Air Date: December 22, 2025 (taped Dec 19, 2025)
Location: Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, MI
The Big Takeaway —
Austin Theory teamed with Bronson Reed to beat the team of CM Punk and Rey Mysterio, with Theory pinning Rey after a curb stomp. It was an audition for Theory, who is not yet a member of The Vision.
It was a taped show and easy to get through, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.
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Show Recap —
This show was taped on Friday, so the announcers were Michael Cole and Corey Graves (instead of Joe Tessitore and Wade Barrett).
I realized during the opening match that the feed isn’t being treated as ‘live’ on Netflix, so you can just skip ahead if you want.
CM Punk & Rey Mysterio, Judgment Day, Je’Von Evans, Gunther, and The Vision were shown arriving. Cole said Evans was a soon-to-be free agent.
Paul Heyman approached Austin Theory and asked him what the hell he was doing. Theory said he wore the mask because he wanted everyone to feel his actions before they saw his face. He made some mistakes in the past. He got comfortable before getting injured. He appreciated that the Vision didn’t wait around. They take. Theory said that was him now. He wanted to take that opportunity and help out. Heyman was skeptical but intrigued.
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Rhea Ripley asked Iyo Sky to stay in the back for her match tonight. She wanted Sky to take care of herself after getting laid out last week.
Rhea Ripley vs. Women’s Tag Team Champion Asuka (w/ Kairi Sane)
Because this show is taped, we’re not getting the usual commercial breaks, but they are still cutting to break as if it were live. Asuka took control thanks to a Kairi Sane distraction, and they acted as if they were heading to break as usual (90 seconds into the match, as usual), but the action picked right back up.
Ripley tried mounting a comeback but was tripped from the outside by Sane. Ripley mounted a comeback anyway and fended off a flurry of offence by Asuka ahead of another “break.” Ripley applied the standing cloverleaf, but Asuka countered with a German suplex and sliding kick for two.
Asuka blocked a Razor’s Edge attempt and later hit a German suplex on the apron. Asuka came off the top, but Ripley hit her with a mid-air thrust kick, followed by a cannonball off the apron. (Ripley used more kicks in this match than usual.)
Ripley went to the top but was tripped by Sane, so Sky ran out (while selling her back) to attack her. Sky jumped on the apron to yell at the referee for allowing Sane to interfere yet again, but Sane used the opportunity to drop her on the apron.
Asuka used that distraction to catch Ripley in a cradle for the pinfall win.
As Cole mentioned, Asuka was winless in 8 singles matches against Ripley before this.
Match result: Asuka defeated Rhea Ripley (approx. 11:30 of TV time)
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Backstage, Bronson Reed and Bron Breakker seemed skeptical about Theory. Heyman said they were both much better off today than they were months ago, and that was thanks to him. That all happened thanks to his vision.
He did not pimp that out easily. He was selective, and he had a vision for Theory. Tonight, it would be Theory and Reed against Punk and Mysterio. Either Theory carried out their vision, or the two of them could carry Theory’s ass out of WWE. (This immediately made me think of Steve Austin and Kurt Angle kicking Buff Bagwell out of the arena that one time.)
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Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri segment
Lynch stormed out wearing a fur coat. She said we would not be getting a celebration for Maxxine Durpi. There was a corrupt referee in their match, and Lynch was still the rightful Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
If petty Pearce wouldn’t do anything about it, Lynch knew some powerful people who would. She had the most powerful lawyers in the country, but the bigwigs at Netflix advised her to go to miserable Michigan and take matters into her own hands because she was the greatest of all time.
Dupri interrupted. She agreed with Sports Illustrated that Lynch was the greatest of all time. Dupri herself was just a rookie—but this rookie just beat the greatest of all time. (Dupri’s first match was in 2023.) Dupri bragged that she beat Lynch three times (the other two were by DQ and count-out), and said she would give Lynch a rematch anytime, anyplace.
