[7.0] "The match is good. It's not amazing, but it's far from bad. It's a match with a calm but well-executed pace that ultimately makes it worth watching. It's a match unlike anything seen before in WWE, and it didn't turn out badly at all. Although it ended in a disqualification, it didn't ruin the match or feel anticlimactic, so it's fine by me."
[7.0] "I know this isn't Punk and AJ in their prime, so maybe I got my hopes up too much, but while it was a good match, I just left wanting a little bit more. Balor's interference aside, it just felt like another main event TV match, and not this giant clash of titans we expected it to be. There were some creative reversals throughout, and that's what I think made the match stand out the most to me, but especially considering this was AJ's second to last match, it just wasn't all that good"
[6.0] "AJ is a year older and retiring and he's still light years ahead of CM Punk between the ropes. Punk is slow, washed, and just plain clumsy and awkward at this stage of his career. AJ looks like he could still go another 5-10 years if he wanted to. It's a shame this match didn't have a proper ending. I did enjoy watching AJ run literal circles around Punk while the latter was out of breath after 5 minutes. Another great outing for AJ and another sad chapter in the story of the oldest hipster."
[7.0] "Definitely a decent match between the two. It's clear WWE had booked themselves into a corner with this bout considering Punk was the champion. The DQ ending definitely took a lot away from the match, which is a shame because it was well above decent."
[9.0] "9/10 Amazing match between Styles and Punk. This was a match I personally had been clamouring for since Punk returned to Wrestling. The ending made sense with the way theyre trying to push Finn Balor as well now. Both the guys are still in their primes, just of a different sort. But cant lie, AJ Styles is at another level! I definitely feel it couldve been better without the interference overall though."
[10.0] "A masterclass in modern wrestling psychology and an iconic moment. This match wasn't just great--it felt historic. Two generational rivals finally colliding on a RAW stage created a once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere that elevated every lock-up and stare-down. The crowd knew they were witnessing something special, and the performers leaned into that energy perfectly. Styles delivered flawless execution, Punk delivered timeless storytelling, and together they turned the match into a defining, replay-forever moment. Not just an excellent bout, but an iconic chapter in wrestling history."
[10.0] "This match was truly amazing! Just like any other iconic dream came true matches! The match itself from start to the end well executed! Both legends put a lot of effort and passion into their first ever WWE one on one match! You can definitely feel they had respect for each others! Cm Punk even pay homage to his classic rivalry and one of his best buddy in ROH, Samoa Joe in the middle of the match which was really awesome! what is Fin Balor next story is also intriguing to me, since Balor already out of the Royal Rumble.Just make it official let them fight in the Royal Rumble!"
[8.0] "Was building real nicely before the dq finish lol. A damn shame tbh. This was still lovely tho. Ethical graps were on display. I have really appreciated how Punk has gone about his matches as world champ it's very distinct to what you see in modern wrestling today. This must of been what it was like when Punk first joined aew before things went to shit as a wrestling fan. They could of done a better job building to the finish when Balor got involved, that's my only issue really outside of this match being ruined because of it but you understand why it played out that way. Nonetheless, very nice seeing this match happen in a WWE ring. The end is almost near for uncle Allen. ***3/4"
[10.0] "This one felt like a clash of philosophies as much as styles. The pacing was deliberate, almost stubbornly so, but that worked in its favor--every exchange felt earned rather than rushed. There was a constant undercurrent of tension, like both guys were trying to outthink each other instead of just out-move each other. The crowd reaction added a lot, amplifying even the smaller moments. Technically, it wasn't about fireworks as much as control and timing. The selling was on point, the transitions were clean, and the psychology carried the match more than big spots ever could. It didn't quite reach that "classic" tier due to a slightly flat middle stretch, but as a TV singles match with clear narrative intent, it absolutely delivered. Solid, memorable, and very rewatchable"
[5.0] "If I'm being completely honest, this match a little underwhelming in my opinion. I know that both guys are uncs but I still thought that they could go a little faster and not as slow. Additionally, I feel like the Finn Balor interference was just plain stupid."
[4.0] "Very underwhelming. Both wrestlers are capable of so much more. Admittedly, expectations for a match like this are through the roof, but there's a good reason for that. Two all time greats require a great match. Anything less leads to disappointment. A let down of a match. I suspect the score on this site is inflated by the deserved respect these two tend to get. That said, a four is honestly generous."
