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WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 01.12.26

By Kat Bourne on 12 January 2026

Schönen Montag and welcome to another edition of the Raw Review. After Friday’s SmackDown in Berlin, the road to the Royal Rumble continues with exclusively international shows through the big event (excluding NXT). This week, Raw comes to us very early in the U.S. with a trip to Düsseldorf, Germany. Düsseldorf, of course, has brought us Kraftwerk.

The last week in WWE programming: Stranger Things Raw / NXT New Year’s Evil / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown

Then, Now, Together, FOREVER.

Here’s a look at Stranger Things Raw from last week, including the crowning of new Women’s Tag Team Champions, a new Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and CM Punk squeaking by Bron Breakker.

Welcome to Düsseldorf, Germany. We’re at the PSD Bank Dome with over 11,000 fans live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

Arrivals! WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk walks in with a “Check On Your Teammates” hat. Logan Paul is vlogging and joined by Austin Theory, Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman. Theory and Reed face Penta and Dragon Lee tonight. Je’Von Evans is on his phone as all the kids are, playing Flappy Bird or something. Tonight, he’ll face Bravo Americano, entering with El Grande Americano and Rayo Americano and passing by The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile. AJ Styles is set to battle big Gunther, smirking as always. Fireworks explode!

WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions RHIYO (Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky) start us off tonight, Iyo getting the respectable pop and then Rhea blowing the roof off as always. We have a very long entryway this week. Rhea and Iyo, as usual, are very touchy and it’s going to hurt when one of them eventually breaks the other one’s heart. Rhea welcomes us to Monday Night Rhiyo and says they’ve finally put the Kabuki Warriors in their place. After a “you deserve it” chant, Iyo thanks the crowd and says they have big respect for the Kabuki Warriors because “no one is ready is Rhiyo.” Rhea issues a challenge to any tag team that wants to step up, and that’s all it takes for the music to hit.

Roxanne Perez & Liv Morgan join us. Liv tells Rhea it’s been a long time and they want to congratulate the new champs. However, she thinks those belts still belong to her as she’s one half of the greatest Women’s Tag Team Champions of all time and she never lost her title. She offers them the easy way or the hard way.

Bayley & Lyra Valkyria are next out. Bayley offers a DING DONG, and the fans sing her the customary “Will you be my girl” singalong that Bayley gets overseas. Bayley tells Liv that while she might not have lost the titles, her partner Roxanne did and she beat Rox herself a few weeks ago. Therefore, they deserve the tag title shot. The fans keep singing for Bayley and Iyo starts yelling at all of them in Japanese. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane) pull the champs outside and the three hopeful teams brawl. Rhea and Iyo come in for the fight as well, taking down the crowd and standing tall. A good segment and the women’s tag division might be the most stacked division in the company by a large margin.

Jackie Redmond has found AJ Styles. AJ believes that it is about respect and he always had that with John Cena. Gunther disrespects John so he slapped the taste out of Gunther’s mouth for John. “I’m going to make YOU tap out like a little bitch.”

Breaking news: a #1 contender’s triple threat match is coming tonight with the three teams from earlier. Liv and Rox meet up with Finn Balor backstage who is playing 2K. Liv wonders what Finn is doing. “It’s time to stop playing games.”

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

This is Je’Von’s first official TV match as a member of the Raw roster, having signed his contract during a commercial break (at least for those of us in the U.S.) last week. His jersey says “NXT 67” so he’s going to need a new one. The two trade headlocks as Michael Cole notes that this is Bravo’s first match ever on TV in Europe, something that I’m sure is very true as we definitely don’t know about Bravo’s past (Cole was very wink-wink with it all). Bravo crotches himself on the ropes and takes a slap, Je’Von flipping out of the way and hitting Bravo with a rana. Je’Von bounces around to the delight of the crowd and is distracted by Rayo as is referee Jessika Carr, giving El Grande the chance to kick Evans. Evans takes flight with a dive onto Bravo and then tosses him back in. Je’Von hits the running knee for a two. Bravo hooks a familiar-looking airplane spin on Je’Von. Je’Von leaps up to a very slow-climbing Bravo for a Spanish Fly and then smashes the G-Cutter for the three. Rayo and El Grande attack afterwards and toss Evans over the announce table. Je’Von climbs the announce table, leaps over all three men and runs.

