WWE Raw Review: AJ Styles’ Emotional Farewell Showdown with CM Punk Steals the Spotlight!

By Moshie Goldstein, Senior Reporter for Cousins of Destruction Wrestling Podcast

January 27, 2026 – Overland Park, KS – In what could very well be the swan song for one of WWE’s all-time greats on Monday Night Raw, the January 26 episode delivered a rollercoaster of high-stakes drama, banger matches, and heartbreaking teases that have the wrestling world buzzing ahead of this weekend’s Royal Rumble. As the road to WrestleMania heats up, Raw pulled no punches, blending veteran star power with emerging storylines that left fans – and our podcast hosts Will and Brandon – emotionally invested and ready for more. Let’s break it down segment by segment, drawing from the raw (pun intended) reactions in our latest episode.

AJ Styles’ Potential Final Raw: A Tear-Jerking Opener and Main Event Masterpiece

The show kicked off with a poignant moment that set the tone for the entire night: AJ Styles addressing the crowd amid rumors that his career could end at the Royal Rumble if he loses to Gunther. Looking visibly emotional, Styles declared 2026 as “the year of AJ Styles,” vowing to chase one last World Championship run before retiring at year’s end. Enter CM Punk, the current World Heavyweight Champion, who interrupted with a mix of respect and tough love. Punk, who’s known Styles for two decades, questioned the wisdom of putting his career on the line against the dominant Gunther.

What followed was pure magic – a handshake sealing a main event World Title match between the two legends, marking their first-ever WWE clash. As Will noted on the pod, “What better way to start a freaking episode of Raw? Popping this.” Brandon echoed the sentiment, highlighting how the segment built sympathy for Styles while crediting Gunther’s aura. The match itself was a clinic: Shining Wizards, Anaconda Vices, Styles Clashes, and a near-countout GTS from Punk. But chaos ensued when Finn Bálor interfered, unleashing a brutal assault on Punk with shotgun dropkicks and triple Coup de Grâces, ensuring no clear winner.

This interference not only protected Styles’ legacy but also reignited Judgment Day drama. As Brandon pointed out, it flips the script on Punk’s earlier advice to Bálor to ditch the faction, positioning Bálor as a heel who’s reclaiming his spotlight. With Styles’ retirement tour seemingly derailed by Gunther’s impending threat, the pod consensus? Heartbreaking but brilliant – a massive pop from both hosts.

Women’s Division Heats Up: Six-Woman Tag Banger and Title Teases

The women’s scene was on fire, starting with a six-woman tag match pitting Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez against Rhea Ripley, IYO SKY, and Stephanie Vaquer. This bout was non-stop action: Liv’s clever antics (crawling under the ring to yank opponents off the apron), Raquel’s powerhouse spots, and Rhea’s sheer dominance. In the end, Rhea’s Riptide sealed the win for her team.

Will and Brandon both popped this hard, praising the chemistry and how it advances multiple feuds. Post-match teases included a backstage brawl between Raquel and Stephanie Vaquer, leading to Adam Pearce booking a Philadelphia Street Fight for the Women’s Championship next week. “Raquel’s nailing this character,” Will said, advocating for a title change to fuel Judgment Day infighting, especially if Liv wins the Rumble. Brandon agreed, noting the potential for jealousy dynamics involving Roxanne.

Elsewhere, a vignette introduced “Badass Natty” – Natalya in full heel mode, targeting Becky Lynch’s Intercontinental Title after blaming Maxxine Dupri for a recent loss. Becky’s interview segment saw her hyping her Rumble chances, only to be confronted by Asuka and Kairi Sane (with Kairi oddly omitted from the graphic – a production slip?). Pops all around for Natty’s fresh edge and the setup for more women’s Rumble chaos.

The Vision’s Turbulent Night: Pressure, Apologies, and Dominance

Paul Heyman’s Vision faction – Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, Austin Theory (now hilariously dubbed “The Pressure” by Heyman), and Bronson Reed – demanded a face-to-face with GM Adam Pearce over recent controversies, including Pearce’s brass knuckles mishap last week. Surprisingly, Pearce folded quickly: lifting Breakker’s suspension, entering the entire Vision into the Rumble, and booking Theory vs. Rey Mysterio.

The match saw Theory debut his “A-Town Down” finisher for the win, but post-match, Vision unleashed a beatdown on the LWO (Rey, Penta, Dragon Lee). A potential real injury to Rey halted the assault, but Vision stood tall with spears and splashes. Mixed reactions on the pod: Brandon popped “The Pressure” nickname for its absurdity, but both dropped the segment overall, citing Vision’s declining stock. “Too much nothing,” Will lamented, calling for better booking for Penta and questioning the rushed Pearce apology (hinting at mysterious phone calls Pearce has been fielding).

Backstage, Vision aligned on pushing Breakker to win the Rumble, but subtle nods to those calls suggest deeper intrigue – perhaps a higher power at play?

Tag Team Turmoil and More Rumble Build

A Fatal Four-Way for tag title contendership featured Alpha Academy (Otis & Tozawa) vs. The Creeds vs. New Day vs. Los Garza. Chaos reigned with interference from Grayson Waller and Jey Uso, but Otis’ hot tag and Tozawa’s high-flying splash clinched it for Alpha Academy. “Why the hell not?” both hosts popped, seeing it as fun filler en route to Usos vs. New Day at Mania.

Gunther’s sit-down with Michael Cole was gold: The Ring General dismissed “old-timers” like Styles, Cena, and Goldberg stealing moments, even threatening Cole. “Gunther is the freaking man,” Will declared – a resounding pop.

Judgment Day tensions simmered too: Punk planting seeds for Bálor to leave, only for Bálor to demand a Rumble spot (which Pearce had “given away” – a drop-worthy rule twist) and later attack Punk. Liv’s confrontation added family drama, teasing a Bálor heel run or split.

Fan Reactions and Pod Verdict

Comments from our viewers echoed the excitement: @Jasmine4Miami slammed Vision but craved Liv eliminating Rhea; @etokun1 predicted Kabuki Warriors vs. Becky angles; @marcusjr2342 foresaw Theory’s betrayal. Overall, the pod gave Raw 16 pops and 5 drops – a strong go-home show for Rumble.

As we gear up for Royal Rumble this weekend, join us live on YouTube (@codwrestlepod) for SmackDown and Rumble reactions. Will Styles survive Gunther? Will Raquel dethrone Vaquer? The road to ‘Mania is paved with heartbreak – and we’re here for every bump. Follow us on all socials via our Linktree for more!

Moshie Goldstein has been covering WWE for Cousins of Destruction since 2024, bringing insider analysis and fan passion to every review.

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