By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
WWE Raw (Episode 1,705)
Toronto, Ontario, at Scotiabank Arena
Streamed live January 26, 2026, on Netflix
[Hour One] Michael Cole opened the show and explained that WWE built the stadium that will host Saturday’s Royal Rumble event, and footage of the venue was shown. Cole narrated backstage clips of Stephanie Vaquer, New Day, and The Vision… Cole announced that the venue was sold out and listed the attendance as 17,863…
Powell’s POV: WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 15,756 with only 146 tickets available roughly an hour before showtime.
AJ Styles made his entrance. Once in the ring, he welcomed viewers to Raw. Styles spoke about how Gunther believes he will retire him on Saturday, but Styles said he’s not going anywhere. He said there’s no reason that this can’t be his year. He said there are locker rooms filled with wrestlers around the world that he wants to face one more time, and he wants to be a world champion one more time. Styles said Gunther is good, but he is not Phenomenal.
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk made his entrance in non-wrestling attire and joined Styles inside the ring. The fans sang another line from Punk’s entrance theme after it stopped playing. They cheered and then chanted Punk’s name. Styles asked if the fans figured out why he was there. He said they’d get to that.
Punk asked Styles what he was doing. Punk said he thinks that he and Styles have gas left in the tank. He questioned why Styles was putting his career on the line against Gunther. Styles asked if Punk felt he couldn’t beat Gunther. Punk asked if that’s what he said. Punk said that if Styles loses, then they won’t ever get to meet in a WWE ring. Styles said he could beat Gunther, and he can beat Punk.
Punk said that if Styles doesn’t win on Saturday, then he’ll never get to prove that he can defeat him. Punk looked to the crowd and said he didn’t know what to do. Styles said if he faces Punk tonight and beats him, and then he beats Gunther, that should make him the number one contender.
Punk recalled saying he would be a fighting champion when he won the title on November 1. Punk said that if he and Styles were going to have the match tonight, it would be for the belt. The fans cheered. Punk looked into the camera and hyped that it would be him vs. Styles for the World Heavyweight Championship. Punk and Styles shook on it.
“Hell yeah,” Cole said before asking Raw General Manager Adam Pearce to make the match official. Cole and Corey Graves were shown at the broadcast table. Cole set up footage from Saturday Night’s Main Event…
Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez made their entrance heading into a commercial break… [C]
Powell’s POV: I’ve grumbled many times about some companies having too many non-title matches when you can do exactly what Punk did by coming off like a fighting champion by simply volunteering to put his title on the line. I’m not saying there’s never a time for non-title matches, but even though I don’t expect to see a title change, the title being on the line makes tonight’s main event more interesting. Right or wrong, cramming in another big Styles match increases suspicion that Styles will work his final match on Saturday.
Cole said they would be flying to Saudi Arabia after Raw for Saturday’s Royal Rumble. He listed the start times for the Royal Rumble event (1CT/2ET), the kickoff show, and the countdown special…
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky made their entrances while being introduced by ring announcer Lilian Garcia…
Powell’s POV: For those who missed it, Lilian Garcia is filling in for Alicia Taylor, who was unable to travel to the show due to flights to Canada being canceled at her airport due to the extreme weather conditions. I’m not sure if anyone else was unable to travel to Canada, but it will be interesting to see if she (and potentially others) travels separately to Saudi Arabia or if she will miss the show since the crew is leaving after Raw.
1. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer and WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs. Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez. Cole said Vaquer is the only person in the match who would not compete in the women’s Royal Rumble match. Cole said the Punk vs. Styles match was made official by Adam Pearce. They cut to an early break. [C]
Cole said the Judgment Day trio dominated the action during the break. Ripley tossed Morgan with a Razor’s Edge at Rodriguez, which put them both down. Ripley stuffed Perez’s attempt to perform Pop Rox. Ripley hit a missile dropkick on Rodriguez, which sent her to the floor.
Ripley went for her finisher on Morgan, but she avoided it and then hit a tornado DDT. Morgan had Ripoley pinned, but Sky broke it up. Rodrigues returned and set up Vaquer for her finisher, but Vaquer slipped away and sent Rodriguez to ringside. Vaquer went up top and hit a crossbody block on Rodriguez on the floor.
Ripley blocked Morgan’s Oblivion attempt, but Perez made a blind tag. Perez held Ripley while Morgan went for her finisher again, but Ripley remained on her feet. Sky took out Morgan with a missile dropkick, and then Ripley hit Perez with a Riptide and got the three count…
Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley, and Iyo Sky defeated Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, and Raquel Rodriguez in 13:00.
