WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Highlights From Dec. 29

The best brand in pro wrestling's most prominent company looked to close out 2025 on a high note Monday night as WWE Raw hit the Netflix airwaves with a broadcast featuring two championship clashes, a grudge match, and an appearance from the most dangerous faction on the roster.

Would Stephanie Vaquer retain her Women's World Championship against Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez in a Triple Threat Match? Could AJ Styles and Dragon Lee dispatch another pair of challengers?

Find out the answer to those questions and more with this recap of the December 29 show.

Lineup

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Announced in advance of Monday's show were:

Women's World Championship Match: Stephanie Vaquer (c) vs. Raquel Rodriguez vs. Nikki Bella

World Tag Team Championship Match: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (c) vs. The Usos

Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory

Appearance from The Vision

The Vision Kicked Off Raw

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One week after leaving CM Punk and Rey Mysterio lying, The Vision's Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Paul Heyman kicked off Monday's Netflix broadcast with an in-ring promo.

The Wise Man touted the collection of talent in the ring with him as future WrestleMania main eventers before officially introducing Theory as the newest member of the group.

Heyman claimed the goals of The Vision outweigh the individual goals of anyone inside the group.

"Cult of Personality" played and Punk entered to a huge ovation, the fans singing along to the world champion's entrance theme.

Punk rightly pointed out that if he is jumped or beaten down, there is no title match on next week's show. With that in mind, he joined The Vision in the ring and dared Breakker to say something, since he runs his mouth whenever The Best in the World is not around.

The Badass claimed that he is not the future but, rather, the here and now. He dared Punk to go find someone in the locker room like him, who is more of a dog than him. He reminded Punk that he once shared the field with Lamar Jackson and that the two of them are not the same. He vowed to win the title on January 5.

Punk responded, admitting he is not ready to let the world championship go. He told Breakker the two of them are not the same: one of them is CM Punk and he is going to beat the second-generation star.

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

This was a significant moment for Breakker to stand in the ring and go face-to-face with Punk on the mic and for the most part, he succeeded. He was hesitant at a point or two, but he got his point across and spoke confidently while doing so. The world champion was his typically awesome self, putting the exclamation point on the segment and giving it the gravity it needed in the last opportunity to drum up hype and excitement, to the point that the January 5 match feels like a big deal.

Backstage, Liv Morgan continued stir things up with her fellow Judgment Day teammates Raquel Rodriguez and Roxanne Perez amid mounting tension.

Stephanie Vaquer vs. Nikki Bella vs. Raquel Rodriguez

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Last Time in Action: Stephanie Vaquer and Raquel Rodriguez fought to a no-contest (Raw, December 15); Nikki Bella lost to Vaquer (Survivor Series: WarGames, November 30)

After being intertwined for weeks, Vaquer, Bella, and Rodriguez squared off with the top prize in the Raw women's division at stake.

Rodriguez dominated the action early and often, using her size and strength advantage to down both of her opponents. She delivered a fall-away slam to Bella and applied the Gory Special to Vaquer, searching for a submission victory. Instead, the champion bridged out of a pin attempt and rolled her up for a two-count.

Rodriguez fought out of an STF from Bella but quickly found herself in the Devil's Kiss. A pair of dragons crew leg whips had Vaquer rolling late. A sunset flip powerbomb from Bella to Rodriguez, who powerbombed the champion, nearly won the Hall of Famer the title.

The action continued until Rodriguez hoisted both opponents up for a double Tejana Bomb. Vaquer escaped while the dominant competitor drove her opponent to the mat. Alert, the champion sent the Judgment Day enforcer to the mat and pinned Bella for the win.

Result

Vaquer defeated Rodriguez and Bella to retain her title

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

The biggest heat of the show to this point went to Rodriguez when she broke up the Devil's Kiss from Vaquer to Bella.

At one point, Bella applied the STF and the crowd broke out in a "thank you, Cena" chant, to which the Hall of Famer responded with, "no, thank me!" Good stuff.

The match itself suffered down the stretch, with some spots rushed and others disjointed until a fairly creative finish wrapped it up nicely. This is one of those contests that would have been better served as a singles match, with Vaquer defending against either or, rather than both. Enough with Bella eating losses, too, if we are supposed to take her seriously as a contender. She needs momentum in a bad way.

Kabuki Warriors Promo

Last Time in Action: Asuka defeated Rhea Ripley (Raw, December 22)

Women's tag team champions Asuka and Kairi Sane hit the ring to address their ongoing rivalry with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky, which will culminate next week in a title defense.

The Empress of Tomorrow cut off her own partner, then claimed that no one is ready for the Kabuki Warriors, just in time for their No. 1 contenders to make their way to the ring.

A brawl broke out and the heels got the upper hand for a moment before Ripley and Sky fought back and cleared them out of the ring before standing tall to close out the show.

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

• This was a different segment than the opener but it still managed to drum up excitement and heat for next week's title bout, this time by relying on physicality instead of promo work. Each team got a moment to shine against the other before Ripley and Sky emerged with the upper hand. Whether that plays into the 50-50 booking we see a little too often out of WWE and means The Kabuki Warriors retain next Monday remains to be seen.

