BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – JANUARY 19: Gunther addresses AJ Styles during Monday Night RAW at The SSE Arena Belfast on January 19, 2026 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Andrew Timms/WWE via Getty Images)
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WWE Raw has already taken place, and sooner than usual. The reason is WWE’s ongoing European tour, which continues with a stop in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for another episode of its flagship show.
The episode is headlined by two championship matches, with Becky Lynch defending the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Maxxine Dupri, and CM Punk putting the World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Finn Bálor. While Belfast is not exactly home territory, it is still a significant night for both Bálor and Lynch, who will have the opportunity to perform in front of what should be favorable crowds.
So, what stood out from this episode of Raw across the pond?
Gunther May Be Ending More Careers Faster Than Expected
When WWE began referring to Gunther as the “Career Killer,” it felt appropriate. He sent Goldberg and John Cena into retirement within the same year, and with several aging stars still on the roster, it seemed logical that he would be the one to end a few more careers along the way.
The surprise is how quickly that possibility may now be coming into focus.
A second match between Gunther and AJ Styles is set, but this time with Styles’ career on the line. The Ring General agreed to the rematch only under that stipulation, with the bout scheduled for the Royal Rumble. Styles took time to consider the offer, even making a phone call to his wife, before ultimately accepting the terms.
Styles has been open about 2026 being his final year, but it is difficult to imagine his career ending in under two weeks. That would be a remarkably short runway for a proper farewell, even if his retirement plans have been known for some time.
With WrestleMania on the horizon, there is also the possibility that Styles wins to extend his career, setting up another high-stakes match at the Show of Shows, perhaps once again with his career on the line. Of course, WWE could have different plans altogether, and this may not be the end for Styles just yet.
Either way, the stipulation adds a significant layer of intrigue to the rematch and further reinforces Gunther’s growing legacy.
Did WWE Unlock “Nattie”?
It felt suspicious when Natalya suddenly appeared in Maxxine Dupri’s corner ahead of her title match against Lynch. Prior to this, she had largely been seen outside WWE as “Nattie” in AAA, along with training vignettes that hinted at a more serious, alternate persona.
That made her presentation here stand out. Natalya was clearly positioned as Natalya again, wearing her WWE gear rather than the “Nattie” look, which immediately raised questions about where this was headed. Lynch also received noticeable jeers from the Belfast crowd, adding an interesting dynamic to the match.
Dupri looked sharp early, with the story centered on her repeatedly targeting Lynch’s ankle and threatening the ankle lock. Things got a bit sloppy down the stretch, but that was not entirely unexpected as the Alpha Academy member finds her footing on the main roster.
As for the finish, Natalya put Lynch’s leg on the ropes to break up a pinfall, and Dupri was shortly pinned afterward, a result that felt telegraphed from the moment the former WWE Divas Champion came down to ringside. Natalya viciously attacked her protégé afterward.
How much runway that feud has is unclear, especially since the “Nattie” persona has not been established on WWE television. Still, this angle could serve as her formal reintroduction on Raw if she gets the opportunity.
A Long-Awaited Spotlight For Finn Balor
For someone who has been in WWE as long as Finn Balor, it is always good to see him get his flowers. It does not happen often, particularly since his ill-fated night in 2016, when he suffered an injury during his match to become the inaugural WWE Universal Champion. Since then, he has frequently found himself relegated to the midcard or absorbed into a stable rather than positioned as a featured singles act.
That made his moment in Ireland feel especially meaningful. Balor challenged CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship in his home country, and while the outcome was never truly in doubt, the fans at the SSE Arena were fully behind him. They bought into every false finish, especially after Balor connected with the Coup de Grace for a dramatic near-fall.
It was also one of Balor’s strongest in-ring performances in quite some time. Whether it was the adrenaline of the crowd, the main-event placement, or a combination of both, he delivered a standout showing that could justify another opportunity down the line. That possibility felt reinforced by the visual of Balor lingering at ringside as Punk celebrated with the championship.
For Punk, this was a rare instance of him working from a heel position in WWE. It was not a permanent alignment change, but rather a situational one, driven by the crowd’s loyalty to Balor. In fact, it may have been the first time since his AEW run that the current champion was consistently booed throughout a match.
Looking ahead, Punk does not currently have anything lined up for Saturday Night’s Main Event, nor is he advertised for the Royal Rumble. As it stands, the remainder of the month appears relatively light for him as WrestleMania season approaches. That is understandable, considering he has defended the World Heavyweight Championship twice in the past three weeks. Now, it simply becomes a matter of who WWE positions as his next challenger.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/robwolkenbrod/2026/01/19/wwe-raw-results-jan-19-2026-takeaways-from-belfast/
