WWE Raw live results: CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker World title match
Date: January 5, 2026
Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York
The Big Takeaway —
CM Punk successfully retained his world title over Bron Breakker in an excellent main event, worth checking out if you missed it. There was a bunch of interference at one point, but they got everyone out of the way with enough time.
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky won the Women’s tag titles, while Becky Lynch regained the Women’s Intercontinental title.
Je’Von Evans signed with Raw during a commercial break.
Chris Jericho was not on the show.
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Show Recap —
Michael Cole and Corey Graves (wearing a Hellfire Club t-shirt) welcomed us to a sold-out Barclays Center for a Stranger Things-themed edition of Raw. The graphics were all Stranger Things-related, and the establishing shot of New York was made to look like the Upside Down. There were also cars and other show gimmicks around the stage.
Bron Breakker (and The Vision), CM Punk, Liv Morgan and Judgment Day, Becky Lynch, Lyra Valkyria and Bayley were shown arriving as the Stranger Things song played.
(It was sort of funny—and fitting—seeing Breakker sternly march through the back ready for his first-ever world title while the Stranger Things track played.)
Tonight’s sold-out crowd is 14,728.
Women’s Tag Team Championship: Asuka & Kairi Sane (c) vs. Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY
After all the Stranger Things stuff, they went to commercial break 10 minutes into the show and just 39 seconds into the first scheduled match of the night.
Ripley took control by hitting a cannonball off the apron ahead of the break, but when they returned, Sane pulled Asuka to safety on another attempt, and they drove Ripley into the barricade to take over.
Ripley fought back and tagged in Sky, whose offence included a slingblade. That prompted Graves to mention Hiroshi Tanahashi and his retirement, which was nice. The heels got the advantage of Sky anyway, and Sane hit a leaping footstomp to Sky’s back while she was draped over the top rope—leading to another break barely 8 minutes in.
Ripley got the hot tag and hit Sane with a Razor’s Edge, and Sky tagged back in. Sky followed with a flying dropkick for a nearfall. Crowd wanted a title change.
Ripley gave Sane a Rip-tide as Sky set up for a moonsault, but Asuka shoved Ripley into Sky to knock her off the top, and followed with a Codebreaker on Ripley. Asuka tagged in and gave Ripley a German suplex (as Ripley yelled, “Oh, shit!”). Asuka and Sane double-teamed Ripley until Sky made the save and dumped Sane from the ring. Sky tagged in and hit Asuka with a running meteroa into the bottom rope.
Ripley tagged in and hit Asuka with a Rip-tide, and Sky followed with a moonsault. Sky wiped out Sane with a dive, and Ripley covered Asuka for the pinfall win. New champs. The fans popped big.
Match result: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY defeated Asuka & Kairi Sane to win the Women’s Tag Team Champions (16:27)
A pretty good, exciting match with a happy finish to kick off the new year.
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There was a video package for Punk vs. Breakker set to ‘This Land’ by Des Rocs.
Adam Pearce congratulated the new tag team champs backstage. After they left, he was confused upon seeing a Demogorgon.
Gunther approached Pearce next. Pearce advised Gunther that there were a lot of eyes on the show tonight, and a lot of eyes on Gunther, including from those in the locker room. He advised Gunther to mix in a little respect in his promo tonight. Gunther chuckled.
The next segment had a chapter title card like Stranger Things. It was Chapter Two: He who remains. (I assume they did this earlier, but I didn’t see it.)
Gunther and AJ Styles segment
Gunther entered. He said he was told by management to show some respect, but people should be respecting him, the one man who made John Cena tap out.
AJ Styles interrupted. The fans chanted for Styles as he got in Gunther’s face. Gunther called himself the greatest wrestler in this company (the crowd booed that), and that included Styles, because he was the man who made Cena tap out like a little bitch. Gunther wondered what “little AJ” was going to do about it.
Styles smacked Gunther in the face. Gunther got in Styles’ face but didn’t retaliate. Styles wasn’t surprised and said, “That’s what I thought—nothing.” Styles chucked the microphone at Gunther and left the ring.
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There was a video package for the Women’s IC title match.
Ivy Nile told Pearce she didn’t plan on going to the back of the line and wanted the winner of tonight’s IC title match. Pearce wasn’t in the mood and told her that we’ll see. Nile reiterated that she would not go to the back of the line. (Someone should tell her it’s not a long line.)
