WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 01.26.26

Good evening and welcome to another edition of Monday Night Raw. This week, we’re making a trip to Canada before boarding the plane for the big weekend of SmackDown and the Rumble in Saudi. We have no football AND Raw is airing at its usual time tonight, so maybe it’ll be an interesting one.

The last week in WWE from the Blog of Doom: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown / Saturday Night’s Main Event (Niz’s Version / Scott’s Version)

Then, Now, Forever, TOGETHER.

Here’s a look at the Riyadh Season Stadium being built starting a month ago. Seems safe! Tonight though, we’re at the sold-out Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario Canada live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

Arrivals! WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer is here and in six-woman tag action. New Day are getting a trim with the help of Grayson Waller; they’ll get a tag title contendership match. The Vision is here as they always are, including the returning Bron Breakker. He’ll discuss his suspension tonight.

AJ Styles starts us out, perhaps for the last time as an active competitor on Raw, to a good reception. Lilian Garcia is on the microphone tonight as Alicia Taylor is battling cancelled flights due to the weather. After a sustained standing ovation, AJ welcomes us to Raw. He’s not planning on going anywhere even if 2026 is the year he will retire. He wants to enjoy the year together. There are locker rooms of men he’d love to wrestle one more time and he wants to be World Champion one more time.

“Cult of Personality” brings us an interruption from WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk. He asks if the crowd has figured out why he’s out here yet. He’s known AJ for several decades and there is nothing but respect between them. He’s wondering why Styles would put his career on the line and knows he and Styles have a lot of gas left in their tank. The idea of a match tonight pops up. If Styles beats Punk tonight, he wants to be #1 contender after defeating Gunther. Punk remembers saying he’s going to be a fighting champion and if they’re doing it tonight, it is for the belt. The Toronto crowd are very into it. Punk says it is on and we have ourselves a main event.

Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet us from ringside, excited about our potential main event if Adam Pearce makes it official. They throw us to a look at Saturday Night’s Main Event set to Quavo’s “New Trip.”

The Judgment Day (Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez) vs WWE Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions RhIyo (Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky)

Each woman gets their own entrance tonight including the Judgment Day. This match is presented by CreditOne. The noise for Rhea is unreal as always, though Liv gets a pretty good pop of her own. Iyo and Roxanne start things off as Cole discusses five of the six women being in the Rumble, Stephanie being champ and wondering who will win. Rox assaults Iyo in the corner and tags in Liv, Raquel tags in and tosses some back elbows towards Sky. The good teamwork continues until Iyo skirts over to tag in Stephanie who takes Liv down with dropkicks and clotheslines. Cole has breaking news in that Punk/Styles is official. Vaquer suplexes Liv several times and tries for the Devil’s Kiss, stopped by Raquel as we take a break.

We come back to the Judgment Day continuing to overpower Stephanie. “We want Mami,” chant the fans. Liv pulls Iyo off the apron, sending Rhea on the chase before Raquel shoves Rhea into the steel steps. Iyo gets the tag and dropkicks Raquel right into the ringpost before hitting Rox with a picture-perfect missile dropkick from the top rope. She nails Bullet Train and Liv pulls Rox out of the way of the moonsault. Liv tags in and hits a Codebreaker. Iyo dodges Oblivion and finally gets the molten hot tag to Rhea, who drops Iyo with a fallaway slam. She grabs Iyo up and drops her onto Raquel with the Razor’s Edge. Rhea counters PopRox into a huge lariat and hits her own missile dropkick on Raquel. Rhea attempts Riptide, Liv counters out and hits Rhea with a big tornado DDT, the pin broken up by Iyo. Stephanie almost falls off the top rope but corrects herself and leaps onto Raquel on the outside. Liv tries for Oblivion and Rhea holds the rope to prevent it, however Rox tags as she does. Iyo helps Rhea dodge a Code Red, Rhea hits Riptide and rolls Rox up for the pin.

Rhea Ripley pins Roxanne Perez, RhIyo & Stephanie Vaquer defeat Judgment Day. A hell of a match here. Rhea really is something else when she hits that gear. Stellar performance by all six, go catch this one.

Here’s a look at Punk/Balor from last week.

CM Punk comes across Finn Balor backstage. Finn says it was the most memorable night of his career and thanks Punk. Punk says it takes two to tango and tells Finn to think about what his legacy is going to be – maybe he needs to dump garbage like Dom Mysterio, perhaps.

We do some “comedy” to announce that Triple H is on the cover of the King of Kings Edition of WWE 2K26, the third announced version and the third version to have Triple H on the cover. Of those three versions announced, zero active superstars are on the covers.

