WWE RAW Live Coverage - January 19th, 2026
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CM Punk to defend World Heavyweight Title against Finn Bálor
After Finn Bálor stepped up to World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk last week in a tense war of words, The Second City Saint agreed to give a title match to The Prince, who will enjoy a de facto home-field advantage in Belfast.
:raw:
— We see CM Punk, Finn Bálor, Maxxine Dupri with Otis & Akira Tozawa, Los Americano (El Grande, Rayo & Bravo), and the Luchadors, Penta, Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee all either backstage or arriving at the arena.
— Michael Cole and Corey Graves greet audiences at home as GUNTHER makes his way to the ring.
GUNTHER tells the live crowd to calm down, then says AJ Styles made a mistake last week by walking into their match last Monday with blinders on and was so focused on tap out. He then brags about lasting an hour and eleven minutes in the Men's Royal Rumble last year.
AJ Styles' music hits and he makes his way out. He demands a rematch against GUNTHER at WWE Royal Rumble, but GUNTHER promises to win the Men's Royal Rumble instead and declines Styles' challenge. GUNTHER looks to leave, but Styles tells him that he thinks GUNTHER is scared and says he should've ripped GUNTHER's leg off rather than showed him mercy. He reminds GUNTHER that he tapped out last week and only won because the referee didn't see, then says they can both move on if GUNTHER just admits that he's scared.
GUNTHER declines to face Styles at Royal Rumble once again and looks to leave, but decides to get back in the ring to ask a request of Styles. When Styles tells GUNTHER to name his request, GUNTHER says Styles has to put his career on the line to face him at Royal Rumble. He tells Styles to think carefully about his answer unless he's a little scared, then looks to leave.
— Maxxine Dupri stretches backstage. Natalya comes by and tells Dupri she has her back tonight. Dupri is stoked to see Natty and says she's ready for Becky Lynch tonight.
— Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring. Maxxine Dupri and Natalya follow.
:womensic:
WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship Match: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Maxxine Dupri (w/Natalya)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Dupri delivers a Thesz Press to Lynch and rains down right hands on her, then follows it up with a dropkick to her and delivers a senton to her off the ring apron on the outside.
Dupri dumps Lynch back in the ring and teeters on the ropes with her, but Lynch trips Dupri with a neckbreaker that sends her crashing off the top turnbuckle. She sends her crashing into one of the barricades twice during the commercial break, then delivers a leg drop to Dupri off the ropes. Dupri runs over Lynch with a pair of clotheslines back from the break, then follows it up with suplexes and a leg drop to the back of her neck.
Dupri pins Lynch, but Lynch reverses the fall. Dupri kicks out, but Lynch cinches in an armbar on her. Dupri reverses into a pinfall, but Lynch kicks out and Dupri cinches in an Ankle Lock on her. She follows it up with another leg lariat and goes for a pin, but Lynch kicks out.
Dupri ascends to the top, but Lynch knocks her off and exposes the top turnbuckle. Dupri takes advantage and rolls up Lynch, but Lynch kicks out and delivers a German suplex to Lynch. She ascends to the top rope and delivers a crossbody to Lynch before she pins her again.
Natalya places Lynch's foot on the bottom rope to break the fall, betraying Dupri in the process. As Dupri tries to process what just happened, Lynch catches her with a Man Handle Slam for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion: Becky Lynch
— As Lynch heads up the entrance ramp, Natalya sneaks up behind Dupri and rains down right hands on her. She fires off stomps on her, then levels her with a boot to her face and locks in a Sharpshooter on her. The referee pries Natalya off Dupri when she rains down right hands on her, but Natalya breaks free and gets in a few more right hands on Dupri.
— Adam Pearce talks to AJ Styles backstage and tells him to think about what Gunther said and Styles says he'll call his wife. Paul Heyman rolls up and asks Pearce how he is doing. Pearce says he's had a great week and talks about Bron Breakker's suspension. Heyman talks about the six man tag match tonight. Pearce tells Heyman to tell his guys to be well behaved as Pearce will be at ringside for the six man tag match.
— The Judgement Day is backstage. Raquel Rodriguez tells Roxanne Perex, Liv Morgan and Finn Bálor that Stephanie Vaquer isn't cleared to wrestle yet. Morgan says that when Vaquer is cleared The Judgement Day will hold the gold. Morgan and Perez talk about their new found friendship. Morgan asks Bálor how he feels about his match and Bálor says he's not leaving his stomping grounds without the championship.
