Raw Deal - Raw recap for January 19, 2026

Gunther heads to the ring. He says that "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles made a mistake coming into their match with blinders on and being so focused on making him tap out that he forgot he was in the ring with the greatest wrestler in WWE. Gunther says his future looks very bright and will lead him back to the World Heavyweight Championship; therefore, he is declaring for the men's Royal Rumble match. As he reminds everyone how he lasted over one hour in the Royal Rumble, AJ Styles' entrance theme hits, and Styles heads to the ring. Styles knows that Gunther wants to move on, but he does not, and he demands a rematch at Royal Rumble. Gunther says he does not plan on pulling double duty and declines, but Styles accuses Gunther of being a coward as he leaves. Styles admits Gunther's hand may have been raised, but he beat himself when he did not rip his leg off and beat him with it, and tells Gunther that he "tapped out like a little bitch" to the Calf Crusher. He tells Gunther to admit if he is scared so they can both move on, and Gunther says he proved he is the smarter and better wrestler compared to Styles, and states that there is no incentive to wrestle him again. Gunther declines again, but he does not leave the ring when he gets an idea that there is something that Styles can do to get a rematch. Gunther stipulates that Styles must put his career on the line, then tells Styles to think about it and to think if this is a hill worth dying on before demanding his answer by the end of the night, unless Styles is "a little bit scared."

Backstage, Maxxine Dupri is met by Natalya, who wants to be in Maxxine's corner so that what happened between Maxxine and Becky Lynch does not happen tonight. Maxxine is happy, and says that she will see Natalya out there.

Becky Lynch retains the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship against Maxxine Dupri. During the match, Natalya puts Becky's foot on the rope during a pinfall attempt, and that allows Becky to hit the Manhandle Slam to win and retain. After the match, Natalya attacks Maxxine and eventually puts her in the Sharpshooter.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce talks with "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles, telling him that he does not have to take Gunther's challenge. Styles says he will talk to his wife, and as he leaves, "The Oracle" Paul Heyman shows up. Pearce laughs, saying he has been thinking about Heyman and has had a great week, then says Bron Breakker is still suspended. Pearce tells Heyman that The Vision ("Big" Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory) should be on their best behavior, because he will be ringside for their match.

Backstage, Raquel Rodriguez tells the rest of The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Liv Morgan, Roxanne Perez) that Stephanie Vaquer is still not medically cleared, and that when Vaquer does come back and put the Women's World Championship on the line, she will beat her worse than she did last week. Liv says that 2026 will be their year, as Finn and Raquel are about to become world champions while she and Roxanne are going to be Women's Tag Team Champions. Finn says that they are on his island tonight and that he is not leaving without the World Heavyweight Championship.

"Main Event" Jey Uso shows up in the crowd, says that he is here tonight and that he is declaring for the men's Royal Rumble match. He says that he will become a back-to-back Royal Rumble winner, and that he is firing his warning shot.

Backstage, General Manager Adam Pearce runs into The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Grayson Waller, who demand their World Tag Team title rematch. Pearce gives them an opportunity next week in a Fatal 4-Way match, where the winning team will get a title shot. Adam Pearce then heads to ringside for the next match.

Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee and Penta beat The Vision ("Big" Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory)in a six-man tag match. During the match, both General Manager Adam Pearce and "The Oracle" Paul Heyman argue on the ring apron, but when Logan Paul passes the brass knuckles to Austin Theory, Adam Pearce catches them out and the referee stops whatever plans Theory had with the brass knuckles with Pearce's help, as Pearce takes the brass knuckles away. Paul Heyman confronts Adam Pearce, and Rey Mysterio uses the brass knuckles - which Pearce has left on the ring apron - against Logan Paul before Penta hits Austin Theory with a Mexican Destroyer for the win.

Backstage, Jackie Demond interviews CM Punk. Punk says he is playing an away game going into double overtime, and that he wants the game on his stick. He says that this is the kind of pressure that gets him out of bed in the morning and proves he is the best in the world, and that this pressure will break Finn Balor.

WWE acknowledges Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States.

Backstage, "The Oracle" Paul Heyman rushes to catch up with General Manager Adam Pearce (and as he does, a boom mic hits him in the head). Heyman hands Pearce a phone and says he may want to take that phone call.

Iyo Sky and Rhea Ripley head to the ring. Rhea mentions their Women's Tag Team Championship defense against Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez at Saturday Night's Main Event, then asks when they are going to learn that when it comes to them, "Rhiyo" is always on top. Rhea also announces that once they win and retain at Saturday Night's Main Event, they will be participating in the women's Royal Rumble match. All of a sudden, Liv and Roxanne show up, and Liv says that Rhea and Iyo are more delusional than they thought and that she is taking the women's tag titles back. She also advises Iyo to dump Rhea before she turns on her, stating that Rhea's selfishness will get the better of her and leave her with no one. Roxanne announces that she, Liv and Raquel Rodriguez will all also be entering the women's Royal Rumble match and that one of them will headline WrestleMania. Rhea chalks this all up to projection, then asks how the three of them being in the Royal Rumble match will work. Rhea is suddenly attacked from out of nowhere by Raquel, and Raquel, Liv and Roxanne quicky clean house. Rhea Ripley fights back, but the numbers game takes over, and Liv hits Rhea with Ob-Liv-Ion.

Backstage, Bayley is disappointed in herself over her and Lyra Valkyria's recent loss when Lyra Valyria shows up. Lyra shows up and says she finds it hard to be positive right now, especially since she let her friend down. Bayley says that neither of them got pinned and that they still have the rest of the year. Both of them declare for the women's Royal Rumble match.

El Grande Americano beats Je'Von Evans by referee stoppage after Je'Von Evans gets injured. Early in the match, El Grande Americano accidentally bump heads at the ring apron following a back drop.

Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Finn Balor. Finn says the magnitude of tonight is not lost on him, but it may be lost on CM Punk. He says that Punk is a fighting champion and that he respects him, but he questions his judgment, for he is on his island in front of his people, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland, there will be a new Irish World Heavyweight Champion.

We see a vignette for Oba Femi.

Backstage, The Vision ("The Oracle" Paul Heyman, "Big" Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory) run into General Manager Adam Pearce. Pearce asks for Bron Breakker to meet with him next week so they can iron things out, and that the recent phone call had nothing to do with it. Heyman says that can be done before mockingly telling Pearce to be on his best behavior. The Vision leaves, then "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles shows up and says that his wife has told him to kick Gunther's ass. Pearce makes Gunther vs. Styles with Styles' career on the line official for Royal Rumble.

Backstage, Asuka chews out Kairi Sane for failing her and blames her for losing the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship, saying it hurt almost as much as Iyo Sky turning on her. Kairi promises that she will make sure she wins the Royal Rumble, and says taht she will do anything. Asuka approves of this, and tells Kairi not to make her yell at her again.

Finn Balor comes out to his original entrance theme before the next match.

CM Punk retains the World Heavyweight Championship against Finn Balor. After the match, CM Punk helps Finn Balor up, says something to him, then raises his hand in a show of respect.

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