Dupri fired up and said she would stop at nothing to beat her again. She would train until her blood, sweat and tears on the mat. She added, “Not only am I their Intercontinental Champion, I am your Intercontinental Champion.”
Dupri wanted Lynch to admit that, but she knew Lynch wouldn’t take it on the chin like the Man she said she was. In this moment, Lynch didn’t look like the greatest of all time. Lynch looked like someone who was afraid her best years were behind her.
Lynch decked Dupri with a suckerpunch and held up the IC title belt. Lynch was about to leave, but went for another attack, so Dupri picked the leg and applied an ankle lock until Lynch tapped out. Dupri let go, and Lynch bailed.
Dupri was good here.
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Pearce spoke to Je’Von Evans backstage. Pearce wished him luck in his match tonight and wanted to talk about his future afterward. Evans was in a good mood, and he left for his match.
Stephanie Vaquer approached Pearce next. She wanted to face both Nikki Bella and Raquel Rodriguez. Pearce was happy with that and made a triple threat match for the world title next week.
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There was a video package for The Usos, who face AJ Styles and Dragon Lee for the world tag team titles next week. Well, that was a quick road back to title contention.
Je’Von Evans vs. Rayo Americano (w/ El Grande Americano & Bravo Americano)
Cole said he tried a Wikipedia search on Rayo Americano but couldn’t find anything, even though a Google search for him takes you right to Pete Dunne’s results.
Evans hit a flip dive ahead of a “break,” but Rayo brought him off the top rope with an arm drag after the break to take control. Evans fought back with a forearm, a vertical suplex (where he pops right back up to his feet), and a springboard clothesline for two.
El Grande Americano distracted the referee while Bravo and Rayo double-teamed Evans. Rayo followed with a Michinoku Driver for a nearfall. Evans avoided a Rayo moonsault attempt and hit an OG Cutter for the pinfall win.
El Grande and Bravo tried to attack Evans, but he escaped the ring and smiled back at them.
Match result: Je’Von Evans defeated Rayo Americano (approx. 7:00 of TV time)
This was fine. A mostly easy win for Evans, and they really pushed hard that he’s a pending free agent.
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Cathy Kelley interviewed Styles and Dragon Lee about facing Jimmy and Jey Uso, who have been a tag team a lot longer than they have. Styles and Lee weren’t worried because they’ve beaten established teams like Judgment Day and New Day. Styles said having the titles meant they were better than the best.
Bron Breakker promo
There was a pre-taped Breakker promo package. Breakker said Punk thought they had a personal vendetta because of the barbs he mentioned about his family, but the reality was that Punk didn’t care about his wife. He never cared about anyone other than himself.
Breakker wondered which version of Punk would show up on January 5th: the watered-down 2025 version, or the best in the world. Either way, the result would be the same. Breakker was the mountain Punk couldn’t climb, and the dog he couldn’t outrun. In Punk’s words, he was only here to make money. Breakker hoped Punk saved his money, because after he beats him, Punk won’t be worth a dollar to anyone.
This was really good.
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Nikki Bella segment
The announcers were talking when Nikki Bella interrupted. She called herself “the most famous person.” She reminded the fans that she was Nikki Bella, a Hall of Famer and a former champion.
She said they wouldn’t know what a champion looked like because they cheered for the Detroit Lions. The Lions wished they were the Philadelphia Eagles or, better yet, Ohio State.
Bella was the star of the division. She destroyed Rodriguez’s face, and she would destroy Vaquer’s reign. Vaquer was a big deal in the ring, but Bella was a big deal everywhere. It was about time the title was around the waist of a true global superstar.
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Bayley (w/ Lyra Valkyria) vs. Roxxane Perez (w/ Liv Morgan)
Perez worked over Bayley’s knee (through a break) until Bayley made a comeback. Raquel Rodriguez appeared at ringside and was about to slide into the ring, but Valkyria took her out with a spinning kick to stop her from interfering. Morgan responded by chucking Valkyria over the announce desk.
