WWE RAW Live Coverage - January 5th, 2026

[Kemo]

Bron Breakker challenges CM Punk in an epic World Heavyweight Championship Match

Bron Breakker is looking to win his first World Title when he challenges World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk on an explosive first Raw of 2026. Breakker was named the No. 1 Contender after pinning Punk in the WarGames Match at Survivor Series. Since then, Punk has been at war with The Vision, as the World Heavyweight Champion and Breakker have torched each other in vicious verbal takedowns. This will be the first time these two extraordinary Superstars collide one-on-one. Can Punk retain the World Heavyweight Championship, or will Breakker seize the moment and become one of the youngest World Champions in history?

— Everything flips upside down for the viewers watching at home. Corey Graves and Michael Cole come out of the WSQK Radio Van and Cole lets us know we have been transported back to the 80s.

— We see The Vision (Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory & Paul Heyman), CM Punk, The Judgement Day (Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez, Finn Balor & Raquel Rodriguez), Lyra Valkyria & Bayley, Maxxine Dupri, and Becky Lynch arrive to RAW.

— IYO SKY and Rhea Ripley make their way to the ring. The Kabuki Warriors follow.

WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Match: The Kabuki Warriors (c) vs. Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky

SKY and Asuka begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. SKY trips Asuka, then tags in Sane. SKY dumps Sane out of the ring, and Ripley delivers a cannonball off the apron to level Asuka and Sane on the outside.

During the commercial break, Ripley runs over Sane with a clothesline inside the ring. SKY tags in and Ripley whips her into Sane in the corner. She lands a pair of right hands on Sane's spine, then tags in Asuka. Asuka continues wearing down Ripley and tags Sane back in. Sane delivers a right hand to Ripley off the top rope and tags out to Asuka.

Asuka pins Ripley, but Ripley kicks out before Sane tags in back from the break. Sane flies off the top rope, but Ripley catches her and connects with a Fallaway Slam. SKY tags in and connects with a Sling Blade on Asuka, then lands a missile dropkick on Asuka off the ropes. Sane then tags back in and lands a pair of double boots on SKY's spine off the ropes.

Sane lands a right hand on SKY's spine as she continues wearing it down during another break, then tags in Asuka. Asuka uses her feet to wrench back on SKY's spine with a modified Bow and Arrow, but SKY counters into a crossbody to escape. Sane tags back in and locks in the Anchor on SKY, but SKY escapes with a double stomp to her midsection back from the break and tags in Ripley.

Ripley delivers a dropkick to Sane, then tags out to SKY. SKY lands a missile dropkick on Sane, then goes for a pin but Sane kicks out. Ripley then tags in back in and delivers Rip Tide to Sane as SKY sets up for Over The Moonsault. Asuka blindsides Ripley from behind and lands a Codebreaker on Ripley.

Asuka tags in and delivers a basement sliding knee to Ripley. She hits a German suplex on Ripley and follows it up with a kick. Sane tags back in and lands a double sliding forearms on Ripley with Asuka. Asuka and SKY then tag back in, and Asuka rolls up SKY. SKY kicks out, then delivers a double stomp to Asuka's midsection and follows it up with Bullet Train Attack. Ripley then tags in and delivers Rip Tide to Asuka. SKY follows it up with an Over The Moonsault to Asuka and delivers a tope suicida to Sane on the outside. Ripley then pins Asuka for the win.

Winners and NEW WWE Women's Tag Team Champions: Iyo Sky & Rhea Ripley

— Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley are approached by Adam Pearce backstage. Pearce tells them he's proud of them and then looks at The Stranger Things set. Gunther comes by and Pearce tells Gunther there are a tonne of eyes on him and on the show tonight. He talks about Gunther's disrespect and tells Gunther to mix in a little respect when he goes out tonight. Gunther laughs and walks away. We follow Gunther as he makes his way out to the ring.

— Gunther comes out to the ring and pulls out a t-shirt with a picture of him making John Cena tap out and it says "Tap like a...".

Fans rain down boos on GUNTHER as GUNTHER says he's been asked by management to show a little bit of respect. He questions where the respect is for him as the man who made John Cena tap out.

AJ Styles' music hits, and he makes his way out. GUNTHER says if Styles is about to tell him about respect, then he's punching above his weight. Styles looks to speak, but GUNTHER cuts him off and gloats about being the best wrestler in all of WWE. He continues bragging about Cena tapping out as Styles becomes more frustrated, then asks Styles what he's going to do about things as GUNTHER does Cena's signature taunt.

