Date: January 19, 2026
Location: SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland
The Big Takeaway —
AJ Styles will put his career on the line at the Royal Rumble in a singles match against Gunther. Gunther will be pulling double duty as he declared for the Rumble match. Several other women and men also declared for their respective Rumble matches.
CM Punk retained the World Championship against Finn Bálor, while Becky Lynch retained the Women’s Intercontinental Championship over Maxxine Dupri after Natalya turned on Dupri.
Je’Von suffered an injury, and his match with El Grande Americano was cut short due to a medical stoppage.
Plus, Adam Pearce invited the suspended Bron Breakker to Raw next week to talk things out.
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Show Recap —
Michael Cole announced a sold-out crowd in Belfast, which hosts its first-ever WWE live broadcast.
CM Punk, Finn Bálor, Maxxine Dupri and Alpha Academy, El Grande Americano and friends, and Penta, Dragon Lee and Rey Mysterio were shown arriving at the arena. Bálor got a big pop.
The show kicked off with a big fireworks display, which doesn’t often happen.
Gunther opens Monday Night Raw in Belfast
They showed a replay of Gunther tapping on purpose last week to escape AJ Styles’ submission and ultimately win the match. Cole admitted it was a brilliant move.
Gunther entered and was booed and greeted with chants of, “You tapped out.” He was in a good mood as usual lately, and he told the fans to calm down.
Gunther said Styles made a mistake last week by being singularly focused on trying to make him tap out, because he was in the ring with the greatest wrestler in the company, the greatest Intercontinental Champion ever, a two-time World champion, the man who retired Goldberg, and the man who made John Cena tap out.
His success would lead him straight back to the World title, and he declared himself for the Royal Rumble.
AJ Styles entered to a huge reaction. Styles knew Gunther wanted to move on, but Styles didn’t. Styles challenged him to a rematch at the Royal Rumble. (The fans actually cheered even though he didn’t make the challenge for tonight.)
Gunther said he would win the Rumble and didn’t plan on pulling double duty. He said no.
Styles accused him of being scared. Styles said Gunter didn’t beat him—he beat himself. Styles showed him mercy when he should have ripped his leg off, but remember—Gunther tapped out like a little bitch. Styles accused him of being scared, and the crowd chanted, “Little bitch.”
Gunther said he proved he was the better and smarter wrestler. There was no incentive to do it again, so his answer was still no. The crowd kept chanting, so Gunther returned to the ring. The fans called him a wanker.
Gunther had an idea. He would agree to a rematch only if Styles put his career on the line. Gunther told him to think if that was a hill he was willing to die on, but he wanted an answer by the end of tonight.
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Natalya approached Maxxine Durpi as she was warming up backstage. Dupri was thrilled to see her. Natalya wanted to be in Dupri’s corner against Becky Lynch, so we didn’t get a replay of what happened last time. Dupri was happy to hear it.
Becky Lynch entered. She cut a promo during a commercial break. She was happy to be back and be reminded of why she left. The weather and the food were awful. It was fine for the locals, but she was rich and famous. Her stepfather was actually from there, but he was smart enough to move to Dublin.
She knew they were going through hard times, so she offered to be their hero. Unlike Rory McIlroy, she wouldn’t lose on the final hole. She was the greatest of all time, and everyone was saying it, including America.
Intercontinental Championship match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri (w/ Natalya)
This was their fifth singles match against one another since October. In fact, Lynch has not wrestled anyone else in a singles match since August.
All three women (Natalya included) wore predominantly red gear.
Dupri had the edge early on, but Lynch quickly took control as they went to an early break. Dupri fired back after the break with a clothesline, a boot, a corner splash, boots in the corner, and a fisherman’s suplex. Dupri dropped her straps and hit a big leg drop on Lynch’s back for a two count.
They traded cradles after Dupri blocked a Man-handle Slam before Lynch applied a Disarmer, but Dupri countered out of it and applied an ankle lock. Lynch countered that into a rollup for two. They battled on the ropes until Lynch hit a superplex, followed by a DDT for two.
