WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 12.29.25

Tonight, for the final time in 2025, Raw is War! It’s a big show from Orlando tonight with two title matches and, as always, The Vision. So much Vision.

Before we hop in, I wanted to offer up my favorite things that I’ve written in 2025:

Raws – February 3 (guest reviewing), May 19 (first official review), August 18 (Naomi is pregnant), September 8 (AJ’s Raw return), November 17 (Cena’s final Raw)

Other Shows from 2025 – Evolution, Wrestlepalooza, SNME: Cena’s Final Match, The 2025 Slammy Awards

Retro Reviews – SmackDown Rewind 8.26.99 (first official episode), Nitro: Russo’s Revenge. Dynamite: The First Episode, Bash at the Beach 2000, TakeOver Brooklyn: Sasha vs Bayley

Things That Aren’t Reviews – Evolving Through Life with Women’s Wrestling, The Rise and Fall of WWE on Peacock

And now, the last week or so in WWE and WWE-adjacent programming thanks to the Blog of Doom writing squad: Raw / NXT / Impact / SmackDown

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

This is the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida and this is Monday Night Raw on Netflix presented by DoorDash. Here’s a look back at Austin Theory unmasking and then helping the Vision find victory last week.

Arrivals! Rey Mysterio is petting Barry, Rhea Ripley’s dog, and he’ll face Austin Theory tonight. Barry has questionable taste hanging out with that deadbeat. The Usos enter and tonight, they’ll try to win the World Tag Team Titles. WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is here and she’ll defend in a triple threat match. Paul Heyman leads The Vision to our opening segment.

The Vision (Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, Big Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory) are here for our opening talk. This is approximately the 8583th show in 2025 to open with The Vision. Remember when seemingly every show opened with a Triple H promo? Heyman complains about the CM Punk chants and says this is the moment that you’ll identify the WrestleMania main events of the era. He formally introduces the newest member of the Vision, Austin Theory and hands him a mic.

First, Theory wants to talk about the next World Heavyweight Champion, Bron Breakker. Before he can go further, “Cult of Personality” brings out WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. He’s wearing a t-shirt, folks. Don’t let Kevin Nash see this. After the required Punk chant, Punk says he isn’t here for Theory but instead for Breakker. He reminds the Vision that if they beat him up tonight, there probably isn’t a title shot for Bron next week. Instead, he wants to look Bron in the eye before he puts him to sleep. The Vision clears out and allows the men a face-to-face.

Bron offers some thoughts, telling Punk to find anyone else in the locker room that can take over the business like he did. Everything he’s had to do in his life has been under a microscope and he’s had to do things at the highest possible level. “On January 5th, I am willing to die for that championship and I know you are too… and I’m going to let you.” After another round of CM Punk chants, Punk retorts. He thinks Bron is more ready than anyone in the locker room. He’s not ready though, and drops the title. “Pick it up, it’s a lot heavier than you think.” Punk talks about the privilege of carrying the belt and how he isn’t ready to let it go. He shoves the mic at Bron and says he’ll see him January 5th. Good, fiery promos from both.

Jackie Redmond is backstage with Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel promises no tricks tonight and nobody getting in her way. This brings us Liv Morgan, apologizing for Judgment Day being weird for the last few weeks. Judgment Day needs her to take care of business tonight. Raquel says she can handle things alone. Roxanne Perez walks up and Liv says they all want the same thing, their sister as new champion. Raquel tells them she doesn’t need luck and walks away.

WWE Women’s World Title: WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella vs Raquel Rodriguez

Nikki is continuing her journey from the red and black gear, moving to a green and silver set. It’s a good change to her presentation. Joe Tess reminds us that Stephanie could lose her title without a pinfall as it is triple threat. The great Alicia Taylor gives us the championship introductions. Bella shoves Raquel away and Raquel shoves right back. Stephanie calls for an early Devil’s Kiss which is stopped by Bella. Raquel falls to a Bella dropkick outside, Stephanie goes down to the barricade as Nikki rules to lead us to a break.

Back from break, Nikkk leaps into Raquel’s arms and is crossbodied across the ring. Raquel hooks Stephanie across her back for a submission attempt, Stephanie breaks out and Raquel picks her up for a second attempt. Raquel slides Steph down into a pin attempt, Stephanie arches out and rolls Stephanie up for a pin attempt broken by Nikki. Raquel stops another Devil’s Kiss attempt and tosses Nikki out of the ring as Joe lets us know that Dirty Dom is officially out due to injury. Back in, Bella hooks a nice STF on Raquel. Stephanie comes from behind and hooks the Devil’s Kiss on Nikki as the hold is on which is inventive. The fans chant “one more time.” Vaquer dragon screws Nikki and offers one up to Raquel as well and we take another break.