Gunther confronted Pearce and wanted Styles. Styles jumped in and told Gunther they could fight right now and asked if he would just stand there like a bitch. Gunther ignored Styles and demanded a match for next week. Pearce made it official. Styles was glad.
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The next title card was Chapter Three: It’s Not Just Her Saying It.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Becky Lynch
Lynch wore gear inspired by her character in the upcoming Star Trek show.
Lynch tried yanking Dupri off the apron, but Dupri countered by doing a pointless cartwheel. Dupri hit a boot to take control, but Lynch took control during a break by yanking Dupri off the middle rope.
They returned from break, and there was a modest and brief “Y2J” chant. Dupri fired up and applied an ankle lock, but Lynch got a rope break. They traded come counters until Lynch hit a middle rope superplex and transitioned into a DDT for two. Lynch hit a back suplex, but Dupri came back with one of her own and a flying crossbody for two.
Lynch set up for a powerbomb out of the corner, but Dupri slipped out and applied an ankle lock (this did not look good). Lynch tried flipping out of it, but Dupri held on while lying on the mat.
Dupri’s back was down, so Lynch leaned backward, grabbed the bottom rope, and pinned Dupri for the win. Lynch is a two-time IC champion.
Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Maxxine Dupri to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (11:37)
This was not good at all, but the right person won. Moving on.
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Je’Von Evans signs with Monday Night Raw
Pearce entered and showed a video for Je’Von Evans, who joined Pearce on the stage. Pearce officially signed Evans to a Raw contract, and the fans applauded.
The good: doing this on the stage made Evans feel special. The bad: this happened during a commercial break.
After the break, they aired a commercial for season two of WWE: Unreal.
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The Usos segment
Jimmy and Jey Uso entered in the crowd and remained there. Jimmy had them cut Jey’s music, but played it back for the fans before they cut their promo.
The Usos shouted out Styles and Dragon Lee for their match, but that was last week and last year. 2026 was the year of the Usos. This was a warning shot to every tag team in the game. Standing in front of you was the best tag team in the game. They’d be waiting right here for anyone who wanted to run up on them.
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Stephanie Vaquer walked through the back and passed The Creed Brothers, who were hanging out in a Scoops Ahoy boat from Stranger Things.
Chapter Four: To Kiss a Devil
Stephanie Vaquer segment
Vaquer entered in a walking boot for an in-ring interview with Jackie Redmond. Cole said Vaquer suffered an ankle injury during last week’s successful title defence.
Vaquer spoke about her special year—winning four titles, including the world title. She became emotional as she talked about her accomplishments and thanked everyone for their support. She spoke in Spanish about her title defence last week over Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez. She pointed to her walking boot and said the injury would not stop her.
She posed with the belt, but was attacked from behind by Rodriguez. Rodriguez repeatedly slammed Vaquer’s injured foot against the mat before hitting a Tejana Bomb.
Rodriguez grabbed a chair and was about to Pillmanize her leg, but Pearce and other officials ran out to stop it. The crowd booed as Rodriguez confidently walked to the back.
Officials helped an upset Vaquer to the back during a break.
After the break, only two medical staff members remained with Vaquer to help her walk. Rodriguez charged right back in and attacked Vaquer again. Pearce, who left Vaquer on her own, ran in and screamed at Rodriguez. He threatened to fine her until she had nothing left.
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Backstage, Rey Mysterio gave Dragon Lee words of encouragement and said he would be champion again. Dragon Lee appreciated the advice and left to speak with Styles.
Penta approached Rey to say he was happy to come back early to help him against the Vision (I guess they haven’t talked since that segment ended). Rey thanked him for having his back. Rey said Penta understood the tradition, honour, and respect of lucha libre, everything the Vision wanted to destroy. Penta told Rey he would always be there for him.
Elle Duncan was ringside.
Lyra Valkyria (w/ Bayley) vs. Liv Morgan (w/ Roxanne Perez)
This went through a break, and the crowd was relatively quiet until a wild-looking spot about 7 minutes into the match. Valkyria set up for Nightwing, but Morgan countered into what was likely supposed to be a Codebreaker. It basically was, but Valkyria took the move almost like a DDT, so she landed right on her head. It likely sounded and looked worse than it was for Valkyria, fortunately.
Morgan distracted the ref, so Perez dropped the rope on Valkyria. Bayley went after Perez, but the ref stopped her, so Perez used that distraction to chuck Bayley into the timekeeper’s area. Bayley “snapped,” grabbed a chair, and chased Perez through the ring and to the back.
Valkyria was not paying attention to her opponent, so Morgan flew in and hit Oblivion for the pinfall win.