The Vision (Bron Breakker, Big Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory and WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman) join us in the arena to say a lot of words. Paul Heyman reminds us of his name and says a lot more before finally introducing Bron Breakker. Paul gives us a look at the footage of Adam Pearce putting his hands on Bron first and then leaving brass knuckles that Rey Mysterio can use against Austin Theory.

WWE Raw General Manager Adam Pearce joins us, Heyman encouraging boos which the fans give. Adam is not sorry for wearing his heart on his sleeve but acknowledges that things got out of hand and that he put his hands on Bron first, apologizing. He says it won’t happen again and he has lifted Bron’s suspension, entering him into the Royal Rumble. Heyman offers a handshake and Pearce calls Heyman a great negotiator, adding Logan, Bronson and Austin to the Rumble. He also thinks Theory deserves a chance at redemption against Rey Mysterio, so they’ll face off tonight. And here comes WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio now.

Rey Mysterio (with Penta and Dragon Lee) vs Austin Theory (Bron Breakker, Big Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman)

We’re underway after a break. Rey kicks at Theory’s calves but Theory spins him into a kneedop. Theory works a headlock and the fans chant “619.” Theory dodges a 619, Rey leaps onto Theory and drives him into the ring post. Rey leaps from over the camera and onto Theory and sends us to a break.

Back from that break, Theory catches Rey with a fallaway slam. Theory misses a charge. Rey leaps into a left hand and Theory gets a two count. They fight outside and Rey ranas Austin into the video wall, the seconds all fighting outside. Lee leaps into Reed’s arms, Logan drops Penta and Theory hits the stomp for a three.

Austin Theory pins Rey Mysterio. Meh. It was fine but meh. Cole questions if Adam Pearce will let the Vision get away with stuff like this.

The Vision attack all the masked men after the match. “Where’s Pearce,” yells Cole, wondering if the phone call Pearce received last week has something to do with him not offering up more enforcement. You know who would never let this happen? Nick Aldis.

Here’s a video package on Natalya. She made Maxxine and Maxxine failed her. This is a whole new her, and when she’s done with Maxxine, she’s coming for it all. “Natalya elevates but Nattie decimates.” Good for Nattie, hopefully they run with the new look for a bit. I’m not sure ending the segment with Natalya’s old logo is the way to help, but here we are.

Bayley and Lyra Valkyia come across a yelling Raquel, who is attacked by Vaquer before the suits come and break it all up.

Here’s a video package on OTC1 Roman Reigns, who will be in the Royal Rumble. I’d imagine he gerts eliminated by his WrestleMania opponent.

Earlier today, Michael Cole talked with Gunther. Gunther is tired of the old-timers overstaying their welcome and chasing the moments. The moments belong to him. He took Bill Goldberg’s moment away and after a year of chasing moments, John Cena gave up to him. He notes that Cole is an old-timer was well and wonders how much longer Cole plans to stick around. “I could kick the chair over and end your career right now,” but he wants Cole to sit there at the Rumble and he wants to hear Cole say that the career of AJ Styles is over.

WWE World Tag Team Champion Main Event Jey Uso is now in your area and yeeting through the crowd. He’s here to watch the next match.

Adam Pearce is on the phone and says he has everything under control. Finn Balor enters to declare for the Rumble. “Now? We’re less than a week away,” says Pearce while a week ago we had one entrant. Pearce says the Rumble is full. Finn walks upon Liv, questioning what is going on with Punk.

Scottie Barnes, 2022 NBA Rookie of the Year and Toronto Raptor, is here with the Raptors WWE Title. Celebrities! They love Raw!

#1 Contender’s Match: The New Day (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston, with Grayson Waller) vs American Made (Brutus & Julius Creed, with Ivy Nile) vs Los Americanos (Bravo & Rayo Americano) vs Alpha Academy (Otis & Akira Tozawa)

American Made last won a match on TV in May 2025, Alpha Academy have beaten American Made twice in three months on Main Event, and Los Americanos have won two televised tag matches in their existence, both against the War Raiders. I’m glad they’re trying to give the tag teams a shot, but I hope they appear more than just tonight and perhaps try to build some of these teams up.

Kofi and Bravo start, Bravo being flipped around the ring. Tozawa tags in as does Julius, Tozawa running right into a clothesline. Brutus hits the Brutus Ball and the Creeds shove Otis into the steel steps to send us to another break.

Woods is working over Tozawa when we return. Kofi tags in and they drop Tozawa with a double team, broken up by Rayo. Rayo tags in to stomp Akira a bit, Bravo tags himself in and misses a corner splash on Tozawa. Bravo airplane spins Brutus, Tozawa leaps on top of the spinning man and gets the hot tag to Otis. Otis runs wild and splashes Woods and Bravo in the corner, Bravo falling right into Xavier’s crotch. Otis offers up a Caterpillar, elbowing a Creed before the whole crew break it up. Tozawa snap suplexes and then dives on the New Day, Los Americanos and then the Creeds. Kofi misses Trouble in Paradise, Tozawa catches him. Waller knocks Tozawa off the top, Otis takes offense and splashes him. Jey superkicks Waller over the barricade and New Day run right into some Otis clotheslines. Julis leaps into Otis who tags Tozawa back in. Tozawa drops a senton and we have new #1 Contenders.

