WWE Raw in Belfast: Punk Plays Spoiler, Natalya Snaps, and Styles Bets the Farm
If you thought the luck of the Irish would carry Finn Balor to a World Heavyweight Championship victory in Belfast, you clearly haven’t been watching CM Punk lately.
WWE Raw hit the SSE Arena in Northern Ireland on Monday, streaming live on Netflix, and the atmosphere was exactly what you’d expect: raucous, hopeful, and ultimately, heartbroken. We saw titles defended, careers threatened, and one of the most baffling mentorship breakups in recent memory.
Let’s dive into the chaos of the night in what was Raw.
The Belfast Heartbreak: Punk Retains
The main event was always going to be the emotional anchor of the evening. Finn Balor, wrestling on home soil, brought back the classic theme music and the leather jacket, stripping away the “Judgment Day” grit for a night of pure wrestling nostalgia. The crowd ate it up. For a moment, it felt like 2016 again.
But nostalgia doesn’t win championships; GTS maneuvers do.
The match itself was a masterclass in storytelling. Punk, leaning heavily into the role of the intruder on Balor’s island, played the perfect foil. There were near falls that had the Belfast crowd ready to tear the roof off—specifically when Balor finally landed the Coup de Grace, only for Punk to kick out. That’s the kind of resilience that deflates a room.
In the end, Punk reversed a GTS attempt into a small package, ate a few more strikes, but ultimately hit the Go To Sleep to retain the gold. It was a clean wrestling match that ended with a handshake, but let’s be honest: Balor losing on Raw in Ireland stings. It’s the “hometown curse” in full effect. Punk remains the “Best in the World,” even if he was the villain of the night in Belfast.
Natalya’s “Tough Love” Goes too Far
In the women’s division, we saw Becky Lynch defend her Intercontinental Championship on Raw against Maxxine Dupri. Lynch, also receiving a hero’s welcome, had her work cut out for her against a vastly improved Dupri.
However, the story here wasn’t the match—it was the ringside melodrama. Natalya has been coaching Dupri for weeks, supposedly building her up. Yet, in the closing moments, when Dupri actually seemed to have the match won after a spinning wheel kick, Natalya placed Becky Lynch’s foot on the rope.
Yes, you read that right. She saved the champion to sabotage her own student.
Why? Apparently, because Dupri “never learns.” Post-match, Natalya went full scorched earth, attacking Dupri and locking in a Sharpshooter while screaming about teaching lessons. It was brutal, it was confusing, and frankly, it made Natalya look like the meanest veteran in the locker room. If this is a heel turn on Raw, it’s certainly a loud one.
Gunther vs. Styles: High Stakes for SNME
Gunther is a scary individual. We know this. But AJ Styles apparently has a death wish.
After Gunther tricked Styles into releasing a hold last week to secure a win, the “Ring General” wanted nothing to do with a rematch. He stood in the ring, looking like an annoyed high school principal, telling the crowd to quiet down (which, pro tip: never works).
Styles pushed the right buttons, calling Gunther a coward and chanting “You tapped out!” alongside the crowd. Finally, Gunther snapped. He agreed to the rematch for Saturday Night’s Main Event, but with a massive caveat: AJ Styles must put his career on the line.
Styles accepted. So now we have a “Career vs. Pride” setup. It feels rushed, sure, but the intensity between these two is undeniable. Styles betting his legacy against Gunther’s dominance is the kind of old-school stake-raising that makes you nervous to watch.
Chaos in the Trios Division
The six-man tag match featuring Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, and Penta against The Vision (Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Bronson Reed) was exactly the kind of high-speed car crash we love.
The highlight—or lowlight, depending on your moral compass—involved the classic brass knuckles trope. Logan Paul tossed the knucks to Theory, but the ref caught him. In the ensuing argument between G.M. Adam Pearce and Paul Heyman at ringside, Rey Mysterio grabbed the confiscated weapon and clocked Theory with it while the ref wasn’t looking.
A Mexican Destroyer from Penta later, and the good guys picked up the win. It’s poetic justice, I suppose, even if it involved a little cheating from the Hall of Famer.
A Tough Break for Je’Von Evans
We have to end on a somber note. The match between Je’Von Evans and El Grande Americano on Raw was cut short due to a legitimate injury. Evans, a rookie who has been electrifying since his call-up, appeared to hurt his shoulder and the match was stopped immediately.
You hate to see it. Evans has been on a tear, and an injury stoppage is the worst way to derail momentum. Here’s hoping it’s a minor stinger and not something that keeps the kid on the shelf for months.
The One Word To Describe Raw Is Heartbreak
Belfast brought the energy, but WWE brought the heartbreak on Raw. Punk reigns supreme, Styles is risking it all, and Natalya has officially snapped. The road to the Royal Rumble just got a lot bumpier.
