WWE Raw live results: Gunther vs. AJ Styles in Germany

Date: January 12, 2026
Location: PSD Bank Dome Düsseldorf in Düsseldorf, Germany

The Big Takeaway —

AJ Styles made Gunther “tap out” in the main event, but the referee didn’t see it, so Gunther won after a low blow and powerbomb. 

Adam Pearce suspended Bron Breakker indefinitely after Bron put his hands on him. However, the suspension may not last long because, as Paul Heyman noted, Pearce put his hands on Bron first. 

Next week in Belfast, CM Punk will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Bálor. Also, Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri will wrestle for the Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Yes, again.

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Show Recap — 

Michael Cole said there would be over 11,000 in attendance today in Düsseldorf, Germany. The country is hosting Raw for the first time in almost 29 years. 

CM Punk, The Vision (minus Bron Breakker), Je’Von Evans, El Grande Americano and friends, AJ Styles, and Gunther arrived at the arena. 

IYO SKY & Rhea Ripley kick off Raw in Germany

Rhea Ripley welcomed Düsseldorf to Monday Night Riyho. She talked about their win over Asuka and Kairi Sane for the tag titles, and the crowd chanted, “You deserve it.” Iyo Sky stole a line from Asuka and stated, “No one is ready for Rhiyo.” 

Ripley was about to issue a challenge to the locker room when they were interrupted by Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. Morgan sarcastically congratulated them before noting she was a former tag champion who never lost her title. 

Bayley and Lyra Valkyria interrupted next. Bayley paused her promo so the fans could sing for her. Bayley said Morgan may not have lost her title, but Perez did lose them. Plus, Bayley beat Perez a few weeks ago, so if anyone deserved a shot, it was her and Valkyria. 

Sky yelled at everyone in Japanese until Asuka and Sane appeared out of nowhere to attack Sky and Ripley from behind and yank them from the ring. The remaining teams brawled until Ripley and Sky re-entered to clear the ring. 

As standard an opening segment as there ever was. 

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Jackie Redmond interviewed AJ Styles about Gunther. Styles learned early in his career that this business was about respect. Respect for the ring, your fellow wrestlers, and those who came before. 

He and John Cena weren’t always on the same page, but they bonded over respect. Gunther disrespected Cena week after week, so Styles smacked him because Cena couldn’t. Styles would teach Gunther about respect tonight. Styles ended with: “In fact, I’m going to make you tap out like a little bitch.”

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There will be a number one contender’s triple threat tag match tonight: Morgan & Perez vs. Asuka & Sane vs. Bayley & Valkyria. 

Morgan and Perez approached Finn Bálor backstage. Bálor was playing the WWE video game. Morgan wondered what he was doing, and she didn’t mean the game. She said he claimed he wanted gold but wondered if that was all talk. Judgment Day didn’t wait around for things to happen. Raquel Rodriguez didn’t wait for her title shot, and neither did they. It was time to stop playing games. Perez agreed with Morgan. After they left, Bálor responded, “Just you wait.” 

Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano & Rayo Americano) 

El Grande attacked Evans after Rayo distracted him. Evans fought back anyway and hit Bravo with a leaping dive and a nice running knee strike for two. Bravo responded with an airplane spin, which Cole noted looked familiar. 

Bravo went to the top, but Evans brought him down with an avalanche Spanish Fly, followed by an OG Cutter for the pinfall win. 

— El Grande attacked Evans after the match and chucked him over the announce desk. Evans re-emerged atop the barricade. They tried to swarm him, but he leaped right over the desk and escaped through the ring and up the aisle. 

Match result: Je’Von Evans vs. Bravo Americano (6:20)

This was a good little showcase for Evans, and they didn’t overthink it. I could have done without him running away post-match, but I’m sure he’ll be making his way through all three guys in the coming weeks. 

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Paul Heyman approached Adam Pearce backstage. Pearce told Heyman that if Bron Breakker plans to arrive with bad intentions, he should turn around and go home. Pearce wasn’t in the mood and would not tolerate it. Heyman said he would relay the message (with exactly as much sincerity as you’d expect). 

