WWE RAW RESULTS (1/26): Keller’s report on AJ Styles’s potential final Raw as a wrestler, Pearce chats with Breakker, New Day vs. Otis & Tozawa vs. Rayo & Bravo vs. Creeds

By Wade Keller, PWTorch editor


SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...

WWE RAW RESULTS
JANUARY 26, 2026
TORONTO, ONTARIO AT SCOTIABANK ARENA
STREAMED LIVE ON NETFLIX
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, PWTORCH EDITOR

Commentators:  Michael Cole, Corey Graves

Ring Announcer: Lilian Garcia

Attendance: WrestleTix reports today that 14,804 tickets were distributed so far; arena set up for 15,576. The arena has a capacity of 19,800 spectators when configured for concerts.


JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOW

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Nick Barbati to review WWE Raw LIVE. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.

Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.

VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE

https://streamyard.com/nwabpnjtig

Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).

If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.

LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH


[HOUR ONE]

-They opened with footage of a stadium being built in Riyad, Saudi Arabia for the Royal Rumble starting one month ago. Then they cut to the exterior of the arena for Raw in Toronto, Ont. Then they showed backstage footage of wrestlers including Stephanie Vaquer, New Day, and The Vision. Then they cut to a wide angle of the arena crowd as Cole said it was a sellout of over 17,000.

-A.J. Styles made his ring entrance. Cole said Styles announced 2026 would be his last year as a wrestler and said he wants a year-long farewell tour and doesn’t want it to end on Saturday at the Rumble. Corey Graves said odds are stacked against him, but Styles is built to overcome odds. Cole noted the 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT start time for the Rumble.

Styles said Gunther claims he is going to end his career at the Rumble. “That is his plan, but I’m not going anywhere,” he said. He said he made it clear 2026 is the year he retires. Fans chanted, “F— you, Gunther!” Styles said 2025 was the year of John Cena “and there’s no reason 2026 can’t be the year of A.J. Styles,” he said. He said there are locker rooms full of wrestlers he’d like to wrestle one more time and he’d like to be world champion one more time. He said his back is against the wall, but Gunther is not phenomenal. C.M. Punk’s music interrupted.

Punk said he has respect for him and so he has to publicly ask him what he’s doing putting his career on the line against Gunther. He said he thinks people like the two of them have a lot of gas left in the tank and more moments to have in front of the people. Styles asked if he doubts he can beat Gunther. Punk said he’s seen Styles win and lose. He said if things don’t go his way Saturday, they never get to wrestle each other again. Styles said, “I know I can beat Gunther, and I know I can beat you.”

Punk said he won’t get to prove that if things don’t go his way on Saturday. Punk playfully said he’s not sure what to do about that. He looked at Styles, who said what if they fight tonight and he beats him, and then if he beats Gunther, he wants to be seen as the no. 1 contender to his championship. Punk said he won the title on Nov. 1 and he said he was going to be a fighting champion. He said, “If you and me are going to do this tonight in Chicago, it’s going to be for the belt.” Punk said it sounds like they have a main event. Styles smiled and celebrated.

-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside. Graves said it doesn’t get any bigger than this.

(Keller’s Analysis; With Styles having matches with Shinsuke Nakamura and Punk in the last few days before wrestling Gunther, they’re sure making it seem like he’s wrapping up his career on Saturday, fitting in a couple “last wish” matches with respected peers.)

-A video package aired on happenings at Saturday Night’s Main Event.

-Raquel Rodriguez, Roxanne Perez, and Liv Morgan made their ring entrance. Cole said this six-woman tag match is a result of what happened at Saturday Night’s Main Event. [c]

-Cole hyped the Royal Rumble weekend televised schedule.

