WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 12.22.25

Happy Monday to you! It’s a taped edition of Raw this week as the talent is on Christmas break, so let’s give this the ol’ taped Raw energy.

Speaking of taped, have you checked out the SmackDown Rewind yet? I’ve gone back to the beginning of SmackDown in 1999 to review the show with 2025 eyes. You can read through it all here. If you’re a weekly reader, I’m taking the week off for the holidays. Nobody’s reading about SmackDown 1999 on Christmas Day. I’ll kick it back off next Thursday with a look at an episode featuring Pepper on a Pole and an old creep winning the WWF Championship.

The last week in WWE (and adjacent) shows via the Blog of Doom crew: Raw / NXT / EVOLVE / Impact / SmackDown

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

Previously on Raw, The Masked Man helped Logan Paul defeat Rey Mysterio and revealed himself to be Austin Theory, delighting all six of Theory’s fans.

Arrivals! WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and Rey Mysterio are here and tonight they’ll battle two Vision members. The Judgment Day are here, Roxanne Perez battles Bayley tonight. Je’Von Evans, soon to be free agent notes Michael Cole, is cold and ready to battle Rayo Americano. Gunther (large amount of boos) is here as well. Hey, The Vision are here too! Well, Logan Paul didn’t seem to make it. Paul Heyman tells the gentlemen to get out of the cold. As they leave, Paul walks up to Austin Theory. Theory wanted everyone to feel his actions before they saw his face. “I’ve made some bad decisions,” Theory says. Theory volunteers to take a spot in the Vision’s match tonight. “Interesting,” says Heyman.

We are taped in Grand Rapids on Netflix and presented by DoorDash. Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from ringside as this was taped at the SmackDown taping. Mark Nash is on the ring announce call tonight.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky talk backstage. With Iyo not medically cleared, Rhea asks her to stay in the back before giving her a Mami-sized hug. She walks directly from here to the Gorilla position and…

Rhea Ripley vs WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka (with Kairi Sane)

This week’s set is covered in Christmas trees and gifts, all surviving Rhea’s big stomp entrance. As always, the lady gets a lot of screams for her entrance. I’m not expecting a clean result here with these two in a tag match on the big Netflix anniversary Raw in two weeks.

Rhea sets in with an attack early, battling outside. Rhea tosses Asuka in and is distracted by Kairi, getting hip-attacked off the rope. Asuka attacks and we go to commercial which doesn’t exist this week, so we just miss that part of the match.

Back from the non-break, Asuka is battering Rhea with and kicks in the corner. Asuka nails Asuka with a giant knee but only for a one count. Kairi trips Rhea again, giving Asuka the chance to continue her advantage. She struts and smacks Rhea with several kicks to the chest, Rhea catching the last and smacking Asuka right back as we take another pause.

The women are battling back and forth when we return. Asuka hits a release German suplex and a kick for two. As blood trickles from Rhea’s nose, she slips under Asuka and offers a kick to the face before dropping her in an electric chair-type move for a two. “This is awesome,” chants the crowd. They’re right. Mami calls for the Razor’s Edge, Asuka rolls it into a two count. Asuka dodges a boot and tries for the hip attack again, Rhea catches and the brawl on the apron with Asuka suplexing Rhea onto the apron. Damn. Asuka jumps right into a boot and rolls out, Rhea chasing and hitting a cannonball to the outside. As the ref checks on Asuka, Kairi yanks Rhea off the top rope. That brings out the injured Iyo Sky, hitting her despite holding her back. Kairi drops Iyo on the apron right onto her injured back, Rhea going to check on her partner. Asuka rolls her up and that’s a three.

Iyo Sky pins Rhea Ripley. This was very good as it always is when Rhea and Asuka go head-to-head. There’s no way we were getting a clean victory with no interference, but it is good hype for the big live show in a few weeks.

Bron Breakker and Big Bronson Reed talk to Paul Heyman backstage, asking “Theory?” Heyman reminds them of where they were a year and a half ago. “How did all this happen? Someone had a vision for the two of you.” He says he has a vision for Theory so tonight, Reed teems with Theory. “Either Austin Theory carries out our Vision or the two of you make sure they carry Austin Theory’s ass out of WWE.”

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine is walking and she’ll join us next.

