Raw Recap - Finn Bálor assaults CM Punk during Punk’s match with AJ Styles: Raw Recap, Jan. 26, 2026
episodePreviously titled “Raw Recap - Finn Bálor assaults CM Punk during Punk’s match with AJ Styes: Raw Recap, Jan. 26, 2026” — renamed by the publisher on Aug 3, 2026
Transcript
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What happened during CM Punk's match with AJ Styles?
Oh, what a time coming off of a Monday Night Raw that exists in this climate where so many of us here stateside and in Canada, where the WWE was tonight, are getting bombarded with snow. We use that as an opportunity to bring to you the most high-tech episode of Raw Recap. Honestly, in the history of podcasting, it's tonight for the first time ever. We bring you the Raw Recap from three different locations all at the same time. This is a WrestleMania 2 level episode of Raw Recap. Of course, I am Sam Roberts. I'll be here in the Not Sam basement in an undisclosed location. Megan Morant is here in an incredible living room in an undisclosed location and in yet a third undisclosed location with some of the most gorgeous wallpaper man has ever seen.
Big E is here on the Raw Recap. Welcome, guys.
What's going on, Big E? I love that peel and stick, baby. Looks good.
Thank you very much. I did not do the work myself, but it's pretty.
How did Finn Bálor's assault impact the match outcome?
It's pretty.
Yeah. That's all it looks. As long as you look good in front of it, it doesn't matter who did the work.
Thank you.
Thank you, sir. That's how I've always said. Megan, are you surviving? You don't have a lot of snow near you, I would imagine. No, no, no. Northern California has been spared. That's great. That's great. Megan, Connecticut, not so lucky?
Oh, you just disclosed my location.
What are the implications of AJ Styles' potential retirement?
No, Connecticut's one of the big states. I didn't say.
Big state.
Big state. One of the biggest.
Yeah, we're surviving over here. Look, I mean, it was a different night. It was very bizarre not watching Monday Night Raw with you. We've done so every single week for countless amount of weeks. That is right. I did not expect to see a World Heavyweight Championship match tonight.
Okay. Yeah, we have to talk about this, okay, because you're right. I did not expect to see a world heavyweight title match on Raw myself, especially CM Punk versus AJ Styles. To me, this is one of the conversations that I heard a lot.
What issues are ongoing between Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer?
When AJ Styles put that stip up, when he announced that he would accept Gunther's challenge, he would put his career on the line in this match against Gunther. And the what if conversation started immediately. Because when you're talking about Gunther, there's a pretty good chance that he's going to win. And if he's going to win, AJ Styles is done one month before into the year that he said was going to be his last year in professional wrestling. And one of the matches that people kept bringing up, either in the sense that like, oh, wouldn't it suck if we didn't get, or no, AJ can't actually retire at the Rumble because we haven't gotten with CM Punk versus AJ Styles. That was the match that I heard.
And when this match gets made out of nowhere, at first I go, oh, number one contender. That's going to be an interesting wrinkle because as you're watching Gunther and AJ, you know, on the other side of this, there is some, there's some light for AJ Styles. If he can get through this, he's the number one contender. When Punk turns it on its head and goes, no, no, no, we're going to do the championship match tonight. I got a text from this Morant lady immediately. Oh, my God! We're getting a title match tonight? AJ's going to get the title.
Who are the participants announced for the Royal Rumble?
AJ's going to get the title. And I've got to tell you, I feel like a fool. Because, Megan, you were there last week. E, I'm sure you were listening. We said, oh, Finn Balor, he reminded us. Finn Balor, he's got to be a hero again. He's got to be the old Finn Balor. It's just the best having the old Finn Balor back. And of all the things to ruin... For Finn Balor to ruin, you want to be a bad guy, to ruin AJ Styles versus CM Punk and to give us that as a finish, I mean, it destroyed. It destroyed the whole buildup of the night.
Yeah, I was like, oh my gosh, we're gonna have AJ Styles as your new World Heavyweight Champion, and then we're gonna have maybe CM Punk, he enters the Royal Rumble, and then what could possibly happen? Like, my brain was going a million different directions trying to figure out what's gonna happen Saturday at the Royal Rumble, and meanwhile, Finn Balor
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What happened during CM Punk's match with AJ Styles?
0:07–1:15
2
How did Finn Bálor's assault impact the match outcome?
1:15–1:34
3
What are the implications of AJ Styles' potential retirement?
1:34–2:12
4
What issues are ongoing between Raquel Rodriguez and Stephanie Vaquer?
2:12–3:27
5
Who are the participants announced for the Royal Rumble?
3:27–4:40
6
What led to Finn Bálor's unexpected actions during Raw?
4:40–6:03
7
How did the hosts react to the events of Raw?
6:03–7:17
8
What predictions are made for the Royal Rumble winners?
7:17–1:00:53