WWE Raw live results: Two title defenses
Two title defenses headline tonight’s live WWE Raw from Orlando, Florida.
In one, WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer defends against both Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez in a triple threat. Vaquer has defended against both women individually with Bella interfering in the Rodriguez match two weeks ago.
WWE World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee will look to defend their titles against The Usos who are looking for their first title reign since April 2023.
In his first singles match since his return, The Vision’s Austin Theory will battle Rey Mysterio after Theory pinned him in a tag match last week.
The announced card is rounded out by an appearance from The Vision (Theory, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman) who will kick off the show at 8 pm Eastern.
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It’s the final RAW of 2025, which means we will hopefully get a glimpse into some of what might be coming down the pipe in early 2026! The Royal Rumble is just over a month away and we are knocking on the door of Wrestlemania season.
The show opened with a recap of Austin Theory’s return as the masked man and as a new kind of “taker” now that he’s aligned with The Vision. Then they showed Rey Mysterio Jr with his dog and the Usos arriving to work. Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer also arrived to work without incident.
Backstage, The Vision; Austin Theory, Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, Bronson Reed and Paul Heyman all met up and headed to the ring. As he does, Heyman spoke for the group first. Before he could fully let us know what his name is though, the crowd began chanting “CM Punk.”
Heyman said that Punk could have been in Vision if he had listened to him, but he stupidly placated the audience instead. Heyman claimed that in five years, fans would look back at all the Wrestlemania main eventers standing in the ring right now started their journey tonight.
Heyman then officially welcomed Theory to The Vision, but did so without mentioning his awesome new coat. Theory took the mic, saying he had waited his entire life and career for this moment. Before he could get too deep into it though, In Living Colour played out sauntered the World Heavyweight Champion, one Chick Magnet Punk.
Punk said that he didn’t come out here to listen to Theory, he came out here to talk to Breakker. Punk said, yeah The Vision could attack him, but it would probably mean that there wouldn’t be a title match between him and Breakker on Jan 5th.
With that safety net in place, Punk asked Breakker to send The Vision away so they could talk one on one. Breakker guaranteed Punk’s safety and invited him into the ring, sending the other members of the Vision to ringside.
Punk and Breakker went nose to nose and Breakker said that he’s tired of people saying he’s the “future” he’s the “now” and Punk shouldn’t take his experience lightly. He got really animated and sounded very much like a Steiner in this moment.
Breakker went on to say that because of his family name his entire career has been under a microscope and so what if he didn’t “pay his dues” on the indies? On Jan 5th, Breakker said that he is willing to die for the World Heavyweight Champion and knows Punk is too, and he’s more than happy to bury him.
Punk said that he knows Breakker is ready for the big time, but Punk isn’t ready to give it up to him. Punk put the belt on the mat and dared Breakker to pick it up. Punk said that Breakker doesn’t get that the title is a heavy privilege, and Breakker isn’t CM Punk and that’s the difference. Punk will see him on Jan 5th, and with that the segment was over.
-Backstage, Raquel Rodriguez was interviewed about her spot in the triple threat match for the Women’s World Championship. Before she could get into it though, Liv Morgan showed up and told Rodriguez that she needs to win for the Judgement Day. Rodriguez said she could handle it and that she didn’t need luck.
Triple Threat Match for the WWE Women’s World Title: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs Nikki Bella vs Raquel Rodriguez
Here’s what I like about Stephanie Vaquer: Everything.
However, Rodriguez and Bella have both had multiple bites at the apple and if one of them can’t get it done here, then hopefully Vaquer and the title will move into a new feud, possibly with the literal Christian Devil who wants their horns back.
The bell rang and they started arguing with Bella declaring “Ima legend!” Rodriguez took that opportunity to throw her to the ground and Vaquer tried to steal one with a rollup. They moved to the outside and fought with Bella taking control.
It was here that the announce team decided to let us know that Dirty Dom Mysterio is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury (!!!). They also added the context that JD McDonagh is out as well, so The Judgement Day could really use this win.
Anyway, back in the ring Bella and Vaquer fell victim to Rodriguez’s power. Bella was taken out and Vaquer fought back with a headbutt, but Rodriguez immediately struck back and put her in twisting wristlock before throwing her to the mat for an elbow. Vaquer kicked out at two.
Bella leapt off the top turnbuckle, but Rodriguez caught her and threw her aside. She grabbed Vaquer and put her in a Gory Special, trying to make her tap. Vaquer was able to keep her cool and reverse it into a sunset pin, but Bella broke it up.
Vaquer took control and went for a Devil’s Kiss on Bella, but Rodriguez broke it up and sent Bella to the outside. Vaquer tried to go up top, but Bella pulled her off, then ripped Rodriguez’ leg out from underneath her. Bella locked an STF on Rodriguez, but Rodriguez out powered here and reversed it into a leg lock.
Vaquer flipped them both over and delivered a double Devil’s Kiss to both women. She then put them both in opposite corners for duelling meteoras. She hit a dragonscrew on Bella and then twisted Rodriguez’ knee with another.
Bella slipped to the outside and tripped Vaquer on the apron (the Devilest part of the ring!) and Rodriguez knocked them both to the outside. Rodriguez bounced Bella’s head off the announce table and tried for a pin on Vaquer, but no dice as Vaquer kicked out.