[8.0] "Giving this a generous 8 just because its two of my faves. It probably would have been a nailed on 8/10 if it wasn't for the ending. Maybe they do this one more time? Nice to see the pepsi plunge. 3rd banger in a row for Punk"
[0.0] "HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO RUIN A DREAM MATCH OF THIS LEVEL OVER SUCH STUPIDITY? HOW CAN YOU MAKE FINN BALOR, WHO WAS GETTING SUPPORT FROM THE CROWD, TURN HEEL AND RUIN A MATCH THAT, FOR ME, IS THE MATCH I'VE BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING FOR A LONG TIME, AND ON TOP OF THAT, IT'S ON AJ STYLES' RETIREMENT TOUR, AND PROBABLY ON HIS LAST RAW? It's disrespectful to AJ Styles, CM Punk, and Finn Bálor."
[6.0] "Das Match hatte eine recht gute Intensität und es lag zumindest eine gewisse Spannung in der Luft. Mir fehlte das gewisse Etwas, aber insgesamt ein ordentliches Match, welches allerdings von Finn Balor vorzeitig beendet wurde."
[6.0] "After the initial promo I thought Gunther might interfere, but they made Balor's interference believable after the entire two hours of Raw, and that's alright"
[7.0] "How the hell do you manage to fuck this up twice? The first time they did it by having El grande Americano in it and having him WIN. This time it ends in a disqualification. I'm tired of judgement day Finn and I don't care when he eventually turns face. It should've happened after the previous raw but NOPE! We have to let it "PlaY OuT" instead. Was going great up until the DQ too."
"Wedlug mnie spoko walka. Pierwszy raz AJ Styles walczyl z CM Punkiem i o jezus maria jaka dali banger walke jak na poziom RAW. Fajne zakonczenie bo przeciez ani Styles nie powinien przegrywac tuz przed walka z Guntherem ani Punk, Pewnie na Elimination Chamber lub znowu na jakims SNME dostaniemy Balor vs Punk co jest na plus (jesli dostaniemy Balora w wersji demona)"
[5.0] "Steadily wrestled match worked at a very deliberate pace. It will go down as a nice curio in the record books when people look back to see these two had a singles bout one more time, all these years later, and in that sense it served it's purpose. Beyond that, not much to write home about and came with a predictable interference finish."
[8.0] "A great match. Two of my all time favorites having one final match. Two veterans nearing the end of their career having one final match. It's scrappy and gritty and I loved every second of it. Two old wrestlers going at is what I love. The finish wasn't great, but me expecting a fake out finish helped land the blow. Could've been even better with a better finish and better crowd, but I still loved it. Also shout out Joe. 4/5."
[7.0] "Good match hurt by a difficult ending. I was hoping AJ Styles would shockingly win the World Title to add more stakes to the Rumble match but instead we got a Finn Balor DQ. The story is interesting but I hope this doesn't end up leading to more JD slop. [***.65]"
[7.0] "CM Punk has been putting together a string of solid defenses these past few weeks. Styles was probably fighting his last match on Raw. The crowd was divided, supporting both men, they even chanted "This is awesome! " The ending might have frustrated some, but it was the best thing to do. Styles couldn't afford to lose before his match against Gunther. Punk wasn't going to lose on a regular Raw during the Road to WrestleMania. It allowed Balor to shine, having knocked out two legends. His face turn only lasted a week."
[7.0] "Awesome main event, that can be even better if Finn Balor don't interrupt here. Bust still it was good match, where both showed something intresting, like Shining Wizard from Punk. Yes, potential of Styles vs Punk is unbelievable, but maybe they will got a rematch. I hope that it wasn't AJ Styles's last Raw as a wrestler."
[7.0] "The match was a classic wrestling ordeal between two veterans with the vintage sequence and some high spots, it was suddenly ruined by Finn Balor interrupting. Anyway, not exactly a 5-star classic before that, not even close. Just a nice TV match which is obviously hyped up a lot due to the names involved, and possibly for the last time?"
[5.0] "Disappointing match. Punk was sloppy & AJ seemed tired after the Nakamura match 48 hours earlier. Match never got the crowd engaged in the big match it should've been & the Finn interference killing his much needed Face turn was the cherry on top in terms of a slap in the face."
[5.0] "I'm really disappointed by the main event. It felt like there was just no story to that match at all. There was no working a limb, no psychological aspect, no stylistic matchup, there was just no sense that "Oh, he's trying to win through this" or "Oh, that's AJ/Punks gameplan in this match". It just felt like 2 dudes doing whatever moves in whatever order with no real rhyme or reason behind it. The finish doesn't help either, but I'd mind that less if the match at least delivered, but I can't help but feel like it didn't. There were also execution issues, and no matter how many times I watch it back I'm still bot seeing Punk's shoulders leave the mat from that rollup from AJ."
