Raw Recap: Gunther’s Victory Lap and a Mystery Reveal That Fumbled the Bag
Monday Night Raw hit the airwaves with a weird energy. We are officially living in the post-John Cena era. After the GOAT tapped out at Saturday Night’s Main Event, the mood in the arena wasn’t just somber—it was hostile. And honestly? That’s exactly what the WWE needed.
We saw highs, we saw lows, and we saw a reveal that landed with the grace of a brick through a window. Let’s break down the fallout from the December 15 edition of Raw.
Gunther is the Villain Sports Entertainment Needs
Let’s just call it what it was: Gunther didn’t just beat John Cena; he desecrated the memory of his career. Walking out to open the show, The Ring General didn’t look like a man who had just retired a legend. He looked like a man who enjoyed it.
The heat in the building was palpable. We’re talking 1996 nWo heat. We’re talking LeBron returning to Cleveland in a Miami jersey heat. Gunther leaned all the way in, calling Cena a “little b*tch” and mocking the very idea of “Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect.”
This is the best thing going on Monday nights. In an era where “cool heels” usually try to get the crowd to laugh along with them, Gunther refuses to play nice. He wants you to hate him. He needs you to hate him. By refusing to show even an ounce of respect for Cena, he solidified himself as the final boss of this company. If Cody Rhodes or CM Punk is going to take him down at WrestleMania 42, the roof is going to blow off the place.
The Austin Theory Reveal Was a Total Airball
Okay, let’s talk about the masked man. For weeks, WWE has been teasing this mystery attacker helping Logan Paul. The speculation was running wild. Was it a debuting star? A returning legend?
Nope. It was Austin Theory. With a shaved head.
Look, I get it. Theory is talented. The kid can go in the ring. But this reveal felt like ordering a steak and getting a lukewarm hot dog. Theory has been floundering creatively for two years now. He’s gone from Mr. McMahon’s chosen one to a guy struggling to find TV time. Revealing him as the mastermind behind the attacks on Rey Mysterio didn’t feel like a shocking twist; it felt like WWE ran out of ideas and just checked who was available in catering.
When he pulled off that mask, the crowd didn’t gasp. They sighed. Helping Logan Paul beat Mysterio is fine for heat, but if this is supposed to reignite Theory’s career, they’re going to need a better game plan than “he’s bald now.”
CM Punk vs. Bron Breakker is the Real Main Event
While the mystery angles were flopping, the World Heavyweight Championship picture was thriving. CM Punk and Bron Breakker are doing exactly what they need to do. It’s the classic “Old Gunslinger vs. The Young Wolf” dynamic, and it works every single time.
Punk, even with the wear and tear, feels like the only true superstar on the brand right now. His promo work is effortless. He doesn’t need a script; he just needs a microphone and a target. When Breakker speared him out of his boots to close the segment, it felt dangerous. It felt like a passing of the torch might actually happen—or Punk might just burn the torch and beat the kid with it.
With Seth Rollins on the shelf and Roman Reigns doing his part-time thing, Punk is carrying the emotional weight of Raw on his back.
The Women’s Division is Spinning its Wheels
I want to care about the Women’s World Championship picture. I really do. Stephanie Vaquer is a killer in the ring. But this feud with Nikki Bella? It ain’t it, chief.
The match between Vaquer and Raquel Rodriguez ended in a no-contest because Nikki interfered. Again. It’s the same beat we’ve seen for weeks. Nikki Bella playing the “disrespected veteran” card feels tired, and Vaquer feels like a secondary character in her own title reign.
They are essentially running out the clock until WrestleMania. The disqualification finishes and constant run-ins are killing the momentum of a division that should be on fire.
The Verdict
This wasn’t a terrible episode of Raw, but it was a messy one. It felt like a team that just won the Super Bowl and showed up to training camp hungover. Gunther is doing the heavy lifting, and the Punk/Breakker feud has legs, but the rest of the card needs a serious shot of adrenaline. With the Netflix era in full swing and 2026 around the corner, WWE needs to stop relying on mystery reveals that don’t pay off and start booking matches that matter.