Match result: Liv Morgan defeated Lyra Valkyria (8:56)
Valkyria has not won a match since October, and she wasn’t presented like she deserved to win this one.
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CM Punk interview
Redmond interviewed CM Punk backstage. Redmond said some thought Breakker could win the title tonight with one spear.
Punk said everyone had an opinion. They would rather talk about him, because if they talked about themselves, nobody would pay attention. Breakker could claim spear 1-2-3 if he wanted. But if Punk was the underdog, you were underestimating him, and that meant a GTS and a nap. It could happen to anybody, but tonight, it was Bron.
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Byron Saxton interviewed Logan Paul and Austin Theory during a break. It doesn’t really matter what they said. Logan got a ton of heat, while the monotonous Theory got none.
The only thing announced for Raw in Germany next week (2 pm ET/11 am PT start time) is Gunther vs. AJ Styles for the first time ever.
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Chapter Six: The Best vs. The Badass.
World Heavyweight Championship: CM Punk (c) vs. Bron Breakker (w/ Paul Heyman)
Punk wore a Rick Steiner-inspired Varsity Club jacket with “CM” on the front. This was his first official title defence since winning the title back on November 1st.
They wrestled back and forth through an early break until Bron sprinted the ropes and clobbered Punk with a clothesline. Bron held control until Punk tried a desperation GTS, but Bron countered into a back suplex. Bron remained in control until Punk again tried a GTS, but Bron countered into a gutbuster for two.
Punk spilled out of the ring, and Bron saw his opportunity to hit a running spear, but Punk cut him off with a clothesline ahead of a break. Punk followed with a clothesline off the barricade and a flying crossbody in the ring for two. Punk hit a running lifting knee strike and tried another, but Bron drove him into the middle turnbuckle and hit a standing moonsault for two.
After a break, Bron went for a Frankensteiner, but Punk did not come down for it, and Bron almost fell on his head. This was not the planned spot, and they did not show a replay (instead, they randomly replayed Bron’s standing moonsault). Punk did know well enough to follow up with a flying elbow drop for two.
Punk went back to the top, and Bron successfully hit the Frankensteiner. Bron got him up for a press slam, but Punk countered into a DDT. Punk hit a lifting knee strike, a clothesline, and a flying elbow drop.
Punk called for a GTS, so it was time for interference. Paul Heyman jumped on the apron, so Punk chased him off. Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Bronson Reed ran out and leaped on the apron, but Punk chased them all off, too (all right in front of the referee).
Bron shoved Punk into the referee, who fell out of the ring, and Theory took the opportunity to hit Punk with a curb stomp. Bron made the cover for a nearfall.
Penta, Rey and Dragon Lee all appeared from the crowd (after Penta’s music played) to attack the Vision and chase them away through the arena.
That left Bron and Punk alone in the ring. Bron went for a spear, but Punk dodged it, and Bron went shoulder-first into the post. Punk followed with a GTS, which for sure felt like the finish, but Bron kicked out. The crowd was super into this sequence.
Punk followed with a rare piledriver (“didn’t get all of it,” Cole said) for a two count. Punk went for another GTS, but Bron countered into a Fujiwara armbar. Punk slipped into a cover, but Bron reapplied the hold. Punk reversed that into an Anaconda Vice. Bron simply sat up to counter the hold to Punk’s surprise. Bron followed with a gutbuster and clothesline for a nearfall.
Bron called for a GTS and went for the move, but Punk countered into an STFU. Bron got a rope break, so Punk went to reapply the move but became distracted by Heyman on the apron again. Punk punched Heyman.
Bron tried to spear Punk, but Punk dodged it, and Bron spilled out of the ring. Punk went for a suicide dive, but Bron punched him in the face, and Punk splatted on the outside. Punk gathered himself by the announce desk, so Bron put him through it with a wild flying clothesline off the apron.
Bron shoved Punk into the ring, dropped his straps, and went for a spear, but Punk got his knee up to block it. Punk followed with a GTS for the pinfall win. The crowd went nuts.
Punk posed with his title belt as the show ended.
Match result: CM Punk defeated Bron Breakker to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (26:34)
This was awesome. Both guys needed a match like this. Bron showed he can have a main event singles match, and Punk looked like a rightful world champion—and he got his first big title defence since returning to the company.
WWE Raw and PLE recapper/reviewer. Contributed to WrestlingObserver.com as the SmackDown reviewer in the 2000s before turning to WONF4W in 2015.