working, McIntyre says the title match will be outside of the United States and it’s 3 Stages Of Hell (Rhodes agrees). McIntyre says the title match is in two weeks in Berlin and when he takes Rhodes to Hell, say hi to Dusty. Rhodes is ready to fight but gets Claymored to end the show. You could all but count down until he mentioned Dusty and that’s not a bad idea. This feels like the big blowoff and it needs to be.

Overall Rating: C+. The focus here was mainly on setting up Rhodes vs. McIntyre and they did a nice job of building up the match. That’s a big start towards setting up the huge January show before they can get started on the way towards the Royal Rumble. Now just find some other stories to build up as well, as the show could use it.

Results
Joe Hendry b. The Miz – Standing Ovation through a table
Charlotte b. Lash Legend – Sunset flip
Carmelo Hayes b. Ilja Dragunov – Nothing But Net
Giulia/Kiana James b. Alba Fyre/Chelsea Green – Northern lights bomb to Green

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Smackdown
Date: December 19, 2025
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’ve got a rare taped show this week, as WWE is airing this while taping next week’s shows tonight for the sake of a holiday break. We’re also fresh off of the end of John Cena’s career at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The Royal Rumble is starting to come up over the horizon but there are some big Smackdowns on the way to Saudi Arabia. Let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

We open with a long recap of Saturday Night’s Main Event, with John Cena losing to Gunther in a good match and the tributes rolling in.

Apparently Cody Rhodes has invaded Drew McIntyre’s house. More on this later.

Here is Damian Priest to get things going and praise John Cena, who is the greatest of all time. With that out of the way, Priest talks about last week, when he and Rhea Ripley took out Aleister Black and Zelina. Cue Zelina, who points out that Priest didn’t even get the pin and says Black broke him. Priest has to live with his decision and here is Black to jump him from behind. The fight is on and Priest gets the better of things, allowing him to load up a table. Black is back with a chair and hits a Meteora to drive Priest through the table.

Lash Legend and Nia Jax do not like the implication that Legend beating Alexa Bliss was an upset. They want the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Aleister Black attacks Damian Priest again, including hitting him in the back with a shovel.

IMG Credit: WWE

Kabuki Warriors vs. Lash Legend/Nia Jax

Non-title. Sane headscissors Legend down to start but Legend runs her over with a running elbow. Jax and Legend hit running splashes in the corner but it’s off to Asuka, who helps kick Jax down. A headbutt to the chest drops Asuka but she and Sane dropkick Jax outside. Sane’s big dive takes out Legend and Jax as we take a break.

We come back with Legend chinlocking Sane and handing it off to Jax, who knocks Asuka off the apron. Sane manages to turn a double suplex into a double DDT though and it’s Asuka coming in with a double missile dropkick. Jax powers out of the cross armbreaker but misses a sitdown splash as everything breaks down. A missed charge sends Jax into the post but Sane dives into a chokeslam. The Annihilator finishes Sane at 12:04.

Rating: C+. I’m not sure about the champs losing clean like this, though it was a nice way to make Jax and Legend look dominant. At the same time, Jax has seemed to have trimmed down a bit and is moving better out there. If that is the case, she is instantly a lot more valuable, as it means more people can work with her.

Post match Charlotte and Alexa Bliss run in to take out Jax and Legend.

Giulia, with Kiana James, warns Chelsea Green that she is coming for the Women’s US Title.

Earlier this week, Nick Aldis and referees came to Drew McIntyre’s home to negotiate. Aldis offers McIntyre a title shot against Cody Rhodes, but he wants a public apology to referee Dan Angler. There’s also a fine, but Aldis doesn’t think it’s going to be an issue. McIntyre seems ok with this, though he wants to pick the stipulation for the match. Also, he wants a document saying Rhodes cannot lay a finger on him. It turns out that Rhodes is at McIntyre’s house and the fight is on. Eventually things are cleared up.

