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WWE Raw Thoughts Jan 5th, 2026 (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-06 04:00:06
Imported:
2026-01

Content

LUKE: The best ones will be read on the next WrestleTalk Podcast!

Comments

Badgersprite

Congrats to Rhea and Iyo on getting married tonight. Or, you know, winning the tag titles. Same thing.

Frank Botello

I guess breaker has so much to learn

Pogo is here

Not a fan of punk winning even tho it was a good match I gotta say for how big they were pushing this show fuck all really happened like if you're gonna have punk win and not do the title change give like a debut or something

Bob

Awesome episode… If it wasn’t hyped up so much. Main event was great though but had the wrong winner. As long as Breakker wins before the inevitable NJPW crossover show so he can lose to Aaron wolf in champ vs champ. Year of the Wolf pack awoooo

Pat the booker

I dont know what im more surprised about. That punk retained and clean or that no jericho. Also where does Punk go from here?

Vault-Tec Doormamu

Everyone’s acting like Jericho didn’t show up when he clearly did. He was with Rey and Dragon Lee as they went to chase away the Vision.

Tom Garrett

I'm just relieved Jericho didn't show up in a Vecna mask to cost Punk the title.

Carl Chikuhwa

All in all was a good episode of RAW but should’ve just bitten the bullet and made bron champion At this point the loss doesn’t ruin his momentum but does undermine it

Nateknowswrestling

Let me tell you something Luke while I’m glad it wasn’t a no contest or some DQ finish I think that they have to be bold sometimes and get behind a young talent. Now was the time for Breakker and Punk doesn’t need a world title for WrestleMania.

DennyDorko

I wish I was surprised, but the show itself really didn't feel like it would be Breakker's coronation. Unfortunately, now it looks like they are repeating the Gunther/Uso story (the challenger losing to then overcome the odds to earn a Wrestlemania title shot) from a year ago, now with Punk and Breakker. Because that sure helped Jey seem like a credible champ when he won.

Sticki Matt

In my opinion, this was the time to pull the trigger on bron. He has genuinely the only momentum the vision has tbh. Him losing clean was just weird and safe booking that tripple h has been doing all of last year. Logan could’ve costed him the match on accident and that leads to Logan being kicked out or something, I don’t really know how they can really make bron look good in losing. After seeing Jevon being signed to raw I had hopes but I do fear they will just pull the trigger too late and no one will care. Maybe I’m cynical or overthinking, or maybe I just know what’s coming. Also I hope you guys had a lovely holidays and I wish you love and happiness for this upcoming year.

Nathan

I enjoyed that it was a woman heavy show, bron brekker still has so much to learn underneath the learning tree before he can become champ of course

Threads of Dragons

I think WWE's reluctance to push young and new guys is going to reach a boiling point soon. I understand that you have these stars, however an overreliance on them might land them in a similar position to NJPW have found themselves in (Okada, Ibushi, Jay, Natio and Ospreay all leaving within a short period left a large hole) the other thing is the longer it takes you make these prospects into stars, the more chance you have at ruining them or dropping their stock. You don' want Bron or Je'Von Evans ending up as a Dolph Ziggler, Kofi Kingston or Finn Balor. As much as I love all three of those talents, they were all talents due to WWE's overreliance on established stars (Cena, Triple H, Orton, Brock, Goldberg, The Rock) during a period that desperately needed new stars, these guys never got the chance to be true main eventers. and unfortunetly for WWE they don't have a star on the level of an Aaron Wolf ready to step up.

Tom Shucksmith

Now that Vince McMahon’s storylines are finished, Hunter’s struggling to come up with anything original. I never really bought into Jericho’s return tonight, probably because I always had an inkling that they would tie the Royal Rumble and Jericho countdown clocks together somehow. However, I just watched a Raw with two title changes, and I’m left feeling it’s become stale.

