WWE is throwing a lot at the July 6, 2026 episode of Monday Night RAW, but it may not matter once the numbers come in. The company has a world title match, multiple championships on the line, Seth Rollins opening the show, and a possible CM Punk factor in play. Still, RAW is going head-to-head with the World Cup, and that is the kind of competition that can make even a loaded wrestling show look small.
The biggest hook of the night is Sami Zayn defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes. Cody earned the shot after beating Jey Uso on SmackDown, and now WWE is putting that match on RAW while Sami’s title reign is still fresh. That match should be enough to get attention on a normal Monday. This is not a normal Monday.
The World Cup is a different beast. NFL games can hammer WWE in the United States, but the World Cup pulls people everywhere. That means RAW is not just fighting another TV show. It is fighting one of the biggest sports events on the planet.
That puts WWE in a tough spot. RAW already had a rough number last week, and this week’s competition is much stronger. Even with Sami Zayn vs. Cody Rhodes on the card, the show could be staring down one of its weakest numbers ever.
WWE is clearly trying to give fans reasons to watch live. Oba Femi is set to address his decision to give up his World Title shot at SummerSlam so he can face Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell. That is a major angle, and WWE will likely use RAW to push Oba as someone who wants Brock more than he wants gold.
The Women’s Intercontinental Championship will also be defended, with Sol Ruca putting the title on the line against Raquel Rodriguez. Raquel earned the shot after beating Maxxine Dupri, and now she has a chance to take the title on a night where WWE needs every hook it can get.
Seth Rollins is also scheduled to kick off RAW. With Roman Reigns waiting for him at SummerSlam, Rollins opening the show gives WWE another major name in the first segment. The Street Profits will also defend the WWE World Tag Team Championships against Bron Breakker and Austin Theory. That is a strong card. The problem is that strong may not be enough.
If CM Punk returns, that could help RAW avoid getting completely smoked. The strange part is that this does not feel like one of those massive Punk return weeks where the whole wrestling world is locked in. WWE may be counting on Punk, Cody, Sami, Rollins, and title matches to carry the night, but the World Cup may still be too much.
RAW airs live from the Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois, starting at 8 PM ET on Netflix. Ringside News will have live play-by-play coverage of the entire show in our WWE Monday Night RAW coverage hub.
WWE has a lot planned for RAW, but this may end up being one of those nights where the lineup is not the story. If the number tanks, the World Cup will probably be the easy answer, because even a stacked WWE show can get buried when the entire sports world is looking somewhere else.
Do you think WWE RAW can survive the World Cup competition, or is the show heading for a brutal number no matter what WWE has booked? Sound off in the comments and let us know what you think.
