WWE Raw Results: Takeaways From Belfast - A Dramatic Night in Northern Ireland
The latest episode of WWE Raw took place at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, marking an early stop on the company's European tour. The event featured two highly anticipated championship matches, as well as some intriguing storylines that could have significant implications for the future of several Superstars.
One of the most talked-about matchups was the World Heavyweight Championship bout between CM Punk and Finn Bálor. While it was never truly in doubt who would emerge victorious, the crowd's loyalty to Balor was palpable, with the fans enthusiastically chanting his name throughout the match. In fact, this was one of Balor's strongest in-ring performances in quite some time, and his dramatic near-falls had the audience on the edge of their seats.
The match also highlighted Punk's heel persona, as he worked from a negative position for the first time in weeks, receiving consistent booing from the crowd. However, it's worth noting that this was a situational alignment change rather than a permanent one, driven by the crowd's affection for Balor.
Meanwhile, Gunther continued to assert his dominance on Raw, with another match set against AJ Styles. The stipulation of Styles' career being on the line added an extra layer of intrigue to the bout, particularly given that it was rumored that 2026 would be Styles' final year in WWE. If this were indeed the case, a quick defeat at the hands of Gunther could have marked a hasty end to Styles' illustrious career.
However, there's always a chance that Styles might win and extend his tenure as champion, potentially setting up another high-stakes match at WrestleMania. The possibility of further rematches with Gunther also raises questions about the German Superstar's growing legacy in WWE.
The bout between Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri was more straightforward, albeit an entertaining one. The crowd's reaction to Lynch was telling, as she received noticeable jeers from the Belfast audience. Meanwhile, Natalya made a surprise appearance at ringside, her "Nattie" persona seemingly on full display. This could mark a formal reintroduction for Natalya on Raw, with her feud with Lynch likely having some runway left.
As WWE approaches WrestleMania season, several storylines and matches are still up in the air. Will Finn Balor receive another opportunity down the line? How will AJ Styles' career be affected by his match against Gunther? And who will emerge as Punk's next challenger? The answers to these questions remain to be seen, but one thing is certain - this episode of Raw will have a lasting impact on WWE's European tour.
The latest episode of WWE Raw took place at the SSE Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland, marking an early stop on the company's European tour. The event featured two highly anticipated championship matches, as well as some intriguing storylines that could have significant implications for the future of several Superstars.
One of the most talked-about matchups was the World Heavyweight Championship bout between CM Punk and Finn Bálor. While it was never truly in doubt who would emerge victorious, the crowd's loyalty to Balor was palpable, with the fans enthusiastically chanting his name throughout the match. In fact, this was one of Balor's strongest in-ring performances in quite some time, and his dramatic near-falls had the audience on the edge of their seats.
The match also highlighted Punk's heel persona, as he worked from a negative position for the first time in weeks, receiving consistent booing from the crowd. However, it's worth noting that this was a situational alignment change rather than a permanent one, driven by the crowd's affection for Balor.
Meanwhile, Gunther continued to assert his dominance on Raw, with another match set against AJ Styles. The stipulation of Styles' career being on the line added an extra layer of intrigue to the bout, particularly given that it was rumored that 2026 would be Styles' final year in WWE. If this were indeed the case, a quick defeat at the hands of Gunther could have marked a hasty end to Styles' illustrious career.
However, there's always a chance that Styles might win and extend his tenure as champion, potentially setting up another high-stakes match at WrestleMania. The possibility of further rematches with Gunther also raises questions about the German Superstar's growing legacy in WWE.
The bout between Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri was more straightforward, albeit an entertaining one. The crowd's reaction to Lynch was telling, as she received noticeable jeers from the Belfast audience. Meanwhile, Natalya made a surprise appearance at ringside, her "Nattie" persona seemingly on full display. This could mark a formal reintroduction for Natalya on Raw, with her feud with Lynch likely having some runway left.
As WWE approaches WrestleMania season, several storylines and matches are still up in the air. Will Finn Balor receive another opportunity down the line? How will AJ Styles' career be affected by his match against Gunther? And who will emerge as Punk's next challenger? The answers to these questions remain to be seen, but one thing is certain - this episode of Raw will have a lasting impact on WWE's European tour.
gunther just destroyed aj styles like 10 min in & now ppl are talking about AJs career being done? 
that was the most predictable thing i've ever seen... anyway, gotta give Finn Balor credit though, he brought the heat last night. CM Punk's whole heel thing was a bit cringeworthy tho 
but hey, at least it was entertaining for us snipers 
The drama that went down in Belfast was definitely intense 
. I think the crowd's reaction to CM Punk's heel turn was pretty interesting - it was like they were still invested in his character, even if he was being played as the bad guy 
. And can we talk about Finn Bálor's performance? He brought the house down with that match 
. It's clear that WWE is trying to set up some big storylines for WrestleMania, and I'm curious to see how it all plays out 
. And Becky Lynch's match against Maxxine Dupri was actually pretty fun to watch - even if it wasn't exactly thrilling 
. Natalya's surprise appearance was definitely a nice touch, and I'm excited to see where her feud with Lynch goes from here 
.
. It's clear that WWE has a lot of different factions at play right now, and I'm curious to see how they all come together in the lead-up to WrestleMania 
.
! The crowd energy was electric and Balor’s near-falls were so intense it had me on the edge of my seat 
. Also, Gunther is on fire 
.
i'm also loving balor's resurgence atm, he's been on fire lately 
BUT WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE HOW THIS ALL PLAYS OUT IN THE LONG RUN...
. And what's up with Punk going heel? Like, is this gonna be a thing now? 
...like who wants to boo punk tho? 
anyway, i'm hyped for AJ Styles vs Gunther - that stipulation is so juicy 
and what's up with Finn Balor getting more love than usual? 
and CM Punk's heel turn was kinda cool too 
who do you think is gonna win these matches? 
I'm shipping Balor so hard right now.
especially with Balor getting that kinda crowd reaction 
- I mean who doesn't love a good underdog story?