WWE Monday Night Raw: UK start time, segments announced and changes to WWE SmackDown this week

Not content with adding to the “lull” this time of year, thanks to the “Twixmas” break, the company are set to close out 2025 with two championship matches and a glimpse into what 2026 may bring, under the iron fists of The Vision.

They are set to open the show this evening, a week ahead of Bron Breakker’s huge bout against CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship on the first WWE Raw of 2026, which also happens to be the first anniversary of the company moving to streaming giant Netflix.

The “X factor” though regarding next week’s championship match is where Austin Theory places into everything; having revealed himself shortly before Christmas as the masked attacker who cost CM Punk and his team the WarGames match at Survivor Series, Paul Heyman seems intrigued after Theory admitted he saw The Vision “take” and that from here on in, he’s adopting the same mentality.

Not to underplay the sheer power of Breakker, but could Theory be the ace-in-the-hole for The Vision to once again earn the top title on Raw and, with it, the keys to the red brand with it?

Here’s your WWE Monday Night Raw preview for this evening, including UK start time and a change to WWE Friday Night SmackDown going forward from this week.

What time is WWE Monday Night Raw starting in the UK tonight?

No changes this evening when it comes to staying up late to watch the event live, I’m afraid.

WWE Monday Night Raw is scheduled to air from 1am on December 30 on Netflix, with on-demand repeats available on the streaming service shortly after its initial broadcast.

What’s been announced so far for WWE Monday Night Raw tonight?

Women’s World Championship: Stephanie Vaquer (c) v Nikki Bella v Raquel Rodriguez

The Women’s World Champion, Stephanie Vaquer, has been nothing short of a revelation since capturing the gold.

However, tonight presents her most precarious defence to date. In a Triple Threat match, the "Champion’s Advantage" evaporated the moment the contract was signed; Vaquer could lose her title without ever being pinned or submitted. She isn't just fighting two opponents; she’s fighting a mathematical nightmare.

For Nikki Bella, this isn't just about the championship—it’s about respect. After falling to Vaquer at Survivor Series: War Games, Nikki has become consumed by the need to prove she still belongs at the top of the mountain. She believes the current era has forgotten the "Bella Army" foundation, and she is prepared to use every veteran instinct in her arsenal to reclaim her throne.

Raquel is the chaotic variable in this equation. By aggressively hijacking Nikki’s rematch and forcing her way into the title picture, she has turned a grudge match into a demolition derby. While her raw, physical dominance makes her the odds-on favourite to walk out as champion, Raquel must be wary: in a ring with a technical wizard like Vaquer and a savvy veteran like Nikki, brute strength can often be outmanoeuvred by a smarter game plan.

World Tag Team Championship: AJ Styles and Dragon Lee (c) v The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso)

Since dethroning The Judgment Day in October, AJ Styles and Dragon Lee have redefined the World Tag Team Championships through a lens of pure technical brilliance. They’ve traded the "smoke and mirrors" of the previous champions for a "fighting champions" mantra that has seen them take on all challengers.

However, their latest invitation might be their undoing, as they welcome the most decorated duo in modern history—The Usos—to their doorstep.

Styles and Lee are experts at identifying a weakness and exploiting it. Their strategy is clear: capitalise on the brothers' lack of chemistry before they have a chance to find their groove. But there is a massive risk in poking the bear.

"Even a wounded dog bites," and if the lights of Raw ignite that old spark tonight, The Usos could easily remind the world why they own the record books—leaving Styles and Lee title-less before the New Year’s countdown begins.

Rey Mysterio v Austin Theory

Austin Theory’s career has reached a volatile breaking point. After weeks of lurking in the shadows as the "masked man" behind The Vision’s path of destruction, the hoodie has been pulled back, and the spotlight is glaring.

While his tactical interference was the key to Bronson Reed pinning CM Punk last week, Theory remains an outsider looking in. In the eyes of a cold, results-oriented faction like The Vision, loyalty isn't given—it’s taken.

To officially join the ranks of the most dangerous collective in WWE, Theory must trade his "fanboy" reputation for the soul of a killer. The task is simple yet monumental: defeat the legendary Rey Mysterio. The Vision doesn't just want a win; they want Theory to dismantle a Hall of Famer to prove he belongs among the elite.

Despite his "prospect" status, rumours suggest Theory is already bristling under the thumb of Bronson Reed, reportedly refusing to accept a "second fiddle" role.

Tonight, the stakes are binary: a victory secures his future as a protected asset of the most powerful group on Raw. A loss? He becomes an island, discarded by the faction and left at the mercy of the many enemies he made while wearing the mask.

The Vision to open the final Raw of 2025

The final Raw of 2025 opens with The Vision—the dominant collective of Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Logan Paul, all masterfully orchestrated by Paul Heyman. Since the group violently expelled their founder, Seth Rollins, they have operated with a cold, corporate-like efficiency.

Tonight, Heyman is expected to address the group's "expansion" and the role of their newest recruit.

With Bron Breakker set to challenge World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk on the January 5 episode (the one-year anniversary of the WWE’s Netflix debut), expect this opening segment to be a display of power meant to intimidate the entire locker room—and specifically the champion.

What is the change to WWE Friday Night SmackDown taking place from this week?

Those wanting a little bit more on a Friday night from the Blue brand will be pleased to know (especially if you’re a night owl) that from this week, WWE Friday Night SmackDown will be moving from two-hours to become a three-hour show.

Start times will remain at 1am until the clocks spring forward in 2026. For those who cannot stay up for that extra 60 minutes, Netflix will, as ever, have an on-demand repeat of the show shortly after its initial broadcast.

You have been warned.