Gunther opens RAW from Belfast, Northern Ireland. On tonight's card CM Punk defends his WWE World Heavyweight Title against Finn Bálor, The Vision (Logan Paul, Bronson Reed & Austin Theory) collide with the team of Rey Mysterio, Penta & Dragon Lee, the Women's Intercontinental Championship is on the line when Becky Lynch defends her gold against Maxxine Dupri, El Grande Americano battles Je'Von Evans and more!
Check back for live results when the show airs at 3/2 C on NETFLIX.
We see CM Punk, Finn Bálor, Maxxine Dupri with Otis & Akira Tozawa, Los Americano (El Grande, Rayo & Bravo), and the Luchadors, Penta, Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee all either backstage or arriving at the arena.
At ringside, Gunther's music hits and he comes out to a bellow of boos. The crowd chants "You tapped out" and boos Gunther some more. Gunther laughs and tells everyone to calm down. He talks about how AJ Styles screwed up and forgot he was facing Gunther and was too focused on making him tap out and that he outsmarted Styles. Gunther says his future is very bright and his future has the World Heavyweight Championship in it. Gunther declares he's entering the Royal Rumble. He talks about how long he's lasted longer in The Rumble than anyone in history and Styles interrupts him. Styles tells Gunther that while Gunther wants to move on, he doesn't. Styles asks for a rematch at The Royal Rumble. Gunther says since he's entered the Rumble he doesn't want to pull double duty so the answer is no. Styles says it sounds like Gunther is scared. Styles says Gunther didn't beat him, he beat himself when he showed Gunther mercy. He tells Gunther that Gunther tapped out like a little bitch. Styles says if Gunther is scared he should just say so, and they can then move on. Gunther says he proved he's a smarter and better wrestler than Styles and that there is no incentive for him to wrestle Styles again, so his answer is still no. Gunther is about to leave, and comes back in the ring and tells Styles there is something he could do that would give Gunther incentive. Styles invites whatever it is and says "name it". Gunther says if Styles puts his career on the line, he may consider fighting Styles again and tells him to think about it and for Styles to decide if this is a hill worth dying on. Gunther gives Styles till the end of the show to make his decision - unless Styles is scared. Gunther drops the mic and leaves the ring.
Maxxine Dupri stretches backstage. Natalya comes by and tells Dupri she has her back tonight. Dupri is stoked to see Natty and says she's ready for Becky Lynch tonight.
Match 1 - WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship Match: Becky Lynch(c) -vs- Maxxine Dupri w/Natalya
Lynch and Dupri stalk each other and lock up. Lynch slams Dupri down to the mat and they lock up again. Lynch kicks Dupri and slams her head into the turnbuckles. Lynch kicks Dupri some more in the corner and Dupri then takes down Lynch with a Thesz Press. Dupri takes down Lynch with a dropkick and Lynch goes to the outside. Dupri tries for a baseball slide and then cannonballs onto Lynch to the outside. Dupri climbs the ropes with Lynch attempting a suplex. Lynch counters and hits a neckbreaker on the ropes sending Dupri to the outside and we cut to a break.