(1) STEPHANIE VAQUER & IYO SKY & RHEA RIPLEY vs. RAQUEL RODRIGUEZ & ROXANNE PEREZ & LIV MORGAN

The bell rang 27 minutes into the hour. Cole talked about their participation in Saturday’s Rumble and past Rumbles. Cole said early in the match that he had breaking news: G.M. Adam Pearce made the World Title match official for Raw tonight. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]

Ripley tagged in a few minutes after the break and rallied against Morgan to cheers. She fended off Raquel and then gave a Razor’s Edge of Liv into Raquel. When Perez went for Pop Rocks, Ripley escaped. Ripey landed a top rope dropkick to send Raquel out of the ring. She then turned back to Morgan and blocked a kick and went for a Rip Tide. Liv slipped out and landed a tornado DDT for a two count, with the cover interrupted by Sky. Chaos broke out in the ring with all six. Vaquer ducked a charging Rodriguez and then leaped off the top rope with a crossbody press onto Raquel at ringside.

Back in the ring, Sky took out Morgan as Ripley headbutted Perez and landed Rip Ride for the win.

WINNERS: Ripley & Sky & Vaquer in 13:00.

-They went to Cole and Graves at ringside who went to a highlight video of the Punk vs. Finn Balor match last week.

-Backstage, Balor caught up to Punk and said he has been thinking about what happened last week. He said he wanted to become champion, but things didn’t go his way. He said he was part of the most memorable night of his career. He said after the match he helped him up and gave him his flowers and in the emotions of the moment, he didn’t return it. He said, “Thank you.” Punk said he’s not the best in the world unless he beats the best. He said he doesn’t hand out title shots. He said there aren’t a lot of guys like them left. He told him to think about his legacy because he shouldn’t be hanging around with scum like Dominik Mysterio. He said if he wants another shot, go win the Royal Rumble.

-The Vision made their ring entrance. [c]

-A skit aired with Paul Heyman pestering and lobbying Triple H to put a member of The Vision on the cover of a WWE videogame with playful music in the background as they walked thorugh WWE headquarters. Then they showed off Triple H is on the cover of this year’s deluxe edition.

(Keller’s Analysis: Of course. Who else? Paul Levesque is certainly not preoccupied with discrediting his reputation.)

-Heyman stood mid-ring and introduced himself. He told fans if they keep booing him, it will go on all night long. He said he brought with him the “hottest prospect of 2026, 2027, 2028, ‘The Pressure’ himself, Austin Theory.” He touted Bronson Reed as someone with a pinfall win over Roman Reigns. He touted Logan Paul as the most famous face on the planet today. He touted Bron Breakker as the one who sold out Raw.

Heyman turned to implicating G.M. Adam Pearce for crossing lines with them. He accused him of planting brass knuckles for Rey Mysterio to use against Austin Theory. He said he went for a deadbeat dad to a felonious father. He then told Pearce, “At your leisure, we welcome your presence.” As Pearce walked out, Heyman invited fans to stand and give him the middle finger and boo.

Pearce said he wasn’t out there to make excuses or apologize for wearing his heart on his sleeve, but he said he is man enough to acknowledge things got out of hand. He said he put his hands on Breakker first. He apologized to him. Pearce said he already filed paperwork to reinstate Breakker and enter him in the Rumble. He asked Heyman what else he needed. Heyman told him to stop interrupting him, for one. Pearce said he is putting Logan, Reed, and Theory into the Rumble. He said he feels Theory needs a chance at redemption against Rey Mysterio tonight since those brass knuckles could have been what cost him the match.

[HOUR TWO]

[c]

(2) REY MYSTERIO (w/Penta, Dragon Lee) vs. AUSTIN THEORY (w/Logan Paul, Bronson Reed. Bron Breakker, Paul Heyman)

The match was joined in progress.