[10.0] "Well. I was expecting this to be rated wayyy higher. Now don't get me wrong I absolutely hated the finish BUT holy shit the rest of this. Was just absolutely awesome. This is the wrestling I like slower paced masterful selling sensical strike exchanges and sensical spots where a bit of no selling made sense. Not to mention the struggle that was involved in some of the moves I mean this is just pure pro wrestling with a shitty finish which you would see back in the territories to make a heel a true Villian and now it builds to punk balor II and I'm all here for it. ****1/2"
[6.0] "Good match for the world title that gets brought down by a weak ending. Punk and Styles have never faced each other in WWE, and with Styles potentially retiring at Royal Rumble, Punk gave him an opportunity. Two crafty veterans going at it, everything they did made sense, they didn't try to overdo it with the drama, and the wrestling was good. Can't ask for much more than that. Then right when the match was about to go to the next level, Balor comes in and attacks Punk for the DQ. So lame. Surely there could have been a better way to get out of this. 6.5/10"
[7.0] "Likely the most comforting wrestling I've seen this year. Things never appeared to veer far in any direction; it just felt like two veterans crafting and muscling their way through, creating some neat sequences and gritty exchanges along the way. What I really enjoyed, and what kept me immersed, was the competitive feel of the match, an element that was amplified early on during the sequence in which both wrestlers attempted their finishers. Things never stepped outside of the gear it cemented, but they remained consistent in producing quality stuff with minimal moments of explosivity sort of thrown into the mix. Considering the context that AJ is retiring? It's for the belt, and this was for a long time a pairing many of us wanted to see step in the ring one more time. Yes, this fell short of expectations but still delivered the kind of quality you can just throw on, and it'll hit a sweet spot. ***1/2"
[6.0] "Very disappointing match but not bad by any means. It felt like they both were gassed really quickly which is odd because they both had great matches over the past week. The crowd was ok at best and the finish for probably AJs last WWE tv match was underwhelming. There is some solid work and it's crazy that this match even happened"
[8.0] "Fast 22 Jahre musste man auf ein weiteres Singles Match zwischen den Legenden warten. 5:3 steht es nun im Singles Match Bereich wo Punk sich hier den dritten Sieg über AJ holte. Er will nicht das AJ aufhört. Ich gebe hier (***3/4)."
[7.0] "It started off as a very promising dream match, one that if somebody would've told me 10 years ago that it would happen, I wouldn't believe them for a second. But just as the pace was being picked up, the whole thing was swept right from under us in the form of Finn Balor running in and causing a DQ finish. For what it's worth, the match was very solid. I really wish they would've ended it cleanly and saved Finn ambushing Punk until after the final bell, but we can't always get what we want. If this was really Styles and Punk's last encounter in the ring, I think they did a pretty great job for what they were given."
[6.0] "This certainly wasn't bad but both these guys are past their prime condition and it showed in this match; especially apparent with the slow rolls through the calf crusher attempts. I wasn't expecting anything that great to be honest but the guys put on a decent show for 20 minutes, and it kept my attention. Definitely a "good match for TV" but nothing special really. Styles vs. Nakamura from a couple days earlier was much better."
"3.75. There's a guy under this comment that has said that this match was kinda similar to Mox vs Shelton. I thought that match ruled, so I think this match rocks as well."
"Man this match kind of fell apart and both guys looked gassed and were struggling the more it went on. Overall it was just pretty basic and boring. Then had a crap finish as well."
[7.0] "[3.5 Stars] The match came out of nowhere, but I'm not going to complain about it. What AJ has been offering us in recent weeks is just too cool. However, it's a shame that the match ended the way it did."
[7.0] "With this rather silly finish, I'm starting to hope that AJ Styles will stay with us beyond the Royal Rumble, otherwise it would be outrageously cheap. Until then, the match is on a pretty appealing path, with both guys putting in a lot of effort but not wanting to take any risks so close to their departure for Riyadh. Balor seems to be the best way to avoid hurting anyone, even with the result."
