You ever watch a match and just know you're seeing something that'll be on a highlight reel for a decade? Honestly, that’s exactly how it felt watching WWE Raw today live from the PSD Bank Dome in Düsseldorf. Germany brought the noise. The energy was electric, but the ending? Man, it was a mess. A beautiful, high-stakes, "I can't believe he just did that" kind of mess.
Gunther vs. AJ Styles. People have been begging for this for years. On paper, it’s a technical dream. In reality, it was a physical war that ended with one of the most controversial finishes we've seen since the Netflix era began.
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The Finish That Has Everyone Arguing
Let's get straight to it because my phone hasn't stopped buzzing about it. AJ Styles had the Calf Crusher locked in deep. Gunther was actually tapping. He was hitting the mat. You saw it, I saw it, the fans in Düsseldorf definitely saw it. But the referee? Blind as a bat.
Gunther used the confusion to land a cheap low blow—classic Ring General move—and followed it up with a powerbomb that probably shook the foundation of the building. 1-2-3. Just like that. Styles looked absolutely devastated. This isn't just about a win or a loss; it’s about the fact that AJ basically had him beat. Now we’re looking at a rivalry that is far from over.
CM Punk vs. Finn Bálor Is Finally Happening
While the main event was a slugfest, the promos today were just as heavy. CM Punk came out looking like a guy who knows he’s the king of the mountain. He talked about staying World Heavyweight Champion "forever," which, let’s be real, usually means a title change is coming soon.
Then Finn Bálor showed up.
No Judgment Day cronies. No distractions. Just Finn. They stared each other down, and it’s official: Punk vs. Bálor for the World Heavyweight Title next week in Belfast. If you thought today’s crowd was loud, wait until Raw hits Northern Ireland. It’s a homecoming for Finn and a massive test for Punk.
Breaking Down the Rest of the Card
The show wasn't just the big names. We got some serious development in the mid-card and tag divisions that actually felt like it mattered.
- Je'Von Evans Arrives: This kid is something else. He made his official Raw debut against Bravo Americano and won with a jumpcutter that was so fast I had to rewind it. He’s "bouncy," as the commentary kept saying, but he’s also got that "it" factor.
- Women’s Tag Title Chaos: Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY opened the show as the new champs, but they barely got a word out before the entire division showed up. Liv Morgan and Roxanne Perez (representing Judgment Day) ended up winning a Triple Threat later in the night to become the #1 contenders. Expect that match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on January 25.
- Bron Breakker’s Meltdown: Bron is officially off the rails. He speared Dragon Lee during a tag match against The Vision (Austin Theory and Bronson Reed), causing a DQ. Then he put his hands on Raw GM Adam Pearce. Result? Indefinite suspension.
How to Watch WWE Raw Live Moving Forward
If you're trying to keep up with WWE Raw today live, you probably already know that the landscape changed a lot in 2025. We are now fully in the Netflix era. In the U.S., UK, Canada, and several other regions, Raw is streaming live exclusively on Netflix.
Because this show was in Germany, we had that weird 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT start time. Usually, it's the standard 8 p.m. ET. If you missed it live, you can find the full replay on the Netflix app under the WWE category. They also have a lot of the older PLEs (Premium Live Events) if you’re feeling nostalgic.
What’s Next for the Road to Royal Rumble
We are roughly two weeks away from the Royal Rumble on January 31. The stakes are getting incredibly high.
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- Watch Raw next week: The Belfast show is going to be massive for the CM Punk and Finn Bálor storyline.
- Keep an eye on Adam Pearce’s social media: The "suspension" of Bron Breakker is likely going to play out across digital platforms before he inevitably crashes the Rumble.
- Monitor the Women’s Intercontinental Title: Becky Lynch is now the champion after defeating Maxxine Dupri, and her next defense is set for next week against Maxxine in a rematch.
The move to Netflix has made Raw feel "unfiltered" in a way we haven't seen in years. The matches are longer, the promos are grittier, and the finishes—like Gunther’s "fake tap"—are designed to make you talk. Whether you love the result or hate it, you can't say it's boring.
Check your local Netflix listings for the Belfast start time next Monday, especially if you’re in the States, as these international tour times can be tricky.