Aldis is annoyed but Miz comes in to say he wants a match with “him”. No not Carmelo Hayes, though Miz wouldn’t mind that, but rather that guy….whose name he won’t say. Aldis seems to agree but here is R-Truth to say he believes in Joe…Pesci. Eh I can see that.

Alba Fyre vs. Giulia

Chelsea Green and Kiana James are here too. Giulia jumps her to start fast and takes Fyre down but stops to glare at Green. That’s enough for Fyre to come back with a DDT for two but a missed charge lets Giulia grab an abdominal stretch. Back up and Fyre kicks her down for another near fall, only for Giulia to knee her in the head. The northern lights bomb finishes for Giulia at 3:48.

Rating: C. Giulia wants to face Green for the title so she beat up Green’s lackey to get the shot. That’s about all you need to happen and it worked well enough here. Fyre got in just enough offense to feel like a threat before getting taken out. It’s not an overly competitive match but that’s not what it was supposed to be.

The Wyatt Sicks don’t like Solo Sikoa’s quest for power and promise there will be nowhere for Sikoa to run.

Here is Cody Rhodes for a chat. Rhodes talks about Drew McIntyre calling WWE an unsafe working environment. There are second generation wrestlers, former MMA stars and NIL talents. What would be a safe working environment? Staples? Cue Nick Aldis to say Rhodes went too far by going to McIntyre’s house. If McIntyre does what he is required to do, he’ll get his shot and Rhodes can’t lay a finger on him or he’ll be stripped of the title. Rhodes explains that he works for the people and Aldis works for him before leaving.

Ilja Dragunov thanks Carmelo Hayes for what he did last week (since wrestlers apparently do not see or talk to each other at any other time during the week). Hayes says it’s cool as Tama Tonga watches in the background. Fraxiom comes in to wish them luck against DIY tonight but wants them to save a piece for them. Dragunov just wants revenge.

DIY vs. Carmelo Hayes/Ilja Dragunov

Candice LeRae is here with DIY. It’s a brawl to start with Ciampa getting crushed in the corner, including Dragunov hitting a running boot to the face. We settle down to Hayes elbowing Ciampa into a jumping legdrop, followed by a suplex from Dragunov. LeRae’s distraction lets Gargano knock Dragunov off the top though and we take a break.

We come back with Dragunov still in trouble but he manages a quick Constantine Special. Hayes comes in with his springboard clothesline into La Mistica before flip diving onto Gargano. Dragunov’s top rope backsplash gets two but DIY manages to send Hayes into their corner.

Project Ciampa gets two on Hayes with Dragunov making a save so LeRae offers a distraction. Dragunov gets taken down and it’s the superkick/Fairy Tale Ending combination for two. Meet In The Middle is cut off by Torpedo Moscow though and Hayes hits Nothing But Net finishes Ciampa at 10:26.

Rating: B. Good stuff here and it’s nice to see Hayes getting to do something and being successful as a result. He and Dragunov had some nice chemistry and while I don’t expect that to lead to a long term team, there is a good chance that Hayes will get a US Title shot. I’m not sure what is next for DIY, but it’s not like the tag division means much at the moment anyway.

Charlotte and Alexa Bliss want the Women’s Tag Team Titles back. Jade Cargill comes in and some glaring ensues. Cargill is asked about Michin and gets jumped from behind by Michin and her kendo stick.

Solo Sikoa promises that his family will humiliate the Wyatt Sicks. He has his own fireflies and the Wyatts can’t run.

IMG Credit: WWE

Tag Team Titles: Wyatt Sicks vs. MFT’s

The Wyatts are defending. Lumis Russian legsweeps Loa to start and it’s off to Gacy, who gets driven into the corner. The stomping doesn’t last long as Gacy gets over to Lumis to clear the ring. It’s already back to Gacy, who can’t launch a dive but can go outside, where Loa drops him with a clothesline. The Wyatts are both knocked down on the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Lumis still in trouble and getting sent into the corner. Sikoa seems to improve until Lumis flips over and brings Gacy back in to pick up the pace. Gacy misses a Lionsault though and gets planted but Lumis is back in. The belly to back suplex/powerbomb combination sets up Lumis’ top rope splash, with Loa making the save. Talla Tonga boots Gacy down and all of the associates get in a fight. The referee throws it out at 10:32.