Chris deaton

Was short on cash and needed some food so decided to buy some cereal and on the top flap of the box was a QR code for this podcast. I need to collect 10 to recieve my NJPW real worlds championship tho. Darn it. (Also Bron needs to stop falling on his head dang it)

Godzilladreamer

The ending made no sense to me. Punk gets hid on the dive, lands on his head according to commentary, put through the announce table, and yet somehow ends up hitting a knee and a it's for a win. Was nowhere near enough time for me to believe Punk could recover and with all the Vision and Paul help going into it, it made Bron look weak to me.

TheDerpiestofDerps

I simply do not understand what WWE is doing right now with it's main event scene on Raw. You have a red hot guy in Bron ready to step up and take the reins but because we are not at mania or summerslam, a world title is just not allowed to change hands and that is starting to get very old. I'm not asking for a change once a month but HHH needs to make his plans more malleable to allow guys that get over naturally to be capitalized on.

Vectron44

Triple H's worst trait as a booker seems to be that he can't realise that momentum doesn't last. I think he feels vindicated by the WM39 Roman/Cody decision to stay the Cody win to the next year, but he doesn't realise that that could have been pretty tepid if it wasn't for the Rock's Final Boss getting involved. Too much umming and ahhing about new prospective main eventers making their pushes seem stop-start.

Colt Durham

A real missed opportunity to give WWE a big fresh feel going into the new year. I also feel with Jericho not returning or Bron winning the title, puts a sower taste in a majority of fans mouth going into 2026. The 1st show of the year should excite you for what’s to come, instead they showed us that nothing will change with a fresh year and it’ll just be a continuum of 2025. I’m not sure if Bron will ever look like a credible World Title Opponent again for the foreseeable future.

Mark Decker

Hey Boys Happy New Year!! I am from Chicago, & C.M. Punk will always & forever be my guy & I'll enjoy him as long as he wants to compete, but the Bloom is off the Rose & hes just not the same in ring competitor. Unless they do something to freshen up his character he's going to continue to feel old & dull. Cheers to a great 2026

Dukect

Hopefully, Bron will stop landing on his damn head. Also I did not like the fact that most of the women's matches tonight were inundated with Y2J chants. Oh and becky, getting the intercontinental championship back and punk retaining the world title means that the status quo will remain until Mania. But thats how papa hunter rolls now

ColdHotSauce

As an episode on its own, I thought this was a good show; good matches throughout & a really enjoyable main event. But for how it was built up the last few weeks (especially the main event), I found it pretty underwhelming. Happy that Punk retained cause I love him, but where the hell do you go with Breakker now? Rematch at Wrestlemania, I guess? I think the finish of the main event really sums up WWE's creative problems right now, being too afraid of pulling the trigger on someone now & instead taking the safe, boring option of dragging a story out for way longer than it needs, just so it can finish at Mania, which is the only show of the year where interesting things can happen, according to Triple H.

Dmangamr

This RAW was way over hyped. Three fairly predictable title matches and a brand integration that did NOTHING for either party. Also no Jericho which Pearce teased this week just left me saying “That’s it?!”

Akito Harukawa

For most of the show I was distracted by Hiroshi Tanahashi riding his cart around the background of the shot all night. Seems he must be doing a tour of America on his cart now too

Samuel Harris

Regarding the Women’s IC Title; I feel like Becky vs AJ Lee doesn’t need the title to be good. Nor does it do anything for Maxine just losing it back to becky so I hope there is something else planned. With Maxine at the helm of the title it would give something credible for the mid-card and below to go after with Maxine a ‘beatable’ opponent. And Becky could have easily thought the IC title was beneath her and she “made” someone and just go for i don’t know the World title currently stuck without credible opponents having AJ just rock up at ringsides smiling and waving and skipping just to mess with her up until she finally cracks towards Mania.

RUSTAGE

Jericho should return to WWE just to have one squash match with Gunther and then get immediately retired. Also weird amounts of CM Punk related botches recently.

