Results
- IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley def. Asuka & Kairi Sane (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships) (16:28) (Recommended)
- Becky Lynch def. Maxxine Dupri (WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship) (11:33)
- Liv Morgan def. Lyra Valkyria (8:56)
- CM Punk def. Bron Breakker (WWE World Heavyweight Championship) (26:34) (Recommended)
RhIYO captures tag gold
WWE Monday Night Raw’s 2026 calendar year got started this week with a stacked card from the Barclays Center in New York City, New York. The latest episode had a special Stranger Things-themed opening, as this week’s event is a cross-promotional tie-in with the hit Netflix series. Commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves joined us on a set full of Stranger Things props (I think? POST doesn’t have a resident Netflix Original expert I could’ve consulted for this) as the ominous themed played out.
After a quick rundown of the card, we got started with our first of three championship matchups of the night: RhIYO (Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY) facing off against the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Asuka and Kairi Sane.
SKY connected with a Slingblade early on in the match, causing commentator Graves to shoutout NJPW’s Hiroshi Tanahashi, who just retired last night.
RhIYO had a hot start to this one: SKY sent the heel duo to the outside, allowing Ripley to come off the ring apron with a cannonball dive. The show went to a break as this match neared its first minute.
RhIYO had control of the match through the break, but lost it after The Kabuki Warriors dodged another cannonball off the ring apron from Ripley – causing her to take a hard fall to the floor.
Ripley was isolated for a couple of minutes, but eventually escaped by hitting a fallaway slam. SKY got the hot tag and was on a roll, taking out both Kabuki Warriors with a top-rope missile dropkick at one point.
Slight interference from Sane (who wasn’t the legal woman on her team at the time), allowed the champs to regain control. Sane held onto a leg of SKY, preventing her from coming off the ring apron for a springboard move.
SKY escaped a submission from Sane and scored a double-stomp to her stomach as the show returned, allowing her to tag a fresher Ripley back into the match.
Ripley hit Sane with a nasty Razor’s Edge, then SKY tagged back in for a huge missile dropkick off the top rope, causing a near fall. The count was close enough that “Ref you suck” started in the Barclays.
Ripley kept her team’s momentum going with a Riptide to Sane. SKY tried to follow-up with a top-rope move, but Asuka pushed Ripley into the ropes, knocking her off-balance. Asuka hit Ripley with a Codebreaker before sliding out of the ring – Sane went for a pin but it wasn’t enough.
Asuka got back into the match. Ripley tried to land a kick, but Asuka caught it and turned it into a German suplex – this looked awesome. The Kabuki Warriors landed a double-team elbow drop to Ripley, but SKY got back into the ring and broke the follow-up pin attempt.
Ripley rolled over to the babyface corner and tagged SKY back into the match. Asuka immediately tried for a roll-up twice, but SKY escaped both. SKY reversed a German suplex attempt into a double stomp, scored a Bullet Train double-knees, then tagged Ripley back in.
Ripley landed another Riptide, then SKY came off the top with an Over The Moonsault. SKY took Sane out at ringside with a tope suicida as Ripley went for the pin to win the match in 16 minutes. RhIYO are your new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.
The first 10 or so minutes of this match felt like the generic WWE tag match structure, with the slow build to each hot tag. However, once we got closer to the finish and things started to break down a little more, this became an enjoyable one!
With one slap, AJ Styles shuts up Gunther
Gunther came to the ring for a promo in the next segment. Before he faced the live crowd in New York, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce advised that he should add a little “respect” to his comments this time. Respect was out of the window before Gunther even said a word, as on his way down the ramp, he showed off a t-shirt of him submitting John Cena last month. The shirt had the caption: “Tap like a…”
Gunther mentioned that he was asked to be respectful, but thought it made more sense that people show more respect for him. He’s the one person who made Cena tap out, so he believes he’s the one who is actually owed something.
This speech was interrupted by AJ Styles, who wasn’t a fan of how Gunther was talking. Styles tried to get a word in on the mic, but was cut off by Gunther each time he started talking.
“What is little AJ gonna do about it?” Gunther said. Styles realized talking wasn’t going to send the right message, so he instead slapped Gunther across the face. They went forehead-to-forehead as Styles said, “You’re not gonna do nothing.”
Styles got on the mic: “That’s what I thought, nothing.” Styles walked away, leaving an irate Gunther in the ring by himself.
I guess here’s what I don’t get: Gunther is a coward, as illustrated by this segment. But, he beat Cena fair and clean, and shouldn’t that mean that he is legitimately one of the best fighters on the show? If that’s what we’re led to believe, and he is one of the best fighters, why is he so scared to retaliate in segments like this? I just don’t understand how making Gunther look small here lines up with everything else about his persona.
Becky Lynch scores sneaky pin to regain title
Ivy Nile was seen backstage calling for a shot at the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, insisting that she won’t be booted to the back of the line for the title.
