Likely Reason For Special Best-Of Episode Of WWE RAW Next Week

WWE may not be holding a live RAW next week due to Christmas, but that doesn’t mean the company hasn’t anything in store for millions of viewers around the world.

As announced this past Monday, the December 26th edition of the red brand will be a recap of the year, titled “RAW: The Absolute Best of 2022.” That being said, WWE talent will still be on the road for live events.

Sean Sapp offered a likely explanation for WWE holding a best-of episode of RAW instead of a live show from behind Fightful’s paywall. According to the report, the decision was taken to give the production staff additional time off.

There won’t be a new WWE Raw on December 26 with a Best Of show airing, but talent will still be on the road working live events. Fightful had been inquiring about the status of the December 26 Raw since before the announcement, and spoke to some within the company following it. One talent indicated they hadn’t been told the reason and said that they were wondering themselves as to why, before updating and noted that it was likely to give production workers some additional time off. Another WWE source confirmed this, mentioning that when WWE does live events, it requires far less people and even sometimes entire departments won’t have to work those. WWE will not have had and television tapings from December 20 through December 28 on the main roster, giving that group an extended period off. One top talent also followed up with Fightful, noting that it’s probably a good move, even leading into John Cena’s in ring return in December 30 and the first Raw of the year on January 2. That talent also says while they wish they had a little more holiday time off, they’re reimbursed well to work December 26 and the week following.

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According to PWInsider, WWE will return to Madison Square Garden on the 26th for a house show. The main event of the show will feature a tag team match between Kevin Owens and Braun Strowman and The Usos.

Here’s the full lineup for the house show:

• Kevin Owens & Braun Strowman vs. The Usos
• GUNTHER (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Ricochet vs. Kofi Kingston vs. Santos Escobar – Ladder Match for the Intercontinental Championship
• Bray Wyatt, Liv Morgan, Karrion Kross, Scarlett, & Hit Row to appear

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