Wheels

For the first of the year I thought the wrestling was super (the women tag match) but it already feels like 2026 is going to be like 2025 over promise and under deliver or did we talk ourselves into a shoot with the Jericho return being tonight?

Brody Allsep

With the crowd trying to get themselves over and ruin the Women's matches with Y2J chants, I'm glad they didn't get Jericho. Also, that is now two matches in the New York-ish area where Becky Lynch won with a janky pin. I don't mind the result, as I do see more for both Becky and Maxxine with Maxxine back to the challenger, but the ref telling her she has to put her shoulder down with no leverage on it was something that needed another pass to do better.

Apesh 07

I didn’t watch raw, but from the 3 post I saw on twitter it was *checks notes* really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really good. Wait, my notes were upside down, it was bad.

Bella Pearson

It is not often where Smackdown is better than RAW, but RAW underwhelmed. So many promos and match results were predictable

Josh VanZee

The main event was really well put together. Giving an entertaining watch, cool spots, interferences, counters, and was a good ending to a feud to cap the 1st Netflix episode of the year … key words “ending to a feud”. I don’t know where you go from here since Punk overcame all that the vision had to throw at him… Now the rest of the feud until Mania all is going to feel subpar and repetitive. Bron should’ve won dirty to build that Mania match. If/when Jericho returns, there’s only one thing I’m interested in. Give me the stare down with Owens… the story they’d fumble like all the others but that “moment” would be what they do this for right??

Will B

Shouldn't have taken the belt off of Maxxine, but SHOULD have taken it off of Punk. 1st show of the year was their perfect opportunity to actually promote younger talent, and they blew it.

Figment

That was an... interesting show. I think I would have been happier if Punk lost the title to Bron. I mean, Becky didnt really *need* the IC title, but I'm guessing it's gonna go straight to AJ Lee which I'm ok with. The Stranger Things crossover was just kinda lame. Also, way too many commercials.

LJ Mickey

This raw was the perfect example of where WWE as a product is. Visually great looking, sold out buildings and great roster but also repetitive match finishes, predictable storylines and WAY TOO MUCH ADS. Happy new year everybody.😊

Mohammed Albanai

The crowd constantly chanting you tapped out at Gunther, shows that having Jey beat him that way was a bad idea. That tap out hurt Gunther but it didn't elevate Jey

Brent

I can't wait for the Vision vs Rey Mysterio and the super Lucha Libre friends. Also where's the road to the Royal Rumble? Clearly it wasn't going through this Raw.

Captain Nick

I’m surprised people actually took pierce seriously in his post. He is one of the most terminally online members of that roster. Especially on Twitter.

Eric from Annville

This was a very bland and predictable episode of RAW. HHH is better at some things than Vince but one thing about Vince is he was a showman. HHH just wants a nice simple show that doesn't rock any boats and his limitations have finally caught up to him. In 2026 we need Pritchard and HHH gone. Maybe it's finally time for Heyman to take the book.

Tyler Fitz

I don’t think the ends justify the means of having Breakker lose here. If you’re waiting until Mania, I don’t think you can keep the momentum of this feud going for another three months. They should’ve pulled the trigger now

Peter Siddorn

My hope is that the Bron lost is a way to get him out of the Vision. The group is dragging him down currently and just having him out on his own would benefit him much more.

tom kenny

I was at Raw live. Had Vince still be in charge we would have seen Vecna vs The Boogeyman. I'm a little sad we didn't.

James Markin

Punk just winning 5 seconds after the table spot is a choice. Very much Cena vs Nexus SummerSlam vibes.

Eric#13

I guess Raw wasnt Jericho. With Evans joining Raw we at least got someone new I guess (I dont watch NXT but only heard good things about him). Cant wait for him to do nothing for 9 Months only to then have his first feud for a title in which he loses, because we cant establish young guys by making an instant impact. Where is the creativty when it comes to introducing new Characters?

