Live from the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Monday Night Raw heads to the sweetest place on Earth for the fallout from Saturday Night’s Main Event, where John Cena tapped out to Gunther in his final match, closing a legendary 26-year career. With Cena’s farewell tour officially complete, Raw now turns its attention toward 2026 and the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia.
CM Punk makes his long-awaited return, Gunther addresses the WWE Universe after ending Cena’s career, and two championships are on the line in what promises to be an eventful evening.
General Manager Adam Pearce announced the updated lineup on Sunday: “The man who will forever be known as the one to make John Cena give up, Der Ring General Gunther will be live on the flagship.”
Updated Card
- World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk returns
- Gunther to appear following his victory over John Cena
- Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
- Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Ivy Nile
- The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) vs. The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso)
- Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul
Gunther Addresses His Career-Defining Victory
Gunther made history at Saturday Night’s Main Event by forcing John Cena to submit in his final match. The Ring General now carries the distinction of being the man who ended Cena’s legendary career. Tonight marks his first appearance since that victory, and he’s expected to stake his claim as the standard-bearer of WWE moving forward.
With CM Punk holding the World Heavyweight Championship and both men appearing on the same show, the question becomes whether Gunther sets his sights on the title heading into Royal Rumble season.
CM Punk Returns to Address Bron Breakker and the Masked Man
CM Punk has been absent from WWE programming since Survivor Series, where he was attacked by the masked man. The World Heavyweight Champion returns to Raw for the first time since that assault, with plenty to address.
Sources have identified the man under the mask as former WWE United States Champion Austin Theory, though WWE has yet to officially reveal the identity on television. During Punk’s absence, WWE scheduled him for a title defense against Bron Breakker on the January 6, 2026 episode of Raw.
Breakker has delivered two scathing promos directed at Punk during the champion’s absence, and the Best in the World is expected to fire back. The question remains: will the masked man strike again, or will Punk finally get some answers about who has been targeting him?
Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez
Added to Monday’s card, Stephanie Vaquer will defend her Women’s World Championship against Raquel Rodriguez. Vaquer has established herself as one of WWE’s premier international signings, while Rodriguez brings size and power that could pose problems for the champion.
A Rodriguez victory would mark a major shift in the women’s division heading into 2026. Speculation continues about potential challengers for the title, with names like Giulia being linked to the Women’s World Championship picture in recent weeks.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship: Maxxine Dupri (c) vs. Ivy Nile
Maxxine Dupri will make her first defense of the Women’s Intercontinental Championship against American Made’s Ivy Nile. Nile boasts a 3-0 record over Dupri, making her a worthy first contender. But Dupri has developed a new aggression built in the famous Hart Family Dungeon with Natalya Neidhart.
The Creed Brothers returned to television last week alongside Ivy, adding an intimidating presence to her corner. The big question is whether Natalya will accompany her protege to ringside to even the odds.
The Usos vs. The New Day
Last week, Jimmy and Jey Uso announced on Monday Night Raw that The Usos are officially back as a team and rejoining the tag team division. Jimmy went on a rant about how often they were each racking up losses, then declared they were putting the tag division on notice.
The Usos and The New Day share a storied history, having produced some of the most acclaimed tag-team matches in modern WWE. With AJ Styles and Dragon Lee as current World Tag Team Champions, the winner of this match could position themselves for a future title opportunity.
Rey Mysterio vs. Logan Paul
After their backstage altercation, Logan Paul decided to answer the thudding slap by Rey Mysterio, attacking the Hall of Famer last week with a little help from the masked man from Survivor Series.
This grudge match has been building for weeks. Rey slapped Logan after Paul claimed he would retire him, and the situation escalated when Logan attacked Mysterio with assistance from the mysterious hooded figure. Rey has made it clear he’s willing to fight every member of The Vision if that’s what it takes to reach his ultimate goal of challenging his son Dominik for the Intercontinental Championship.
Segments to Watch
Saturday Night’s Main Event Fallout: The emotional aftermath of John Cena’s farewell will likely be addressed, as CM Punk and Cody Rhodes placed their respective World Heavyweight Championship and Undisputed WWE Championship belts on Cena’s shoulders in a touching tribute after his loss.
Drew McIntyre Chaos: Drew McIntyre stormed the ring during Cody Rhodes’ match against Oba Femi at Saturday Night’s Main Event, forcing the referee to call for the bell. McIntyre later claimed he attacked Rhodes because he wanted to ruin Cody’s final chance to impress Cena. While McIntyre is primarily a SmackDown talent currently dealing with suspension issues, the fallout from his actions could spill over to Raw.
The Vision’s Dominance: Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, and Bronson Reed brutally attacked LA Knight last week, with Reed landing a Tsunami through a car roof. Knight is likely sidelined, leaving the babyface roster searching for cohesion against the dominant heel faction.
Bayley’s Direction: After losing to NXT’s Sol Ruca at Saturday Night’s Main Event, Bayley finds herself at a crossroads. She’s been teaming with Lyra Valkyria with eyes on the Women’s Tag Team Championships, but WWE has yet to give her a compelling direction.
Looking Ahead
- CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker for the World Heavyweight Championship is set for January 6, 2026
- The road to Royal Rumble 2026 in Saudi Arabia officially beginsThe Usos have their sights set on the World Tag Team Championships held by AJ Styles and Dragon Lee.
- The mystery of the masked man continues to loom
WWE Raw airs Monday at 8 PM ET on Netflix from the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.