The second season of WWE Unreal debuts January 20 right here on Netflix. I’m not sure I’ll review it like last season, but perhaps.

“The Man” Becky Lynch has finally returned to Monday Night Raw wearing a gigantic fur coat. She has had a great series of vlogs the last couple of weeks in her absence. She gets a good reaction but tells the fans this is not a celebration for Moody Maxxine. There was a corrupt referee and she is the real Intercontinental Champion. She knows the fans are very upset about the corruption and Petty Pearce won’t do anything about it so she knows some powerful people. She went to the bigwigs – the biggest wigs – at Netflix who told her to go to Grand Rapids (“I haven’t seen a single rapid, very misleading name”) and take matters into her own hands. She’s the greatest female wrestler of all time and it’s not just her saying it, Sports Illustrated says it, the Raw reviewer from Blog of Doom says it, Bleacher Report says it. She said two of those.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine interrupts the rant to moderate applause. Maxxine reminds her that she BEAT the greatest of all-time not once, not twice, but three times. She says Becky can have a shot whenever she wants it and she’ll beat her a fourth time. She is very fired up and it’s a good showing for her. “All I want is for you to admit that. Take it on the chin like the Man you say you are.” Becky mauls her and grabs her title, posing on the apron and going back for the beatdown. Maxxine is able to grab the leg and hooks the ankle lock, yelling at Becky to “SAY IT.” She rolls it in all the way and Becky taps, rolling out of the ring when Maxxine releases.

You know what? That was fantastic. Becky is of course great, but Maxxine cut a hell of a fired up babyface promo. Keep giving her foils that are heated up and she’ll be okay. This did her 500% more good than having a match last week against Ivy Nile who we hadn’t seen in a year.

Je’Von Evans is with WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce. Pearce wants to talk about Je’Von’s future later. As Evans leaves, WWE World Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer enters. She wants Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez and Adam makes it official for next week.

Here’s a look at the Usos. Next week, they’re going for Dragon Lee and AJ Styles.

Rayo Americano (with El Grande Americano and Bravo Americano) vs Je’Von Evans

Rayo is rumored to be Pete Dunne, but there’s no way to prove such a thing. Je’Von gets a good reaction and it’s only going to increase as the exposure continues. Michael Cole can’t find a thing about Rayo on Wikipedia. Maybe the ads asking for a $2.28 donation threw him off the scent. Rayo chops Je’Von in the corner and works the arm as a “Let’s Go Evans” chant picks up. Je’Von springs off the ropes for a rana and Rayo catches himself in the ropes, knocking Evans over the top. Evans flies onto Rayo over the top rope which sends us to our break because even when we don’t have commercials, the production team would be lost if they didn’t send us away after a replay of flying attack.

Rayo’s back in control when we return. Je’Von ducks and nearly takes Rayo’s head off with a kick. He rips his “67” shirt off and suplexes Rayo then heads to the apron, springboarding onto Rayo for a two. Grande distracts the ref which gives Bravo the chance to help, Rayo nailing a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Rayo slaps Je’Von and misses a top rope dive, Evans jumping with the OG Cutter for the pin.

Je’Von Evans pins Rayo Americano. This was a good win and a good match for Je”Von. The Americanos are a bit of a miss for me as there was big mystery as they debuted and then just kinda disappeared to Main Event.

It’s a Christmas miracle; unbiased journalist Cathy Kelley is back for the week on Raw. She’s caught up with WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, hyping up their match with the Usos next week.

Punk and Rey are having a chat backstage.

Bron Breakker has some pre-taped comments about CM Punk, He says he is inevitable and the dog that Punk can’t outrun.

As Corey and Michael greet us from ringside, Nikki Bella interrupts with a microphone. She climbs on the announce table. “I am Nikki Bella, I am a legend, I am a Hall of Famer and I am a former champion. This is what champions look like.” The people of Michigan of course wouldn’t know what champions look like because they root for the Lions. She is going to destroy Stephanie’s reign next week. This was a good heel promo for Nikki and she’s remixed her look a bit which also worked well with it. I liked this.

Bayley (with Lyra Valkyria) vs Roxanne Perez (with Liv Morgan)

I’m sure this will lead to the inevitable tag match. Bayley muscles Roxanne up on the outside, Roxanne slides off and takes Bayley’s knee out. Rox works Bayley’s knee in the ring before Bayley dodges, sending us to break.