Lynch removed the top turnbuckle cover, but Dupri caught her in a schoolboy for two. Dupri followed with a German suplex and a flying crossbody, but Lynch countered her cover into a cover of her own for two.
Dupri countered the Man-handle slam and (slowly) countered into an ankle lock. Lynch kicked Dupri toward the corner, but Dupri managed to avoid hitting the exposed buckle. Lynch charged at Dupri, but Dupri moved, and Lynch bounced off the exposed buckle.
Dupri hit a spinning heel kick (she missed completely, actually) and made the cover, but Natalya placed Lynch’s foot on the bottom rope to break up the cover. Dupri was stunned.
Dupri went after Lynch, but Lynch caught her with the Man-Handle Slam for the pinfall win.
— Natalya attacked and attacked and attacked Dupri after the match, and placed her in a Sharpshooter. Dupri tapped before a referee broke it up. They cut back to Cole for a moment before cutting back to the ring because Natalya attacked Dupri again.
Match result: Becky Lynch defeated Maxxine Dupri to retain the Women’s Intercontinental Championship (11:34)
This match was ok. Dupri looked better than usual, at least until the end. It helps that she’s been wrestling the same person over and over again, but this was presumably the last time, and she’ll have to wrestle someone else eventually.
The post-match didn’t get a ton of heat. The fans only care somewhat about Dupri, and they cared even less about Natalya.
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Backstage, Adam Pearce told Styles to think strongly about Gunther’s challenge. Styles said he would go speak to his wife.
Paul Heyman approached Pearce, and Pearce reminded him that Bron Breakker was suspended. Pearce told Heyman that The Vision better be on their best behaviour tonight. Pearce also told Heyman he would be out there for their six-man match tonight, and Heyman wasn’t thrilled to hear it.
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Cathy Kelley interviewed the Americanos during a break. El Grande said Je’Von Evans’ luck would run out tonight against the greatest luchador of all time. After the interview, Kelley told the audience it was time for more action. She was wrong.
There was a video package for the Punk vs. Bálor world title match.
Judgment Day (minus Dominik and JD McDonagh) met backstage, and they were excited about the possibility of them all becoming champions. Liv Morgan admitted to Roxanne Perez that she didn’t like her at first, but now they were friends, and they would become tag team champions. Bálor said they were on his island tonight, and he was not leaving her without the title belt.
********
Jey Uso entered the crowd (no Jimmy Uso again). He and Jimmy were still focused on the tag titles, but he excitedly declared himself for the Royal Rumble. He planned on becoming a back-to-back Rumble winner. He told Jimmy and Trinity (Naomi) he loved them and issued a warning to the locker room.
It was time for more talking. New Day and Grayson Waller accosted Pearce backstage. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods said they flew all the way over on MLK Day, their favourite holiday, to challenge The Usos for the tag titles, but instead, Jey was out there declaring himself for the Rumble.
Pearce told them they would be in a four-way next week to determine the next challengers for the tag titles. Kingston and Woods were pissed.
*******
The show’s second match started 55 minutes in, and about 20 minutes after the last match ended.
Six-man tag team match: Rey Mysterio, Penta & Dragon Lee vs. Logan Paul, Bronson Reed & Austin Theory (w/ Paul Heyman)
Pearce sat ringside to watch the match.
Logan received a lot of heat. Mysterio got a big reaction when he tagged in (Penta got a nice reaction too). There was a cool dive spot to send us to break. Mysterio hit Paul with an Asai moonsault while Penta and Dragon Lee simultaneously wiped out Reed and Theory with flip dives. However, the Vision took control during the break when Reed clotheslined Dragon from the apron as Theory distracted the referee.
After a break, Dragon avoided a Reed leg drop, but Reed knocked Mysterio and Penta off the apron before he could even attempt a tag. Reed hit a powerslam, but Mysterio and Penta broke up the cover. Dragon avoided a senton and Theory tagged in, so Dragon gave him a hurricanrana and made a hot tag to Mysterio.
Mysterio kicked Theory’s leg out of his leg before hitting a hurricanrana and ten punches in the corner, but Theory blocked a 619. Penta made a blind tag and hit a Penta Driver, but Reed broke up the cover. Everyone traded moves, and Mysterio tried a sliding dive to the outside, but Logan caught him and bounced him off the barricade. Dragon and Penta took out Logan with a double baseball slide.