Akira Tozawa pins Julis Creed, Alpha Academy are the new #1 contenders to the WWE World Tag Team Titles. This started out a bit cold because we’ve been given little reason to care about any of these men outside of New Day, but I think they caught the crowd. They caught me. There are worse things they can do than reheat Alpha Academy. And to their credit, Alpha Academy have won six of the seven last tag matches they’ve had before this, they were just all on Main Event.

Jackie Redmond is with WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch. She is entering the Rumble. Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) interrupt, Kairi telling Becky that no one is ready for Asuka. Becky recalls beating Asuka numerous times. Asuka says she’ll see Becky in the Rumble. Kairi tries to touch the belt on the way out and gets the KAIIIIRIIIIIIII.

The WWE Fact of the Night: AJ Styles made his WWE debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble match.

AJ is warming up and met by Je’Von Evans.

Vaquer wants a fight against Raquel. Pearce tells her that next week, Stephanie is defending against Rodriguez in a Philadelphia Street Fight.

Here’s a look at the WWE weekend schedule. Niz will have your SmackDown coverage; Scott Keith will rant on the Royal Rumble event. Sorry, they told me I’d have to wear a bodysuit to cover the Saudi shows.

The Vision meet up backstage. Logan thinks they should go in with one vision to the Rumble because they have an advantage. He suggests they make sure one of them leave as the winner of the Rumble and he thinks that should be Bron. The boys all agree. Logan’s doing something to Bron at the Rumble, isn’t he.

Oba Femi vignette, this one fading into the Royal Rumble logo. The big man will be there.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship: WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk vs AJ Styles

This is their first one-on-one in WWE, though AJ is 5-2 in their singles matches in the past outside of the “WWE Universe.” Graves and Cole give us some good discussion on their pasts with Punk and Styles, particularly Graves. The fans trade “CM Punk” and “AJ Styles” chants as the men trade counters. Punk tries for an early GTS, Styles tries to roll through for a Calf Crusher, and Punk tries for the Anaconda Vice. Punk drops a running knee for a one count and hooks a headlock. Styles knocks Punk in the head with his knee and we head to more DoorDash commercials.

The men trade blows as we return. Cole is amazed at our main event that we didn’t know was happening until the beginning of the show, an event that happens almost every other Raw. Punk drives Styles hard into the turnbuckles. Punk connects with a knee and a bulldog – “Vintage CM Punk” – and calls the GTS again. He hits a Shining Wizard instead for a two count. Now he tries the GTS and Styles falls out of it, offering his own running forearm and a corner clothesline. Styles tries for a superplex, Punk counters and shoves Styles down before dropping his elbow for a two count. Punk locks the Anaconda Vice. Styles is able to get out and Punk gets to the ropes, Styles forearming him down. Punk hits a GTS outside of the ring and the count begins, Styles JUST beating it. “This is awesome” chant.

Styles is slow to his feet and can’t even get up, frustrating Punk. It’s all a rouse though as Styles rolls Punk into the Styles Clash and hits a very near fall. Styles tries for the Phenomenal Forearm but Punk shoves him down. They trade blows again, Styles offering chest kicks and Punk chops. A Pele Kick takes Punk down to give us a chance to reset a bit. Styles tries for another Styles Clash, Punk tries for a GTS, and they counter each other into the corner. That’s when Finn Balor appears to dropkick Punk to a chorus of boos. Finn kicks Punk into the barricade repeatedly, then hits three Coup de Grace.

CM Punk and AJ Styles wrestle to a no contest, Punk retains the WWE World Heavyweight Title. You know what? I’m not mad at it at all. I’m not sure I expected much follow-up to the match last week as far as Finn, and this is a very intriguing way to take it. Finn isn’t done yet. The match itself was very good though I’m not sure many of us expected a clean win either way. I liked the ending a lot.

The show as a whole? Decent, which is the norm for Raw. The main event was good and the opener was stellar. They made a small step in doing something with the tag division while Big Jim continues to be out with his wife as well as with building Natalya’s new character, though I’m not sure they stick with either move. The Vision stuff was a necessary movement in the story. I’d recommend going back and watching the opening women’s match and the main event.

I’ll see you all Thursday for the SmackDown Rewind (key words this week: “farm animals”) and back Monday for the post-Rumble Raw!