Gunther approached Adam Pearce to demand a match against AJ Styles for next week. Styles got in between them to further provoke Gunther, saying he ran to complain immediately like a bitch. Pearce confirmed that they will face off next week.
Becky Lynch attempted to reclaim the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship in the next match, facing incumbent champ Maxxine Dupri. Lynch’s previous reign came to a shocking end last year when Dupri scored an upset win over her, partially with the help of AJ Lee.
Dupri was on a roll after the show returned from a break, scoring a trio of clotheslines, a splash in the corner, then a fisherman suplex. She dropped Lynch with a spinning heel kick for a two-count.
Lynch caught a second kick, but Dupri used the position for a crafty takedown, transitioning to an Ankle Lock – this was very slick. Lynch escaped, but found herself in another Ankle Lock just moments later.
Lynch was able to reverse the Ankle Lock into a Disarmer, but Dupri once again switched it to an Ankle Lock. The fight went to the top rope, where Lynch scored a Superplex followed by a DDT for a two-count.
A series of reversals ended with Lynch scoring a back suplex for another near fall. Lynch tried for her own Ankle Lock, but Dupri escaped. The champ connected with a German Suplex, then came off the top with a crossbody. A follow-up pin attempt was milliseconds away from getting it done.
Lynch picked up Dupri for a powerbomb attempt, but the champ escaped and transitioned into yet another Ankle Lock. Lynch countered into a pin attempt, grabbing a rope for leverage in a spot where the referee couldn’t see for the three-count. In a result which was described by Corey Graves as an example of “veteran instinct,” Lynch regained the WWE Intercontinental Championship.
This wasn’t a perfect match, but it included many fun exchanges between these two. Unfortunately, the crowd was completely uninterested and at times more focused on chanting “Y2J.” Still, this was enjoyable and at 11 minutes didn’t feel too long.
Je’Von Evans joins Raw
A vignette teased the arrival of Oba Femi. We’ve seen these videos on both Raw and Smackdown, so his landing spot isn’t confirmed just yet. Speaking of call-ups, Je’Von Evans signed with Raw during the commercial break.
Appearing just a week after claiming the WWE World Tag Team Championships, The Usos showed up in the crowd for a promo. They gave credit to AJ Styles and Dragon Lee for a good title fight on last week’s Raw but said they’re looking forward to 2026, which will be their year.
Jey had a warning shot for any team on the roster: “Run up and get done up.” Jimmy said they’re the best tag team in the game, and that they’ll be waiting for their next challenger.
Raquel Rodriguez tries to further injure Stephanie Vaquer
WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer came to the ring for an interview in the next segment. She was sporting a walking boot on her left foot, and commentary noted that she suffered an ankle injury in her match last week against Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez.
Vaquer was asked about her 2025, which included 100 days as Raw’s top women’s talent. She discussed her past challenges and said she achieved her dreams in 2025.
Vaquer pointed to her walking boot and assured fans that she’s not ending her reign because of the injury: “This will not stop me,” she said. “I want more, I want everyone.”
Vaquer’s celebration was cut short by Raquel Rodriguez, who snuck into the ring and attacked the champ from behind. Rodriguez targeted Vaquer’s injured left leg with a series of stomps, then picked her up for a big Tejana Bomb.
Rodriguez grabbed a chair from ringside and wedged it between Vaquer’s injured leg, trying to take the champ out of commission for a long time. An infuriated Adam Pearce stormed his way to the ring and ripped the chair off Vaquer’s foot, preventing the attack from getting any worse. Rodriguez celebrated as an injured Vaquer was laid out in the ring, getting helped to the back by many WWE staffers during the commercial break.
Just when we thought it was over, Rodriguez found Vaquer backstage and attacked her again. After dropping Vaquer to the ground, Rodriguez stomped on her leg one more time. Rodriguez was scared off by Pearce, who threatened to fine her. Wouldn’t be surprised if this is how they write Vaquer off due to her injury.
Liv Morgan wins in return
Liv Morgan made her in-ring return in the next segment, going head-to-head with Lyra Valkyria. This was Morgan’s first televised appearance in over six months due to injury. Morgan had Roxanne Perez in her corner, and Valkyria was accompanied by Bayley (this would become significant later on).
Morgan had control of the match as the show went to a break, throwing Valkyria into a set of stairs at ringside. The two women got into a striking exchange after the show returned, a back-and-forth which ended after Valkyria scored a German suplex.
Valkyria came off the ropes with a tornado DDT, then a suplex bridged into a pin attempt. Morgan reversed a fireman’s carry into a pin attempt, which Valkyria escaped at two. Morgan countered an attempted Nightwing from Valkyria into a Codebreaker for a two-count. On a night where many theorized whether or not Chris Jericho would appear, it’s funny to see his finisher show up more than once.