Penta and Dragon knocked Reed out of the ring with superkicks, and Dragon wiped out Reed with a dive. Theory gave Penta a package neckbreaker for two.
Heyman went on the apron to distract the referee, so Pearce yelled at him (which also distracted the referee). Pearce showed the ref that Logan handed Theory brass knuckles, and Pearce took them away. Heyman got too close to Pearce, so Pearce backed him up the ramp.
After all the commotion, the brass knux were left on the apron, so Mysterio grabbed them. Logan tried to warn the ref, but that distraction allowed Mysterio to punch Theory.
Penta superkicked Logan and gave Theory a Canadian Destroyer for the pinfall win. (So after all those angles, Theory took the loss here.)
Match result: Penta, Rey Mysterio & Dragon Lee defeated Austin Theory, Bronson Reed & Logan Paul (15:02)
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CM Punk interview
Jackie Redmond interviewed CM Punk backstage. Punk got a big reaction, even if it may have been a little mixed. Redmond asked how Punk would deal with facing Bálor in Ireland. Punk said he would deal with it by being the best in the world. He was playing an away game, but he wanted the game on his stick in overtime. This pressure is what he wanted to prove he was the best in the world, and not just in the United States. The same pressure that made him the best in the world would break Bálor.
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There was a Martin Luther King Jr. Day video set to ‘Ain’t No Better Time’ by Chris Pierce.
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Kingston and Woods were interviewed in the crowd during a break. Woods noted that Styles was the former tag champion and wasn’t even trying to win the title back, while Jimmy Uso, the current champion, wasn’t even there.
Heyman approached Pearce backstage. He said Pearce was the best GM in Raw history, but we’ll miss him when he’s gone. Pearce asked if that was a threat. Heyman said no, and he left as Pearce took a phone call. (Heyman advised him to take the call when he saw the phone.)
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Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY / Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez segment
Ripley and Sky entered, and Ripley welcomed us to Monday Night Rhiyo. Sky said they would show Morgan and Perez that Rhiyo was always on top. Ripley announced that, after retaining their titles, they would both enter the Royal Rumble.
Morgan and Perez interrupted. Morgan warned Sky that Ripley would turn on her. Morgan knew this because it happened to her. Ripley would let her selfishness take over. Morgan laughed because that wasn’t really her problem.
Perez announced that all three Judgment Day women would also enter the Rumble, which meant one of them was headlining WrestleMania.
Ripley laughed. She wondered how that would work (since they can’t all win it — even though the same could be said about her and Sky). Before she could elaborate, she was blindsided by Raquel Rodriguez. The three Judgment Day women laid out Ripley and Sky. Ripley tried fighting back, but Morgan laid her out with Oblivion.
********
Bayley was talking to herself backstage when she was approached by Lyra Valkyria. Valkyria said she was having a hard time staying positive lately. She hated losing and felt like she was letting her friend down. (It seemed like Valkyria was being a downer on purpose to get Bayley to fire up. It worked.)
Bayley got excited and psyched up Valkyria. She said the Rumble was up next, which meant one of them could headline WrestleMania. They were both excited about the possibility of winning the Rumble, and Bayley gave Valkyria a big hug.
*******
Je’Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano (w/ Bravo & Rayo Americano)
Je’Von Evans may have gotten injured.
Evans hit a springboard clothesline ahead of a break. El Grande stalled by posing around ringside. He finally got back in the ring, but referee Jessika Carr held him off.
Evans wound up outside the ring after the break. He seemed to favour his arm or shoulder, and he was checked by the doctor. They called the match off and declared El Grande the winner because Evans couldn’t continue. The doctor and Carr walked with Evans to the back.
I went back and re-watched the match. There was a miscommunication where El Grande headbutted Evans by accident up high, seemingly on the shoulder, so that may have been it. Evans continued briefly before the springboard clothesline, which was the last physical spot.