Styles slaps GUNTHER and stares him down, then says GUNTHER gets nothing as a response to GUNTHER's prior question.

— Ivy Nile yells at Adam Pearce backstage and she wants a title shot and refuses to be at the back of the line. Nile leaves and Gunther storms Pearce and asks for AJ Styles. Styles comes in and taunts Gunther and Gunther wants a match next week and Pearce agrees.

— Becky Lynch then makes her way to the ring. Maxxine Dupri follows.

WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship Match: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Becky Lynch

The bell rings and the two lock up. Lynch rocks Dupri with a right hand, but Dupri rains down right hands on Lynch and flies off the ring apron to level her on the outside. Dupri ascends up the ropes during the break, but Lynch pulls Dupri off and fires off stomps on her. She delivers a forearm and an Exploder to Dupri, then connects with a basement dropkick on Dupri under the bottom rope and flies off the ring apron to level Dupri on the outside.

Lynch dumps Dupri in the ring, then ascends to the middle rope and connects with a leg drop on her. She goes for a pin, but Dupri kicks out and exchanges right hands with Lynch back from the break. Durpi then connects with a Fisherman's suplex on Lynch and follows it up with a leg lariat before cinching in the Ankle Lock on Lynch. Lynch crawls over to the bottom rope to break the hold.

Lynch locks in the Dis-Arm-Her on Dupri, but Dupri transitions into an Ankle Lock. Lynch escapes, then lands a superplex on Dupri and follows it up with a DDT. She goes for a pin, but Dupri kicks out and Lynch lands an Exploder on her.

Dupri hits a crossbody on Lynch off the top rope and pins her, but Lynch kicks out and lands a jawbreaker on Dupri. Dupri responds with an Ankle Lock on Lynch, but Lynch bridges into a pinfall while holding onto the ropes for the win.

Winner and NEW WWE Women's Intercontinental Champion: Becky Lynch

— We see Stephanie Vaquer walking backstage and she's up later tonight.

— During the commercial break, Adam Pearce introduces Je'Von Evans. Evans makes his way out and presents him with a contract to sign. Evans does so, making him the newest member of the Raw roster.

— The Usos then makes their way through the crowd.

Jey says The Usos are now in Brooklyn, and Jimmy says it's the first "Raw" of the new year with the new World Tag Team Champions. Jey says himself and Jimmy appreciated the fight AJ Styles and Dragon Lee gave them, but Jimmy says that was last week and last year. Jey says 2026 is the year of The Usos, and Jimmy says anyone who wants some can come and get some.

— Jackie Redmond introduces Stephanie Vaquer, and she makes her way to the ring wearing a walking boot. Redmond says Vaquer had a great 2025, but asks her what now. Vaquer says she won 4 titles in 2025, debuted at WWE Evolution, and achieved her biggest dream by becoming Women's World Champion. She thanks the fans for believing in her, then says her ankle will not stop her. She says she wants more and wants everyone.

Vaquer holds up the Women's World Championship, but Raquel Rodriguez blindsides her from behind and rains down right hands on her. She sends Vaquer's ankle with the walking boot bouncing off the mat twice, then grabs a chair from the timekeeper's area. Officials run down to the ring to try stopping Rodriguez, but Rodriguez slides Vaquer's ankle into the chair. Officials slide into the ring before Rodriguez can do anything else.

— We then head backstage and see officials help Vaquer walk. Rodriguez emerges one again and sends Vaquer crashing into a road case, then steps on Vaquer's ankle. Adam Pearce and other officials break things up, and Pearce kicks Rodriguez out of the Barclays Center.

— Rey Mysterio and Dragon Lee talk backstage and Mysterio tells Lee he will be champ again. Lee leaves and Penta comes in and tells Mysterio he came back from injury early because he sees what The Vision is doing. They speak in Spanish and want to take out Austin Theory and Logan Paul.

— Lyra Valkyria and Bayley then make their way to the ring. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez follow.

Liv Morgan (w/ Roxanne Perez) vs. Lyra Valkyria (w/ Bayley)

The bell rings and the two lock up. Morgan sends Valkyria crashing into the ring steps shoulder first, then lands a kick on her back in the ring during the commercial break and pins her. Valkyria kicks out, but Morgan lands the Three Amigos on her and wears her down with a shoulder submission.

Back from the break, Valkyria rocks Morgan with a forearm. Morgan sets up for Oblivion on Valkyria, but Valkyria sees Morgan coming and connects with a Tornado DDT on her off the ropes. Valkyria sets up for Night Wing, but Morgan escapes by hitting a Lung Blower on Valkyria.

