The excitement was palpable in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, as WWE Raw came to life on January 27, 2025. This edition of Monday Night Raw promised to deliver some intense in-ring action and major storylines leading into the Royal Rumble, with several pivotal matches and rivalries taking center stage.
The Raw Opening – Seth Rollins Sets the Stage for His Road to WrestleMania
The show kicked off with Michael Cole and Pat McAfee welcoming viewers at home. The familiar sounds of Seth “Freakin” Rollins’ entrance music blasted through the arena as he made his way to the ring. The self-proclaimed “Monday Night Rollins” was ready to address the WWE Universe. Rollins was in high spirits despite the challenges he’s faced so far in 2025.
Rollins expressed how much he loved the WrestleMania season and declared his intentions for the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble. Despite the rough start to the year, including a loss to CM Punk earlier in the month, Rollins assured the fans that he had started his path to redemption by defeating Drew McIntyre in the previous week’s main event. Rollins confidently stated that he would eliminate everyone in the Royal Rumble, with a specific eye on CM Punk, hoping to crush Punk’s WrestleMania dreams.
But before he could go further, the music of GUNTHER hit, and the current World Heavyweight Champion made his way to the ring. GUNTHER wasted no time in calling Rollins’ claim into question. According to GUNTHER, while Rollins has had many moments in WWE, he is no longer the best wrestler in the company – that title now belonged to GUNTHER himself. He boldly proclaimed that Rollins would soon realize he was no longer the face of WWE.
Just as tensions between Rollins and GUNTHER rose, former United States Champion Logan Paul made his return to WWE television. He interrupted, giving both Rollins and GUNTHER a run for their money in the charisma department, boasting about how he was the real star WWE needed. While GUNTHER dismissed Paul’s assertions, Rollins had words for him as well, putting GUNTHER on notice before leaving the ring.
The War Raiders Defend the Tag Team Championship
The tension between the War Raiders and Judgment Day reached new heights as The War Raiders put their WWE World Tag Team Championship on the line against JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio. McDonagh and Dominik had been challenging the War Raiders over the past several weeks, with Damian Priest’s involvement further intensifying the feud.
The match started with McDonagh and Dominik attacking The War Raiders early. However, the defending champions showed their resilience and dominance, as Erik and Ivar fought back with their powerful offense. Ivar and Erik delivered multiple double-team moves, including a devastating powerbomb from Erik to Dominik, and a senton from Ivar that leveled McDonagh and Dominik outside the ring.
Despite the best efforts of McDonagh and Dominik, including a well-executed moonsault from McDonagh and a Frog Splash from Dominik, the War Raiders managed to withstand the onslaught. In the end, after a chaotic series of events, The War Raiders retained their titles with a double-team finish on Dominik Mysterio, proving once again why they are the top team in WWE.
Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods (image via Getty)Rey Mysterio vs. Xavier Woods – A Battle for Pride
Next, Xavier Woods of The New Day took on Rey Mysterio, representing the LWO, in a highly anticipated singles match. The contest was fast-paced and full of high-flying maneuvers, with both men showcasing their skills in the ring. Woods locked in an early submission, working on Mysterio’s calf, but Mysterio quickly fought back with a series of hard-hitting moves, including a springboard crossbody and a hurricanrana.
Woods took control of the match with a powerful shoulder tackle, followed by a devastating double stomp to Mysterio’s spine. However, Rey Mysterio turned the tables, landing a kick to Woods’ face before delivering a Sunset Flip and a Canadian Destroyer.
The match took a dramatic turn when Woods noticed that his family had arrived at ringside. Expecting cheers, Woods was instead met with the sight of his relatives wearing “New Day Sucks” shirts, clearly showing their allegiance to the LWO. This distraction allowed Mysterio to hit Woods with a 619 followed by a splash from the apron to secure the win. The crowd cheers were rumbling.