Back to RAW, Dupri punches Lynch several times. Lynch comes back with kicks and a clothesline and covers Dupri for a two count. Lynch is getting frustrated and talks to herself and goes to Dupri and starts punching her. Dupri asks for more and punches Lynch back and hits her with some clotheslines. Dupri kicks Lynch in the face and slams into Lynch in the corner. Dupri hits a fisherman's suplex and then hits a K2 leg drop and covers Lynch for a near fall. Dupri goes for the ankle lock but Lynch counters and slams down Dupri. Dupri is covered and she kicks out at two. Dupri counters a manhandle slam and covers Lynch. Lynch reverses and Dupri kicks out. Dupri is locked in The DisarmHer and Dupri rolls into a pinning attempt and Lynch kicks out. Dupri gets Lynch in an ankle lock and Lynch rolls into a pin. Dupri kicks out and kicks Lynch downa and covers Lynch for a near fall. Dupri climbs the ropes and Lynch punches her and now both ladies are on the top turnbuckle punching each other. Lynch superplexes Dupri and DDTs her and covers Dupri for a near fall. Lynch punches Dupri several times and then undoes the pad on a turnbuckle. Dupri rolls up Lynch and Lynch kicks out. Dupri sends Lynch into the corner almost hitting the exposed buckle and then suplexes Lynch. Dupri hits a crossbody and Lynch rolls though and Dupri kicks out at two. Dupri gets Lynch in another ankle lock. Dupri is almost slammed into the turnbuckle. Dupri slams down Lynch and covers her and Natalya puts Lynch's leg on the rope. Dupri asks Natty why she would do this. Lynch hits a manhandle slam and covers Dupri for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion: Becky Lynch
After the match, Natalya glares at Dupri and shakes her head. Natalya takes down Dupri in the ring and punches her out. Natalya kicks Dupri to the mat and tells her she'll never learn. Natalya slaps Dupri and Dupri slaps Natalya back. Natalya clotheslines Dupri down to the mat and poses above Dupri. Natalya puts Dupri in The SharpShooter and Dupri taps out. The ref breaks the hold and Natty then punches out Dupri some more.
Adam Pearce talks to AJ Styles backstage and tells him to think about what Gunther said and Styles says he'll call his wife. Paul Heyman rolls up and asks Pearce how he is doing. Pearce says he's had a great week and talks about Bron Breakker's suspension. Heyman talks about the six man tag match tonight. Pearce tells Heyman to tell his guys to be well behaved as Pearce will be at ringside for the six man tag match.
The Judgement Day is backstage. Raquel Rodriguez tells Roxanne Perex, Liv Morgan and Finn Bálor that Stephanie Vaquer isn't cleared to wrestle yet. Morgan says that when Vaquer is cleared The Judgement Day will hold the gold. Morgan and Perez talk about their new found friendship. Morgan asks Bálor how he feels about his match and Bálor says he's not leaving his stomping grounds without the championship.
Jey Uso YEETs through the crowd with mic in hand. He stops in the stairs of the crowd and cuts a promo. Jey talks about how he put the tag team division on notice last week. This week he's out here to let everyone know he's entering the Royal Rumble.
Adam Pearce marches backstage. The New Day (Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller) come in and they're pissed that they don't have tag title match. Pearce issues a fatal fourway for next week.
Match 2: Rey Mysterio, Penta & Dragon Lee -vs- The Vision (Logan Paul, Bronson Reed & Austin Theory) w/Paul Heyman
Adam Pearce is out at ringside - Lee and Theory start off. The men lock up and Theory gets Lee in the corner. Lee rolls up Theory who kicks out. Lee chops Theory and Theory takes Lee down with a forearm. Penta is tagged in and Paul is tagged in. Paul and Penta do the Penta walk and Paul kicks Penta. Penta kicks Paul back and hits a slingblade to Paul. Paul hits a blockbuster on Penta and then slams his head into the mat. Penta kicks Paul and Paul uppercuts Penta and Paul tags out to Reed. Mysterio is tagged in as well and the two circle each other. Reed pushes Mysterio into the ring and Mysterio attacks Reed and kicks him. Reed catches Mysterio who counters out of the hold but Reed slams down Mysterio. Theory is tagged in and he slams into Mysterio in the corner. Paul is tagged in and he does the same. Reed is tagged back in, Paul and Theory swing Reed into Mysterio and Mysterio is falls out of the corner onto the mat. Theory is tagged in and Mysterio sends Theory into the corner. Penta and Lee are tagged in and Theory is triple teamed. The Vision try to get involved and they're all sent outside the ring. Penta, Mysterio and Lee all fly over the ropes onto The Vision and we cut to a commercial break.
