WWE Raw Recap: Punk, Breakker, and The Usos Make Noise Before 2026
The final WWE Raw of 2025 didn’t just quietly fade into the night; it kicked down the door to the new year with championship changes, heavy verbal jabs and the kind of drama that keeps wrestling fans glued to their screens. If you were looking for a calm end to the year, you came to the wrong place. We saw the foundations laid for 2026, and let me tell you, it’s looking explosive.
Here’s the lowdown on everything that went down at the Kia Center in Orlando.
The Vision vs. The Voice of the Voiceless
The night kicked off with The Vision—Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Paul Heyman and their newest recruit, Austin Theory—taking center stage. Heyman, doing what he does best, hyped his squad as future WrestleMania headliners. But the air really changed when “Cult of Personality” hit.
CM Punk walked out to a massive ovation, reminding everyone that while The Vision might be the future, he’s very much the present. The tension between Punk and Breakker was thick enough to cut with a steel chair. Breakker, looking every bit the genetic freak he is, told Punk he’s done waiting. He brought up his football past, comparing himself to Lamar Jackson (bold move), and vowed to take the World Heavyweight Championship on January 5.
Punk’s retort? Classic. He acknowledged Breakker’s hunger but questioned if he could handle the weight of the crown. It was a masterclass in building hype without throwing a single punch. Come next Monday, we’ll see if the “dog” really has his day or if the veteran still runs the yard.
The Usos Are Back on Top
In the tag team division, things got emotional and physical. Jimmy Uso had to fire up his brother Jey earlier in the night, reminding him to lock in despite a rough year. And lock in they did.
Facing off against the makeshift-but-mighty duo of AJ Styles and Dragon Lee, The Usos reminded us why they are tag team royalty. It was a banger of a match, full of near-falls that had the Orlando crowd on the edge of their seats. While The Usos teased some heelish shortcuts, they ultimately got the job done with a definitive 1-D on Dragon Lee.
That makes nine tag team title reigns for the brothers. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny their chemistry. The “Yeet” movement is officially back in gold on Raw.
Vaquer Survives a Triple Threat
The Women’s World Championship picture is as chaotic as ever. Stephanie Vaquer defended her strap against Raquel Rodriguez and Nikki Bella in a match that was equal parts hard-hitting and frantic.
Rodriguez looked like a beast, dominating large chunks of the match with pure power. At one point, she nearly powerbombed her way to victory. But Vaquer proved why she’s the champ. In a smart finish, she capitalized on the chaos, tossing Rodriguez aside and pinning Bella to retain on Raw.
Honorable mention to the crowd for chanting “Thank you, Cena” when Nikki Bella locked in an STF, and Nikki shouting back, “No, thank ME!” That’s the kind of spontaneous character work we love to see.
Gunther Teaches a Lesson
Backstage, R-Truth made the mistake of defending John Cena’s honor to Gunther. The Ring General, naturally, didn’t take kindly to that and invited Truth to the ring.
To his credit, Truth started hot, but you don’t step into the ring with Gunther without paying a toll. The Intercontinental Champion weathered the early storm and proceeded to chop Truth into oblivion. After mocking Cena’s “You Can’t See Me” taunt (because he’s just that mean), Gunther choked Truth out with a sleeper hold. It was brutal, efficient, and exactly what we expect from him.
Mysterio, Theory, and a Returning Penta
In a match that felt more like an angle than a contest, Rey Mysterio took on Austin Theory. Theory dominated early, showing off his new mean streak under The Vision’s banner. But just as Rey dialed up the 619, Logan Paul interfered for the DQ.
A two-on-one beatdown looked imminent until—surprise!—Penta made his return. He hit the ring, cleared house, and stood tall with Mysterio. It looks like we’ve got ourselves a new tag team feud brewing, and honestly? Sign me up for Lucha Bros vs. The Vision any day of the week.
Maxxine Dupri Stands Her Ground On Raw
Finally, we have to talk about Maxxine Dupri. Her growth on the mic has been incredible to watch. She stood toe-to-toe with Becky Lynch in a promo battle on Raw, refusing to back down from “The Man.”
Lynch tried to play nice, but Dupri wasn’t having it, threatening to tap Becky out again. It’s rare to see someone hold their own against Lynch on the microphone, but Dupri looks ready for the spotlight. Their Intercontinental Championship match next week feels like a genuine toss-up.
