WWE Raw Preview: Life After Cena, Punk’s Return, and a Tag Team Classic In Hershey
The dust has barely settled. The wristband is left in the ring. The “Never Give Up” towel has been waved for the last time. “Saturday Night’s Main” Event wasn’t just a show; it was a closing chapter of a 26-year-long book. John Cena tapped out to Gunther, and suddenly, the landscape of WWE looks a whole lot different.
But as they say in the business, the show must go on. And frankly, tonight’s episode of WWE Raw live from the GIANT Center in Hershey, PA, feels less like a hangover cure and more like a shot of espresso. We are officially on the road to the 2026 Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, and the card tonight is absolutely stacked.
The Ring General’s Victory Lap
Let’s address the elephant in the room—or rather, the Austrian chopping machine in the ring. Gunther is scheduled to appear tonight, and you have to wonder what the reception is going to be like.
He did the unthinkable. He didn’t just beat John Cena; he made Superman tap out. Gunther is arguably the biggest heel in the industry right now, walking around with the ultimate trophy: the career of the greatest of all time. Expect Gunther to be insufferable. Expect him to be smug. And expect the crowd in Hershey to let him have it. The real question is, who steps up to him now? With Cena in the rearview, the target on Gunther’s back has never been larger.
CM Punk Returns To a Field Of Wolves On Raw
Speaking of targets, CM Punk is back in the building. We haven’t seen the “Best in the World” since Survivor Series, where he got jumped by a masked assailant.
The rumor mill points to the masked man being Austin Theory, but WWE hasn’t pulled the trigger on the reveal yet. Punk has bigger fish to fry, though. While he was nursing his wounds, Bron Breakker has been on the mic every week demanding a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship.
We know Punk vs. Breakker is locked in for January 5, 2026. But tonight? Tonight is about Punk answering the call on Raw. Will he address Breakker’s trash talk? Will he hunt down the masked man? Or will he just sit cross-legged in the ring and drop a pipe bomb that gets HR nervous? Either way, when the static hits, business picks up.
A Tag Team Rivalry Reborn: Usos vs. New Day
If you’ve been watching wrestling for the last decade, this matchup hits you right in the nostalgia bone. The Usos vs. The New Day isn’t just a match; it’s the match that defined modern tag team wrestling.
Jimmy and Jey are back on the same page, trying to climb a mountain they used to own. They called out their win-loss records last week, and decided it was time to get serious. Standing in their way are Kofi and Woods.
This is fascinating because both teams are at a crossroads. The New Day is trying to prove they haven’t lost a step, and the Usos are trying to prove their reunion isn’t just a feel-good story, but a title threat. With AJ Styles and Dragon Lee holding the gold, the winner here gets a fast pass to contention. Expect superkicks, trombones, and a match that could steal the show on Raw.
Logan Paul vs. Rey Mysterio: The Influencer vs. The Icon
Look, say what you want about Logan Paul (and I know you have plenty to say), but the guy knows how to pick a fight. He told Rey Mysterio he was going to retire him. Mysterio responded with a slap that probably echoed all the way to Philadelphia.
Last week, Paul and his hooded buddy jumped Mysterio, escalating this from a disagreement to a blood feud. Tonight, they settle it in the ring. Mysterio is fighting for more than pride; he’s trying to clear the deck so he can get to his son, Dominik, and the Intercontinental Title. But Paul is freakishly athletic and thrives on being the spoiler. If Rey Mysterio isn’t careful, the “Maverick” might just back up his trash talk.
Maxxine Dupri’s Dungeon Test
Maxxine Dupri has been one of the best glow-up stories in recent memory. She went from a manager to a champion, thanks largely to getting stretched in the Hart Family Dungeon by Natalya.
But tonight on Raw, the math isn’t in her favor. She’s defending her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Ivy Nile. If you check the stat sheet, Nile is 3-0 against Dupri. That is a mental hurdle that’s hard to clear. With the Creed Brothers lurking at ringside, the numbers game is dangerous. Will Nattie be there to even the odds? Dupri needs this win to prove her title reign isn’t a fluke.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Raquel Rodriguez
We also have the Women’s World Championship on the line tonight on Raw. Stephanie Vaquer has been a revelation, but Raquel Rodriguez is a walking skyscraper. This is a classic “speed and technique vs. pure power” dynamic. Vaquer has to be perfect tonight on Raw. One mistake against Rodriguez usually ends with you staring at the lights.
The Bottom Line
Tonight feels pivotal. We are pivoting away from the nostalgia of Cena’s farewell and accelerating toward the chaos of the Rumble. The storylines are weaving together, the roster is stacked, and the road to Saudi Arabia begins in earnest.
