WWE RAW Closes With Huge World Heavyweight Championship Showdown
The main event of WWE RAW tonight ended similarly to how the opening match of the night transpired. Both the opening and the closing bouts of the night saw an Irish superstar compete for a title.
Becky Lynch retained her Women’s Intercontinental Championship against Maxxine Dupri in the first match of the night, after Natalya turned on her protege and attacked her following the match.
Meanwhile, the main event saw Finn Balor take on CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship after challenging the Voice of the Voiceless to the match last week.
CM Punk retains the WWE World Heavyweight Championship
Balor was greeted with a Prince’s welcome in Northern Ireland as he looked to get his hands on a first WWE World Championship for the first time in 10 years.
He put up an incredible fight against the champion and showed incredible resilience on multiple occasions, including kicking out of the GTS once. He even got out of the Anaconda Vice as he got his foot on the bottom rope somehow.
PUNK RETAINS 🏆@CMPunk is leaving Belfast STILL World Heavyweight Champion! pic.twitter.com/JxSPbni76j
— WWE (@WWE) January 19, 2026
Balor came incredibly close to winning the title after he hit a coup de grace on Punk but the champion kicked out at the last second. He eventually lost the fight after Punk hit him with another GTS to retain the championship.
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