Raquel Rodriguez appears at ringside as Bayley gets a swinging neck breaker for a two. Lyra pulls Raquel off the apron and offers a kick, Liv tosses Lyra right over the announce table. Rox drops a knee to the spine for a two and screams in frustration at the kickout. Liv distracts the ref as Perez removes the middle turnbuckle cover, knocking Bayley right into it. Raquel distracts the ref as Rox tries for the pin, Liv pulling her down to argue. As the trio argue, Lyra leaps off the announce table onto Liv and Raquel and Rox walks right into a belly-to-back suplex. Lyra slaps Bayley to give her a second wind and Bayley powers up, going up top and dropping the big elbow for a three.

Bayley pins Roxanne Perez. This was good! Judgment Day turmoil continues as it does and this was a good showing for Bayley.

Becky vs Maxxine is announced for the Netflix anniversary Raw.

Austin Theory finds Bronson Reed backstage. Reed tells him to follow his lead. Austin says he’ll start the match and Reed can follow his lead.

Gunther is headed to the ring and he’ll speak to us next.

Judgment Day clubhouse. The women are yelling. Raquel was just trying to help. She leaves frustrated to prepare for her match next week.

Gunther enters through the sea of Christmas trees, all smiles and to a ton of booing. As the music goes off, the boos grow. After he soaks it in, he climbs the announce table and takes in another minute of jeers. He says the fans should be mad at the guy who tapped out like a little bitch (censored) and drops the mic.

“Cult of Personality” hits and here’s WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. He gets right in Gunther’s face. Big Gunther smiles and leaves, laughing and doing the “you can’t see me” on the stairs as he marches out. Rey Mysterio comes down the aisle as well and shakes his head at Gunther who towers over him. Gunther laughs at the deadbeat as well.

After a break, Gunther is again walking backstage. AJ Styles meets him and Gunther laughs, walking off.

Next week, WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez and World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee defend against The Usos.

WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk and WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio vs Big Bronson Reed and Austin Theory (with Paul Heyman)

Graves reminds us that Theory defeated John Cena at WrestleMania. Theory as promised starts it off against Rey. We work through a break and Reed works over Punk who has been taking it hard over the time jump. Theory drops a boot on Punk and Reed comes in to work over Punk some more. Punk can’t find his footing with the attack, Reed getting a two and continuing to work Punk with a headlock. Punk dodges a dive and gets the hot tag to Rey. Rey gets a little attack and dodges a squashing, sentoning his way into a two count. Rey ranas Theory and dives onto him with another senton for our final replay and commercial non-break of the night.

Back from it, Theory is choking Rey on the rop. Reed lifts Rey up for an extended vertical suplex and tags in Theory who continues the work on Rey. Cole asks what is different about Theory tonight and the answer is that he’s acting serious instead of being half of a tag team that acted like goobers. Punk finally gets his hot tag and knees Theory in the corner – “vintage Punk,” exclaims Cole – before a running bulldog and a stare at Heyman. Punk signals for the GTS and Theory elbows out, getting the tag to Bronson. Rey sets up the 619, Theory sneaks a tag in and clotheslines Rey before knocking Punk off the apron. Rey reverses Theory into the 619 and drops the dime for a two, Reed pulling him outside. Punk leaps onto Reed and they brawl outside, almost taking Mark Nash out. Rey is crotched on the top rope by Theory who offers up a curb stomp for the three count.

Bron Breakker runs out to attack Punk after the match, Theory trying for the save. After Punk disposes of Theory, he turns around into a spear and we head to the credits.

Austin Theory pins Rey Mysterio, Theory & Bronson Reed defeat Mysterio & CM Punk. This was fine. I kind of lost interest at some point but it wasn’t bad. We’re just rolling along to the January 5 show.

Overall, an enjoyable episode especially when it was over at 9:40 or so. We should go without commercials more often. While a taped holiday show, they did actually do a lot of interesting stuff this time. They did a good job hyping next week as well as the live return in January. The opener was hot, Maxxine had a hell of a promo as did Nikki, and the rise of Je’Von continues. This one is an easy recommendation to watch. It’s an easy hour and a half and most of it is good.