Je’Von Evans pins Bravo Americano. A good showcase for Je’Von. The nods at who Bravo might be are also interesting though I’m not sure if they’ll pay it off any point soon. It sounds like we have some weeks of Evans vs Americanos to come.

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce is met by Paul Heyman. Adam asks where Bron Breakker is. Heyman tells him that he’ll let him know if he shows up and Pearce tells him that he shouldn’t bother.

The fans chant for CM Punk and they get him as WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk joins us. Is it good to be alive on a Monday night in Düsseldorf or what? He plans to be champion forever but right now we’re on the road to WrestleMania and anything can happen. “Just ask my friend Cody Rhodes.” He knows there are two opportunities for guys to call their shot ahead, the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. Bron is in his rear-view mirror and he’s looking forward to finding out who his next challenger will be.

Enter Finn Balor. “Here I am, champ.” Punk asks where Finn’s ambition is. He sees him playing video games, worrying about Dom, and shining Liv’s shoes. He wants to know if he’ll be wrestling Finn Balor of Finn Balor AND The Judgment Day having just battled the Vision. He is a fan of Finn Balor and he’s a fighting champion so he’s heading to the back to put his boots on and do this today. The crowd is pumped. Finn smiles. Timing is everything and Punk doesn’t have to worry about Dom or JD but he won’t be alone. He’s watched Punk’s career and Punk taking home team advantage. Next week they’re in Belfast, Ireland it’ll be the Punk vs the Prince and a new Irish World Heavyweight Champion. “Alright Prince, you’re on.”

Michael Cole and Wade Barrett greet us from ringside and give us a video package on Styles vs Gunther.

#1 Contender’s Match: Judgment Day (Roxanne Perez & Liv Morgan) vs Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)

The winners get a title shot at Saturday Night’s Main Event as both Wade and Michael note that Alexa & Charlotte and Nia & Lash on SmackDown are going to be mad about being left out of this title scene. Triple threat rules, so three women in at once and that starts with Bayley, Asuka and Liv. The fans sing for Bayley again which Kairi dances to and Roxanne covers Liv’s ears. They trade rollups to start. Bayley misses a corner splash and takes a knee from Liv who in turn takes a hip attack from Asuka. All three tag their partners and Kairi and Rox team up against Lyra until they don’t and Lyra slams Kairi’s head to the mat. Lyra knocks Rox down and tries for Nightwing, Kairi sliding out and taking both opponents down with a rana. Kairi elbows Rox as the crowd sings. Liv boots Lyra to the mat outside and Kairi leaps on a crew of brawling women to take us to break.

As Raw returns, Lyra is taking down all comers. Bayley cuts off Asuka and joins Lyra for a corner suplex attempt, Rox and Liv grab them and we have the big corner suplex/powerbomb spot and the “this is awesome” chant. Asuka drops two women with suplexes then takes both Bayley and Lyra down with a double German suplex. Kairi drops the corner elbow but isn’t the legal woman. Rox plants Asuka, Kairi leaps into a crossbody from Lyra and feels a flying elbow from Bayley for a two count. Rox hits Pop Rox on Bayley and Kairi breaks the pin. Liv nails Oblivion on Kairi and that’s what it takes for the pin.

Liv Morgan pins Kairi Sane, Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez defeat Bayley & Lyra Valkyria and Kabuki Warriors to become #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles. Hell of a match here. Seek it out. Hell of a division right now.

WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch has some pre-recorded thoughts. She took her title back fair and square and Mediocre Maxxine is already getting another title shot because of Power-Man Pearce. She’s in her homeland next week and she’ll prove why she’s the greatest female wrestler of all time and it isn’t just her saying it. Yep, Becky vs Maxxine again next week. I love them both but I’m tired, grandpa. They need to at least throw a stipulation on it but really, can we move on for both women. We have an early start time again next week at 3 p.m. ET.

Jackie is with Maxxine Dupri and the Alpha Babes, Tozawa and Otis. Maxxine is disappointed in losing the title but has proven that she belongs. She thinks it is time that Tozawa and Otis do the same. Last week was a setback but Becky cheated to beat her so she’s putting her in an ankle lock and breaking her ankle. Rude.

Michael Cole welcomes Raquel Rodriguez to the entrance area for an interview. He’s been with her throughout her rise and has always said she’s going to become a world champion, so he’s surprised with her actions last week. He has, perhaps, forgotten half of her career that he has been there for. She says things change and people do too. She won’t stop until she has Stephanie Vaquer in the ring. WWE World Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer limps out in her walking boot, officials trying to stop her (but not very hard). The referees leave with Raquel. Stephanie cuts a promo to the camera and tells Raquel to “come get it” and Raquel does, attacking and whipping Stephanie’s ankle with the belt. I’m all in on Raquel right now. This was a hit.

We have a brand new Undisputed Champion, Drew McIntyre, and here’s footage of him returning to his homeland of Scotland with the belt. He’ll be on SmackDown Friday night.

WWE World Tag Team Champion Main Event Jey Uso is on the phone with Big Jim when Alpha Academy join him. Otis asks for a slice of the tag title scene and Jey tries to blow them off. Otis tells him they’re serious and Jey says he’ll get with Big Jim and get back with them. Tozawa offers a “yeet.” Otis & Tozawa last won a Raw tag match in October 2024, so Jey being hesitant is fair.

The Vision (Big Bronson Reed & Austin Theory, with Logan Paul & Paul Heyman) vs Penta & Dragon Lee

The fans chant for Penta as he starts off with Theory. They battle back and forth for a bit and Dragon ducks Reed in the corner for a good stretch until leaping right into his arms for a slam. Bronson presses Lee to the top turnbuckle and Theory attacks on the outside, sending us to a break and more commercials about this man climbing a skyscraper.

Not much has changed when we return as Reed is working over Lee in the ring. After a few more minutes of dominance, Reed tries for a powerbomb and Lee counters with a DDT. Penta and Theory tag in. Penta and Lee offer superkicks to all who can take them including Logan, Lee suicide dives onto the Vision until we get the very sudden appearance of Bron Breakker coming out of nowhere and spearing Lee, causing a DQ. Bron spears Penta as well before heading outside to walk right into Adam Pearce who says it isn’t happening tonight. He tells Bron to go home which seems like something he should have told him before coming to Germany. As Pearce yells at Bron, Reed Tsunamis Penta. Adam goes to argue with Reed and Bron spears Lee. The angered Pearce spins Bron around and gets rightfully thrown into the corner by Bron, the rest of the Vision pulling him off. I’m sorry, Adam deserved all of this. Heyman tries to apologize and Bron yells for Adam to his ass, Adam yelling to get him out of here.

Dragon Lee and Penta defeat The Vision by disqualification. The match was fine; the post-match chaos was superb. There’s also a hell of a replay of the spear caught by the drone that will be in replays for the next decade.

The trainers check on Penta and Dragon Lee, Je’Von comes in and offering help if they need it. Hmm, wonder what match could be set up.

Bron is walking off and Pearce follows him, yelling and taking his blood pressure to unsafe levels and slobbering out of his mouth. He suspends Bron indefinitely. Perhaps the Rumble. Heyman tells Pearce that it is the biggest mistake he’s ever made, and Adam put his hands on Bron first. See, Adam deserved it.

Here’s a video package of Triple H answering “hilarious” video messages of WrestleMania pitches from the usual round of celebrities that we have in the WWE rotation. The only good one is Lin-Manual Miranda’s suggestion of Dom Mysterio: The Musical. This was, I’m told, “humor.”