Back to the match, Theory mounts Lee and punches him several times. Theory knocks Lee to the mat and kicks him in the sternum. Lee punches Theory back and Theory kicks Lee and hits a Fallaway Slam on Lee. Reed is tagged in and Lee is double teamed and then knocked to the mat. Lee kicks Reed and dodges a booty drop by Reed. Reed takes out Penta and Mysterio and goes back to Lee and slams him to the mat and Penta and Mysterio break the pin. Lee dodges Last Rites and Reed then tags to Paul and Paul attacks Lee and taunts Penta. Theory is tagged in and Lee gets some forearms from Theory. Lee hits a hurricanrana and sends Theory out of the ring. Lee tags in Mysterio and Mysterio takes Theory down and slams into Theory in the corner. Mysterio punches Theory 10 times in the corner and then trips him on the ropes. Theory catches the 6-1-9 and Penta is tagged in. Theory is double teamed and Penta hits The Penta Driver and covers Theory. Reed breaks the pin. All the men start fighting, Paul is sent outside the ring and Paul military presses Mysterio and slams him into the corner. Paul is dropkicked and Reed gets beaten up by Lee and Penta. Lee flies onto Reed outside the ring. In the middle of the ring, Theory punches Penta and slams him down and covers him for a near fall. Heyman and Pearce start arguing and Paul tosses brass knuckles to Theory. The ref catches it and Pearce takes the knuckles from Theory. Pearce and Heyman argue outside the ring and Pearce drops the knuckles. Mysterio takes the brass knuckles and punches Theory. Penta kicks Paul down and hits The Mexican Destroyer on Theory and gets the win.
Winners: Dragon Lee, Rey Mysterio and Penta
Jackie Redmond talks to CM Punk backstage about his match against Finn Bálor. Punk says it's this kind of pressure that feeds him and proves he's the best in the world and that's why he'll prove this in Ireland. He vows to break Bálor.
Adam Pearce walks backstage and Paul Heyman follows him. Heyman tells Pearce his days as GM are numbered and tells Pearce to talk the phone call he's about to get.
Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley come out to the ring. Ripley welcomes us to Monday Night RhIyo. She talks about their title defense at Saturday Night's Main Event against Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. Sky says RhIyo is always on top. Ripley says they have an announcement. Once they beat Morgan and Perez and retain their titles, they're both entering The Royal Rumble match. Perez and Morgan come out to the ring. Morgan tells them they're delusional and that they'll beat RhIyo. Morgan tells Sky to not trust Ripley and that Ripley will turn on Sky. Morgan says she's done it to her, and that Ripley's selfishness always leaves Ripley alone. Morgan says neither Ripley or Sky will win the Rumble and how it'll be someone from The Judgement Day. Ripley gets ambushed by Raquel Rodriguez. Rodriguez, Morgan and Perez attack Sky and Ripley.
Bayley loses her mind backstage and talks to herself. Lyra Valkyria comes by and tells Bayley she's finding it hard to be positive and that she hates losing and she hates feeling like she let her friend down. Bayley says Valkyria could never let her down and they have 2026 to look forward to. Bayley talks about one of them winning The Rumble. They get stoked at the idea of one of them winning.
Match 3: El Grande Americano w/Los Americanos (Bravo & Rayo) -vs- Je'Von Evans
Americano and Evans lock up at the bell and trade slaps and punches. Evans and Americano flip and counter holds. Americano catches Evans who rolls through and some kicks are traded. The men trade pinning attempts and roll around the ring. Evans hits a dropkick on Americano and Cole calls Evans Kofi Kingston. Evans speeds around the ring and lots of moves are countered. Evans takes down Americano with a headscissors and then hits a dropkick. Americano hits an enzuigiri on Evans and then punches him out several times. Americano stomps on Evans and gets tossed out of the ring. Evans kicks Americano outside the ring and back in the ring, Evans hits a springboard clothesline and we cut to a break.
Back to the match, Americano is in the ring and Evans is laying outside and has been declared medically unable to complete.
Winner by forfeit: El Grande Americano
Jackie Redmond talks to Finn Bálor. She asks him about the pressure of fighting CM Punk in his home country. Bálor says Punk is in his island and tonight there will be a new Irish World Heavyweight Champion.