Rey was in control, but Theory took over and settled into a side headlock. Cole and Graves speculated on whether The Vision would look out for each other in the Rumble. Cole said he’s been impressed by Theory so far. Rey leaed onto Theory at ringside.  When Logan and Reed walked toward Rey, Penta and Dragon intervened. They cut to a break. [c]

Back from the break, Rey avoided a charging Theory and then took him down with a flying head scissors. When Rey springboarded toward him off the middle rope, Theory punched him out of mid-air. He then delivered Ataxia for a near fall. Theory lifted Rey onto his shoulders, but Rey tumbled over the top rope to ringside and sent Theory into the ring apron. Theory shoved Dragon Lee at ringside; Penta superkicked him; Reed charged at Penta; Penta and Dragon gave a stereo superkick to Reed. As chaos continued at ringside, Rey slidekicked hium. Theroy then gave Rey a stomp as Rey re-entered the ring and got a three count.

WINNER: Theory in roughly 9:00.

-After the match, The Vision attacked Rey, Penta, and Dragon. Reed gave Penta a Tsunami. Breakker then speared Penta as his cohorts held him upright.

-A vignette aired with Natalya who said she made Maxxine and Maxxine failed her. She said she thinks just because she rolled the legend means she can roll like a legend, but that will never happen again. “This is a whole new me,” she said, “And when I’m doing with you, Maxxine, I’m coming for it all.” She said Natalya elevates, but Nattie decimates. She leaned nto the camera with a sinister look.

(Keller’s Analysis: That didn’t explain anything.)

-Bayley confronted Raquel who was upset with Raquel yelling when she was on the phone. Raquel yelled for Pearce and then Vaquer attacked her. [c]

-Cole said they are prepping for the return of The Tribal Chief. A video aired on Reigns showing him in big moments and then scenes of Riyadh.

-A sitdown interview aired with Cole and Gunther. Cole asked why not just have the rematch and not force Styles to put his career on the line. Gunther said he had nothing to gain unless he ends Styles’s career. Cole said Styles just wanted to entertain the fans for all of 2026, “so why rob the fans?” Gunther said he’s tired of old-timers overstaying their welcome and chasing one moment after another. “Those moments, they belong to me,” he said. He said Goldberg was chasing moments and stopped them. He said same with John Cena, but now they’re talking about Cena giving up to him. He told Cole that he could kick his chair out from under him and end his career right now. Cole stiffened. He asked Cole how long he plans to stick around and chased another moment. He said not to worry, though, because he wants him to sit there at the Rumble so he can hear him say the career of Styles is over.

-A brief video aired hyping Punk vs. Styles.

-Graves and Cole said this could be Styles’s last appearance on Raw.

-Jey Uso made his entrance starting in the concourse. [c]

-Pearce was finishing up a phone conversation saying he has everything under control. Balor walked up to him and said he wants to be in the Rumble. Pearce said the Rumble is full. He apologized. Liv then got in Balor’s face for thanking Punk after he showed him up “in your won home town.” She said Punk doesn’t want him to be champion, but The Judgment Day does because they’re family. Balor said this isn’t as straight forward as she thinks. “So let me figure this out,” he said before walking away. [c]

(3) OTIS & AKIRA TOZAWA vs. THE NEW DAY (Xavier Woods & Kofi Kingston w/Greyson Waller) vs. THE CREED BROTHERS vs. AMERICAN MADE (Rayo & Bravo) – No. 1 contendership match

The ring entrance of Otis & Tozawa aired. American Made and The Creeds were already in the ring. New Day then made their entrance. The bell rang 36 minutes into the hour. Cole said Jimmy wasn’t there as he was “dealing with personal issues.” Brutus leaped onto a crowd at ringside. Then he threw Otis into the ringside steps. They cut to an early break at 2:30. [c]

Back from the break, Xavier had Tozawa down. Later, Otis cleared the ring and let out an “Oh yeah!” Jey superkicked Waller over the ringside barricade. Tozawa landed a top rope senton on Julius for the win. Cole said The Usos didn’t take Otis & Tozawa seriously when they said they wanted the tag titles, but they’ll have to now. Jey fist-bumped them after the match.

WINNERS: Otis & Tozawa in 11:00 to earn no. 1 contendership for the tag titles.