During a break, Jey Uso entered the crowd to his music to cut pretty much the same promo he and Jimmy cut last week. This was just a bit for the live crowd, really. 

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CM Punk and Finn Bálor segment 

Punk entered. He said he would never grow tired of being their world champion. He planned on being champion forever, but he knew they were on the road to WrestleMania and anything can happen—just ask Cody Rhodes. But with the fans behind him, Punk felt like he could do the impossible. 

Before WrestleMania, there was the Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber. Two opportunities for guys to call their shot, and the road to WrestleMania went through him. He survived a battle with Bron Breakker last week, so he and The Vision were behind him. 

With the fans’ support, he looked forward to finding out who his next challenger would be. Punk thanked the fans and was about to leave, but was interrupted by Finn Bálor. 

Bálor said he wasn’t waiting for the Rumble or Chamber. Bálor didn’t want any hand-outs, but did recall Punk mentioning his name as a potential challenger after he won the title. 

Punk said he did mention Bálor’s name among a long list of talented wrestlers, but he wondered where Bálor’s ambition was because that was months ago. Punk saw Bálor playing video games and was preoccupied with helping Dominik and JD McDonagh. Punk wondered if Bálor was too busy shining Liv Morgan’s shoes. 

Punk asked if he would be facing Bálor or Bálor and the Judgment Day. Punk already dealt with the numbers game successfully over Breakker and the Vision. 

Punk acknowledged that he was a fan of Bálor. He also wanted to be a fighting champion, so he would go to the back and put his boots on so they could do this tonight. The crowd cheered and chanted for Punk. 

Bálor smiled when Punk accepted, but he said timing was everything. Bálor wasn’t just jumping into anything with Punk. Anyone who watched Bálor’s career knew that the line started with him. Punk didn’t have to worry about Dom or JD, but he wouldn’t be alone. 

Bálor previously watched as Punk repeatedly utilized home-field advantage in Chicago. But next week, they were in Belfast, Ireland. They would wrestle for the title next week, and there would be a new Irish World Champion. 

Punk accepted. He apologized to the fans in Düsseldorf because they wouldn’t get to see him work. He also apologized to the fans in Belfast because they’d have to watch their countryman go to sleep after a GTS. 

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There was a video package for Gunther vs. AJ Styles. 

Number one contender’s triple threat tag team match: Asuka & Kairi Sane vs. Bayley & Lyra Valkyria vs. Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez

The teams brawled outside until Sane wiped out everyone with an Insane Elbow off the top. The two heel teams took turns on offence during a break until Valkyria made a hot tag following the break. 

Valkyria gave Perez an enziguri for two. Bayley hit Asuka with a back suplex, preventing Asuka from going after Valkyria from behind. Everyone (minus Asuka) then did a big stacked up powerbomb out of the corner, with Sane getting the worst of it. 

Asuka wasn’t pleased, so she hit Perez with a German suplex before hitting Bayley and Valkyria simultaneously with a double German suplex. Asuka held down Valkyria so Sane could hit an Insane Elbow, but the referee did not count the fall because Sane was not legal. 

(This wasn’t the plan because everything stopped for a moment, and Morgan still flew in to break up the cover that wasn’t being counted. Bayley could clearly be seen talking to Asuka and the referee as they reset.) 

Everyone traded moves until Valkyria caught Sane as she attempted a flying crossbody. Valkyria hit a backbreaker, and Bayley followed with a flying elbow drop, but Asuka broke up the cover. Perez hit Bayley with Pop Rox, but Sane broke up that cover. 

Sane chucked Perez from the ring, but Morgan flew in and hit Sane with Oblivion for the pinfall win. 

Morgan and Perez will challenge Ripley and Sky for the tag titles at Saturday Night’s Main Event in Montreal on January 24th. 

