Epic Raw Main Event in Toronto Between CM Punk and AJ Styles Crashed by Finn Balor over Royal Rumble Snub

The Judgment Day member wreaked havoc in the closing moments of CM Punk vs. AJ Styles world title match on Raw.

Epic Raw Main Event in Toronto Between CM Punk and AJ Styles Crashed by Finn Balor over Royal Rumble Snub

Finn Balor dropkicking CM Punk with AJ Styles on his shoulders on Raw [via- WWE]

This week’s Raw at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto bore witness to a dream match between CM Punk and AJ Styles. The fans have been clamoring for it since Shinsuke Nakamura posted that now-deleted note on social media revealing that Styles had told him that he’d retire at the Royal Rumble.

If it’s indeed the case, ‘The Phenomenal One’ has already had his last appearance on the red brand. The former Bullet Club leader declared during his opening promo on Raw that there was no reason why 2026 couldn’t be the year of AJ Styles after John Cena owned 2025.

Styles affirmed, putting Gunther in his place before declaring that he wanted to be a world champion one more time. It didn’t take long for CM Punk to interrupt the former OC boss.

After a few exchanges on the mic, Punk and Styles agreed to a world title match in the main event of Raw itself. Before stepping into the ring with Styles, Punk bumped into Finn Balor backstage. The latter thanked the World Heavyweight Champion for being a part of his career-best night last Monday in Belfast, where ‘The Prince’ came agonizingly close to ousting ‘The Best in the World’.

The Chicago-born wrestler said he didn’t hand out a title shot to Balor because he deserved it, but he did so because ‘The Prince’ had earned it. Punk said he considered the 45-year-old Irishman one of the all-time greats and told him that he needed to ditch the Judgment Day in order to hold a world title in 2026.

Liv Morgan later confronted Finn Balor, and she wasn’t pleased about his interaction with ‘The Second City Saint’ at all. The former women’s world champion said to Balor that The Judgment Day was his family. Balor retorted by saying he would handle the situation all by himself before storming off.

‘The Prince’ crashed that incredible main event between Styles and Punk as his response to being denied a Royal Rumble match spot by Adam Pearce, who made a baffling statement regarding the field being full. Balor dropkicked the ‘Best in the World’ while he had AJ up on his shoulders.

It caused an immediate disqualification. The inaugural Universal Champion proceeded on to hit the Coup de Grace three times on the lifeless body of CM Punk to bring Raw to a close.

What Royal Rumble match additions were made on Raw?

This year’s Royal Rumble PLE is barely a few days away. This weekend in Riyadh, two superstars will seal their WrestleMania fates. The fields for both genders grew in number on this week’s Raw in Toronto. On the men’s side of things, the entire Vision faction, comprising Bron Breakker, Logan Paul, “Big” Bronson Reed, and Austin Theory, declared themselves for the 30-man Royal Rumble match.

Several Royal Rumble match entries were announced on Raw
Several Royal Rumble match entries were announced on Raw [via- ClutchPoints]

The major up-and-coming prospect from NXT, viz., Oba Femi, was also confirmed for the Rumble match via a video package. Femi has been pegged for a major impact on the main roster for a long time now. The fans could definitely expect a star-making performance from ‘The Ruler’ this Saturday.

There are rumors swirling on the internet about a potential faceoff between the Nigerian wrestler and Brock Lesnar as well. Je’Von Evans also announced his entry in the coveted Royal Rumble match after escaping an injury scare last Monday. Those additions have set the men’s Rumble blazing with 15 of the 30 participants known at this point.

Top names like Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, and Gunther will obviously be duking it out to secure a WrestleMania berth. As far as the women are concerned, Becky Lynch and Maxxine Dupri‘s additions on Raw last night have notched up the confirmed entries section to 17. Betting odds suggest that Roman Reigns and Liv Morgan are the respective Royal Rumble match favorites.

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