Rating: C. The match wasn’t a disaster, but it might as well have had a big countdown clock until the match wound up being a big brawl. It wasn’t exactly a surprise, but that didn’t make it any more interesting. This is a feud that has been built up for a good while and there wasn’t much of a reason to believe that the lowest members of the MFT’s were going to take the titles here.

Post match the big brawl is on, with everyone, including Nikki Cross, getting involved. Sister Abigail is broken up to save Sikoa and end the show.

Overall Rating: C. Maybe it was this being part of a double taping or something but there was an energy missing from this show. It felt like one of those shows that was there because it has to be and was more designed to set something up later on. I liked the tag match but you could have easily skipped this week and watched Santa Jaws instead.

Results
Nia Jax/Lash Legend b. Kabuki Warriors – Annihilator to Sane
Giulia b. Alba Fyre – Northern lights bomb
Ilja Dragunov/Carmelo Hayes b. DIY – Nothing But Net to Ciampa
Wyatt Sicks vs. MFT’s went to a no contest

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6

Monday Night Raw
Date: December 15, 2025
Location: Giant Center, Hershey, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

We’re done with Saturday Night’s Main Event and as weird as it may be, we’re also done with John Cena. This past weekend, Cena lost to Gunther by actually tapping out in his final match. I’ll go on a limb and say Gunther will be featured this week as we are officially on the (rather long) road to the Royal Rumble. Let’s get to it.

Here is Saturday Night’s Main Event if you need a recap.

We open with a rather nice look back at Cena’s final match, which was a pretty nice fight with Gunther. The fans being all the way with Cena until the end was a great moment. The locker room came out to give Cena his sendoff.

Here is Gunther to get things going and yeah they fans aren’t happy with him. The fans remind him that he tapped out and he….well we’ll pause for a second at all the booing. Gunther says he made Cena tap out like a little b****. And that’s that. Gunther goes to leave but does come back to pose. Then he goes to leave but comes back to pose, this time on the announcers’ table, where he grabs the mic to say he made Cena tap like a little b****.

A smiling Gunther leaves and we follow him through the Gorilla Position, where some wrestlers aren’t happy with what he did. This includes R-Truth, who calls him a piece of trash. Gunther: “Yeah, sure.” Adam Pearce doesn’t like what Gunther did because it just makes him an a******. He’s also done for tonight. Pearce tells him to find the exit, and AJ Styles is waiting for him in the parking lot. Gunther mocks him and gets in his car to leave, but does roll the window down for a You Can’t See Me. Yeah that worked, as the fans were all over Gunther and he played it to perfection, with that evil grin being excellent.

Video on the Usos and New Day.

IMG Credit: WWE

Usos vs. New Day

Grayson Waller is here with New Day. Kingston and Jimmy start things off with Jimmy shouldering him down. An early Trouble Is Paradise misses and Kingston is taken into the corner so Jey can elbow him in the face. Woods gets in a cheap shot though and we take a break. We come back with Jimmy enziguring his way out of trouble, setting up the running Umaga Attack in the corner.

That’s cut off though and Jimmy gets taken down in the corner for some stomping. Woods kicks him in the face for two before loading up the Tree Of Woe. Kingston’s charge misses though and he gets crotched against the post. The tag brings in Jey to clean house, including the superkick for two on Woods. A high crossbody gets two more and we take another break.

We come back again with Waller interfering and getting ejected for his efforts. The double superkicks abound and the double Superfly Splash (Jimmy hits one leg) connects for….two? That’s quite the kickout. Kingston sends Jey into the steps and Woods hits a tornado DDT to plant Jimmy on the floor. Back in and Daylight gets two, with Jey making the save. Jimmy is back up to superkick Kingston out of the air and the spear drops Woods on the floor. Another spear puts Kingston down and the 1D is enough for the pin at 17:26.