Match result: El Grande Americano defeated Je’Von Evans via medical stoppage (6:22)
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Finn Bálor interview
Redmond interviewed Bálor backstage. Bálor said the magnitude of tonight was not lost on him, but perhaps it was lost on Punk. He respected that Punk was a fighting champion, but he questioned Punk’s judgment. They were on Bálor’s turf, on his island, in front of his people, and tonight in Belfast, there would be a new Irish World Heavyweight Champion. The crowd popped big for this.
********
There was a video package for Oba Femi.
Pearce approached The Vision backstage. Pearce told Heyman he wanted Breakker on Raw next week. Heyman figured he was lifting the suspension. Pearce said he wanted to speak to Breakker face-to-face. Heyman said he would be doing the same thing if he got the same phone call Pearce got earlier. Pearce said it had nothing to do with the call—he just wanted to talk to Breakker man-to-man. Heyman was dismissive and told Pearce to be on his best behaviour. The Vision left.
Styles approached Pearce next. Styles said his wife told him exactly what he was thinking: kick Gunther’s ass. He accepted Gunther’s challenge. Pearce made it official: Styles vs. Gunther at the Rumble with Styles’ career on the line.
********
An angry Asuka confronted Kairi Sane in the locker room. Asuka said Sane embarrassed her last week. Sane lost their titles, and she lost last week. This hurt almost as much as Sky turning on her. Sane apologized and promised to ensure Asuka would win the Rumble. Sane would do anything. Asuka called her a good girl and said, “Don’t make me yell at you again.”
********
World Heavyweight Championship match: CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Bálor
Punk entered to a big reaction, and the fans sang his song. They cut to break as he made his full entrance. Once he was in the ring, he smiled while telling a fan to get in the ring after he puts Bálor to sleep. He told the fan he would kick him in the teeth and put him to sleep, too.
Bálor entered last and entered to his original theme song. He got a huge reaction during the in-ring introductions. Punk was cheered during his entrance but was booed during intros.
This had a big-match feel to it, despite Bálor not having a televised win since September.
They wrestled back-and-forth, and there were duelling chants (louder for Bálor) until Punk nailed a suicide dive, sending Bálor over the announce table. Punk posed on the announce table to a chorus of boos as they went to break. Bálor avoided a count-out, but Punk took control.
Punk hit a lifting knee strike and a bulldog after the break for two. Bálor fought back, and they traded strikes until Bálor hit a Pelé Kick. Bálor continued with chops, shots to the midsection, and a headlock elbow drop for two.
Bálor set up for Coup de Grace, but Punk met him on the top rope and hit a superplex. Before Punk could make a cover, Bálor caught him in a small package for two. Punk fired right back with a clothesline.
Bálor dumped Punk from the ring and hit a flip dive. Back in the ring, Bálor hit a shotgun dropkick, but Punk dodged the Coup de Grace. The crowd booed as Punk hit a GTS, but Bálor kicked out, and the fans popped. Punk hit a few elbow drops before applying the Anaconda Vice, but Bálor got a rope break.
Bálor fought out of a GTS and followed with a slingblade, two shotgun dropkicks, and a Coup de Grace for a nearfall. Punk went for a GTS again, but Bálor countered into a rollup for two.
Bálor went after Punk, but Punk used a single leg takedown, rolled over to his feet and hit a GTS for the pinfall win. Punk retains.
— Punk helped Bálor to his feet after the match. He had a few words for Bálor before raising his hand. The fans applauded. Punk hugged Bálor, who nodded at Punk before leaving the ring.
Punk posed for the cheering fans as Bálor watched from ringside.
Match result: CM Punk defeated Finn Bálor to retain the World Heavyweight Championship (16:14)
This was a pretty good TV title match, though nothing you need to go out of your way to see. It was laid out exactly as you’d expect, and it never, ever, felt like Bálor would win despite the crowd’s enthusiasm. It’s fine doing matches like this on TV, but it would’ve been nice if they gave Bálor more steam going into it. It’s not like they didn’t know Belfast was on the calendar.
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Steve Khan
WWE Raw and PLE recapper/reviewer. Contributed to WrestlingObserver.com as the SmackDown reviewer in the 2000s before turning to WONF4W in 2015.
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