If you tuned into WWE Raw last night expecting a clean, honorable wrestling clinic, you probably walked away throwing your remote at the wall. We were live in Düsseldorf, Germany, and man, the "Ring General" Gunther proved that being a technical god doesn't mean you won't take the low road when your back is against the wall.
Honestly, the biggest story of the night wasn't just a win or a loss. It was the absolute highway robbery that went down in the main event.
Who Won on Raw Last Night: The Main Event Controversy
The question of who won on raw last night has a very different answer depending on whether you ask the referee or anyone with working eyes. AJ Styles and Gunther put on an absolute masterclass for about 18 minutes. It was stiff, it was fast, and for a second there, the world actually thought AJ Styles was going to make the big man quit.
Styles locked in the Calf Crusher. Gunther was screaming. He literally tapped his hand on AJ’s thigh—a clear submission. But the ref? Positioned like a total amateur on the wrong side of the ring. He didn't see it.
AJ let go, thinking the match was over. Huge mistake.
While Styles was busy celebrating a victory that hadn't been called, Gunther recovered, delivered a nasty low blow that the ref also missed, and planted AJ with a Powerbomb. 1-2-3. Gunther gets the win, but the German crowd wasn't exactly cheering the home-continent hero after that one. It was dirty. It was brilliant. It was classic Gunther.
The Judgment Day’s Big Move
While the men were beating each other senseless, the women's tag division was arguably the highlight of the show. We had a massive Triple Threat match to determine the new No. 1 Contenders for the titles currently held by Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY (the "RHIYO" powerhouse duo).
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The lineup was stacked:
- The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka & Kairi Sane)
- Bayley & Lyra Valkyria
- Liv Morgan & Roxanne Perez (Representing Judgment Day)
This match was pure chaos. At one point, all six women were involved in a massive Superplex spot that looked like it hurt everyone involved. The end came when things got messy. Roxanne Perez hit the Pop Rox on Bayley, but Kairi Sane broke it up. In the shuffle, Liv Morgan managed to blind-tag herself in and hit Kairi with ObLIVion to secure the pinfall.
So, it's official: Liv and Roxanne are heading to Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 24th to face Rhea and IYO. If you think there's no drama there, remember that Rhea and Liv have basically been trying to end each other’s careers for years now.
Bron Breakker Finally Snapped (For Real This Time)
We need to talk about Bron Breakker. He’s been a ticking time bomb since he lost the title to CM Punk, and last night in Germany, the fuse finally hit the powder keg.
He was supposed to be "sent home" by Adam Pearce. Paul Heyman even told Pearce that Bron wasn't in the building. Liars.
During the tag match between The Vision (Bronson Reed & Austin Theory) and the team of Penta and Dragon Lee, Bron appeared out of nowhere. He didn't just interfere; he decimated Dragon Lee with a Spear that looked like it broke the man in half.
The match ended in a DQ win for Penta and Dragon Lee, but nobody cared about the result. Adam Pearce came out, screaming his head off, and Bron actually put his hands on the General Manager.
The Fallout: Pearce suspended Bron Breakker indefinitely on the spot. Paul Heyman looked like he’d seen a ghost, claiming Pearce "struck first," but the damage is done. Don't expect to see the Badass on TV for a few weeks—unless Heyman has some legal loophole up his sleeve.
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Quick Hits: Other Winners and Losers
It wasn't all drama and suspensions. We saw some actual wrestling, too.
- Je'Von Evans made his big Raw debut against Bravo Americano. The kid is incredible. He survived interference from the rest of the Americanos at ringside and hit a spectacular OG Cutter from the top rope to get the pin. He’s gonna be a star.
- CM Punk and Finn Balor had a war of words that basically set the internet on fire. Punk wanted to fight right then and there. Balor, being the strategist (and maybe a bit of a coward?), told him to wait. They’re officially locked in for a World Heavyweight Championship match next week in Belfast, Ireland.
- Raquel Rodriguez is officially a villain. She didn't just talk; she blindsided Stephanie Vaquer and targeted her injured ankle with a lariat. It was uncomfortable to watch, which usually means it was great TV.
What’s Next for Raw?
If you're keeping track, the road to the Royal Rumble is looking like a total mess—in the best way possible. Next week in Belfast is going to be massive. We have CM Punk vs. Finn Balor for the "Big Gold" belt, and Becky Lynch is set to defend her Women’s Intercontinental Title against Maxxine Dupri.
The main takeaway from last night is that Gunther is vulnerable. He tapped. We saw it. AJ Styles knows it. That rivalry is far from over.
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Your Move:
If you missed the broadcast, go back and watch the final five minutes of the main event on the replay. Pay close attention to Gunther’s hand when the Calf Crusher is locked in—it’s the "Submission that wasn't," and it’s going to be the talking point of the week. Also, keep an eye on social media for "medical updates" on Dragon Lee after that Bron Breakker Spear; that hit was legit.