Rating: B. New Day vs. the Usos is about as much of a layup of a match as you can have. They’ve been doing this on and off for such a long time and know each other so well, even with the roles reversed like this, that the match is going to work every time. It certainly did here, with the Usos continuing to knock the heel New Day back.

We look at the big matches for the January 5 Raw on Netflix, including CM Punk defending the World Title against Bron Breakker and Rhea Ripley/Iyo Sky challenging the Kabuki Warriors for the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

The Warriors complain about Sky turning on them for Ripley and swear revenge.

We look back at Logan Paul and the Vision taking out Rey Mysterio and LA Knight.

Paul and Bronson Reed are happy with what happened but Bron Breakker says they should take out CM Punk. Paul thinks the Masked Man is going to be here but Paul Heyman comes up to say that while he doesn’t know who the Masked Man is, he’ll take the help. Breakker says he’s taking Punk out tonight but Heyman says that would be a terrible mistake. It’s three weeks before Breakker gets to be the champion. Paul and Breakker are going to be on the same page tonight.

LA Knight is on the shelf indefinitely due to Reed’s attack.

Here are Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley for a chat…but Asuka pops up out of the crowd to mist Ripley. Kairi Sane and Asuka jump out of the crowd to beat them down. Sky dives onto Ripley to prevent the Insane Elbow, which hits her in the back instead.

Post break, we look at what happened pre-break.

Women’s Intercontinental Title: Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivy Nile

Dupri is defending and slaps her in the face to start. Nile double legs her down and hammers away before putting Dupri on top. The cross armbreaker over the ropes is broken up and Nile knocks her outside as we take a break. We come back with Nile working on the neck but Dupri gets in a kind of headscissors driver for a double down. Dupri makes the comeback with some kicks to the head, including a COME ON pump kick.

A fisherman’s suplex gives Dupri two but Nile counters another kick into a powerbomb for two of her own. Nile gets cocky in the corner and gets powerbombed out (ala Natalya) but Nile ties her in the Tree Of Woe. Dupri is right back with the ankle lock and, after Nile escapes, grabs it again with a grapevine to retain at 9:55.

Rating: C+. Dupri has gotten rather far in the last few months, but there is a difference between being the big underdog on the way to the title and then defending the title. Dupri still only feels so good, but there is a bit of confidence to her. If nothing else, it should make for a nice moment when someone takes her out.

We look at the NXT stars getting showcased at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

Je’Von Evans (one of those stars) is happy to be here with Adam Pearce when El Grande Americano comes in to ask why he and his guys didn’t get a chance on Saturday Night’s Main Event. Insults ensue and Pearce makes Evans vs. Rayo for next week.

IMG Credit: WWE

Here is a ticked off CM Punk for a chat. He’s been away for two weeks after being attacked at WarGames and that has left him sitting on his couch, listening to Bron Breakker. That means hearing Breakker puff his chest out and run his mouth, but brains have never run in Breakker’s family. Breakker wants the 2011 Punk but he can’t handle the 2025 Punk. Breakker beat him and it took the help of his new friends.

All it took was an F5 or a Tsunami or Drew McIntyre or the Masked Man. Paul Heyman has built up a lot of people over the years when they weren’t ready yet and Breakker might be one of them. That being said, if Breakker mentions Punk’s wife’s name again, it stops being about the belt and starts being personal, because he’ll rip Breakker’s eyes out and relieve himself on Breakker’s single IQ brain.

On January 5, bring the Vision, the Masked Man, or your dumb father and his dumber brother, because Breakker is going to need all the help he can find. When Breakker loses, Heyman will move on to the next big thing and the Vision will be doing TikTok videos. That’s going to leave Breakker with Dumb and Dumber, and it doesn’t take Steiner Math to know that GTS = 1-2-3. Punk was fired up and brought it here, as only he can.

