WWE RAW Explodes Into 2026 With Chaos, Championships, and a Brutal Main Event
The first episode of WWE RAW in 2026 set out to feel big, loud, and consequential — and for the most part, it succeeded. From championship changes to brutal main-event action, Monday night’s show from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center delivered a reset-style episode designed to launch the road to the Royal Rumble with force.
The night was headlined by CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship for the first time in this reign against Bron Breakker. While the match featured heavy interference and a few awkward moments, it ultimately landed as a physical, dramatic statement about WWE’s present and future colliding.
Breakker dominated long stretches of the bout with raw power and frightening athleticism. He tossed Punk around the ring, blasted him with clotheslines, gutbusters, and spears, and even launched himself from the top rope through Punk and the announce table in the most jaw-dropping spot of the night. At times, it felt like Punk was surviving rather than competing.
Punk, however, leaned into experience. He slowed the pace when he could, targeted Breakker’s arm, and relied on veteran instincts to weather the storm. Submission attempts like the Anaconda Vice and STF teased a turning point, while near-falls kept the Barclays Center roaring. Interference from Paul Heyman and members of The Vision threatened to derail the match, but run-ins from Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Dragon Lee restored order.
In the end, Punk avoided a decisive Breakker Spear and landed the GTS cleanly to retain his title. While Breakker lost, he was protected heavily — presented as a future world champion rather than a failed challenger — and his momentum toward a Royal Rumble run feels inevitable.
WWE RAW Explodes Into 2026 as CM Punk and Bron Breakker Deliver a Statement-Filled Tour de Force
The women’s division was the backbone of the show. RAW opened with the Women’s Tag Team Championship, where Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky dethroned the Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane) in a strong, energetic opener that immediately set the tone.
Later, the Women’s Intercontinental Championship changed hands as Becky Lynch defeated Maxxine Dupri. While the match itself delivered, Dupri’s short reign felt abruptly cut short, raising questions about long-term direction rather than match quality.
One of the most unsettling moments of the night came when Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer was viciously attacked by Raquel Rodriguez. The post-match beatdown appeared to blur storyline and reality, as Vaquer reportedly suffered a legitimate ankle injury, casting doubt over her championship status moving forward.
The King of Mind Games! 🧠
True 80s and 90s wrestling fans will remember the OG Steiner brothers. CM Punk did – and used that to troll Rick Steiner’s son Bron Breakker. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/kigVnXVwt0
— Uncrowned (@uncrownedcombat) January 6, 2026
Elsewhere, Liv Morgan defeated Lyra Valkyria with outside distractions, continuing a trend of overbooking that slightly undercut an otherwise wrestling-heavy show.
Despite a few botches, heavy interference, and predictable outcomes, RAW’s 2026 debut largely delivered on its promise. WWE clearly prioritized in-ring action, championship stakes, and long-form storytelling over shock value. The main event may not have been perfect, but it felt important — and that matters.
CM Punk stands tall heading into the Royal Rumble as champion, Bron Breakker feels closer than ever to superstardom, and the women’s division continues to carry RAW with consistency and depth. As a season opener, RAW didn’t reinvent the wheel — but it absolutely hit the gas.
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What stood out most about the night was how deliberately WWE positioned its future alongside its present. RAW didn’t rely on surprise returns or swerves to grab attention; instead, it leaned on physical storytelling, long matches, and meaningful title movement. The focus on Bron Breakker’s dominance despite defeat, the continued elevation of the women’s division, and CM Punk’s veteran resilience all pointed toward a carefully laid path to WrestleMania season. If this episode was meant to signal intent for 2026, it made one thing clear: WWE is betting on sustained momentum, not shortcuts, as it builds toward its biggest stages.