Powell’s POV: An entertaining opener. Vaquer sold her previously injured ankle after the crossbody block to the floor, so it looks like they are using that to make her seem a little vulnerable. On a side note, the back of Perez’s jacket has her name on a star. It looks just like the names of bands and musicians on stars on the outer wall of the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis (where Purple Rain was filmed).
The broadcast team spoke about CM Punk being a fighting champion, and then footage aired of his win over Finn Balor on last week’s Raw…
CM Punk was walking backstage when Finn Balor caught up with him. Balor said he’d been thinking about what happened last week. He said he wanted to be champion. Balor said even though he didn’t win, Punk was still part of the most memorable night of his career.
Balor recalled Punk picking him up and giving him his flowers. He said with all of the emotion flowing, he didn’t return the favor, but he would now. Balor thanked Punk, who thanked him. Punk said he’s not the best in the world unless he beats the best in the world. Punk said he’s not handing out title shots to people who deserve them; he’s handing them to people who have earned them.
Punk told Balor to think about what he wants his legacy to be. He told Balor that he can’t be champ hanging around “garbage like Dom Mysterio.” Punk told Balor that if he wants another shot, he should win the Rumble, and then he’d see him in Vegas. Balor nodded after Punk walked away…
“The Vision” Bron Breakker. Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Paul Heyman made their entrance… [C] An ad aired with Paul Heyman following Paul Levesque around and trying to sell him on putting one of his men on WWE 2K26. They arrived in the lobby of WWE Headquarters. “How did you pull this off?” Levesque asked. Heyman said it was time to play the game. They showed a giant image of Triple H on the cover of a special “King of Kings Deluxe Edition”…
The Vision members stood in the ring. Heyman said they were increasing the star power of Raw on Netflix. Heyman introduced each member and concluded with Bron Breakker. Heyman said Breakker was there for a meeting with Adam Pearce.
Heyman had footage play on the big screen of Pearce putting his hands on Breakker on the night Breakker was suspended. Heyman also had footage displayed of Pearce placing Logan Paul’s brass knuckles on the apron and accused him of planting them for Rey Mysterio to use during the match that was taking place. Heyman said Pearce could come out now that he was done playing those clips.
Raw General Manager Adam Pearce walked to the ring while Heyman encouraged the fans to boo and flip him off. Once in the ring, Pearce spoke while Breakker was held back by his allies. Pearce said he wasn’t there to make excuses or to say he’s sorry for wearing his heart on his sleeve, but he could admit that things got out of hand because he put his hands on Breakker first. “For that, I apologize,” Pearce said before adding that it would not happen again.
Pearce announced that he lifted Breakker’s suspension and said he would be in the Royal Rumble. Heyman offered a handshake that Pearce didn’t accept. Pearce said Heyman was such a tremendous negotiator that Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory would also be in the Rumble match. Pearce said Theory may have won last week had it not been for the brass knuckles, so he would face Rey Mysterio in a match.
[Hour Two] Rey Mysterio made his entrance with Penta and Dragon Lee… [C]
2. Rey Mysterio (w/Penta, Dragon Lee) vs. Austin Theory (w/Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Paul Heyman). The match was joined in progress. Graves spoke about how Pearce was actually messing with The Vision by putting them all in the Rumble match because they could turn on one another.
Theory avoided a 619 and dropped to the floor. Rey jumped off the apron and was caught by Theory before performing a huracanrana that launched him into the ring post. Rey dove from the apron onto Theory again. [C] The wrestlers at ringside fought. Rey threw a kick through the ropes on Logan, who was on the floor. Theory took advantage of the distraction by performing a Stomp on Mysterio before pinning him.
Austin Theory defeated Rey Mysterio in roughly 11:30 of on-air time.
After the match, the Vision members worked over Mysterio, Penta, and Lee afterward. Cole questioned whether Pearce was now going to be hesitant to punish the Vision. Cole recalled the phone call that Punk received last week…
Update: Actually, the heels didn’t touch Mysterio, who appeared to suffer shoulder injury.
Powell’s POV: I have no interest in heel authority figures returning, but the storyline possibility that Pearce is leery of punishing the Vision is interesting. It looks like we have a mystery with Cole bringing up the mystery person who called Pearce.