-Jackie Redmond interviewed Becky Lynch backstage. Becky said her win last week was monumental. She said Redmond wouldn’t know anything about monumental victories wearing a Toronto Maple Leafs jacket. Becky said Nattie was implying she’s coming after her title. She said he’s going to be entering the Rumble and plans to win. Kairi Sane and Asuka walked up to her. Kairi told Becky nobody is ready for Asuka. Becky said she’s ready and has beat her many times before. Kairi told Asuka what Becky said. Asuka yelled she heard her and then told Becky that she’d see her in the Rumble. Kairi tried to touch the IC Title belt. Becky brushed her hand away and then Asuka yelled for Kairi.

-Je’Von Evans nervously wished Styles luck backstage. [c]

-Vaquer walked up to Pearce backstage. She said she wants a fight. Pearce said next week she gets a match against Raquel in a Philadelphia Street Fight.

-Cole and Graves reacted to that news, then hyped the Rumble weekend and the Rumble line-up.

-Backstage, Reed asked Logan Paul what the plan is. Logan said they should go into the Rumble with one Vision. He said no one can stop them and they are a well-oiled machine. He said they should work together to make sure one of them wins the Rumble. He said that winner should be Breakker. Reed agreed. Theory agreed. Logan said, “That’s the Vision.”

-Punk’s ring entrance took place.

[HOUR THREE]

[c]

-An Oba Femi vignette aired.

(4) C.M. PUNK vs. A.J. STYLES – WWE Title match

Styles’s entrance took place. Garcia did formal ring introductions. The bell rang 6 minutes into the hour. Graves said he met Styles when he was 18 in 2001 at an NWA Wildside event. He said they knew he was special then, but no one knew how phenomenal his career would be. Cole said it was their first one-on-one match in a WWE ring.

Styles landed a dropkick at 4:00 and knocked Punk to ringside. They cut to a break. [c]

Punk rallied after the break and landed a bulldog. He then landed a Shining Wizard for a two count at 9:00. Styles fought back and scored a near fall. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!”

Punk and Styles battled at ringside. Punk delivered a GTS on Styles at ringside. Both were down and slow to get up. Punk tried to lift Styles, but Styles was dead weight. Punk entered the ring at 7 and then Styles rolled in at 9. Graves said deep in his heart, Punk is happy Styles beat the count because he wants to beat him without any asterisks or caveats. Styles stayed down for a while, but then then surprised Punk with a sudden roll-up for a two count and then a Styles Clash for a near fall.

When Styles went for a Phenomenal Forearm, Punk knocked him off balance at 16:00. They exchanged strikes mid-ring. Styles landed a Pele Kick. Both were down and slow to get up. Cole wondered who could dig deep and show they have a little bit left. Styles tried to lift Punk for a piledriver. Punk countered with a GTS attempt, but he couldn’t. Styles again tried to lift Punk, but couldn’t. Punk set up a GTS. Balor charged into the ring and dropkicked them both, then attacked Punk. Cole said those are actions of a desperate man on the outside looking in.

WINNER: No contest in 17:00 so Punk retained the title.

-Balor dropkicked Punk into the ringside barricade twice. Balor threw Punk into the ring and then landed a Coup de Grace. Graves said he doesn’t condone it, but part of him understands it. Balor landed a Coup de Grace to Punk’s ribs and then a third on to his abdomen. Cole asked, “Finn Balor, what do you want your legacy to be?!” The show faded to black.


JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOW

PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Nick Barbati to review WWE Raw LIVE. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.

Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.

VIDEO CALLER CODE: CLICK HERE

https://streamyard.com/nwabpnjtig

Click that link during the post-show to enter the waiting room as “live video caller” (or just audio if you turn off your cam, which is fine).

If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.

LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: LIVE ON YOUTUBE RIGHT AFTER WWE RAW TONIGHT: CLICK HERE TO WATCH


 

THANK YOU FOR VISITING

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply