【WWE】 2026 First 'Monday Night Raw' on Netflix, CM Punk Title Defense... Grand Opening with 'Stranger Things' Theme

The first WWE 'Monday Night Raw' of 2026 opened grandly in collaboration with Netflix. The broadcast was themed to celebrate the 1st anniversary of Netflix's exclusive coverage and the finale season of the popular series 'Stranger Things'.

The main event of the broadcast held on January 6 (Korean time) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, was a title match between 'World Heavyweight Champion' CM Punk and challenger Bron Breakker.

◆ "Nepotism Baby" Mockery vs "Spear" Showdown

The psychological warfare between the two athletes reached its peak before the match. Punk harshly criticized Breakker, who comes from a legendary wrestling family, calling him a "clumsy Neanderthal nepotism baby (silver spoon)", while Breakker, who pinned Punk at the last Survivor Series, was determined to overpower him.

As expected, Breakker's powerful strength dominated the early part of the match. In the middle of the match, members of 'The Vision' interfered to threaten Punk, but LWO members such as Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Dragon Lee appeared to thwart them, creating an electrifying atmosphere in the arena. After the chaos settled, in the climax that followed, Punk dramatically dodged Breakker's decisive spear and unleashed his finisher GTS (Go To Sleep), securing a clean pinfall victory.

◆ Yahoo Sports Praises "Majestic Climax"

Local media Yahoo Sports rated the main event 4.25 stars, praising it. The media noted, "There were concerns about the chemistry in the early stages, but the exchanges in the latter half were majestic," adding, "Even after the overbooking (excessive interference), they maintained focus and created a gripping match that kept fans on the edge of their seats."

◆ Major Shift in Women's Titles

In this broadcast, the ownership of women's titles changed hands significantly. An unexpected combination of Rhea Ripley and Io Sky defeated the strong tag team 'Kabuki Warriors' to become the new WWE Women's Tag Team Champions. Additionally, Becky Lynch showcased her strength by defeating Maxine Dupree and wrapping the Women's Intercontinental Championship belt around her waist.

With champion defenses and the emergence of new champions from the first broadcast of 2026, WWE Raw has heightened expectations for the upcoming 'Royal Rumble' at the end of January.