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WWE Raw Thoughts Jan 26th, 2026 (Patreon)

Published:
2026-01-27 04:00:04
Imported:
2026-01

Content

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

Comments

AZIZ

Is this the best January the fed has ever had?

Vault-Tec Doormamu

The main event really made me question whether AJ’s really retiring. If he is, he’s done more than enough and deserves his rest. But part of me really hopes he’s secretly signed an extension. One last big run.

Colt Durham

Very mid episode. Feel like I wouldn’t have missed much if I didn’t watch. Just felt very predictable.

AZIZ

Do you think the matches with Nakamura and Punk as well as the deleted tweet from Nakamura are red herrings and AJ won’t be retiring at the rumble or is HHH not clever enough to do that and this is a shortened farewell tour?

LJ Mickey

Since dwayne didn't get an oscar nomination the mystery man who called Adam Pearce was the rock. Right?

Chris deaton

Was short on cash and needed something to eat so I decided to buy some cereal and when I opened the box there was a QR code for this podcast. I have to collect 10 box tops to receive my NJPW real worlds championship tho. Darn it. (Tlc) Ps I saw Conman in the front row on hard cam side

DennyDorko

I saw they unveiled the Triple H themed edition of WWE 2K26 on Raw tonight. So does the "King of Kings" Edition start out being good, but the after a while slow down, hog all your system's power, and become unwatchable? I hope there are enough Monday Night War wrestlers on the "Monday Night Wars" edition that you guys can do Monday Night Wars my GM mode again, but entirely with Attitude Era stars.

Wheels

I’m convinced that AJ is retiring on Saturday I’ve been watching him since 20006 in TNA so I don’t know if it’s just because he’s my favorite from back in the day but I’m I the only one who thinks the booking of his last year frustrating and kind of disappointing?

Acon22

That Vision segment could’ve been a lot better if it was announced that breakker had to good distance and starting at number one. Get some excitement back into the rumble.

Jack Ryan

I still don’t know whether to believe the Finn Bálor push is actually happening… or if WWE is just gaslighting me again hahaha

Inexplicable Shorts

Strongest episode of Raw in a while. Felt like Ollie in that I somehow didn’t see the DQ finish coming in the main event. Fun match up until then. But I love how fierce Raquel is. Otis/Tozawa have potential if given a proper push. Same with Finn. 4/5 episode imo.

Brent

I'm ready for Liv, Raquel, and Roxanne to make it official that they are the leaders of the Judgment Day. Finn, JD, and Dom can be officially Street Trash.

Sebastian Wagner

Very dull “go home show” but go home shows don’t exist anymore so I can’t really rag on that but man the rumble this year really has not been built at all compared to last year, hopefully it’s good though

Brody Allsep

Glad Stephanie is back healthy now, but putting her in the match teaming with Rhea didn't do her any favors as the WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPION! Mami chants, bigger reaction in entrance, and the pin. If it was meant to show she is on the same level, as she should be, that's not how it felt to me. Hoping that Philly Street Fight next week is great.

Lucas P.

I keep going back and forth on AJ retiring or not. Now I’m thinking he’s not because I would think they would have given him a proper match and proper finish against punk if it was going to be it for him.

Brody Allsep

The ending had me excited for a triple threat title match to be made for the Rumble before I remembered the Gunther match. Maybe false hope, but hear me out: AJ wins at Rumble, while Finn betrays/costs Dom. Sets up Punk, Finn, AJ, Gunther, Dom, and either Bron or another member of The Vision if Bron wins the Rumble at Elimination Chamber for the title. Think I prefer Bron with him winning and then defending one on one at Mania against Punk.

JJ Bittenbinder

So this is who Punk is feuding with before Breakker at Mania lol? I know it'll piss the Balor fans off, but how is this any different from Ivy Nile demanding another IC title shot, after she had already lost a title match (one she didn't deserve to begin with)? Balor is talented, deserves better, sure...but he's a total jabroni. One good match doesn't suddenly change that.

Captain Nick

I haven’t watched wwe programming live since their deal with espn. When I heard that Punk and Styles was gonna be the main event of this show, especially after this past Saturday seeing clips of the Shinsuke match, I tuned in to what I expected to be a great match with a finish. I guess it’s my fault for expecting both, especially for a Raw main event. I love Bálor, of course I do. But the beat down could’ve easily happened after the bell and had the same effect. We know we’re never gonna see Styles and Punk again, let them finish the match.