A Natalya promo video aired. She said Maxxine Dupri failed her. She said Dupri thinks that just because she rolled with a legend, she can roll like a legend. She said it will never happen again. Natalya said she’s coming for it all. “Natalya elevates, but Nattie decimates”…
Powell’s POV: There it is. Nattie is the name she’s used outside WWE, and she also had her hair pulled back and braided like it was at Bloodsport and other non-WWE events.
Backstage, Raquel Rodriguez was yelling for Adam Pearce about wanting to face Stephanie Vaquer. Bayley told her to shut up because she was on the phone. Lyra Valkyria stepped in. Vaquer showed up and fought with Rodriguez until they were pulled apart… [C]
Footage aired of Chelsea Green and Jackie Redmond attended the Toronto Maple Leafs’ Next Gen Game. Cole said WWE Night will be February 4 at a Toronto Raptors game with appearances by Trick Williams and Lash Legend…
A brief video package touted Roman Reigns declaring for the Royal Rumble match…
Michael Cole’s sit-down interview with Gunther aired. Cole asked him why he backed AJ Styles into a corner when it came to accepting the retirement match. He also asked why Gunther would take away a long send-off for Styles. Gunther boasted about retiring Goldberg and John Cena, and said he’s not interested in Styles taking away a moment that belongs to him by having a long farewell.
Gunther asked Cole how long he plans to stick around and chase another moment. Gunther said he could kick Cole’s chair over and end his career. He told him not to worry, because he wants him to sit at the Rumble and say that Styles’ career is over. Gunther laughed and said it would be great and memorable… [C]
Powell’s POV: Gunther’s arrogance is awesome.
Jey Uso made his entrance through the concourse and then the crowd. Cole said the four-way match for a shot at the WWE Tag Team Titles was up next… [C] Cole plugged the WWE podcast schedule…
Pearce was on the phone and said he had everything under control. After he wrapped up the call, Finn Balor told him he was officially declaring for the Royal Rumble match. Pearce said he already filled the final spot. Balor said no Rumble is complete without him. Pearce said all he could do was apologize. Balor said this wasn’t over.
Liv Morgan was waiting for Balor and asked what was happening with him and Punk. She said she heard him say Balor should leave Judgment Day. She said Punk doesn’t want him to become champion and said Judgment Day is his family. He said it’s not as straightforward as it seems. He told her to let him figure it out…
3. “New Day” Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods (w/Grayson Waller) vs. Julius Creed and Brutus Creed (w/Ivy Nile) vs. Otis and Akira Tozawa vs. Bravo and Rayo in a four-way for a shot at the World Tag Team Titles. Jey Uso watched the match from a chair at ringside. Cole said Jimmy wasn’t at the show because he was dealing with personal issues. A graphic listed Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn meeting face-to-face on Friday’s Smackdown.
Brutus hit a Brutus Bomb on all of his opponents on the floor. Graves said Brutus is strong as an ox and sharp as a marble. The Creeds ran Otis into the ring steps. [C] Otis performed the Caterpillar on Julius and had him pinned, but it was broken up. Tozawa put Brutus and Kingston down with a double DDT and then cleared Rayo from the ring.
Tozawa hit suicide dives on all three opposing teams. Tozawa returned to the ring and tore off his t-shirt. He put Kingston down and went up top. Woods distracted the referee while Waller crotched Tozawa on the top turnbuckle. Jey sent Waller into the front row with a superkick. Tozawa hit a top rope senton splash on Brutus and got the three count…
Otis and Akira Tozawa defeated Julius Creed and Brutus Creed, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, and Bravo and Rayo in roughly 11:20 in a four-way to earn a shot at the World Tag Team Titles.
After the match, Jey stood on the apron and held out his title belt while bumping fists with Otis and Tozawa…
Jackie Redmond wore a Toronto Maple Leafs jacket while interviewing Becky Lynch, who said her win over Maxxine Dupri was monumental. Lynch said Redmond wouldn’t know anything about monumental wins, given the jacket that she was wearing. Lynch said she was entering and winning the Royal Rumble.