Valkyria runs the ropes, but Perez sends Valkyria crashing through the middle rope while Morgan distracts the referee. Bayley looks to go after Perez, but the referee steps between the two women. Perez still goes after Bayley and sends her crashing over the barricade, but Bayley grabs a chair and chases Perez to the back. Back inside the ring, Morgan takes advantage of the chaos and delivers Oblivion to Valkyria for the win.

Winner: Liv Morgan

— Backstage, Jackie Redmond talks to CM Punk. She asks Punk how he's prepared for Bron Breakker tonight. Punk says if he's the underdog, he's being underestimated and he'll put Breakker to sleep.

— Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman then make their way to the ring. CM Punk follows.

WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match: CM Punk (c) vs Bron Breakker (w/Paul Heyman)

The bell rings and the two lock up. Breakker levels Punk and wears down his arm during the commercial break, but Punk pins Breakker. Breakker kicks out and continues wearing down Punk, then lands a clothesline on him running the ropes for momentum.

Breakker whips Punk into the corner chest first back from the break, but Punk fires off a right hand and a chop on Breakker. Breakker responds with a bodyslam to Punk and rains down right hands on him, then connects with a suplex on him.

Punk sets up for a GTS on Breakker, but Breakker reverses into a Fallaway Slam on Punk and delivers a chop to him. He rocks Punk with a running knee to the side of his head, then follows it up with a gutbuster and goes for a pin. Punk kicks out, but Breakker dumps him out of the ring and follows him out there. He runs around the ring and sets up for a spear on Punk, but Punk sees Breakker coming and levels him with a flying clothesline.

During another commercial break, Punk lands a second flying clothesline on Breakker off the barricade near the timekeeper's area. He dumps him back in the ring and ascends to the top rope, then delivers another flying clothesline to Breakker and pins him. Breakker kicks out, but Punk catches him with a jumping knee strike in the corner.

Punk and Breakker teeter on the ropes back from the break, but Breakker lands a hurricanrana that sends Punk crashing into the top rope. Punk ascends back up the ropes, but Breakker trips him and delivers a second hurricanrana to him that sends him crashing into the mat.

Punk connects with a DDT on Breakker and pins him, but Breakker kicks out and Punk levels him with a pair of right hands. Punk then ascends to the top rope and delivers an elbow drop to Breakker before he calls for the GTS.

Heyman hops up on the apron and begins yelling, with Logan Paul and Bronson Reed running out to the ring. Austin Theory appears and delivers a Curb Stomp to Punk, opening the door for Breakker to pin Punk. Punk kicks out, but Reed clears the announce desk moments before Penta's music hits. Rey Fenix, Penta, and Rey Mysterio appear and Fenix and Penta fly off the barricades to take out Theory and Paul. Mysterio looks to fly and take out Reed, but Reed catches him. Penta, Fenix, and Mysterio then brawl with Theory, Paul, and Reed through the crowd.

Back in the ring, Breakker sets up for a spear on Punk. Punk sends him crashing into the ring post and delivers a GTS to him, then goes for a pin. Breakker kicks out, but Punk delivers a piledriver to Breakker and pins him once again. Breakker manages to kick out once more, but Punk then calls for the GTS and sets up for a second one on Breakker. Breakker lands on his feet and cinches in a Fujiwara Armbar on Punk.

Punk reverses into a pinfall while Breakker still has the submission locked in, but Breakker kicks out and continues cinching in the Fujiwara Armbar on Punk. Punk transitions into an Anaconda Vice, but Breakker escapes and delivers a gutbuster to Punk. He follows it up with a Steiner Line and goes for a pin, but Punk kicks out.

Breakker calls for a GTS and connects with it on Punk. Punk transitions into a STF on Breakker, but Breakker crawls over to the bottom rope to break the hold. Punk then drags Breakker into the middle of the ring and looks to cinch the STF back in on Breakker.

Heyman hops up on the apron once again to distract Punk, but Punk levels Heyman with a right hand. Breakker looks to surprise Punk with a spear, but Punk sends Breakker crashing out of the ring through the middle rope. Breakker catches Punk with a forearm as Punk looks to fly through the middle rope with a tope suicida.

Breakker sends Punk crashing through the announce desk with a right hand off the top rope. He dumps Punk back into the ring and sets up for a spear on Punk, but Punk lands a knee on Breakker and follows it up with a third GTS for the win.

Winner and STILL WWE World Heavyweight Champion: CM Punk

— After the match, Punk celebrates in the ring with his World Heavyweight belt as the end credits roll and the show fades to black.

[Kemo]

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