Back to it, Nikki power bombs Raquel from the turnbuckle while Raquel suplexes Staphanie. Nikki dodges a kick and rolls up Raquel for a two as we get our first “this is awesome” chant of the evening. A Demogorgon walks past the corner graphic to tell us that Stranger Things invades Raw next week. Stephanie rolls Raquel up for a 2.5. Stephanie runs into a Tejana Bomb grab, Raquel grabs Nikki off the top to throw her into it too and Stephanie slides out, Nikki taking the Bomb alone. Stephanie tosses Raquel out and pins Nikki Bella.

Stephanie Vaquer pins Nikki Bella to retain the WWE Women’s World Title. I liked this. Nikki couldn’t quite keep up which is mostly what we get with Nikki nowadays, but Raquel especially shined in this one. She’s shined a lot this year.

Gunther is walking and met by Jackie. She asks about his disrespectful behavior. Before he can fully explain, R-Truth arrives and says the disrespect has to stop. He’s tired of hearing Gunther say the same old song. Welcome to Raw, Truth. That’s what happens here. Gunther laughs at Truth and says he’ll see him in the ring.

Celebrities! They love Raw! Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles is here! The rest of the celebrities are probably at Epcot though Christmas-New Year’s is the hell stretch at theme parks. Granted, they’re celebrities and can afford the VIP tour guides.

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) are next to join us in the arena. Asuka gloats about beating Rhea Ripley last week before telling the crowd that they are stupid. Kairi thinks Iyo Sky should never have upset her, angering Asuka and taking her mic. The fans chant for “Rhea” and Asuka reminds us that no one is ready for the Kabuki Warriors. You might expect this leads to “This is my brutality” and the monster pop and you’d be correct as Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky join us. They come in, the Warriors roll out so they chase. The brawl is on at ringside as Kairi shoves Iyo – injured back first – into the announce table. She does recover to save Rhea and they deliver kicks to the Warriors, celebrating in the ring. Next week, these teams battle for the belts.

Rey Mysterio is stretching backstage and met by Punk. Punk tells Rey he has his back, Rey says he’s good and Punk needs to protect himself. Rey says he’s covered tonight and tells Punk to trust him.

Gunther vs R-Truth

I don’t see this ending well for Truth. Wade Barrett tells us that this isn’t the singing and dancing Truth that we know but it mostly is. Truth attacks but starts chopping away at Truth. Truth tries for a sleeper and Gunther traps him in a corner, dropping him with another drop. Several clotheslines take Truth down repeatedly and Truth has one more rally, hitting a shoulder tackle before Gunther kicks him down with a big smile. Powerbomb and that’s an easy three… or not as Gunther pulls Truth up, hammers him with elbows and hooks on the sleeper. Truth taps.

Gunther defeats R-Truth by submission. Basically a squash which is what it should have been.

Main Event Jey Uso is being emo backstage when Big Jim Uso joins him clapping. Jimmy tells Jey he can feel something isn’t right and he needs Jey to lock in. Jey feels like nothing has been going his way and he doesn’t want to put his brother in a bad spot too. Jimmy says the only bad spot is in Jey’s head and the Jey he knows has everybody in the arena ready to yell one word, four letters, ugh-ugh. Jey offers a handshake and a yeet.

Here’s a video package about NXT Champion Oba Femi.

Je’Von Evans greets WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, wishing them good luck. Je’Von has a meeting with Adam Pearce tonight and Adam says wherever Je’Von and Leon Slater end up, they’ll meet them there. Los Americanos interrupt as we see the Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile in the background. Je’Von says he goes where he pleases and I imagine we’re building up a six-man tag. Je’Von: “I don’t know what he said.”

Austin Theory is shadow boxing with Logan Paul cheering him on. Paul Heyman welcomes Austin again as the Brons enter the room. Bron promises that they have his back and Austin acknowledges his Tribal Thief. Logan notes how big of a star he is and that Austin did great, also saying he has his back. Heyman says that Logan should be the one to take Austin to the ring tonight.

WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio vs Austin Theory (with Logan Paul)

I don’t know if Theory’s theme song is new this week, but it definitely sounds like a Def Rebel song I won’t recognize when they play it at the Rumble. Theory controls it early until is rolled into 619 position. He catches a diving Rey outside and slams him into the ring post and then the apron – the hardest part of the ring! – to lead us to our 87th DoorDash commercial of the night. It worked though because I ordered tacos.

