One Match, One Moment, One Promo: 01/02/26 by Darkstar Shady

One Match, One Moment, One Promo:

January 2-6

There’s some solid news this week about main roster callups, and rumors about contract expirations…but I don’t want to get into any of that now.

Let’s just get straight into the week.

One Match

Bron Breakker has been doing some of his best work on the mic with CM Punk, and the championship match between the two did not disappoint. Yes, the match had a few messy spots, but both Punk and Breakker worked through them and kept the momentum going, turning the spots into part of the story.

I don’t know that I agree with the finish—I thought this was Bron Breakker’s moment. Overall, the match was great. The false finishes, the back and forth submissions, the intensity. These two gave it their all, and then some. Punk had to step his speed up in the ring and he performed admirably. I couldn’t give this spot to anyone else.

One Moment

Liv Morgan made her in-ring return, and I couldn’t be happier. The main event Raw women’s division has been at a standstill since she went out injured. So many storylines can continue with her back. I’ve missed her crazy, and she might just be my favorite woman in the roster.

I think I say that about every woman at some point, but every time I think of Liv I can’t imagine cheering for anyone else. This year is going to be dominated by Liv Morgan, starting with her winning the Royal Rumble. I love whatever is wrong with this woman.

One Promo

The Miz fucking cooked on the mic to start SmackDown.

WWE uses The Miz as a comedy act, but if you say he wasn’t absolutely killing it in that promo before he was just used as a prop for Randy’s return, then you are objectively wrong. The Miz is a future Hall of Famer that no one will appreciate until he’s gone. He needed to be a bigger part of Cena’s retirement. I stand by the fact that Gunther was the wrong choice, and it should have been The Miz or Melo.

Honorable Mentions

• Carmelo Hayes vs. Johnny Gargano was fucking incredible. They’re two of my favorites and seeing them go at it was a real treat on a weekly show.

• Raquel beating down Stephanie Vaquer was a great moment as well. I love seeing Raquel live up to her intimidating stature and really be shown as a dominant star.

• Rhea and Iyo absolutely killed it in their tag match. The two of them might be the perfect women’s tag team (and the closest best friends I’ve seen on WWE television).

• Kit Wilson’s new theme is a banger! And his whole gimmick is absolutely fire. Love to see him getting presence as a singles star.

• Matt Cardona is officially a SmackDown superstar! I’m definitely happy that he’ll now be working with his wife.

That’s it this week. Let me know if you agree with my takes, or which segments you’d put over my picks. You can always find me on X at @darkstarshady if you want to shit talk my picks.