WWE Raw Holiday Special: A Sprint, Not a Marathon
Let’s be honest: pre-recorded holiday episodes of WWE Raw are usually skippable. They’re the fruitcake of wrestling television—technically present, but nobody is really asking for a second slice. However, this week’s sprint of an episode—clocking in at a brisk 90 minutes on Netflix—actually managed to keep the pulse moving. Without the usual commercial bloating, we got a tighter, albeit slightly disjointed, look at where the road to WrestleMania is heading.
It wasn’t a classic, but between Austin Theory finding a pulse and Gunther doing what Gunther does best, there was enough meat on the bone to chew on. Let’s break down the chaos from Grand Rapids.
Is Je’Von Evans the Next Big Call-Up?
If you listened closely to Michael Cole, the writing is on the wall for Je’Von Evans. Cole dropped the “soon-to-be free agent” line, which in WWE speak is basically a neon sign saying, “He’s leaving NXT.”
The 21-year-old high-flyer picked up a win over Rayo Americano, and while the match itself was a bit cluttered with interference from Los Americanos, Evans looked like he belonged. Here’s the thing: Evans hasn’t had that definitive title run in NXT, but he has that undeniable “it” factor that main roster executives salivate over. He’s young, athletic, and has a ceiling higher than the nosebleeds at Van Andel Arena. Is he ready for a world title? No. Is he ready to be a highlight reel on Monday nights? Absolutely.
Nikki Bella Finally Finds Her Edge
Nikki Bella has had a rough go of it lately. Since her heel turn, the crowd reaction has been a mix of apathy and “please go away.” But this week, jumping on the announce table and cutting a promo about disrespect? That worked.
She leaned into the hate, mocking the Michigan crowd and throwing shade at the Detroit Lions (cheap heat, but effective). It finally feels like there is some actual venom behind her character ahead of the title match next week against Stephanie Vaquer and Raquel Rodriguez. She’s probably not winning gold, but for the first time in months, she doesn’t feel like an afterthought.
The Becky Lynch Experiment Continues
Okay, we need to talk about Becky Lynch putting over Maxxine Dupri on Raw. Again. Lynch interrupted Dupri, threw a punch, and then… tapped out to an ankle lock? I get it—Maxxine is the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, and they are trying to build her credibility. But having “The Man,” one of the most protected stars of the last decade, tap out to a former cheerleader who is still very much learning the ropes feels like a fever dream.
To her credit, Dupri is trying. She held her own on the mic, tossing a stinging line about Lynch’s best years being behind her. But this feud feels like it’s existing in a strange alternate reality where Lynch is the underdog against a rookie.
Gunther Is the Best Villain In the Business
While everyone else is trying to be cool heels or edgy bad guys, Gunther simply exists. He walked out, laughed at the crowd booing him, and essentially said, “Don’t be mad at me, be mad at John Cena for tapping out.”
That’s it. That’s the segment. And it was perfect.
Gunther retiring the “GOAT” (Cena) has given him nuclear heat, and he is basking in it. He doesn’t need a 20-minute monologue. He just needs a smirk and a microphone. The eventual match with Punk or a rematch with Breakker is going to feed families, but right now, just watching Gunther torment the fanbase is entertainment enough.
Austin Theory Joins ‘The Vision’ On Raw
The main event saw the artist formerly known as a goofball, Austin Theory, finally get serious. Teaming with Bronson Reed to take down CM Punk and Rey Mysterio, Theory picked up the pinfall victory—his first on Raw since August 2024.
Let that sink in. It’s been over a year since this guy won on Monday Night Raw.
Revealing himself as the masked man helping Paul Heyman’s “The Vision” faction was predictable, sure, but it’s a necessary rehab for his character. Theory has all the tools, but he’s been directionless. Aligning with Heyman and Reed gives him purpose. The post-match chaos, ending with Bron Breakker spearing Punk out of his boots, was a solid cliffhanger on Raw to lead us into the Netflix anniversary show in January.
The Verdict: It wasn’t a perfect show, but for a holiday throwaway, it advanced the plot just enough. Now, bring on the Road to WrestleMania.