Skye Shadowrun

It's going to be a long year for RAW if this is the standards we're setting for 2026. It wasn't a bad show but it wasn't anything to recommend to a friend

JonoabboFE

Lyra vs Liv was my match of the night, Liv came back and didn't look like she'd missed 7 days, let alone months. Hoping Bron's loss leeds to him smashing through a chamber to get the shot at Mania.

CammyGBR

Yo it's the battle rap guy, happy new year gang!!🙏🏻 Commit to the bit - As good as the set looked with the music and staging, I think we should commit more to these themes if they're going to make a events around them, for example since it was Stranger Things maybe have Finn Balor (as demon king) actually win a match maybe against Randy Orton (Voices in the head) and tell a breaking of psyche story as the demon king brings the worst out of RKO to make snap judgements in anger for Finn to take advantage of This would have been perfect for Karion Kross to return and win as breaking people down mentally was his whole arc!! Low key liked the chapters but I'm probably the minority on that Next time make it a Friend's theme as a backstage brawl in Central Perk where Cody Rhodes is special referee dressed as Gunther (the shop owner not the ring general) Bron needed to win - Punk Vs Bron was great and I'm glad they got The Vision interference over and done with quick to get back to the match. Bron should have won tonight, it feels like Bron wants to go full gear but WWE are nerfing him so he doesn't reach superstar level until they need him to become one (which will be far too late), the same goes for Jacob Fatu prior to his injury Break the wall of Trust - I don't like WWE eluding to Jerichos appearance tonight, if they done that with The Rock or Steve Austin the backlash would be bigger, this isn't "working the dirt sheets" but disappointing the fans however Royal Rumble made more sense than tonight anyway Wild RR prediction - Austin Theory is definitely working with Chris Jericho. Watch Bronson Reed and Austin work together from almost the start then Chris Jericho comes out midway then Austin swap sides when the opportunity presents itself and helps Chris and whoever throw Reed out the ring to then be the ironman of this RR This was super long you don't have to read it all out if you use this 🙏🏻 CammyGBR

m1kend 75

No Raw is Jerico 😔 I work 3am-11am & stayed up to be disappointed. Maybe we get wed night sing-a-long again?

Sid Harrison

Whelmed by Raw. Felt like every other “big” show they’ve done since being on Netflix with nothing exciting going on other than good wrestling and vines being about the place. Not even bothered about Jericho not turning up

Wayne Proctor

Fully admit I'm more a AEW fan then WWE these days. Decided to give RAW a chance after not watching it for 1 or 2 months (since Jericho tease to come back) and tbh it wasn't for me. I dont watch stranger things so music and all the adds where jarring. 1.5 hours in and 2 matches is just nuts

Rory Swaine

Considering this was the first Raw of 2026 (and on my birthday) I’m a bit disappointed with it. I was expecting a bang considering how mediocre 2025 was and how it’s basically the period where WWE lock in between now and Mania. Triple H going with the safest options with all 3 title matches again does not shock me and I’m really concerned we’re gonna be getting more of the same as we did last year but even worse since there’s no John Cena to look forward to. Hope you’re all keeping well lads and happy new year to you all

Harry Iveson

Alreet lads, merry Christmas and happy new year! I don’t have much to say about raw but I did want to share some news of my own with you lot! First of all I want to say thank you for your kind support with my sands baby loss 50K in September run! It meant so much to both of us. Second of all I am thrilled to tell you I will be graduating to D.A.D status come April this year as me and my wife welcome into the world twins! After two losses last year we are blessed with the news that this pregnancy was two for one! I’ve been dying to tell you both since we knew but, wanted to play it safe with everything that happened with the last two. I love you all thank you for being there for everyone who is having a rough time yous just being yous really helps a lot of people get through the struggles. Support wrestle talk support each other! Sorry for the ramble much love. The Geordie bus driver Harry

Cody Kearnes

It’s really disappointing that wwe failed to pull the trigger on the more exciting, new and fresh idea again. No one loves cm punk more than me (well maybe oli) but it was very clear that tonight was supposed to be brons night and it feels like wwe have been too scared to do anything slightly interesting in their booking recently

MeekCandy4

Raw wasn’t Jericho lol Anyways, Punk vs Breakker was alright even though both of them landed on their heads.

Brandon

this was just a normal episode of RAW but with added set dressing. this didn't feel like the big anniversary event RAW like it was advertised as, hell didn't even feel like a stranger things themed episode of RAW outside the goofy ass title cards and demogorgan who showed up in the corner ever 3 minutes. Matches were all fine with the main event being pretty good (though bron should have won). Nothing really else to say hope you guys had a great break, Ollie did you read Absolute Martian Manhunter yet?

JJ Bittenbinder

As if the disappointing Stranger Things finale wasn't bad enough, now Breaker gets punked, Vecna style. I swear to God if I hear "he's still young" or "there is still time" or "let it play it out" one more time. You should have pulled the trigger LONG AGO. Way to start of the new year with a "bang". No Breakker win, no Jericho return, just a flop ending.

Hok

The strangest thing about this RAW was it managed to be worse than stranger things finale. Bad matches, weird promo segments and Bron losing. I was so underwhelmed I cancelled my Netflix

Sam Hedges

By the looks at the comments im the only one who enjoyed the show but i wouldnt say it was amazing, it wouldve been without the bizzare decision to put Gunther VS AJ Styles on a random episode of raw, and for Punk to win. Maybe Seth is okay and is returning at the rumble, and from what i got from Wargames was that itll be Punk Vs Cody Vs Roman in the main event of night 2. And just in case we arent leaving this in 2025, there I was rewatching stranger things, and wouldnt you know, that inside of the demogorgans mouth, in amongst its many teeth, was a QR code to the podcast

Jack McEwen-Quy

Sitting up butt naked from underneath two blankets this morning to point at the TV Leonardo DiCaprio style when Corey Graves said "Paul Heyman's Learning Tree". I thought it was all but confirmed Y2J would return tonight. It wasn't to be and I can't help but feel after a great ɹɐʍ episode this was the safe choice.

Homerstar

I am absolutely baffled that Bron didn’t win. How much longer are they going to drag it out. He should have won the belt a few months ago and he should have won it tonight. It was hilarious hearing Cole compare him to Brock and Angle because they both won the world title in their first years. Bron’s about to start his 3rd and they still refuse to pull the trigger on him. This makes me worried that when Oba arrives, they’re gonna drag out him winning the World Title as well.

RealDoubleJ

Now there'll never be a greater cross promotion than Tony Khan saying the words "SHAZAM! Fury of the Gods" in a promo 15 times but WWE would have been close if they had Triple Humble dressed up in full Vecna cosplay in the Gorilla Position. Such a missed opportunity...

Justin A. Thomas

In a perfect world, the story of 2025 would've been Cena's retirement coinciding with a youth movement of the main roster. I like CM Punk, I swear to God and three other white men, but holy shit we new some young top champions.

BrenkaiDC

So I did some thinking about nxt call ups over the years. The last nxt former men’s nxt champion to be called up and win a world title (wwe, world heavyweight or universal) was Drew McIntyre. There were no other nxt champions after him that won a world title after being called up. The total in general is 5 (Seth Rollins, Big E, Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, and Drew McIntyre) so I think it’s time for some new champs. Love you guys!!!

JaceBrody14

I think so long a Bron wins the Royal Rumble and beats Punk at wrestlemania this loss won't matter. But this is Triple H booking so I have little hope they'll follow up in a satisfying way.