Rodriguez came back with a lariat and exited the ring to make sure Bella wasn’t an issue by dropping her face first on the ring apron. She tossed her back in the ring, but Bella kicked her off before she could make a pin. Rodriguez was still in control though and hit a twisting Vader bomb on Bella.
She then went back to Vaquer in the corner, peppering her with elbows. She set Vaquer up on the turnbuckle, but Vaquer kicked her in the face about it and put on a rope-assisted armbar. Bella broke it up though because we can’t have nice things.
All three climbed to the top turnbuckle and somehow Bella got a double superplex on them both. She couldn’t land a pin on either woman though and went for an AA on Vaquer, but Rodriguez interrupted it with a big boot. She then tried a powerbomb, but Bella got free and walked right into Vaquer hitting a big angel wing piledriver. Rodriguez broke up the pin though.
Vaquer hit a jawbreaker on Rodriguez but she blocked the next move and Vaquer was forced to resort to a small package that didn’t land. Rodriguez dragged Vaquer to the corner and went for a high move, but Bella pulled Vaquer out of the way and tried to get a quick pin.
Rodriguez then picked up Vaquer and Bella, but Vaquer worked herself out and Bella took the brunt of a powerbomb. Vaquer then threw Rodriguez out of the ring after she had given Bella a tahana bomb and scooped up Bella for the pin to retain the title.
Match Result: Stephanie Vaquer defeated Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez
-Backstage Gunther was interviewed about his disrespectful behaviour but was interrupted by John Cena’s #1 fan, R-Truth. Truth called Gunther some bad names and warned him that after retiring Goldberg and Cena, there wouldn’t be a third. Gunther laughed and said “see you in the ring” to Truth, so I assume they are having a match eventually. Maybe even tonight!
-Next, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Auska and Kairi Sane aka The Kabuki Warriors came to the ring with fans and parasols at the ready. They danced through a commercial break and a recap of Auska and Rhea Ripley’s match last Monday.
Auska grabbed a mic and gloated about beating Ripley last week. She then did a lot of yelling in Japanese (probably saying that she really was enjoying herself and had a nice dinner) and then switched to english to call the crowd “stupid babies.”
Sane went next and talked for a bit, but Auska grabbed her mic and said that Rhea and Iyo Sky would pay for their disrespect. Suddenly we were all treated to her brutality as Ripley’s music hit and she and Iyo Sky marched to the ring. The Kabuki Warriors bailed, but that didn’t stop Ripley and Sky who started a brawl.
Ripley took out Auska, but Sane threw Sky back-first into the announce table. When Ripley went to check on her, Auska jumped her and the Kabuiki Warriors set her up for the Insane Elbow. Sky came back though and broke it up. They both took out the champs who slunk away with their belts, setting up a match between the two teams for Jan 5th.
-Backstage, Rey Mysterio was warming up and chatted with CM Punk. Mysterio said that he’s covered tonight and Punk doesn’t need to worry about him. Punk said OK, and left, presumably to take Mysterio’s Dog out for a piddle.
Gunther vs R-Truth
So hey, look at that! Gunther absolutely soaked up the crowd’s hatred of him, loving being the heeliest of heels that ever done heeled. He climbed up on the announce table and took off his jacket to reveal he was wearing a shirt that looked like he made himself with a picture of John Cena tapping out and the words “Tap Like a…” underneath (more than likely now available at wweshop.com).
Gunther grabbed a mic and said that the audience’s anger is misdirected. They should be mad at Cena who tapped out like “a BITCH!” (this was during a commercial break so they can use devilishly salty language if necessary).
Truth arrived to avenge his childhood hero and went right at Gunther off the bell. He caught him looking and peppered him with punches and kicks for a few minutes until Gunther chopped him into next week. Truth tried to fight back, but Gunther was in control and went for a powerbomb. Truth countered but still ended up getting chopped in the corner.
Gunther threw a devastating lariat and asked if Truth was going to give up. He pounded on Truth again and again, doing the Cena “you cant see me” gesture. That fired up Truth and he hit a shoulder tackle, but unfortunately, Gunther has huge shoulders and he barely felt it. Gunther then powerbombed Truth, pinned him, but pulled him up at two.
Gunther laid in some elbows then put Truth in the same sleeper he put Cena in. Truth tapped out and Gunther celebrated his victory.
Match Result: Gunther defeated R-Truth
-Backstage, the Usos were shown with Jimmy in high spirits, but Jey seeming a little down in the dumps. Jey said that he feels like everywhere he turns, he’s losing. He doesn’t want to put his brother in a bad spot. Jimmy said that was nonsense, Jey’s a world champion and multiple tag champion. He’s got everyone ready to yell “yeet” and he needs his brother. Jey stood up, seemingly back into it, but took a bit of a lingering moment to leave after Jimmy.
-Teenage moustache enthusiast Byron Saxton interviewed Finn Balor at ringside about the state of the Judgement Day. Balor said that they are ending 2025 on a rough note with injuries and failed championship attempts. Balor said that all of it had him thinking about the success he had in NXT. Balor said that he was going to put The Judgement Day on his back like he did for NXT and carry them all into 2026.
Jeff Moss is a writer, creator and developer in animation, comics and pretty much anything else he can get his mitts on. Pro Wrestling has always been his passion for reasons even he doesn't understand.