WWE’s Monday Night Raw is always a spectacle, but the December 22, 2025, episode—taped in advance at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena—was anything but ordinary. The wrestling world is still buzzing after Gunther’s controversial victory over John Cena at Saturday Night’s Main Event, which sent the legendary Cena into retirement. Just days later, Gunther’s actions and words on RAW set the stage for a new era of villainy, ignited fresh rivalries, and sparked debate among legends and fans alike.
The fallout from Cena’s emotional farewell was immediate and intense. Gunther, also known as The Ring General, didn’t just defeat Cena—he made him tap out, a rare and humbling end for a superstar whose mantra has always been "Never Give Up." The Hershey, Pennsylvania crowd showered Gunther with boos as he opened the December 16 episode of RAW, but he seemed to feed off the negativity. Unapologetic and brash, Gunther declared, "I did what I said I would do. I made Cena give up." He didn’t stop there, twisting the knife with a now infamous insult: Cena "tapped out like a little bich."
Gunther’s promo, though brief, was a lightning rod for controversy. WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash, never one to mince words, shared his candid thoughts on the latest episode of his podcast Kliq This! Nash admitted, "I didn’t care for that. I was envisioning when Gunther came out on Monday that he would walk to the ring, show absolutely no emotion, glad handing it. I thought that was wrong." Instead, Nash suggested a bold twist to amplify Gunther’s heel heat: "If he would have cut a promo in German and then started to walk towards the highway as he was leaving and then realized, like, ‘oh, shi,’ came back, and he goes, ‘For those of you that don’t speak German, what I was saying was I tapped him out like a bitch.’ F**king mic drop, walk out. That place, he would have had heat." (Credit: Kliq This!, H/T ITR Wrestling)
But the drama didn’t end with a war of words. WWE’s creative team appears to be planting seeds for Gunther’s next major rivalry. After being expelled from the venue by RAW General Manager Adam Pearce, Gunther was spotted backstage sharing a tense moment with AJ Styles. The Ring General flashed Cena’s signature "You Can’t See Me" gesture at Styles before leaving the building, sending the rumor mill into overdrive.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio believes this wasn’t just a throwaway segment. "You can kind of see AJ and Gunther being a match that they’re going to do. I don’t know if it’s going to be at Mania, which is kind of weird… but at the same time, they’re trying to duplicate the thing with the AJ retirement, you know, coming up this year. So maybe that’s the beginning of the… you know, I mean, it makes sense for Gunther to face and beat AJ as well," Meltzer speculated. He even hinted that Gunther could play a pivotal role in AJ Styles’ rumored retirement storyline, perhaps becoming the man who ends yet another legendary career.
With WrestleMania 42 set for Las Vegas next year, anticipation is already building for a possible Gunther vs. AJ Styles showdown. If Meltzer’s predictions hold true, WWE could be crafting a narrative where Gunther becomes the ultimate retirement party crasher—a role that would cement his status as the company’s top villain.
Meanwhile, the December 22 RAW episode—taped on December 19—delivered a packed card and advanced several storylines. In women’s action, Asuka scored a significant singles victory over Rhea Ripley, following up on Ripley’s demand for a match after being ambushed by the Kabuki Warriors the previous week. The women’s division continued to heat up as Maxxine Dupri, the reigning Women’s Intercontinental Champion, forced Becky Lynch to submit to an ankle lock during a promo segment, escalating their ongoing feud. Bayley, looking to bounce back after a recent loss, defeated Roxanne Perez, while Nikki Bella made a rare appearance to deliver a promo that had the crowd buzzing.
The men’s side wasn’t short on action or intrigue. Je’Von Evans, a rising NXT star, made a statement by defeating Rayo Americano. The main event spotlight shone on The Vision, with Bronson Reed and Austin Theory teaming up to defeat the dynamic duo of CM Punk and Rey Mysterio. Theory’s involvement has been the talk of the town ever since he was revealed as the War Games mystery man. His alignment with The Vision, and the subsequent machinations of Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Bronson Reed, have injected fresh energy into RAW’s top storyline.
CM Punk, still reeling from Theory’s actions at War Games, has made it clear he wants payback. The tension between Punk and Theory is palpable, with fans eager to see how this rivalry unfolds in the coming weeks. As for Theory, WWE’s renewed push for the young star signals big plans ahead. Once a low card fixture, Theory has now found himself at the center of RAW’s biggest angles, and his future looks brighter than ever.
Elsewhere, the tag team division saw the return of Jimmy and Jey Uso, who notched a win over the New Day and now have their sights set on World Tag Team Champions Dragon Lee and AJ Styles. The women’s world title scene is equally chaotic, with Stephanie Vaquer’s defense against Raquel Rodriguez ending in controversy thanks to Nikki Bella’s interference—a possible triple threat match looms on the horizon.
And let’s not forget the ongoing Royal Rumble build. With the annual spectacle set for January 31, 2026, in Saudi Arabia, speculation is rampant over which superstars will throw their hats into the ring. Meanwhile, Logan Paul’s recent victory over Rey Mysterio has positioned him as a potential challenger to Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio, adding yet another layer of intrigue to WWE’s packed winter slate.
Back to Gunther, the man of the hour: his heel persona has never been hotter. The crowd’s animosity is real, and WWE seems keen to capitalize on it. Whether he’s crossing paths with established stars like AJ Styles or drawing the ire of legends like Kevin Nash, The Ring General is redefining what it means to be a villain in the squared circle. Will he be the one to end AJ Styles’ career, just as he did with John Cena? Or will another challenger rise to stop his reign of terror?
One thing is certain: WWE Raw is firing on all cylinders, and with Royal Rumble and WrestleMania on the horizon, the road ahead promises plenty of twists, turns, and unforgettable moments. Fans will be watching closely as Gunther, Theory, and the rest of the roster jockey for position in what’s shaping up to be a blockbuster season for WWE.
As the dust settles from a wild week in WWE, all eyes are on Gunther’s next move—and the superstars brave enough to step up and challenge The Ring General’s dominance.