DerBilz99

I guess there weren't any walls broken down... I don't why you would tease Y2J if he isn't even returning except for setting up fans of WWE

Kevin Fleuriot

I can't wait for me to eat those words in a few months when he finds a new gimmick that is very entertaining, but I couldn't care less about a Jericho return right now. The only good thing would be the return of the theme song. Also, I feel like the "no champions born in the 1990s" point was supposed to be an argument to show that WWE rely on the same 4 stars at the top (Cody, Punk, Roman, Seth) but now it has become the conversation and people feel like they have to crown a you g star. I wanted Bron to win, not because he's young but because he's Bron, he's great, he's exciting and on top of that yes he's young and you can push him to the moon for many years to come. If LAK, Drew, Finn, KO or Sami win a world title, I wouldn't complain because WWE isn't pushing a young guy.

Tyler

I know your not supposed to compare shows with eachother but this episode missed that extra special something, No one came out looking like a beast … or should i say a wolf!!! 🐺🐺

Michael

This is HHH booking at its worst… he’s so desperate to not interrupt his long term plans that he’s absolutely incapable of striking when a star is at his hottest… I think Bron will be fine, but he should be champion right now

Ben Woodvine

Was looking at the Support Wrestletalk sign during Rhiyo's entrance and thought there might be a QR code on it, but instead noticed there were some maths equations on it. Using my GCSE simultaneous equations knowledge, and a lot of ChatGPT, I worked out it was an equation for a wormhole straight into the recording for today's podcast. However, I've been told to stay off camera as I have "a face worse than Vecna" and a "personality worse than Dipshit Derek".

Sam Fonseca

When I heard Michael Cole say “I was expecting Stranger Things” after Rhea and Iyo won the tag titles, I knew I was in for a long episode

Jonah Michael

I can’t quite put my finger on it, but WWEs story writing style just drives me up the wall, it predictable but also takes too long to enjoy just a predictable, enjoyable story. Trips has shown he can do it well in like 2023/2024, so what is happening? I feel like if you only tune into RR, mania, summerslam and MITB you could probably hit all the major story beats for the year

KidCutty

I enjoyed the show last night. Dont let the IWC start off 2026 complaining bitchin and moaning again WT. Pick some replies that arent just negative cause if people complaining about last night's show, then were in for a looonnnggg Cranky IWC year 😂

Irving Sanchez

Of course Bron didn’t won, Trips only changes world tittles in big PLE’s. I always expected the most boring outcome since Cena vs Rhodes at WM 41

Joe Manns

Although I would’ve preferred bron to beat punk and become champion, I don’t think we need to worry too much about bron potentially being buried or losing momentum as he lost to a future hall of famer in cm punk in a highly competitive match

Wayne Rogers

The stranger things collab seemed completely pointless. I was hoping someone would get psychic powers and solo master of puppets.

David Kleberg IV

I think that WWE believes that they don’t have to strike while the iron is hot. They think they can strike the iron at any time and it will make itself hot.

Jonathan “The Headmaster” Hedman

Weird how in 1994 6th of January Nancy Kerrigan had her knee attacked and last night almost on the same day we had another leg attack. Complete with a back stage angle”

Jeep Liberty

Praying to teenage Jesus for a Round the Twist review

Pat the booker

Yall probably already recorded but ill ask anyway . Why are soo many ppl online complaining about raw saying “wwe just had a whole divas show and wonder why they are losing viewers” and yes they called them divas

David Hayter

Loved Iyo hitting the Twist a Shout during commercial and then the Slingblade on air to pay tribute to Tanahashi. Shame Robin and Vickie from Stranger Things (or anyone) weren’t there to watch the title change though.

CalciferXVII

Disappointing. Smackdown was a fun show with couple of surprises. This just felt flat.

Miki Kiernan

Becks wins so maxinne has to feud with ivy nile for her rematch which brings another person into the IC mix??

Brad Hawdon

It was an absolute scam, Jericho “tease” which actually did boost sales, hours after the vid was posted. And finally it breaks my heart to admit it to even myself but punk is washed…