WWE Raw results, review, grades: CM Punk defeats Bron Breakker to retain world heavyweight championship

Breakker came up short in a bid to become world champion for the first time in his career

Bron Breakker entered Monday's episode of WWE Raw red hot, but he left without becoming world champion. Breakker lost to world heavyweight champion CM Punk in the night's main event.

The first Raw of the 2026 featured three championship matches. Titles changed hands in two of those matches, with Becky Lynch beating Maxxine Dupri to win the women's intercontinental championship, and the team of Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky defeating The Kabuki Warriors to win the women's tag team championships.

Breakker was not so fortunate, coming up short against Punk despite interference from every member of The Vision.

CBS Sports was with you all night with recaps and highlights of all the action from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

CM Punk defeats Bron Breakker to retain world heavyweight championship

World Heavyweight Championship -- CM Punk (c) def. Bron Breakker via pinfall with a Go To Sleep. Despite Breakker insisting he could beat Punk single-handedly, every member of The Vision interfered to attempt and tilt things in Breakker's direction. That group of Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory was eventually chased off by Rey Mysterio, Penta and Dragon Lee, leaving the match one-on-one.

Paul Heyman did attempt to distract Punk several times, leading to Punk delivering a right hand to Heyman's head. Breaker and Punk exchanged near falls down the stretch, but it was Punk who got the win after countering a spear with a knee and hitting a Go To Sleep to score the pin and retain the title.

This was the right call by WWE. Breakker's chase should go on a little bit longer, and Punk's reign has not been long enough. It's also the right call for The Vision to run in, giving some sign that Breakker isn't actually as confident as he puts out in his promos. That kind of crisis of confidence for a man as powerful as Breakker is interesting, if WWE has the guts to have Breakker show some sort of weakness. Grade: B+

What else happened on WWE Raw?

• Women's Tag Team Championship -- Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky def. Asuka & Kairi Sane (c) via pinfall to win the titles. Ripley hit Asuka with Riptide before Sky followed up with an Over the Moonsault to score the pin.
• AJ Styles slapped Gunther. Styles interrupted a Gunther promo where Gunther was, again, talking about how he made John Cena tap out. Styles slapped Gunther before the two came forehead-to-forehead. When Gunther didn't return fire, Styles taunted him before leaving the ring. Gunther demanded a match with Styles next week.
• Women's Intercontinental Championship -- Becky Lynch def. Maxxine Dupri (c) via pinfall to win the title. Dupri had the ankle lock in when Lynch bridged backward into a pin, holding the bottom rope to secure the victory and regain the title.
• Raquel Rodriguez attacked Stephanie Vaquer after Vaquer was interviewed. Vaquer said that her injured foot would not slow her down when Rodriguez attacked her from behind, continuing the assault by stomping on Vaquer's leg. Rodriguez continued her assault backstage after the commercial break.
• Liv Morgan def. Lyra Valkyria via pinfall after hitting Oblivion. Valkyria was distracted when Bayley chased Roxanne Perez off with a steel chair, leaving an opening for Morgan to score the win.