Dominik Mysterio is ready to see Rey Mysterio get taken out tonight and Liv Morgan is ready for Raquel Rodriguez to win the Women’s Title. Morgan and Roxanne Perez can be out there with her, though Rodriguez respectfully says she wants to do this on her own. That’s fine with Morgan and Perez, who are going to win the Women’s Tag Team Titles.

Women’s Title: Raquel Rodriguez vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Vaquer is defending and Rodriguez trips her down to start. Rodriguez hammers away in the corner but Vaquer fights out, only for her high crossbody to be pulled out of the air. A hard slam gives Rodriguez two and we take a break. We come back with Vaquer avoiding a charge in the corner but getting pulled into the crossarm choke. That’s broken up and a dragon screw legwhip out of the corner takes Rodriguez down again.

Back up and some shoulders in the corner have Vaquer in trouble so she armbars Rodriguez over the ropes. That’s broken up as well and Vaquer is put down for two. The Vader Bomb has to be abandoned though and Vaquer gets in a knockdown of her own, setting up the Devil’s Kiss. Now the armbar over the ropes works a bit better and they head outside. Rodriguez can’t post Vaquer…and Nikki Bella jumps Rodriguez for the DQ at 8:46.

Rating: B-. Gah it was starting to get interesting and it’s time for Nikki Bella to be a thing all over again. Even if it makes sense, that hardly makes up for the fact that Bella feels like she is being shoehorned into just about everything. Hopefully this isn’t setting up a triple threat, as I’m almost scared of the idea of Bella being champion again.

Adam Pearce asks Paul Heyman who is under the mask. Heyman: “Seth Rollins. Becky Lynch. Nick Aldis. BRUNO SAMMARTINO! I DON’T KNOW!” Heyman has to go prep Logan Paul for his match and leaves. Rhea Ripley comes in and says she wants Asuka, which Pearce grants for next week.

Rey Mysterio runs into CM Punk, who will have Mysterio’s back tonight. Mysterio is appreciative.

AJ Styles and Dragon Lee were impressed by the Usos but they’re still the team to beat. They’re off to talk to Adam Pearce and here is Nikki Bella, who complains about not being appreciated for paving the road these women are walking on.

Here’s what’s coming next week.

Bayley praises Maxxine Dupri on her win and Dupri is off to ice her bleeding finger. Lyra Valkyria comes in and asks Bayley how she is. Bayley isn’t happy after losing to someone so young and she’s thinking Asuka might be on to something. Valkyria says that isn’t the Bayley she grew up watching. They shout at each other and call each other idiot and it seems to be ok.

IMG Credit: WWE

Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul

Paul Heyman is here too. They circle each other to start until Mysterio gets in a few right hands. Mysterio is sent outside and goads Paul into a chase, which doesn’t go well for Paul. Back in and Paul slugs away before sending Mysterio hard into the corner. Some whipping with a belt has Mysterio in trouble and a shot to the knee cuts off his comeback attempt. A rather long Lionsault hits raised knees though and Paul is sent outside. Mysterio gets in a running seated senton off the apron and we take a break.

We come back with Paul missing a frog splash but jumping back up to the apron to drop Mysterio again. Mysterio catches him on top though and hammers away, setting up the super hurricanrana for two. A powerslam cuts Mysterio off but he escapes something that looked like a powerbomb. The 619 is cut off though and Paul grabs Three Amigos to really rub it in.

Mysterio manages to counter a superplex into a sunset bomb and the baseball slide puts Paul on the floor. A sliding splash connects and here comes the Vision. Cue CM Punk with a chair to cut them off but Heyman slips Paul the brass knuckles. The 619 makes Paul drop said knuckles but here is the Masked Man with a Stomp on the apron. That’s enough to set up the Superstar Splash to give Paul the pin at 14:58.