Lily Petal

Ok this is a bit long sorry. I was seriously excited to Tozowa and Otis winning! 6 women tag was killer but I feel like Stephanie Vaquer, the womens champion, was the least impactful. So sad. Did not care about the Vision. Loved AJ vs Punk because that is a match I have been dying to see. I love Finn but I wish he had not interfered. Give Finn more attention because damnit 2026 needs to be the year of Finn! Best line of the night "Natalya elevates, but Nattie decimates," Bloodsport Nattie is awesome! Thanks WT for all you do. JamThatJam!!

Tairese Dawson-King

Balor actually getting a storyline off the back of last week is very intreaguing to me, i imagine the extent of it will be a match at EC to give Punk something to do until the feud with Breakker restarts. Amazing how both Balor and Styles can convince me they may win the title off of such little build, makes me wonder if AJ isn't retiring so this can build to a bigger match or if this was just a way to not pin Styles so close to his final match.

Godzilladreamer

I genuinely feel like this might secretly be the last year or 2 for Finn. The way he's being presented is like he told Triple H that he's on his last contract before he goes into a trainer role and Triple H decided that it's time to finally make Finn world champ before Finn hangs up the boots.

Natalie Andromeda

I can’t see a satisfying way where AJ does not retire. A DQ would feel like a let down, Gunther losing clean halts all momentum, Gunther cheating to win would be a lose-lose, I feel like there is no other way. I think his world championship run will be in TNA. They backed themselves into a corner where anything else would feel pointless.

mike wolfe

WWE has their issues and we all know what TKO has done to ticket prices. But 17k people were there for a Raw show. That is impressive. Great episode tonight. WWE is hot again and right in time for Wrestlemania season.

Vandalia1998

Luke have you thought about doing a 3 Faces of Foley thing for the Rumble where you enter for the #1 Contendership as, Luke Owen D.A.D., Mr WrestleTalk and Luke Warm Owen’s

Lewis Kelly

Raw has been consistently good in January. The booking of Punks title reign has been much improved since the turn of the year. In contrast the women's world championship scene could seriously do with freshening up. I don't understand why they would announce Stephanie Vaquer to defend against Raquel on the Raw after the rumble. For me this kills any momentum Rodriguez had going into the rumble match. Stephanie Vaquer is great but she seriously felt like a spare part next to rhea and iyo on Raw and that's not a good look for the world champion who should be the biggest star of the division. We shouldn't worry though because HHH sees the bigger picture which the rest of us fail to see.

Sedin Magic15

I was doing the crossword puzzle in "The Province" newspaper, here in Vancouver, Canada, and I noticed one of the clues was just a QR code. I scanned it, thinking that's how I got the clue but it took me right to this podcast!

Lewis Kelly

Justice for Finn Balor!! No room for him in the Royal Rumble match as its already fully booked with all 15 participants announced. Crazy stuff! Adam Pearce is genuinely terrible at his job it's no wonder Raw is so out of control. We need a General Manager/Authority figure gimmick battle Royal at wrestlemania to determine a new figurehead of RAW.

Geek Of Arabia

Otis and Tozawa getting a tag title shot is a nice little feel good story, though admittedly it isn't like they have been doing anything else with those belts since AJ and Dragon Lee had them.

MeekCandy4

Overall, this episode of Raw felt mediocre compared to the last 2 weeks. The Pearce and Vision segment could have been an email. The match afterward with Theory and Rey felt uninspired. Alpha Academy winning a #1 contenders match in the year of our lord 2026? What is wrong with you Paul? Finn being told that he can’t be in the Rumble since it’s full is really stupid. Him going out to end Punk vs Styles in a disqualification is just lame and feels like the wrong decision to do after last week. What is wrong with just having him slowly turn face?

Figment

That really didn't feel like a typical "go home" show before a Rumble. And I'm sorry, but how is the men's Rumble already full? Finn's gonna take someone's spot. And Nattie! About damn time.

Real One's Georgie Tuffs

Why is Theory in the vision! You got a team that's a great mix of anger, power and arrogance then Theory chilling in the background trying to fit in. Look at how smug and comfortable Logan fits in to the group then at Theory. If unreal next year tells me how they fooled me because I didn't realise Austin wasn't really part of the vision I'll scream!

Tom Shucksmith

Only around 15 people have been announced, and the Royal Rumble is already ‘full’… Forget doing an angle where he steals someone’s spot, give me a triple threat between Gunter, AJ Styles and Finn Bálor. In the words of Wrestle Talk favourite Bluetista, sorry I mean Batista. GIVE ME WHAT I WANT!

Jackson dale

Luke owen - "alpha academy havent had a tag team match since 2024 this is awful" triple H after last night's raw - "did you enjoy the show"

Vic Cutting

15 man royal rumble, the other 15 are just eveyr nickname of Jericho coming out to no pop

Peter Brantuas

The WWE women’s stuff is horrible. Get it together.