— Jey Uso YEETs through the crowd with mic in hand. He stops in the stairs of the crowd and cuts a promo. Jey talks about how he put the tag team division on notice last week. This week he's out here to let everyone know he's entering the Royal Rumble.
— Adam Pearce marches backstage. The New Day (Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston & Grayson Waller) come in and they're pissed that they don't have tag title match. Pearce issues a fatal fourway for next week.
— The Vision makes their way to the ring. Penta, Dragon Lee, and Rey Mysterio follow, with Adam Pearce taking a seat at the ringside.
The Vision (w/ Paul Heyman) vs. Penta, Dragon Lee, and Rey Mysterio
Theory and Lee begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Penta and Logan Paul tag in and Paul takes down Penta before Penta lands a Sling Blade on Paul and Paul responds with a Blockbuster to him off the middle rope. Rey and Reed tag in, but Reed sends Rey crashing into the mat spine first as Heyman stares down Pearce on the outside.
Theory tags in and delivers a clothesline to Rey in the corner, then tags Paul back in. Paul whips Rey into the corner and lands an assisted uppercut on him with Theory, but Reed tags back in and both Paul and Theory whip him into the corner to deliver a splash to him.
Lee, Penta, and Rey all fly over and off the top rope to take out the three Vision members on the outside, but Lee lands a boot on Theory's jaw inside the ring during the commercial break. Reed delivers a clothesline to him from the apron as Theory distracts the referee, and Paul then tags in. He fires off stomps on Lee, but Reed tags in and fires off stomps on Lee.
Theory tags in and delivers a stomp to Lee, then lands a Fallaway Slam on him. Reed tags in and looks to deliver a senton to Lee, but Lee rolls out of the way. Reed sends both Rey and Penta crashing off the apron, then looks to land a running senton on Lee. Lee avoids it, but Paul tags in and drags him away from his side of the ring as Pearce and Heyman argue at ringside.
Theory tags in and rains down right hands on Lee, but Rey tags in and delivers a hurricanrana to Theory. He rains down right hands on Theory before Paul gets Rey up in an Gorilla Press and sends him crashing into one of the barricades midsection first. Lee and Penta deliver a dropkick to him through the bottom rope.
Back in the ring, Theory rocks Penta with a forearm and delivers a shoulderbreaker to him. Heyman hops up on the apron, but Pearce follows and the referee becomes involved. When Pearce notices that Paul slipped Theory a pair of brass knuckles, he grabs them from Theory. Heyman gets in Pearce's face, but Pearce asks Heyman if he's sticking his hands in his face. Rey takes hold of the knuckles and clocks Theory with him as the referee is distracted by Paul, opening the door for Penta to land the Mexican Destroyer on Theory for the win.
Winners: Penta, Dragon Lee, and Rey Mysterio
— Jackie Redmond talks to CM Punk backstage about his match against Finn Bálor. Punk says it's this kind of pressure that feeds him and proves he's the best in the world and that's why he'll prove this in Ireland. He vows to break Bálor.
— Adam Pearce walks backstage and Paul Heyman follows him. Heyman tells Pearce his days as GM are numbered and tells Pearce to talk the phone call he's about to get.
— Back at ringside, IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley make their way to the ring.
Ripley welcomes Belfast to Monday Night Rhiyo, then says herself and SKY will be defending the Women's Tag Team Championship against Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez this coming Saturday at WWE Saturday Night's Main Event. SKY says Rhiyo is always on top, and Ripley officially declares herself and SKY for the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble once they retain their title against Morgan and Perez.
Morgan and Perez make their way to the ring, and Morgan tells SKY that Ripley always betrays her tag team partners as she's experienced. Perez announces that herself and Morgan are declaring for the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble as well so that a member of Judgment Day main events WWE WrestleMania 42, but Ripley questions how it'll work for Judgment Day should a member win the 2026 Women's Royal Rumble.
Raquel Rodriguez sneaks up behind Ripley and SKY. She delivers a Texana Bomb to SKY, but Ripley blindsides Rodriguez from behind and fights off Judgment Day...until Morgan delivers Oblivion to her.
— Los Americanos then make their way to the ring.
