‘WWE Raw’ Review (Jan 26th 2026)
Welcome to our review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, right here on Nerdly! Let’s see what went down on this week’s show…
Match #1: Stephanie Vaquer, Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY def. The Judgment Day
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer teamed with WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY to battle The Judgment Day’s Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez. Vaquer went for the Devil’s Kiss early but was stopped by Rodriguez. The Judgment Day used cunning tactics as Morgan baited Ripley before Rodriguez shoved Mami into the ring steps to prevent a tag. Morgan and Perez hit a tandem codebreaker and side Russian leg sweep for a two-count on SKY. Perez went for Pop Rox on Ripley, but The Eradicator evaded the move and delivered a searing knee strike to Perez. Chaos ensued as Morgan and Perez tried to once again execute their double team move. SKY thwarted the maneuver, allowing Ripley to nail Riptide on Perez to win the match.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Austin Theory def. Rey Mysterio
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Raw General Manager Adam Pearce apologized to The Vision, he offered Austin Theory a rematch with Rey Mysterio. Theory impressed early, blasting Mysterio in the face with an elbow as Mysterio was leaping off the second rope. Theory then showcased his new offense in a move called Ataxia that stunned the WWE Universe in Toronto. Mysterio showcased his arsenal as well, hitting a hurricanrana on the outside to Theory. This appeared to tweak Mysterio’s knee as Dragon Lee and Penta brawled with the rest of The Vision at ringside. Back in the ring, Theory nailed the Stomp out of nowhere to win the match. After the bout, The Vision left Lee and Penta reeling after multiple Spears and Tsunamis.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: No. 1 Tag Team Title Contenders Match – Alpha Academy def. The New Day, American Made & Los Americanos
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
The New Day looked to land a tandem move, but Akira Tozawa countered by raising his knees. Bravo Americano executed an Airplane Spin on Brutus until Tozawa hit a dropkick from the top rope, sending Bravo and Brutus Creed tumbling. Otis nailed the Caterpillar on Julius Creed, but the rest of the field broke up the pinfall attempt. Tozawa caught fire by hitting three dives as Toronto became unglued. Grayson Waller tried to get involved, but he was met with a superkick from Jey Uso, who was at ringside to watch the action. Tozawa hit the top-rope senton on Julius to win the match and earn a World Tag Team Title Match against The Usos..
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: CM Punk vs. AJ Styles (No Contest)
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk took on AJ Styles in a dream match for the ages. Punk leveled Styles in the corner with the knee strike, followed up with a bulldog and looked for the GTS, but he changed his tactic by nailing a shining wizard for a two-count. Punk went for the GTS, but Styles countered with the Ushigoroshi. When the fight spilled to ringside, Punk nailed the GTS, but both scrambled back into the ring before the referee counted to 10. Back in the ring, Styles hit a Styles Clash out of nowhere, but Punk somehow kicked out. Suddenly, Finn Bálor attacked Punk to end the match. In a prolonged assault, Bálor twice dropkicked Punk into the barricade, then threw him back in the ring and thrice landed the Coup de Grace to conclude the heinous attack.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This week’s episode of Raw felt like a solid, story-forward show that balanced in-ring quality with meaningful progression, even if it didn’t quite hit “must-see” territory across the board. The women’s six-woman tag was a strong opener, giving the crowd plenty to enjoy while continuing the ongoing Judgment Day tensions. Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio delivered a respectable TV match with some intrigue layered in via The Vision’s involvement, while the chaotic four-team tag contenders bout was pure crowd-pleasing fun, with Alpha Academy earning a well-received win. The real highlight, though, was CM Punk vs. AJ Styles – a genuine dream match that lived up to expectations before Finn Bálor’s brutal intervention added a compelling twist to the World Heavyweight Title picture. Overall, this week’s show did what it needed to do: entertain, advance key feuds, and leave viewers curious about what’s next.