DustyMill

I just like how Pearce told Finn the Rumble was full and he shouldn't have waited until the week of to declare meanwhile 10 minutes earlier he was throwing out Rumble entries to the point I think I might be in the Rumble too!

Fin Brennan

Didn’t feel like a go-home show. Besides the Rumble being on at a reasonable time for us on this side of The Atlantic, I’m not as hyped. I will say I’m glad they are not dropping the Punk/Bálor storyline after the Belfast “fan service”

Brandon

I really like what they are doing with Finn. he tried being the good guy, tried doing the right thing, he gave his respect to punk and tried to enter the rumble but situations out of his control stopped him from being able to be the good person so he fell back on old habits. The face turn isn't over, he's just not immediately going to be a good person after one night in Ireland. like punk and Cole on commentary said, he needs to figure out what he wants his legacy to be, does he want to lead the balor club or the judgement day

Sid Harrison

Think this was a weak Raw after a pretty good run. Put some respect on Chad Gables name for being the originator of 3 different teams in the tag division (alpha academy, American made and americanos). Even though the shows have been good before this one I think they have done a bad job for building the rumble as we have no real stories going into it other than I guess The Vision stuff. Finn vs Punk was great but it rlly annoyed me they ended that match in a DQ for AJ’s last Raw hopefully it leads to Punk vs Balor in Chicago at the Chamber though.

RealDoubleJ

Dont forget, Podcast Dad is back next week. This is our last week of the lads staying up late giggling with tangents and analogies (or TMI jeans stories)

Badgersprite

If they aren’t already planning to have Kairi vs Becky for the IC title, tonight convinced me they should. Two of the funniest women on the roster trying as hard as they can to break each other every week would be so much fun.

Apesh 07

I don’t have a thought but if you want a reaction, there’s a guy doing a JR impression covering the jericho debut and he’s saying everyone elses name besides jericho, really funny, give it a watch

Peter Siddorn

This was a first RAW of the year I actually enjoyed. Styles Punk was good despite the ending. The Akira shine was surprising in the 4 team tag and also I wondering if they planting seed for a Bron face turn with everyone in the vision saying that they would help him win the rumble because he didn't seem like someone who was happy to hear that.

Kevin Fleuriot

How do you want this show to feel like the go-home before the Rumble if you don't have Cody randomly appearing and having a promo of the year contender with CM Punk ? HOW CAN I BE EXICTED ?

Philip O Reilly

Hey lads. Sorry if any1 has already fantasty booked this but what if gunter beats aj, but because he doesn't retire till the end of the night he enters and wins the rumble meaning in kayfabe he has a contract till mania and he retires there. Keep up the great work.

Vikrish-Ingi

Much improved raw . With the rumble approaching its a not so fun fact time. The youngest winner of a royal rumble is Seth Rollins which means the youngest winner is 2 years older than the rumble itself. Do you think that will change this year?

Wayne Rogers

If someone told me I'd enjoy smackdown more than raw in 2026, I'd have given them an eye rake, low blow combo, but here we are. Also, DQ finishes are a lazy way to end a main event.

Michael Trayner

Really enjoyed Raw, I think having night long narratives is what the show has been needing. Great wrestling overall and love that we are trying to follow up on storyline. 9/10 show for me.

Pogo is here

i didn't watch the show but i'm paying so i should use this time to talk about how fucking hot it has been here like my god heat wave hit AUS and omg watching AJ vs shinsuke in 50° C heat was a bit mad, kind of realted but heat make fire so you if you are aussie donate to the CFA they are saving lives of us and the trees be good people, jam that jam.

Ben Woodvine

HHH, who doesn't want to be the centre of attention, being on the front cover of 2k26 is silly. Especially with the AI/photoshopped pecs. And if you zoom in on the left pec... No QR code? Seems HHH does fear Oli! Luckily, the bar code on the back of the game does a old-fashioned "attitude era" link to the podcast.

Tom Garrett

Finn Balor's push makes me feel like I'm watching "Memento." It has all the elements of a proper push, but they are inexplicably and frustratingly not happening in the correct chronological order. I suppose at some point we'll get to the part of the push where he actually wins a match!

CC

Lol did you see Becky said that to challenge for her belt someone would have to win the Royal Rumble?

Alex Denny

Hi guys! I've watched your Youtube vids for years but this is the first time I've been in a position to join the Patreon family really "Support Wrestletalk". Thanks for all the great memories over the years! As for Raw this is probably the first one of 2026 that I've enjoyed, and seeing Punk vs Aj made my nostalgic heart very happy even without a proper finish.