Next week on Raw, we head to Belfast with a 3 pm ET/12 pm PT start time. Becky Lynch vs Maxxine happens yet again and Finn Balor gets a WWE World Heavyweight Title shot against CM Punk.

Oba Femi throws some NXT bodies around in a video package. Tomorrow on NXT, we’ll follow up on him relinquishing the NXT Title.

Gunther vs AJ Styles

This is a first-time TV singles match though they have four singles matches against each other, AJ winning two in the Intercontinental Title scene in 2022 and Gunther defeating AJ in two World Heavyweight Title cage matches in March 2025. Gunther gives Jackie some pre-match words about being able to do what he did to Cena and AJ needing to worry about what is about to happen to him. The great Alicia Taylor gives the in-ring introductions to add a little aura to it all.

The fans sing for AJ as the lockups start. Styles dodges a chop and Gunther ducks outside. Gunther arrived four years ago today in WWE and is 63-7, notes Cole. The fans trade “let’s go Gunther” and “AJ Styles” chants are traded between the fans as Gunther hooks a headlock and Styles wrestles out. Styles attacks the hamstring of Gunther and the fans chant for Gunther. Styles continues kicking at the hamstring and leaps onto Gunther outside the ring. Gunther drops AJ onto the ring apron – the hardest part of the ring! – and starts throwing the uppercuts as the referee counts. Gunther tries to drop Styles again, AJ bounces out with a knee and throws Gunther back into the ring. AJ continues kicking at Gunther who eventually catches and drops Styles with a clothesline. Gunther tries for a chop, AJ blocks and gives his own in the corner. Gunther does nail AJ with a chop that sends him right to the floor and us to a commercial break.

Gunther has controlled over the break, continuing to chop away at AJ. AJ tries to fight back and falls to another big clothesline, the crowd mostly behind the big man at this point. Gunther offers the “you can’t see me” hand wave and runs into a dropkick to the knee. Styles dragon screws Gunther repeatedly and follows with a forearm in the corner. Gunther walks into a Pele Kick and Styles rolls him into a Calf Crusher. Gunther tries to fight out and reaches the rope to break the hold. Gunther tries a sleeper on the apron, Styles fights out. AJ does a springboard 360 onto Gunther’s leg but only for a two count. He calls for the Phenomenal Forearm and bounces into Gunther. Gunther clothesline and powerbombs for a two count. Gunther is selling the leg hurting well, having to hold his leg up during the pin attempt as the fans chant about the match being awesome.

Gunther yells for AJ to slap him now and slaps AJ. They offer blows back and forth, Gunther pulling into another Calf Crusher. Gunther grabs AJ’s head and slams it to the mat, a very effective way to get out of the hold. Gunther dropkicks AJ and goes for another powerbomb, AJ landing on his feet and again rolling into the Calf Crusher. AJ yells that Gunther tapped, though the referee and the camera didn’t catch it. AJ spends an incredible amount of time arguing, the referee going to tell Alicia Taylor that the match will continue. As the ref is distracted, Gunther hits a low blow and stacks up AJ with the powerbomb for the win.

Gunther pins AJ Styles.

We get a different angle and see Gunther tap by patting AJ’s side away from the camera, the referee not seeing it. The referee didn’t see it, so it doesn’t count. I give them points for creativity here though I would have liked it better if we could have seen it happen and the referee would have been the only one to not see it. I’m also not sure how much I liked the mighty Gunther going 50/50 throughout the match with AJ Styles, but it also WAS a good match. This is also clearly leading to more, so I get it.

Gunther smiles on the ramp as we see the replay of the tap again, Gunther smiling at it on the Tron and the credits rolling.

A good episode this week. The highlight was the women’s tag division, starting the show with an ultra-hot promo and continuing it with a great triple threat. Gunther vs Styles was good as well and there are some very interested things set up for next week. I’ll see you then!