With just a few days away from WWE Royal Rumble (2025) set to take place this Saturday, WWE Raw went to State Farm Arena in Atlanta, GA. The show kicked off with the arrival of Cody Rhodes, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, and various other WWE superstars heading into the arena ahead of their scheduled matches for this week’s show.
Announced in advance of Monday’s show:
- Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes arrives on WWE Raw
- Sami Zayn battles Drew McIntyre in a Singles match
- Bianca Belair and Naomi face Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in a Tag team match
- The War Raiders (c) defend their World Tag Team Championship against Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
- Logan Paul returns to WWE Raw on Netflix ahead of WWE Royal Rumble (2025)
Seth Rollins, Gunther, and Logan Paul kick off the last WWE Raw before the 2025 Royal Rumble
After defeating Drew McIntyre in a singles match here on WWE Raw last week, Rollins arrived on the show to address his future on the road to WrestleMania 41. Rollins talked about who he should face at the WrestleMania 41 if wins the Royal Rumble this year before Gunther arrived on WWE Raw. Coming out from an incredible championship defense this past Saturday at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event against Jey Uso, Gunther challenged Rollins to win the Royal Rumble match and challenge him at WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.
Just as this was going on, Logan Paul arrived to join the party as well. Paul claimed to be the new face of this Netflix Era. Meanwhile, the fans in attendance boobed the hell out of him. Paul then declared his participation in the 2025 Men’s WWE Royal Rumble match as well.
Backstage interview segment featuring CM Punk
CM Punk then appeared in a backstage interview segment with Cathy Kelley where Sami Zayn also made an appearance after Punk said last week that Zayn is not on his level. Zayn also crossed paths with Karrion Kross who reminded him what Owens said to him last week here on WWE Raw about helping him in his Ladder match at WWE Royal Rumble 2025 and main-eventing the WrestleMania 41 with him.
A-Town Down Under has arrived on WWE Raw
WWE Raw then featured a ringside interview segment featuring the newest acquisition of WWE Raw. A-Town Down Under seemed to be confident at their new home of WWE Raw on Netflix.
The War Raiders (c) defend their World Tag Team Championship against Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
After Dominik Mysterio replaced Finn Bálor with himself last week here on WWE Raw for this tag team match tonight. Mysterio now teamed up with JD McDonagh to take on The War Raiders and bring the World Tag Team Championships back to Judgment Day. McDonagh delivered a moonsault in the early moments of the match, where he landed with the back of his head hitting the table first.
McDonagh looked awesome and unstoppable as he took the fight to War Raiders inside the ring, while Mysterio was down and out on the ringside. Carlito also interfered in the match, trying to help Mysterio and McDonagh but it was to enough to keep Erik and Ivar down. Erik and Ivar then trapped Mysterio inside the ring while McDonagh was down and out recovering, then took out Mysterio with double team offense to win the match and retain their World Tag Team Championship.
After this big loss tonight, things might get ugly in the coming weeks as Judgment Day reunites once Finn Bálor returns to WWE Raw.
Result: The War Raiders def Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
Ratings: 7 /10
Did you know:
- Did you guys notice the new theme song and the entrance of The Judgment Day? It looks awesome to me.
Backstage segment featuring The New Day on WWE Raw
WWE Raw then went backstage where Pete Dunne and Ludwig Kaiser turned their back on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods after what they did to Big E. Kingston and Woods climbed to be Atlanta’s favorite sons, calling Cody Rhodes a paper champion.
Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods
After defeating Kofi Kingston in a singles match last week here on WWE Raw, Mysterio now faced Woods in a singles match. Woods’ family finally showed up during the match, wearing the all-new “New Day Sucks” shirts. Woods and Kingston wasted a lot of time at ringside which allowed Mysterio to take advantage and win the match.
Result: Rey Mysterio def Xavier Woods
Ratings: 7.5 /10
Did you know:
- Xavier Woods reserved a bunch of seats for his family members on the ringside but nobody showed up.
- Michael Cole on the commentary announced that Zelina Vega is heading to WWE SmackDown as part of the transfer window.
Backstage segment featuring Seth Rollins and Sami Zayn
WWE Raw then went backstage where Sami Zayn tried to explain to Seth Rollins that it was a mistake when hit him last week here on WWE Raw after his match against Drew McIntyre.
Jey Uso arrives on WWE Raw with Quavo
After suffering defeat against Gunther in the WWE World Heavyweight Championship match at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, Jey Uso arrived on WWE Raw along with Quavo. Jey Uso claimed that he would win the 2025 Men’s WWE Royal Rumble match.
Pat McAfee then conducted a short ringside interview with Xavier Woods’s family.
Backstage segment featuring Lyra Valkyria, American Made, and Alpha Academy
WWE Raw then went backstage where WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria declared her participation in the 2025 Women’s WWE Royal Rumble match. Ivy Nile then appeared on the show along with American Made saying that she would be the next champion.
American Made then went after Alpha Academy who were making Tiktok videos, before Gable shouted at them saying they should be embarrassed of themselves.
