WWE Raw Recap: High Stakes, Chicago Homecomings, and Questionable Decisions on the Road to WrestleMania
If you thought the path to WrestleMania 42 was going to be a smooth highway, Monday night’s episode of Raw just took a sharp detour off-road. We are knee-deep in “Mania Season,” folks, that magical time of year when logic sometimes takes a backseat to pure, unadulterated drama. And honestly? I wouldn’t have it any other way.
This week’s show from Cleveland wasn’t just about moving pieces around the board; it was about raising the stakes to dangerously high levels for some of the company’s biggest stars. Let’s dive into the chaos.
The Punk Paradox: Bravery or Hubris?
Let’s start with the elephant in the room or rather, the Wolverine in the ring. CM Punk has his ticket punched for the main event of WrestleMania against Roman Reigns. It is the match we want. It is the match the money is on. So, naturally, Punk decided to risk it all.
Finn Balor, who has been carrying a chip on his shoulder the size of Ireland lately, goaded Punk into a World Heavyweight Championship match at Elimination Chamber. General Manager Adam Pearce tried to be the voice of reason essentially begging Punk not to jeopardize the biggest payday of the year but Punk’s pride won out.
He’s going to defend the title in his hometown of Chicago. On paper, it sounds electric. The atmosphere will be unrivaled. However, from a sports analysis perspective? It’s a strategic nightmare. Balor is desperate, dangerous, and has The Judgment Day lurking in the shadows. If Punk drops the ball in the Windy City, the entire landscape of WrestleMania changes. It’s a “fighting champion” move, sure, but it walks a fine line between bravery and stupidity.
The Man vs. The Geek Goddess
Speaking of pride coming before a fall, Becky Lynch found herself backed into a corner by none other than AJ Lee. It is genuinely surreal seeing Lee back in the mix, and she hasn’t lost a step on the microphone.
Lee played Lynch like a fiddle Monday night. She bypassed the physical threats and went straight for the ego, manipulating “The Man” into putting her Women’s Intercontinental Championship on the line at Elimination Chamber. The psychology here was brilliant. Lynch, so used to being the alpha, couldn’t handle the insinuation that she was dodging a challenge.
The segment ended with physical fireworks later in the night Liv Morgan attacking Lee on Raw after Lee saved Maxxine Dupri, but the real damage was done verbally. We are getting Lynch vs. Lee in Chicago, and my gut says we might see a title change.
Elimination Chamber Field Fills Up
We saw two major tickets punched for the Chamber matches on Raw, and neither was particularly surprising, though the execution was fun to watch.
Rhea Ripley is simply undeniable right now. In a triple threat against Lyra Valkyria and Ivy Nile, “Mami” reminded everyone why she is the final boss of the division. Valkyria and Nile had their moments specifically a tower of doom spot that looked brutal, but Ripley hitting the Riptide felt inevitable. She’s going to Chicago with a head full of steam.
On the men’s side, LA Knight navigated a chaotic bout against Penta and Austin Theory. This match was overbooked chaos, featuring interference from The Vision (Logan Paul and Bronson Reed) and the continued interference of the “Mystery Man” in the black mask. Look, we all know who is likely under that mask (starts with an S, ends with a Rollins), but the slow burn is starting to test my patience. Regardless, Knight got the win on Raw with a BFT, securing his spot. The “Yeah!” movement is going global.
Tag Team Excellence and Hard Truths
I have to give a special nod to the World Tag Team Championship match on Raw. The Usos are royalty at this point, but Alpha Academy—specifically Akira Tozawa—put on a clinic. It is baffling that it took the powers that be this long to realize Tozawa is a premier worker. The crowd was biting on every near fall, which is rare in a babyface vs. babyface dynamic. The Usos retained with the 1-D, but Otis and Tozawa raised their stock significantly.
On a sour note, we learned that Bron Breakker is out indefinitely with a hernia. It’s a brutal blow for a guy who has been a human wrecking ball. Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery, because the roster feels a little less dangerous without him.
The Bottom Line For Raw
This wasn’t a perfect Raw. The Liv Morgan/Steph Vaquer segment felt a little flat, and the mystery attacker gimmick is running on fumes. But the highs were high. We have a World Title match in Chicago involving CM Punk, a dream match between Lynch and Lee, and a stacked Elimination Chamber card.
The Road to WrestleMania is bumpy, unpredictable, and chaotic. Just buckle up and enjoy the ride.
Grade: B+