Valkyria tried to run the ropes, but stumbled and fell to the outside due to Perez peeling down the bottom rope. Bayley chased Perez up the ramp and backstage with a chair, attempting to take her out of the equation for the rest of the match. This exchange unfortunately distracted Valkyria while she was in the perfect position to take Morgan’s finisher, Into Oblivion. The Judgment Day member hit the move and secured a pinfall victory in just under nine minutes. Fine match.
CM Punk defends against Bron Breakker in come from behind performance
The main event of the night saw WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk attempt to defend his title for the first time, going up against The Vision’s Bron Breakker.
Breakker scored the first big move of the match, catching Punk mid-air for a powerslam just before the show went to a break. Breakker remained in control through the commercials, running the ropes for a high-speed spear at one point.
Punk worked his way out of a submission and attempted a GTS, but Breakker countered into a back suplex. Breakker knocked Punk down with a running knee to the head. Punk got up and once again tried for a GTS, but Breakker escaped again. This time, he landed a hard Gutbuster to Punk for a two-count.
Breakker dumped Punk out of the ring for one of his high-speed spears. Breakker came charging around the ring but instead of landing his devastating pounce, he was hit with a leaping elbow from Punk. The champ started to battle back into the fight as the show went into its final break.
Breakker was ahead in the fight again during the break, getting this match back to a bout where Punk was fighting from behind. Breakker scored a nice standing moonsault to Punk just before the show returned. Breakker tried for a Frankensteiner out of the corner but came up short, crashing down to the mat without Punk following him. Whether or not the move was supposed to connect here, Breakker had a really hard landing on the mat, nearly falling on the top of his head. With that being said, I’m learning towards this moment being an error.
Punk came off the top with an elbow drop for a two-count. They went to the top again so Breakker could get his Frankensteiner upon second attempt.
Breakker lifted up Punk for a move, but the champ turned it into a DDT. Punk scored a heel kick and hit a neckbreaker, clawing his way back into a match where success for him was few and far in-between.
Punk landed a knee to the head in a corner of the ring, then came off the top with an elbow drop. He called for the GTS but started to get distracted by Paul Heyman, who climbed up to the ring apron. It was at this time that backup for Breakker arrived, with Logan Paul, Austin Theory and Bronson Reed appearing at ringside.
Breakker pushed Punk into the referee, allowing a moment for anyone to storm the ring and get a free shot in against the champ. Theory slid into the ring and gave Punk a Curbstomp. Breakker tried to win the match following the help from Theory, but it wasn’t enough to put away the champ.
Attempting to make the save for Punk was Dragon Lee, Penta and Rey Mysterio, who showed up at ringside to take out The Vision. The groups brawled into the timekeeper’s area then the crowd, ruling out interferences for the rest of the match.
Back in the ring, Breakker started lining Punk up for a spear. Once he finally attempted the move, Punk got out of the way. Punk lifted Breakker up and finally connected with his GTS finisher, but it still couldn’t put him away!
Punk busted out a piledriver, but Breakker kicked out again. Another GTS from Punk was countered into a Fujiwara armbar. Punk rolled out of the move then locked in an Anaconda Vice.
Breakker worked up to his feet then took Punk out with a gutbuster followed by a hard lariat. Still, it wasn’t enough to end the match.
Breakker tried to steal a trick out of Punk’s book, attempting a GTS of his own. Punk escaped the move and instead transitioned to an STF in the middle of the ring. The submission attempt was stopped after Heyman returned to the ring apron. Punk grabbed Heyman by the collar and struck him in the head, knocking him to the floor.
Breakker tried to spear Punk, but instead went flying through the ropes and to the outside. With Breakker on the outside, Punk tried for a tope suicida but instead ate a hard forearm from Breakker as he came through the ropes – this looked great on TV, a really nasty landing for Punk.
Breakker came flying off the top rope and to the outside onto Punk, who was leaning against the commentator’s desk. They both took a hard fall as the desk imploded under them.
The match went back into the ring, where Breakker ran the ropes and tried for his fast spear, but Punk countered him mid-air with a knee to the head. Punk lifted up Breakker one last time and connected with another GTS, securing him the pinfall victory in 26 minutes. Punk is still the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, and Breakker’s first big title reign will have to come another time.
To be honest, I really enjoyed this match. Punk did well in the underdog spot, struggling to keep up with the younger, faster, more powerful Breakker. It’s nice that this match didn’t have an interference in the end, but also provided a plausible explanation for why Breakker’s heel friends didn’t help him win. They did a great job building up the momentum through nearly half an hour, and I like the move to not put the title on Breakker here.
Final thoughts
While it was a show without any real surprises (something the first Smackdown of 2026 had no shortage of), this week’s Raw delivered a pair of stellar title showings, along with two other matches which were decent at worst. The opening tag bout was quite enjoyable, and the main event had the type of “big fight feel” that you rarely get for TV presentations. This show didn’t blow my socks off and won’t be up for any awards in 12 months, but it was a good way for the Monday night brand to get its year started.