Bianca Belair and Naomi vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez – Tag Team match
After suffering defeat in a 6-woman tag team match on this past WWE SmackDown, Bianca Belair said that Liv Morgan stole that victory — leading to this tag team match tonight. Both teams delivered a fantastic performance throughout the match. Belair and Naomi had the match won when Belair hit Morgan with the KOD but Dominik Mysterio had the official distracted on the ringside.
After Belair took out Mysterio on the ringside, Naomi had the match for his team before Rodriguez broke the count. Morgan took the advantage and pinned Naomi to win the match. A victory tonight could put Morgan and Rodriguez in line for a future shot at the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Result: Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def Bianca Belair and Naomi
Ratings: 7 /10
Backstage interview segment featuring Rhea Ripley, Bayley, and Iyo Sky
WWE Raw then backstage where Rhea Ripley told Cathy Kelley in an interview segment that she doesn’t care who wins the 2025 Women’s WWE Royal Rumble match. Bayley then appeared on the scene telling Ripley that it might be her who she faces at WWE WrestleMania 41.
Bayley then met Iyo Sky who she defeated at last year’s WrestleMania.
Kai Cenat arrives on WWE Raw on Netflix
YouTuber Kai Cenat then made an appearance on WWE Raw saying that he will be at the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE.
Penta is coming to the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble PLE.
WWE Raw then featured a cinematic promo by Penta who declared his participation in the 2025 Mens WWE Royal Rumble match.
“The Wiseman” Paul Heyman Reveals WWE 2K25 Cover Star
“The Wiseman” Paul Heyman then arrived on WWE Raw and Netflix and revealed Roman Reigns as the cover star for the upcoming WWE 2K25 video game series. Drew McIntyre then arrived on WWE Raw asking Heyman to tell his boy that he would throw him over the top rope during the 2025 Men’s WWE Royal Rumble match.
The segment was a little tricky as McIntyre was talking about Punk and Heyman along with fans thought he was talking about Roman Reigns. Now we all know that McIntyre has his problems with both Reigns and Punk.
IC Champion Bron Breakker is entering 2025 WWE Royal Rumble
Bron Breakker then appeared in a backstage interview segment where he declared his participation in the 2025 Men’s WWE Royal Rumble match.
Sami Zayn vs. Drew McIntyre
After what went down last week here on WWE Raw on Netflix, both Zayn and McIntyre went one-on-one to settle their difference inside the ring. Zayn delivered an incredible DDT to McIntyre during the match which led to his own nose being busted.
McIntyre dominated nearly the entire match with Zayn still trying to fight back. After enduring so much punishment during the match, Zayn nearly had the match won before McIntyre used the ropes to his advantage and pinned Zayn to win the match.
McIntyre then began to attack Zayn after the match before Cody Rhodes arrived to save his friend. Rhodes took the fight to McIntyre before Owens attacked him from behind. Both McIntyre and Owens took the fight to Rhodes who tried to fight back in a 2 on 1 situation. Zayn then tried to hit McIntyre with the Helluva Kick, before he moved out of the way and Zayn hit Rhodes in the corner. Exactly what happened last week here on WWE Raw, when Zayn hit Rollins.
It was one hell of a match and the storytelling was on point, raising more and more questions for the fans.
Result: Drew McIntyre def Sami Zayn
Ratings: 8 /10
Cody Rhodes meets CM Punk before the Road to WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas
Cody Rhodes then took the mic as he tried to talk to the fans in his hometown before CM Punk arrived on WWE Raw as well. Punk then told Rhodes that he had his back and that he loved him. Punk then laid out the ground reality to Rhodes, saying that when you are the champion in WWE — you have no friends and there is a big target on your back.
“Because I’m your one true friend, I’m going to stab you in the front,” Punk said to Cody Rho.
“I want to see the look on your face when you realize The Best in the World isn’t the best in the world anymore,” Rhodes said to end the promo.
This promo had everything that a fan would want to see. From character development to storytelling, everything was perfect. Man, after watching this promo and listening to these guys — I am seriously thinking that the upcoming WWE Royal Rumble and the road to WrestleMania 41 would be once in a lifetime experience.
Ratings: 10 /10
WWE Raw, Jan. 27: Results Highlights:
World Tag Team Championship:
The War Raiders def Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh
Singles Match:
Rey Mysterio def Xavier Woods
Tag Team match:
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez def Bianca Belair and Naomi
Singles Match:
Drew McIntyre def Sami Zayn
My thoughts on this week’s edition of WWE Raw:
With WWE Royal Rumble 2025 hanging around the corner to take place this Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. WWE has managed to deliver yet another incredible episode of WWE Raw. The show did not just feature incredible matches and storyline angles for the WWE Royal Rumble 2025 PLE but for WrestleMania 41 as well.
With four matches on the card, WWE Raw delivered a pretty good action-packed episode. The tag team division was on full display along with an incredible singles match between Drew McIntyre and Sami Zayn, which led to more questions between Rollins, Rhodes, and Zayn. The hometown boy Cody Rhodes was the last person to be on the show where went face-to-face with CM Punk, and two men delivered a promo that might change the entire course of WrestleMania.
After watching this week’s episode, I am clearly in a place where I can’t figure out who I want to see pointing at the WrestleMania 41 sign.
My Ratings for the show: 9 /10