Match result: Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez defeated Kairi Sane & Sane and Bayley & Lyra Valkyria (13:02)

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Becky Lynch cut a pre-taped promo. She wasn’t happy that mediocre Maxxine Durpri was already getting a rematch, while it took her almost two months to get hers. She claimed corruption from power-mad Pearce, but was confident she would retain the title next week in Belfast. Dupri would have to say goodbye to the big time. 

Byron Saxton interviewed Je’Von Evans during a commercial break. He was happy to pick up his first win as an official member of Raw, and was excited to be in Europe for the first time. He came across as being genuinely excited and let everyone know he would not let them down. 

Redmond interviewed Maxxine Durpi (with Alpha Academy). Dupri was disappointed he lost the title, but she proved to everyone that she belonged. She turned to Otis and Akira Tozawa and said she became champion because she believed in herself and wanted to see the same from them, because they were capable of great things. Dupri turned her attention to Lynch, who had to cheat to beat her. Dupri fired up and said she would break Lynch’s ankle. 

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Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer segment 

Cole interviewed Raquel Rodriguez by the stage and asked her why she laid out Stephanie Vaquer last week. Rodriguez remembered when she was the girl who waited politely and patiently for her turn at the title. 

But things change, and people change. She was cheated out of the world title week after week. She would not stop until she had Vaquer in the ring one-on-one. When Big Sexy Raquel Rodriguez stood tall as the new champion, then everyone could go ahead and feel sorry for Vaquer. 

Vaquer entered, wearing a walking boot, as officials surrounded her. Rodriguez mockingly limped to the back as Vaquer stared her down. Vaquer looked at the camera and said this injury would not stop her. She held up the title belt and said, “Come get it.” 

Of course, Rodriguez ran in and attacked Vaquer again. Rodriguez slammed the title belt over Vaquer’s walking boot as the crowd chanted, “You suck.” Officials checked on Vaquer as Rodriguez left. 

(This segment was fine, and Rodriguez did well, but these officials looked so incompetent, being the only ones in the world who did not see this coming again.) 

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They showed clips of Drew McIntyre’s appearance as the WWE Champion in Glasgow, Scotland, and plugged his upcoming appearance on SmackDown. 

Otis and Tozawa approached Jey Uso backstage. Otis asked Jey for a tag title shot. Jey didn’t seem to be taking it seriously until Otis got in his face. Jey realized he was serious, so he said he would talk to Jimmy. However, he warned them they would be standing in the ring with the best tag team in the game. Tozawa said Yeet. 

Bronson Reed & Austin Theory (w/ Paul Heyman & Logan Paul) vs. Penta & Dragon Lee

Penta was all over Theory, but took too much time posing, so Theory just dropped him with a boot. Reed tagged in, but Penta and Dragon Lee worked together to take him down. Dragon hit a dropkick in the corner, but Reed emphatically kicked out at one. 

Reed caught Dragon’s flying crossbody attempt and slammed him. After Dragon spilled out of the ring, Theory (not the legal man) decked him right in front of the referee. (The babyfaces are always stopped from getting involved when they aren’t legal, but the heels get away with it.) 

Dragon Lee hit Reed with a DDT after a break, and Penta made the hot tag, hitting Theory with a backstabber for two. Dragon and Penta handed out superkicks to everyone, including Logan Paul. Dragon then wiped out Logan and Theory with a flip dive. 

As Dragon Lee posed outside the ring, Bron Breakker ran down and speared him for the DQ. Penta invited Bron into the ring, so Bron jumped in and speared him, too. 

Bron was about to kill Dragon Lee with a running spear outside the ring, but Pearce suddenly got in his face. As Pearce admonished Bron, Reed laid out Penta with a Tsunami in the background (this was shot well by the cameraperson). 

Pearce popped into the ring to get in Reed’s face, but that allowed Bron to spear Dragon Lee. 

Pearce flung Bron around by his shoulder and told him he was sick of this shit. Bron aggressively grabbed Pearce and shoved him into the corner. Bron screamed at Pearce as the rest of the Vision held him back. Pearce yelled at Heyman and Vision to get Bron out of here. 