— We then head backstage, Bayley loses her mind backstage and talks to herself. Lyra Valkyria comes by and tells Bayley she's finding it hard to be positive and that she hates losing and she hates feeling like she let her friend down. Bayley says Valkyria could never let her down and they have 2026 to look forward to. Bayley talks about one of them winning The Rumble. They get stoked at the idea of one of them winning.
— Back at ringside, Je'Von Evans makes his way out.
Je'Von Evans vs. El Grande Americano (w/ Los Americanos)
The bell rings and the two lock up. Evans rolls up Grande, but Evans kicks out and lands a dropkick on Grande. He follows it up with a hurricanrana and another dropkick, then rains down right hands on him and dumps him out of the ring.
Grande sends Evans crashing into the barricade midsection first, but Bravo charges at him. Evans sends Bravo crashing into the ring steps, then flies off the ropes to take out Grande in the ring. During the break, Grande has Bravo check on him and stomps Evans' shirt as Evans is being checked on by the referee for an unspecified injury he sustained. When the break ends, the ring announcer declares that Grande is the winner given that Evans is no longer medically cleared.
Winner: El Grande Americano
— Jackie Redmond talks to Finn Bálor. She asks him about the pressure of fighting CM Punk in his home country. Bálor says Punk is in his island and tonight there will be a new Irish World Heavyweight Champion.
— Logan Paul, Bronson Reed and Austin Theory walk backstage with Paul Heyman. Adam Pearce approaches them and asks Heyman if he can talk to Bron Breakker and make peace. Heyman says if he got that phone call he would want to make amends too. Heyman says he'll have Breakker at RAW next week and Pearce will need to be on his best behaviour. They leave and AJ Styles comes by and gives his answer. His wife told him to kick Gunther's ass. Styles and Gunther will battle at the Rumble and if Styles loses he gives up his career.
— Asuka yells are a cowering Kairi Sane backstage and she tells Sane that Sane embarrassed her because she got pinned and they lost their titles and that she lost last week. Asuka compares this to how it felt when Iyo Sky left her. Sane tells Asuka she'll do anything and she will make sure Asuka wins the Rumble. Asuka tells Sane to not make her yell at her again and calls her a good girl.
— CM Punk then makes his way to the ring. Finn Balor follows.
:worldchamp:
WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs. Finn Bálor
The bell rings and the two lock up. Punk delivers a single leg dropkick to Balor, then lands a jumping knee strike on him in the corner and sets up for a Bulldog. Balor sees it coming and sends Punk crashing into the corner, then follows it up with a shotgun dropkick. Punk responds with a backbreaker to Balor and dumps him out of the ring, then delivers a dive through the middle rope to send Balor crashing over the announce desk.
During the commercial break, the referee begins a ten count when Punk gets back in the ring. Balor beats the ten count, but Punk delivers another backbreaker to him and whips him into the corner spine first. He wears down Balor with a submission, but Balor fires off right hands on Punk to escape. Punk responds with a neckbreaker to Balor, then sends Balor crashing into the mat face first and steps over him.
Balor rolls up Punk, but Punk kicks out and Balor fires off right hands on him back from the break. He delivers another step-up knee to Balor in the corner and follows it up with a Bulldog, but Balor levels Punk with a Pele Kick and fires off a chop on him.
Balor fires off stomps on Punk in the corner, then delivers another one to him in the middle of the ring and follows it up with his signature elbow drop. He lands a shoulder on Punk's midsection from the apron, then delivers a pair of enzugiris to him and ascends to the top rope. Punk meets Balor up there and connects with a superplex on him, but Balor rolls up Punk.
Punk kicks out and runs over Balor with a flying clothesline, then delivers a series of chops to Balor and follows it up with a Sling Blade. Balor then sends Punk crashing out of the ring and flies over the top rope to level him before he dumps Punk back in the ring and lands a shotgun dropkick on him that sends him crashing into the corner.
Balor ascends to the top rope and sets up for the Coup De Grace, but Punk avoids it and sets up for a GTS. He goes for a pin, but Balor kicks out and Punk delivers a pair of elbow drops on Balor. Punk sets up for another GTS on Balor, but Balor fires off elbows on him to escape and delivers a shotgun dropkick to him that sends him crashing into the corner.
Balor connects with a Coup De Grace on Punk and goes for a pin, but Punk kicks out and gets Balor back up on his shoulders. He delivers another GTS to Balor for the win.
Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk
— After the match, Punk helps Balor up and holds up his arm. Balor stares down Punk as Punk holds up the World Heavyweight Championship belt and the show goes off the air.