Rating: B. Mysterio is a great choice to work with Paul as they not only have chemistry, but Mysterio can make anyone look good. Paul is an athletic freak and gets a lot of the basic stuff, but he needs someone to help him through a longer match like this. The Masked Man interference continues to be interesting, though I’m almost worried about who is going to be revealed.

Post match the Masked Man gets on the apron for a staredown with Paul but here is Punk to chase him off with the chair. The Masked Man unmasks as….Austin Theory, now with a shaved head. Punk yells at him and gets speared down by Bron Breakker. With Punk down, Breakker says if Punk ever talks about his family like that again, it’ll be worse. The Theory reveal didn’t get much of a reaction, which shouldn’t be a surprise as he has been anything to be taken seriously in….years? Hopefully the fresh start helps him though, as the potential is absolutely there.

Overall Rating: B-. I liked the stuff with Gunther and I liked the opener/main event, but there was only so much in the middle to fill out the show. The Nikki Bella moment wasn’t good, Dupri vs. Nile was just ok, and even Usos vs. New Day was something we’ve seen A LOT over the years. I liked enough of it, but there were some really weak parts of this show. Then again, maybe that had to be the case given the rather rough work schedule this week. Not a bad show, but certain parts needed a lot of work.

Results
Usos b. New Day – 1D to Kingston
Maxxine Dupri b. Ivy Nile – Ankle lock
Raquel Rodriguez b. Stephanie Vaquer via DQ when Nikki Bella interfered
Logan Paul b. Rey Mysterio – Superstar Splash

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Monday Night Raw
Date: November 24, 2025
Location: Paycom Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Commentators: Joe Tessitore, Wade Barrett

It’s the last Raw before Survivor Series and that means we’re going to be seeing the final push towards WarGames. The main matches are pretty much entirely set but there is always room for one last build. We might even focus on some of the non-WarGames matches this week, which isn’t a bad idea. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

We open with a recap of the setup of the men’s WarGames match, with Drew McIntyre, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar being added in the last week and a half.

Here is Roman Reigns to get things going. He says his catchphrase but here is Cody Rhodes for a staredown, complete with his own catchphrase. Rhodes says Reigns is a man of his word and the last time it was for a match. This time though, it’s for war. Rhodes wants to know what’s in this for Reigns, who says it’s Rhodes who is brand new to this fight. They don’t like each other or know each other very well, but Reigns knows they both care about family.

A lot of this team is his family and before they were on his team, they were in his Bloodline. He’s been invested in them for a long time and he’s here to see that investment through. Rhodes: “Understood.” He welcomes Reigns to his team, which doesn’t sit well with Reigns. Cue CM Punk, who hits his own catchphrase and tells the crowd to acknowledge them. Punk remembers teaming with Reigns before and Reigns remembers Punk ruining his life. That’s kind of true, but Punk says if Reigns stabs Punk in his back this Saturday, he’d stab his family in the back.

Rhodes tries to cool it down but Punk doesn’t like Rhodes saying it’s his show, because this is Monday Night Raw on Netflix. Cody can be the quarter back on Friday but on Monday, he’s the champ. Reigns finds this ridiculous and says that he hates Paul Heyman and the Vision more than he hates the two of them. If we’re being honest, that title (he doesn’t specify which) would look better on his shoulder. Reigns goes to leave and Punk asks who Reigns was talking to. Reigns says that’s for them to figure out and leaves. That last exchange was rather good, though this felt like some forced drama.

Paul Heyman is in the back with the Vision and tries to get Drew McIntyre to take tonight’s tag match for the WarGames advantage seriously. Logan Paul mocks the idea that the partner is going to be Brock Lesnar but Heyman warns Paul about what happens if Lesnar’s name comes out of the wrong mouth. Instead, Paul will be McIntyre’s partner, which Paul calls a wise choice.

Last Time Is Now Tournament Quarterfinals: Gunther vs. Carmelo Hayes

Hayes pounds him into the corner to start, which is broken up with raw power. A running shoulder drops Hayes and Gunther actually gets on the buckle to mock the crowd. That earns him a powerbomb out of the corner and a springboard DDT gives Hayes two. One heck of a chop cuts Hayes off though and we take a break.