[7.0] "[3.5*] I saw a lot of similarities between this match and Shelton vs Mox. Both matches were "ugly" in a sense that not everything was pretty and they were struggling a little bit. The fun fact is that, in my opinion, this is actually a really good thing in today's wrestling world. Everything is so choreographed nowadays, everyone is on the exact right spot to do the planned move and then wait until the next produced direction. This wasn't like that. They struggled a little bit, they were kinda tired and not very sharp, but they used that to tell their story and this is why the match ruled. It's actually a better match than the one I mentioned, but with a really worse ending. This was just a bad finish, specially if AJ is leaving. At least we got to see AJ and Punker one last time and they delivered the good old school rasslin."
[7.0] "This was a fun one. Sometimes wrestling isn't the most pretty, but if its not pretty that never means the match was necessarily bad or anything. This match is a good example of that, it was not pretty whatsoever, but for awhile I gets the job done. I haven't watched any of their other matches in a while, but from what I remember they weren't the all-out, high octain matches you'd come to expect from AJ Styles. Back then I didn't enjoy it, now, I really do. This one was two guys just trying to win. There was so much struggle in how these guys worked. The strikes, the grappling, it all looked good. But it's not super high for me for a couple reasons. One being that bullshit WWE ending, and the other being that the crowd unfortunately wasn't that into it. The latter is a similar issue that Claudio v. Roderick suffered the other day. The crowds just aren't popping for these ROH vets. Regardless, it was just hitting its stride when Balor came in and it really sucked the joy out of me. Thank you big AJ. [***.5]"
[7.0] "I liked this match, definitely didn't go how I expected it to, but still wasn't bad at all, what was bad was the ending with Finn. I thought they had turned him full blown babyface, but for him to come out and end the match when it was getting to its peak, especially when this very well could be AJ's final Raw, was just a bad decision honestly."
"[8.5] This was a GREAT TV main event and something we're going to really appreciate in about ten years or so. I can almost hear the smarks of 2036 now -- "boy, it sure was better back in the 2020s, when you'd get CM Punk vs. AJ Styles as an UNANNOUNCED Raw headliner." This is just a solid, old-school, no gimmicks needed wrestling match with plenty of emotional allure. It *felt* like a big deal and not just another TV match an even the outside interference finish felt pretty natural and reasonable (it got me excited for another Punk/Balor match, for sure. It's already a criminally underrated match if the CageMatch hoi polli is to be believed, but give it time and we'll reflect on this one as a certified TKO-era classic. Oh, and LOL at that one guy screaming "The Chicago Blackhawks suck! " during Punk's comeback."
[6.0] "If I'm being brutally honest, I wasn't blown away by this even before the inevitable and inescapable ending occurred. This was decent, don't get me wrong but it was a solid 7/10 Tv match. Decent pacing, decent back and forth but it didn't do justice to someone potentially retiring here. The landing could have been stuck with a good finish but instead they went for the 'we can't be stopped' overbooked extravaganza. What annoys me more, is that the angle would have been more effective if it was done after the bell with Punk giving AJ his flowers. Poor choice for what should have been an important match, 6/10"
[7.0] "Punk/Styles was cool but not up to what a Punk/Styles match should be. It was slow at times, it didn't have the 'tension' that we had between Shinsuke and Styles. The finish doesn't help either. Seeing Balor waste a match like that is disappointing. They decided to keep Balor as a heel when he had the opportunity to turn face given the segments I mentioned. I kind of understand Balor's actions because he's doing everything he can to get another shot at the title, but it wasn't the right time to do that. WWE has stalled with this main event."