Match result: Dragon Lee & Penta defeated Bronson Reed & Austin Theory via disqualification (9:27) 

(This match was a waste of time, but Bron came across well in the post-match.) 

Medical staff checked on Penta and Dragon Lee backstage. Je’Von Evans approached and told them to let him know if they needed anything. 

Pearce found Bron backstage and kept screaming at him. Pearce suspended him indefinitely. Bron got in Pearce’s face, but Reed pulled him away. Heyman told Pearce just made a big mistake. Heyman reminded Pearce that he was the one who put his hands on Bron first. 

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There was a WrestleMania commercial with Triple H. He received video calls from Peyton Manning, Jon Bernthal, Pete Davidson, Eric André, IShowSpeed, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Lil Yachty, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Tony Hinchcliffe, Cam Skattebo, and Travis Barker. They all tried pitching WrestleMania ideas involving themselves, which stressed out Triple H. 

Among the comedy here was Hinchcliffe suggesting he win the Women’s title, and André calling Triple H a sissy. 

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Next week on Raw in Belfast (3 pm ET/12 pm PT start time): 

• Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri for the Women’s Intercontinental title 
• CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Bálor for the World Heavyweight title 

There was an Oba Femi video package and a plug for NXT. 

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Redmond interviewed Gunther. He called Styles disrespectful for smacking him in the face over something he had no involvement in. It was disrespectful to do that to the best wrestler in this company, and disrespectful to do that to the man who made Cena tap out like a little bitch. If Gunther could do that to the so-called greatest of all time, Styles should be worried about what happens to him after the bell rings. (If you don’t watch regularly, Gunther gets a lot of heat the second he mentions tapping out Cena.)

Gunther vs. AJ Styles 

Styles was all over Gunther early on, and he targeted Gunther’s leg with a series of kicks. Gunther slammed Styles on the apron, but Styles fought back with a sliding knee strike. Gunther cut off Styles again with a clothesline in the ring, but Styles kept fighting back until Gunther chopped him off the top rope. 

Gunther held control through a break and continued with chops following the break. Styles tried firing back with strikes, but Gunther decked him with a clothesline. There were dueling chants until Gunther did the ‘you can’t see me’ gesture. The hesitation allowed Styles to mount a comeback, and he hit three consecutive dragon screws (again targeting the leg). 

Styles avoided a clothesline and hit a Pelé kick. Styles applied the Calf Crusher, but Gunther got a rope break. Styles went to the apron and hit a forearm, but he ‘slipped’ on whatever he tried next, so Gunther chopped him. Gunther tried applying a sleeper, but Styles wrenched his leg in the ropes. 

Styles hit a springboard somersault leg drop to the leg of Gunther for two. (That was cool, and came completely out of nowhere.) Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, but Gunther dodged it, and they traded counters until Gunther hit a clothesline and powerbomb for two. 

They traded strikes and chops until Styles applied the Calf Crusher again, but Gunther escaped by smashing Styles’ head against the mat. Gunther popped up and hit a shotgun dropkick, but Styles again managed to apply the Calf Crusher. 

Styles suddenly let go and told the referee to raise his hand, claiming that Gunther tapped out. Styles motioned as though Gunther submitted by tapping his (Styles’) leg, but the referee had no idea what he was talking about, and he told the ring announcer, Alicia Taylor, that the match would continue. 

Styles was pissed, but went after Gunther. The ref was in the middle of talking to Taylor, so Gunther gave Styles a low blow. Gunther followed with a powerbomb for the pinfall win. 

Match result: Gunther defeated AJ Styles (17:53)

This was an excellent match until the finish. They showed a replay to explain what happened, and Wade Barrett suggested that Gunther tapped on purpose, knowing that the referee wouldn’t see it, and that Styles would let go. Styles looked like a goof for letting go despite a call not being made, so the follow-up will be important. I’m sure the fans will be into the Calf Crusher when they do the inevitable rematch, which was ultimately the point.