We come back with Hayes managing a quick sleeper, which Gunther reverses into one of his own. That’s escaped with a backflip and Hayes is right back with the sleeper. Gunther powers out again and they trade chops until Hayes knocks him down. A butterfly suplex sends Hayes flying but he’s right back with a DDT to counter the powerbomb (that was nice) as we take another break.

We come back again with Hayes grabbing a quick First 48 but Nothing But Net is cut off. Gunther chops the post by mistake so Hayes tries a springboard DDT, which pretty much completely misses (which commentary acknowledges). Instead, Hayes hits a running flip dive onto Gunther’s back for a big crash.

Gunther tries the powerbomb but gets reversed into a heck of a tornado DDT off the barricade. Back in and Hayes grabs La Mistica but misses Nothing But Net. The big clothesline into the powerbomb gives Gunther two and the fans are losing it on these near falls. Gunther elbows him in the head over and over, setting up the powerbomb for the pin at 17:25.

Rating: B+. There was no reason to believe that Hayes was going to win here but they had me believing that it was possible. That’s a sign that something is going right and I was pulled into everything they were doing here. Hayes has found something as a good guy and a definitive win over Miz in their feud should help. On the other hand though, this seems to be Gunther’s tournament to lose at the moment, which shouldn’t be surprising.

Cody Rhodes/CM Punk/Roman Reigns are still arguing when the Usos come up to say tonight’s advantage match is a tag match. They happen to be the best tag team ever so……we seem to have a solution! They leave and Reigns tells Punk and Rhodes to fix this.

Here is Dominik Mysterio for a chat. He promises to end John Cena’s retirement tour in his hometown this weekend, continuing to prove that he is the greatest Mysterio of all time. Mysterio brings up that Cena isn’t here tonight but cue Cena’s music….and it’s a mini Santa, complete with a mini Stu the Cameraman.

Mini Cena (or John Weena according to Barrett) can’t do the slide underneath the bottom rope so he has to go for the ropes. Mysterio insults Cena, who calls him the worst Mysterio of all time. Mysterio seems to say that’s not what Cena is supposed to say but Cena challenges him for a fight…and then gets kicked in the chest. That means it’s time for a Shuffle, a 619 and a frog splash, only for Rey Mysterio to interrupt and chase him off.

Rey Mysterio vs. JD McDonagh

Finn Balor is here with McDonagh. We’re joined in progress with Mysterio backdropping him down and hammering away in the corner. That’s broken up and McDonagh drops him face first onto the buckle to take over. McDonagh stomps him down and grabs a chinlock, with the fans being rather behind Mysterio. McDonagh lets go and poses on the ropes, allowing Mysterio to send him outside.

That’s fine with McDonagh, who drops him onto the announcers’ table as we take a break. We come back with Mysterio in trouble but managing to send McDonagh into the post for a big crash. The top rope seated senton connects for Mysterio and he kicks McDonagh in the head for two. The 619 is countered into a Spanish Fly for two and they both need a breather. Balor tries to get up for a distraction so Mysterio sends McDonagh into him. The 619 and springboard splash give Mysterio the pin at 10:24.

Rating: B-. Mysterio continues to be able to look good against just about anyone in the ring and that was the case again here. It helps that McDonagh has been rapidly improving in recent weeks and it made for a pretty nice match here. The ending was a bit flat, but at least Mysterio gets a win before what should be a major showdown with Dominik in the near future.

Post match Balor goes after Mysterio, who manages to slip away.

Adam Pearce tells Raquel Rodriguez that she’s in the title mix. New Day comes in to complain about what’s going on with the Tag Team Titles but Pearce snaps. Apparently Dragon Lee and AJ Styles want to give them a title shot next week. Grayson Waller is so happy that he gives Pearce a wig.

Brock Lesnar arrives.