Logan Paul, Bronson Reed and Austin Theory walk backstage with Paul Heyman. Adam Pearce approaches them and asks Heyman if he can talk to Bron Breakker and make peace. Heyman says if he got that phone call he would want to make amends too. Heyman says he'll have Breakker at RAW next week and Pearce will need to be on his best behaviour. They leave and AJ Styles comes by and gives his answer. His wife told him to kick Gunther's ass. Styles and Gunther will battle at the Rumble and if Styles loses he gives up his career.
Asuka yells are a cowering Kairi Sane backstage and she tells Sane that Sane embarrassed her because she got pinned and they lost their titles and that she lost last week. Asuka compares this to how it felt when Iyo Sky left her. Sane tells Asuka she'll do anything and she will make sure Asuka wins the Rumble. Asuka tells Sane to not make her yell at her again and calls her a good girl.
Match 4 - WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk(c) -vs- Finn Bálor
We get the bell and the men lock up. Punk gets Bálor down in an armbar and Bálor tries flipping out of it but gets grounded. Bálor gets Punk on the mat and the two regroup. Bálor gets Punk back on the mat and covers for a one count. Bálor gets Punk in a side headlock and Punk swings Bálor into the ropes and dropkicks him. Punk knees Bálor in the corner and Bálor sends Punk into the opposite corner and chops him. Bálor kicks Punk in the face and Bálor covers Punk who kicks out at two. Bálor hits a slingblade but holds on and puts Punk in a side headlock again. Punk slams down Bálor and sends him outside the ring. Punk comes out of the ring and slams into Bálor sending him over the announce desk and we cut to a commercial break.
Back to our main event, Punk has Bálor in a headlock and Bálor powers out and elbows Punk. Punk kicks Bálor in the corner and hits a bulldog. Punk covers Bálor who kicks out at two. Punk gets Bálor in a chinlock. Bálor elbows out of the hold and punches Punk. Punk knees Bálor and Bálor kicks Punk in the face. Bálor punches Punk several times and they start trading punches. Punk punches Bálor several times and Bálor hits an overhead Pele kick and both men are laid out. Bálor chops Punk in the corner and chops him at each of the corners of the ring. Bálor kicks Punk several times in the corner and takes down Punk and kicks Punk in the chest. Bálor takes Punk down with a forearm and covers Punk who kicks out. Punk goes for GTS but Bálor holds the ropes. Bálor is sent out to the apron and Bálor kicks Punk from the apron. Bálor climbs the ropes and Punk runs up and kicks him on the top rope. Bálor and Punk are on the top rope and Punk hits a superplex and Bálor rolls through and tries to pin Punk. Punk hits Bálor with a clothesline and then chops Bálor a few times. Bálor hits a slingblade and takes down Punk. Punk is sent over the top rope and Bálor flips over the top rope and takes out Punk. Back in the ring, Bálor dropkicks Punk. Bálor climbs the ropes and goes for The Coup de Grace but Punk moves out of the way. Punk hits GTS and Bálor kicks out at two. Punk hits some elbows on Bálor and then mounts Bálor and punches him several times. Punk gets Bálor in the Anaconda Vice and Bálor tries to get to the ropes. Bálor gets his foot on the rope and the hold is broken. Punk gets Bálor on his shoulder and Bálor fights out of it and hits another Slingblade on Punk and then drop kicks Punk again. Bálor dropkicks Punk again and climbs the ropes. Bálor hits Coup de Grace and Punk kicks out at two. Punk goes for GTS again but Bálor rolls him up. Punk kicks out and gets Bálor back on his shoulders and hits GTS and pins Bálor.
Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
Punk celebrates to a mixed reaction after the match as Bálor collects himself against the ropes. Punk approaches Bálor and extends his hand to Bálor. Punk helps Bálor to his feet and they share some words and Punk raises Bálor's hand and hugs Bálor. Bálor leaves the ring, leaving Punk in the ring to celebrate as we get the end credits.