Women’s Tag Team Action – Naomi and Bianca Belair vs. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
The action didn’t slow down as the women took to the ring next in a tag team match that had been building up for weeks. Naomi and Bianca Belair were set to face Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez, with the teams already having had their fair share of encounters leading into this match. Naomi and Belair were hoping to build some momentum ahead of their upcoming Women’s Tag Team Championship defense on NXT.
Belair started the match strong, dominating Morgan with a series of right hands. Morgan fought back using Belair’s braid to whip her into the mat. The action intensified when Rodriguez tagged in and took control over Naomi. However, the quick tags between Belair and Naomi allowed them to work in tandem, hitting a double Russian Leg Sweep and a double elbow drop on Rodriguez.
The match continued with near falls and chaotic spots, including Belair’s delayed vertical suplex on Morgan and Rodriguez’s powerbombs to both Naomi and Belair. In the final moments of the match, Morgan managed to hit a backstabber on Belair and attempted her signature move, Oblivion. However, Belair countered, setting up for the K.O.D., but it was the interference from Dominik Mysterio that allowed Morgan to pick up the win for her team, pinning Naomi after Rodriguez’s attack.
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez def. Bianca Belair & Naomi (image via Getty)Paul Heyman Speaks – A Message from the Tribal Chief
Paul Heyman made his way to the ring, and the atmosphere shifted as he addressed the WWE Universe. Heyman announced that he and Roman Reigns would be the cover stars for WWE 2K25, and with the tides of power shifting in The Bloodline, he revealed that Reigns was coming for the Undisputed WWE Championship. Heyman also declared that he would be entering the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble, signaling the beginning of what would surely be a monumental journey for the Tribal Chief.
Paul Heyman (image via Getty)Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn – A Clash of Powerhouses
Next, Drew McIntyre squared off with Sami Zayn in a match that promised to be hard-hitting and personal. McIntyre, fresh off a victory over Rollins in the previous week, had set his sights on Zayn, with the two having been involved in a series of verbal confrontations leading up to this match. Zayn, representing The Bloodline, was eager to show that he was more than just an ally of Roman Reigns.
The match began with Zayn unleashing a flurry of strikes on McIntyre, even sending the Scottish Warrior crashing to the outside with a springboard moonsault. However, McIntyre retaliated with a powerful boot to Zayn’s jaw, followed by a series of devastating moves that had Zayn on the ropes.
The action became more intense as Zayn countered McIntyre’s offense with several big moves, including a Blue Thunder Bomb and a Sunset Flip. Despite Zayn’s best efforts, McIntyre remained resilient, eventually landing his signature Claymore Kick for the victory, albeit with a controversial roll-up that had his feet on the ropes.
After the match, McIntyre didn’t show mercy, continuing to attack Zayn until Cody Rhodes’ music hit. Rhodes rushed to the ring, only for chaos to ensue as McIntyre and Rhodes brawled. Kevin Owens then blindsided Rhodes, intensifying the situation even further. Zayn inadvertently hit Rhodes with a Helluva Kick, leaving him to contemplate his actions as Owens and Zayn walked up the ramp together.
Drew McIntyre vs. Sami Zayn (image via Getty)Cody Rhodes Addresses His Royal Rumble Plans
Cody Rhodes, still reeling from the chaos in the ring, addressed the upcoming Royal Rumble and his Undisputed WWE Championship Ladder Match against Kevin Owens. Rhodes seemed focused, but as always, the tension with his rivals was far from over.
CM Punk Issues a Warning to Cody Rhodes
The night closed with CM Punk’s music hitting as he made his way to the ring. Punk took a moment to address Rhodes, giving him some words of encouragement before laying down a challenge of his own. Punk declared that he intended to win the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble and challenge Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania 41. Rhodes responded by reminding Punk that he was the one being chased, setting the stage for what could be a monumental showdown at the biggest event of the year.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes (image via Getty)As the show went off the air, fans were left buzzing about the drama, the rivalries, and the stakes heading into the Royal Rumble. The night had been packed with action, intrigue, and some surprising moments that set the stage for a thrilling build-up to WrestleMania 41.