R-Truth vs. Gunther

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Last Time in Action: Gunther defeated John Cena (Saturday Night's Main Event, December 13); R-Truth defeated Aleister Black (SmackDown, July 11)

The product of a backstage confrontation, Gunther squared off with John Cena's number one fan, R-Truth, in singles competition.

The babyface started red-hot but Gunther dodged a scissors kick and went to work, overwhelming the popular star with his flurry of chops and punishing strength.

The Ring General's hubris nearly got the best of him as he mocked Cena's "you can't see me" taunt, but he overcame one last offensive from Truth and tapped him out with the sleeper to a chorus of boos.

Result

Gunther defeated Truth

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

This was exactly what it needed to be. Gunther squared off with one of Cena's buddies, took what was thrown at him, and punished him en route to a submission win. Nothing more, nothing less as The Ring General continues to establish himself as the most hated man in WWE.

Backstage, Jey Uso expressed hesitation to get Jimmy involved in what has been a terrible year for him in which little has gone his way. His brother hyped him up, pledged his allegiance, and insisted they get ready for their tag team title match.

Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory

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Last Time in Action: Bronson Reed and Austin Theory defeated CM Punk and Rey Mysterio (Raw, December 22)

The rivalry between Mysterio and The Vision continued Monday as the 2023 Hall of Famer squared off with Theory in singles competition.

The heel dominated the action, showcasing his rejuvenated and refined skills as he overpowered Mysterio, leading into the commercial break. Afterward, he continued his beatdown, punishing the all-time great until the babyface mounted a comeback and set up for the 619.

Logan Paul cut him off, drawing the disqualification. A two-on-one beatdown ensued until Penta made his return, fending off the heels and standing tall with Mysterio.

Result

Mysterio defeated Theory via disqualification

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

There was not much to this match, which took place mostly during the commercial break and felt more like a setup for the post-match angle than anything. Considering it brought Penta back into the fold and elevated him to opposition of The Vision, that is hardly a bad thing. Expect a tag team match featuring the four Superstars involved here in the near future.

Maxxine Dupri and Becky Lynch Promo

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Last Time in Action: Maxxine Dupri defeated Ivy Nile (Raw, December 15); Becky Lynch lost WarGames (Survivor Series, November 30)

Women's intercontinental champion Maxxine Dupri hit the ring for a promo ahead of her defense against Becky Lynch next week on Raw.

She flexed her promo skills, appearing more confident and comfortable on the mic with every passing week while addressing The Man.

Lynch interrupted and attempted to be nice but Dupri saw through it and threatened to either break her leg or tap her out. Again.

Big Time Becks asked whether Dupri is going to be who the fans think she is next week or who Lynch knows she is before vowing to win back the gold

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Dupri's evolution and growth as a performer have been nothing short of extraordinary. Her work in the ring and on the mic is leaps and bounds ahead of where she was at this time last year, to the point that the crowd buys her as a performer. Her work with Lynch has been outstanding, and beginning the new year in the same ring as The Man, on one of the biggest broadcasts of the year, is indicative of the trust management has in her.

World Tag Team Championship Match: The Usos vs. AJ Styles and Dragon Lee

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Last Time in Action: The Usos defeated The New Day (Raw, December 15); AJ Styles and Dragon Lee defeated Je'Von Evans and Leon Slater (Saturday Night's Main Event, December 13)

Looking to put his professional disappointments of late behind him, Jey Uso teamed with brother Jimmy for a shot at the Raw brand's World Tag Team Championship against AJ Styles and Dragon Lee in Monday's main event.

The Usos seized control early on and practiced their "whatever it takes" mentality, with Jimmy tripping up Lee and sending him into the ring steps. Jey wiped out Styles as the twins emerged with momentum entering the break.

The twins dipped into their heel personas, delivering a cheap shot to Styles to prevent a hot tag from Lee. The luchador fired off a double stomp that stunned Jimmy and allowed him to make the tag to The Phenomenal One.

Styles exploded into the match but a tag to Jey led to a spear and a big splash from Jimmy, but the future Hall of Famer kicked out at two. Moments later, Jey kicked out of a Styles Clash as drama and action intensified.

Late in the bout, the brothers rocked Styles with a double superkick, then downed Lee with a 1-D for the win and the titles.

Result

The Usos defeated Styles and Lee to win the titles

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

The Usos captured their ninth tag team title in grand fashion, beating Styles and Lee in a banger of a main event that had the fans in Orlando hanging on every near-fall, especially down the stretch. A hot crowd, a throwback to The Usos' work as heels, some quality chemistry, and a redemption arc helped this one succeed at the level that it did.

Overall Grade

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WWE knew it needed to ramp up the hype machine for the January 5 episode of Raw and it did that to great effect here, with several strong segments devoted to hyping next Monday's broadcast.

Punk vs. Breakker, Dupri vs. Lynch, and the women's tag title match were all prominently featured and in between, there was some quality in-ring work from the women's triple threat match and the main event.

Throw in the return of Penta and his seeming graduation to a feud with The Vision and you have a strong show to close the year out with.

Grade: B+