Perez distracted the referee while Morgan tripped Bayley. (This precise spot happened in the opening match.) Perez used the distraction to drop Bayley face-first into an exposed turnbuckle, but the idiot referee was distracted by Rodriguez on the apron. Valkyria wiped out Rodriguez and Morgan with a dive off the table.
Valkyria psyched up Bayley and slapped her in the face. This fired up Bayley (and healed her knee), and she hammered away at Perez before hitting a flying elbow drop for the pinfall win.
Another match filled with interference and distractions. It’s especially exhausting when it happens in multiple matches in a row every single week.
Match result: Bayley defeated Roxanne Perez (approx. 7:00 of TV time)
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In the locker room, Reed told Theory he was in the big leagues now and to follow his lead, kid. Theory told him he wasn’t his kid. Theory said he would start the match, and Reed would follow his lead.
Elsewhere, Rodriguez argued with Morgan and Perez. Rodriguez was pissed because she had a world tile match to prepare for, so she bailed.
Gunther segment
Gunther entered and was booed heavily again. He took his time basking in the heat. He said the fans shouldn’t be mad at him, they should be mad at the guy who tapped out like a little bitch. (He definitely got a ton of heat, but it also sounded like they manipulated the sound to make it pop louder.)
CM Punk marched out to his music. He very quickly got into the ring and straight into Gunther’s face. The fans loudly chanted for Punk. Gunther laughed in his face before leaving the ring. Gunther gave him the ‘you can’t see me’ gesture before taking off.
Gunther was confronted next by Rey Mysterio in the aisle. The disappointed Rey put his hands on his hips and shook his head (like he was looking at his own son). Gunther laughed at him and left.
After a break, Styles confronted Gunther backstage. Styles said Gunther didn’t know when to shut up. Gunther said, “Guess I don’t,” and he laughed.
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World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk & Rey Mysterio vs. Austin Theory & Bronson Reed (w/ Paul Heyman)
Punk and Rey both wore pink and black gear.
The Vision got the heat on Punk as Theory used his familiar offence and held Punk in a rest hold after a break. Reed took his turn next until Punk rolled out of the way of a senton and made the hot tag to Rey, who knocked Theory off the apron. Reed tried to squish Rey, but Rey avoided it and hit a running seated senton off the ropes.
Theory tagged in, but Rey got rid of him with a hurricanrana and a seated senton off the barricade. After a “break,” Theory was suddenly in control. Fortunately, they showed a replay of what happened during the break, which was Reed clubbing Rey from behind. Reed’s offence on Rey included a standing frog splash and a delayed vertical suplex.
Theory worked over Rey next as Cole asked Graves what looked different about Theory tonight. Graves said he looked more focused, but besides his hair and his pants, the answer is nothing.
Rey hit Theory with a bulldog and made the hot tag to Punk, who hit Theory with punches, a neckbreaker, corner knee strikes, and a bulldog. Theory avoided a GTS and tagged in Reed, but Punk fended him off and hit a flying clothesline for two.
Rey tagged in and set up Reed for a 619, but Theory made a blind tag and levelled Rey with a running clothesline. Rey fought him off anyway to hit a 619 and a springboard splash. Rey had it won, but Reed yanked him out of the ring to break up the cover. Punk hit Reed with a suicide dive and clotheslined him over the barricade (taking them both out of the mix).
Rey went to the top rope, but Theory tripped him and hit a curb stomp for the pinfall win. (Rey looked great all match, and the crowd was into this until Theory won.)
— Punk chased Theory out of the ring post-match. Breakker tried a sneak attack as Punk was distracted, but Punk fought him off. Punk fought off Theory next, but that distraction allowed Breakker to nail a spear as the taped show quickly went off the air.
Match result: Austin Theory & Bronson Reed defeated Rey Mysterio & World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk (approx. 15:00 of TV time)
