Major WWE Star Confirms They’ll Miss 1/5 RAW
A WWE fan-favorite has confirmed that they will miss the January 5 episode of Raw.
The red brand’s first taping of 2026 is being advertised as its first anniversary with streaming giant Netflix.
The brand made its Netflix debut on January 6, 2025, with the who’s who of the promotion making an appearance. John Cena, who announced his retirement at the 2024 Money in the Bank, returned to TV for his retirement tour.
The Rock, too, was on the show, reigniting his feud with Cody Rhodes.
Rhea Ripley defeated Liv Morgan to win the WWE Women’s World Championship for the second time. After her match, she interacted with The Undertaker, who showed up in his “American Badass” persona.
Hulk Hogan, who was expected to be one of the highlights of the evening, was booed out of the building due to the show being held in Los Angeles, which is known for its democratic alliance in politics, whereas Hogan has often leaned towards the Republican Party.
In the main event, CM Punk battled his long-standing rival, Seth Rollins, earning a massive victory to close the show.
Cathy Kelley To Miss The First Episode Of 2026 WWE Raw
Like 2025, WWE is aiming to make January 5, 2026, a memorable evening for wrestling fans.
While the stars gear up to shine in the spotlight, television host and interviewer Cathy Kelley confirmed that she will not be attending the show.
A fan replied to her initial post promoting WWE & Netflix’s crossover promotion with Stranger Things, stating they were excited to see her interview a Demogorgon.
i won’t be there 😩😩😩
— Cathy Kelley (@catherinekelley) December 24, 2025
The promotion has already announced three title matches for the January 5 episode.
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky will challenge the Kabuki Warriors for the Women’s Tag Team Championships. Meanwhile, Maxxine Dupri will defend her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Becky Lynch.
Also, Bron Breakker will get his first crack at CM Punk’s World Heavyweight Championship. Over time, their feud has gotten personal, with the 28-year-old referencing Punk’s wife, AJ Lee, during one of his promos.