When we get back, Rey is battling back but can’t seem to get the advantage. Theory hooks Rey into a reverse torture rack but Rey DDTs his way out for a two. Rey lands the 619 and tries to spring into the ring but is pulled down by Logan, ending the match. The Vision boys attack until we get the very surprise return of Penta, taking both men down. The crowd is HOT for Penta.

Rey Mysterio defeats Logan Paul by disqualification. This was fine. Rey is the right person to make Austin look impressive. The Penta surprise was the real treat and it’s cool to see what a connection Penta has earned this year with the fans.

Here’s a video package on Rhea and Iyo. Rhea calls Asuka delusional and promises to break her next week. Iyo says Kairi is lost and it is too late to fix her ways.

Dragon Lee and AJ Styles are getting their last stretches in. Next, they defend the belts.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri is here in-ring as Joe Tess notes she has wedding vows and a title defense coming up in a span of five days. She thanks the WWE Universe who return a “you deserve it” chant to her. Maxxine says Becky Lynch can’t deny that she had no choice but tap last week and next week, she’s not letting go of the title. Becky Lynch interrupts. “I did not tap out. The only thing that I tapped out to was living in Orlando.” Fair. She tells the crowd that if they get rich and famous one day, they too can move out away from Orlando. She came to give Maxxine credit – though she stutters out ‘credit” – and thought Maxxine was awful at first but Maxxine has gotten a tiny bit better. Maxxine says she’ll show Becky why she won next week and Becky (and perhaps Sports Illustrated) will be saying she’s the Intercontinental Champion. Becky lists her accomplishments and who has printed them and knows it isn’t over until she wins. This was a good promo from both women and Maxxine is particularly really good on the mic for a rookie.

Trick Williams is backstage with Raw General Manager Adam Peace. Trick gives him his card and tells him to call him quickly because they all want him. Bayley and Lyra Valkyria storm in and want next after the big tag title match. Bayley calls Adam a bald idiot and Lyra appreciates the consideration.

Wade Barrett and Joe Tessitore finally greet us from ringside, but it is for the last time as they head to SmackDown, Corey Graves and Michael Cole joining us next week for a Raw/Stranger Things crossover. Women’s Tag Team Champions Kairi & Asuka defend against Rhea & Iyo, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Maxxine Dupri defends against Becky Lynch, and World Heavyweight Champion Bron Breakker defends against Bron Breakker. Plus, perhaps Karen Wheeler will be there! Maybe Derek will join The Vision.

WWE World Tag Team Titles: WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles & Dragon Lee vs The Usos (Main Event Jey and Big Jim)

The Usos yeet from the concourse to the ring through the sold-out crowd. AJ and Jey start, Joe noting the pressure that Jey seems to be feeling tonight. After a few moves we take a break and return to Jimmy working over Lee. Lee drops the boots on Jimmy in the corner for a two and tags in AJ who chops away at Jimmy. Jey sneaks in a cheap shot kick as the ref checks on Styles.

Lee snatches Jey up for a power bomb and a two count. Jimmy slings Lee into the steps and clears the announce table, AJ leaping off the steps before Jey leaps onto AJ and things have broken down at ringside. “Me and you,” says Jimmy as we go to another break.

The Usos are working over Lee when we return. Lee offers the double stomp to Jimmy and gets a hot tag, Jimmy getting one to Jey as well. AJ takes Jey down with strikes and a big forearm in the corner. Jey gets a spear and tags in Jim who lands the Uso splash for a very near fall. That woke the crowd UP. Lee leaps outside of the ring and totally over the desk to take himself and Jim down. AJ rolls up Jey for a two. Jey superkicks, AJ Pele Kicks and hits a Styles Clash for a near fall. Lee drops the boots and Styles goes for a Styles Clash only for Big Jim to head in to break it all up. AJ leaps into a stereo set of kicks and Lee takes the 1D. Jey pins Dragon Lee and for the ninth time, the Usos are your tag team champions.

Jey Uso pins Dragon Lee, Jimmy and Jey Uso are the new WWE World Tag Team Champions. A hot match and I’m a bit surprised at the result but I like it. The last five minutes were particularly great, especially when the first Usos near fall brought the crowd to as hot as they had been all night. Really good match, worth taking your time to watch. This adds a few stakes to Jey’s breakdown when he is probably the reason they eventually lose the belts.

The Usos yeet in the fans with their belts as fireworks explode. Roll credits.

More good than bad in this one. The main event was great and I enjoyed the women’s triple threat as well. The Penta surprise was nice and Maxxine and Becky both shined again when given promo time.

I’ll see you all next week for the big anniversary Raw!