Veteran NFL writer and Pat McAfee Show correspondent Mark Kaboly makes his Raw predictions for the start of a new era of WWE programming with the first-ever show on Netflix tonight (7/8C) at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

John Cena’s Farewell Tour begins

It’s been six months since John Cena announced that 2025 would be his final year of in-ring action during his illustrious and guaranteed first-ballot WWE Hall of Fame career, and how could you imagine a new one? Usher in era of WWE programming on Netflix better than? with the Cenation Leader opening the show? This is not a prediction; It’s just a hope on my part. With Cena’s stated goal of working between 30 and 40 dates and already committed to the next three PLEs Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber and WrestleMania 41 in the next 15 weeks, the possibilities are endless for The Greatest of All Time. Cena has worked with most rosters throughout his career, but time flies. With only four weeks until the Royal Rumble, there’s no time to waste in getting this farewell tour underway. With Cena singing this year-long swan song (if anyone deserves it, it’s Cena), the logical first reaction would be, as with WWE’s debut on Netflix, a veteran who never did the part-time thing. Randy Orton would be the logical path, but it’s too early for that. The Miz is different. Call it a hunch, but WWE’s new face Cody Rhodes has to be part of the Netflix debut, right?

Prediction: Cena and Rhodes set up a match after Royal Rumble

Roman Reigns vs. Solo Sikoa – Tribal Battle

If this match doesn’t scream for The Rock to show up after the result, then I’m not sure what does. The People’s Champ’s last WWE appearance was three months ago at WWE Bad Blood and he didn’t seem happy about Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes and Jimmy Uso working together to defeat Solo Sikoas Bloodline. And then The OTC and Jimmy returned to the ring to help The American Nightmare, who was skipped by The Bloodline. With Reigns taking back the Ula Fala in a match where there is no outside interference and no disqualification, it should be brutal but still have a clear winner. With Reigns now in possession of the Ula Fala, The Rock could either want it for himself or even Juicer, he could be the one pulling the strings from afar with Sikoa’s bloodline.

Prediction: Reigns pins Sikoa, The Rock returns later

WWE Women’s Champion Liv Morgan vs. Rhea Ripley

2024 was the year of the “Liv Morgan Revenge Tour”. This is as undeniable as the fact that it is no longer 2024. Both Morgan and Ripley made it clear last week when both repeatedly said, “This has to end.” The only way this ends on Monday is if Ripley wins convincingly, but there’s definitely a door wide open for the shenanigans that allow the two to go their separate ways. Morgan and Ripley have been in a rivalry for around 20 months now. We will most likely see disruptions. You can rely on that, but from whom?

Prediction: Ripley defeats Morgan to regain the Women’s World Championship

CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins

CM Punk and Seth Rollins are embroiled in WWE’s most heated rivalry. Sure, their resumes precede them. But the reason “Punk vs. Rollins” generates so much intrigue, even though they only had one career singles match a dozen years ago, is because of their work on the microphone. Punk and Rollins dropped one of the best promos of the year on Raw last week, setting the stage for what would be the main event and best match of the night. The two gutted each other last week. They brought it all together in a match that spanned a year since Punk’s return and blurred the lines of the two’s external relationship. The promo made it clear why everyone despises each other. The slow burn is over. If there’s one match on the map that seems highly unlikely to be influenced by outside influence, this is it. Plus, there are hints that this won’t be their only game, and everyone would be okay with that.

Prediction: Punk pins Rollins

Jey Uso vs. Drew McIntyre

As McIntyre methodically makes his way through the entire OG bloodline on his way to becoming Roman Reigns, Jey Uso happens to be the latest obstacle in the Scottish psychopath’s path. McIntyre eliminated Uso backstage last month and took credit for it in passing. Uso and McIntyre are arguably the two hottest stars in the company at the moment and will provide an interesting contrast of styles in this matchup. With McIntyre solely focused on wiping out WWE of Reigns and his associates, who will stop him? I don’t expect a clear result. Otherwise, pretty much anything and everything is on the board.

Prediction: McIntyre pins Uso due to a distraction with help