WWE RAW 1/26/2026: 3 Hated & 3 Loved Moments

Okay, here’s a breakdown of the main points from the provided text, focusing on the criticisms and positive aspects related to WWE storylines, specifically involving Finn Balor, CM Punk, and AJ Styles:

Core Complaints (Things the author “Hated”):

* Disruption of a Dream Match: The author is deeply frustrated that the CM Punk vs. AJ Styles match was undermined by Finn Balor’s interference. They felt the match was a rare and valuable possibility (“thrown on TV because we don’t know if we will have another chance”) and Balor’s attack detracted from it.
* Repetitive Booking: The author expresses annoyance with what they perceive as WWE’s tendency to fall back on predictable patterns, even after offering somthing promising. The interference felt like “the exact same every week.”
* Unnecessary Timing of Balor’s Attack: The author argues Balor could have attacked punk after the match, preserving the integrity of the styles/Punk encounter. They believe WWE prioritized continuing Balor’s program with Punk over giving fans a satisfying main event.
* Weak Justification for Interference: The author anticipates and refutes the argument that Styles couldn’t afford a loss before his match with Gunther.They suggest a loss could increase the stakes, wouldn’t substantially impact the Gunther match, and Styles losing by disqualification already happened.

Positive Aspect (Thing the author “Loved”):

* Finn Balor’s Ambiguous Character: The author appreciates that Finn Balor’s alignment (babyface or heel) remains unclear. This ambiguity adds intrigue to his character and storyline.

In essence, the author’s main issue is with WWE’s booking decisions that prioritize long-term program continuation (Balor/Punk) at the expense of delivering satisfying, standalone moments (Punk/Styles). They feel the interference was unnecessary and undermined a perhaps special match.