[7.0] "This match was quite fun. I personally haven't seen a match between these two before and I think they both have some good chemistry together. It was given time to breathe which was appreciated and that ending while I would of preferred a clean ending I think sets up a future match later. The reason I give this match a 7 and not higher and the only thing that took me out of the match at times was Punk being gassed. He was tired and couldn't keep up with AJ. There was a moment where Punk was going for another shining wizard but was caught by AJ, cool, however I could tell it was going to be caught by how slow Punk was going for the knee. Again, it took me out of the match for a bit. AJ was and still is fantastic, hopefully we do get one more world title run with him"
[7.0] "Rare are those matches where two legends get to face off for the first and final time. So to get this on RAW is an anomaly. But considering the predictable shenanigans, this makes sense. At least we got to see AJ and Punk go at it for a bit, and while it comes years too late (especially with this washed version of Punk), it works pretty well. It's no AJ vs. Shinsuke, but it's still solid. Finn ruins the party, which is fine, but damn, for AJ's last opportunity at a world title, it kinda sucks for it to end like that. ***1/2"
[7.0] "Pretty good match until the finish, which can age very badly if AJ indeed retires at the Rumble, because they had the chance to do a clean first time ever Punk vs Styles match in WWE and completely blew it to set-up a Punk vs Balor match, it's not ideal and very shameful to do that with AJ, so I expect him to defeat Gunther and become the WWE Champion. The match was honestly great, they were conducting it with a slow pace, but smart and enjoyable. Styles tried to win immediately with the Calf Crusher, which is the way he defeated Gunther, but Punk managed to survive those attempts. The match had two or three very smart moments, and they were connecting stuff, building a proper story before the ending stretch. Unfortunately there wasn't a finish and Balor attackd Punk, so the match was a DQ, very anticlimactic, but we could see some proper wrestling between proper veterans before that, very nice stuff. I hope they have more matches in the future - {***1/2}"
[7.0] "Rumors about scheduling this match on RAW had been circulating in recent days, and I'm glad WWE delivered a clash between two veterans who can still go. The quiet crowd didn't help elevate the drama, however both guys handled the match pretty well. Ending it with Balor's shenanigans isn't the way to possbily send off AJ's career on RAW, but in this case, it was rather understandable."
[7.0] "Great match that was ultimately let down by a disinterested Toronto crowd and a by the numbers DQ finish. Punk wasn't quite as sharp as he's been in recent weeks, but he more than made up for the lack of energy with excellent selling that had me on the edge of my seat. If this is AJ's last RAW match, it wasn't bad way to go out."
[8.0] "This was a very fun match. CM Punk has been one of the best things in wrestling during his run this month, and his title matches have been something fresh and fun. AJ Styles potentially had his final World Title Match against CM Punk, and he displayed a lot. This match was a lot of fun until Finn Balor came attacking CM Punk and brutalized him, which was shocking, but this plays into the story they're trying to tell and convey about Finn Balor, a desperate man, and being fed stuff to corrupt him. So this is going to be interesting where this story goes with Finn Balor, as we know his eventual face turn is coming, but we'll see where this goes. We know that at Elimination Chamber in Chicago, the Rematch for the World Title will happen."
[7.0] "Was a good back and forth match that had some fun spots like the GTS outside the ring and Punk using the Shining Wizard, plus getting to see Finn perhaps be in the main event scene again with or without Judgement Day will be nice. That being said, I'm not terribly upset at the finish yet but I am a bit concerned at the questions it raises for what may happen to AJ at the rumble and this would be a disappointing last match on Raw for him. [***1/2]"
"6/10 Nothing truly stand-out sadly between these two which fans have been clammering to see before AJ retires. Finn causing a DQ in AJ's last RAW match (most likely) is certainly a choice and there wasn't any real sign-of-respect to close it out or anything, but it kinda makes me wonder what Balor's future's gonna look like this mania season."
[7.0] "This match was just getting really good until Finn interfered and attacked Punk. I liked the continuation of the story, and Finn being in the main event scene is great. I'm so torn whether or not AJ is retiring at the Rumble, but after this I honestly don't think he is. You'd assume he'll get a match with Finn now, and they teased something with Je'Von Evans before the match as well."
[7.0] "Solid match in my opinion even with the DQ finish. It's nice to see Punk use the shining wizard again. I also loved seeing Punk counter the Ushigoroshi with the pepsi twist, another move that I don't think I see Punk use often anymore. The GTS on the outside leading to AJ playing possum in the ring and sneaking in a Styles Clash was really cool as well. Overall a good match that just didn't quite reach that next gear due to the finish."
[7.0] "A good match that was just hitting its next level before the dq finish. I'm sure it makes sense for the story and all that but I selfishly just wanted a clean finish. Don't know what's next for aj after this rumble match but if it is the end for him gotta give him props for leaving while still at the top of his game basically. Punk is on a good run of title matches so far this year and he's doing the best work of his wwe return run so far. 3.5/5"
[7.0] "This was on its way to being a great match when Finn Balor jumped into the ring and dropkicked CM Punk. This is likely the only time we will see Styles and Punk clash in WWE, so that kind of irritates me knowing that. They could have had a classic and I know they fought in ROH and other indies, but one classic on the big stage would have been nice."
[8.0] "Good match, Terrible finish. If this is truly AJ's final Raw match (which I don't think it is) then this was a bad way to end it. It had good action before the interference cause DQ. We wanted a good match with a conclusive finish and I hope if AJ is still in the company by coming Sunday, we get this match again."