Here is a ticked off Becky Lynch for a chat. After a break, her WarGames team joins her before she goes on a rant about how the decision of last week’s title match will be overturned and she will be champion again. While that was a mistake, AJ Lee made a bigger mistake last week and now she’s making an even bigger mistake by locking herself in a cage.

Lynch has assembled the greatest team in the history of WarGames. She brags about how she’s put together all of these people, including Asuka, who she has beaten nine out of ten times, and Jax, who has great bones. Lynch doesn’t have to wear a mask like Rotten Rhea Ripley, which brings out the other team. AJ Lee talks about how the old her would jump Lynch and break her apart, but unlike Lynch, she bites instead of barking.

Ripley gets the mic and starts swinging rather than talking and the brawl is on. Ripley and company clear the ring, with Sky hitting a hue moonsault to the ring, sending Lynch running off. Pretty standard brawling segment, but Lynch was basically doing a straight up Trump impression without the voice and it was hilarious.

Last Time Is Now Tournament Quarterfinals: Penta vs. Solo Sikoa

Penta kicks away to start but they’re quickly on the floor. Sikoa manages to send him over the barricade, with Penta popping back up for a hurricanrana from said barricade. We take an early break and come back with….the match having been stopped as Penta was injured on the hurricanrana. Sikoa wins at around 4:50, with nowhere near enough shown to rate.

We see a woman’s finger circling a glass and a graphic says FOUR DAYS. It looks to be in the same font as Wrestlemania’s logo.

Maxxine Dupri can’t believe she won the title and calls Natalya. Before that happens, various women come up for some threatening glares. Adam Pearce has to come get her out of trouble.

Stephanie Vaquer is mad at Nikki Bella for betraying her and swears vengeance. See you at Survivor Series.

Survivor Series rundown.

Usos vs. Logan Paul/Drew McIntyre

For the WarGames advantage. Jimmy knocks Paul into the corner to start and sends him to the floor as we take an early break. We come back with Paul still in trouble, with Jey stomping away and sending him into the corner. A running splash connects but Paul fights out of trouble. McIntyre comes in for a slugout with Jey, who manages a needed suplex.

Paul cuts Jimmy of before the tag though, as he continues to be wise beyond his years. McIntyre takes Jey outside for a toss over the announcers’ table and we take another break. We come back again with Jey getting double suplexed, with both McIntyre and Paul doing nip ups. McIntyre charges into some boots in the corner though and the needed tag brings in Jimmy for the parade of superkicks.

Paul manages a Blockbuster for two, only for Jimmy to drop him with a spear. Everything breaks down and here’s the Vision, but cue Cody Rhodes and CM Punk to even it up. The brawl ensues on the floor but Jey hits a big dive to take them down. That’s enough for Paul to roll Jimmy up for the pin at 17:02.

Rating: C+. This felt long (might have been stretched to help after the injury finished the previous match early) and it didn’t have much of a doubt about the eventual result. At the end of the day, WarGames is almost always going to have the villains in control and given the lineups, it would be insanity to go in a different direction here. Not a bad match, but dropping five minutes would have been nice.

Post match the brawl is on with Roman Reigns coming in to clean house. The staredown is on and the credits roll, but cue Brock Lesnar, who actually falls down during his entrance and flips backwards (live TV people). The villains get on the apron and the big brawl ensues to end the show.

Overall Rating: B- This show started off strong and then hit a wall around halfway through. The big problem with a show like this is a hard one to get around: the main event, and big story, was about getting the advantage in a match on Saturday. It makes for little more than a big preview, with little actually being changed for Survivor Series. It’s good enough, but outside of the really good Gunther vs. Hayes match and maybe the opener, it’s not worth a look.

Results
Gunther b. Carmelo Hayes – Powerbomb
Rey Mysterio b. JD McDonagh – Springboard splash
Solo Sikoa b. Penta via doctor stoppage
Drew McIntyre/Logan Paul b. Usos – Rollup to Jimmy

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6