Asuka and Kairi Sane showed up. Sane said Lynch wouldn’t win the Rumble because no one is ready for Asuka. Lynch said she’s ready and has beaten Asuka several times. Lynch told Sane to translate, which she started to do until Asuka yelled that she heard her. Asuka yelled in Japanese and then told Lynch she would see her in the Royal Rumble. Asuka walked away. Sane tried to touch Lynch’s title belt. Asuka yelled for Sane…
Cole and a graphic noted that AJ Styles made his WWE debut in the 2016 Royal Rumble…
Backstage, Je’Von Evans told Styles that he knew he had a big match tonight and a bigger match on Saturday, but he hopes he can see him on his farewell tour. Styles said bet, then said it means let’s do it. Evans awkwardly said he knew what it meant and wished him luck. After Evans left, Styles said that was weird… [C]
Backstage, Stephanie Vaquer told Adam Pearce that she doesn’t want a match; she wants a fight. Pearce announced that she would defend her title against Raquel Rodriguez in a Street Fight on next week’s Raw…
The broadcast team ran through the Royal Rumble lineup…
The Vision spoke inside their dressing room. Bronson Reed asked what the plan was. Logan Paul said that since they have an advantage, they should make sure that one of them leaves as the winner of the Royal Rumble. Logan said he thinks the winner should be Bron Breakker. Reed and Theory agreed. Logan said that is the vision. Heyman patted Breakker on the back…
CM Punk made his entrance for the main event…
[Hour Three] [C] An Oba Femi video package aired and listed him for the Royal Rumble. Cole confirmed that Oba would be in the Rumble match… AJ Styles made his entrance while Cole questioned if it would be the final time we’d see Styles make his entrance on Raw…
4. CM Punk vs. AJ Styles for the World Heavyweight Championship. Lilian Garcia delivered in-ring introductions. A few minutes in, Styles dropkicked Punk out of the ring. Styles went to the apron and hit Punk with a sliding knee. [C]
Punk hit a ushigoroshi and picked up a two count. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Punk battled back and hit a top rope elbow drop for a two count of his own. Punk applied the Anaconda Vice. Styles caught Punk going for a knee strike and went for the Styles Clash, but Punk was able to avoid it.
Styles hit Punk with a forearm that sent him to the floor. Styles went for a sliding knee, but Punk pulled him onto his shoulders and then put him down with a GTS. Graves said Punk could probably win by count-out, but he wouldn’t want to win that way against Styles. Punk returned to the ring and looked surprised when Styles beat the count at nine. Graves covered by saying that he believes that deep in Punk’s heart, he was happy that Styles beat the count.
Styles rolled up Punk for a two count, then immediately hit him with a Styles Clash for a close near fall. Styles set up for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Styles hit the ropes, causing Styles to tumble to the mat. Punk and Styles traded punches, kicks, and forearms. Punk dropped to one knee and was kicked. Punk stood up and delivered elbow strikes. Styles hit a Pele Kick that left both men down for a moment.
Styles got to his feet first and went for a piledriver, but Punk blocked it and then tried unsuccessfully to hoist up Styles for another GTS. They continued to fight for position. Punk had Styles on his shoulders when both men were in a corner of the ring, when Finn Balor appeared and kicked Punk to end the match.
CM Punk fought AJ Styles to an apparent no-contest in roughly 17:00 in a World Heavyweight Championship match.
Afterward, Balor dropkicked Punk against the barricade twice. Balor rolled Punk back inside the ring and hit him with a Coup de Grace. Balor went up top again and performed another onto the back of Punk, then hit a third onto Punk’s abdomen. Balor looked into the hard camera while the executive producer credits were shown. Cole said he was going to ask Balor the same question Punk did earlier. “Finn Balor, what do you want your legacy to be?” Cole asked to end the show…
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match until the disappointing finish. Balor was booed, but it didn’t lead to the type of massive heat that there may have been if WWE didn’t book so many weak finishes for television main events. That said, I didn’t expect a clean finish, though I am surprised they didn’t have Gunther interfere instead of Balor. If nothing else, I’m happy we got to see Punk vs. Styles again. It’s cool that Balor is getting some creative love, even if it feels like he gets an annual “no, we’re really serious this time” push.
Overall, this was a solid episode, but I can’t say that it significantly increased my interest in the Royal Rumble event. I will have a lot more to say during my weekly same-night audio review of Raw, which will be available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
Join me for my Royal Rumble live review on Saturday at 1CT/2ET.
Is Punk on stilts?.He looks so much taller than Styles!
Lol
Jason you hit the nail on the head. While this was a decent show, it did nothing to make me more excited for the Royal Rumble. The build to this year’s Rumble has been lackluster, which is sad because it’s supposed to be one of the biggest nights of the year in wrestling.
I could be wrong but from the way Rey was behaving early on when he was down with the injury I thought it was his knee, not his shoulder. But either way I guess we’ll find out.
Rey needs to think about retirement next.