‘WWE Raw’ Goes Full Upside Down in Wild ‘Stranger Things’ Crossover—and Women’s Wrestling Stole the Night
WWE Superstars and 'Stranger Things' fans joined forces at the Barclays Center for a night of title changes, chaos and Netflix-era history
WWE Raw has always thrived on spectacle—but this week, it got Stranger than ever.
Live from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, WWE rolled out a full-blown Stranger Things–themed episode of Monday Night Raw (stream the episode now!), celebrating two major Netflix milestones at once: the charter wrestling show’s one-year anniversary on the streaming giant and Stranger Things’ emotional December 31 series finale. The result felt less like a typical wrestling broadcast and more like a pop-culture fever dream where body slams met Demogorgons.
From the moment fans entered the arena, the vibes were unmistakable. Monsters lurked around Gorilla Position (aka backstage), Vecna-style vines crept toward the ring and announcers’ desk and the crowd leaned all the way in—decked out in ‘80s-inspired looks with WWE flair (picture Macho Man meets Eddie Munson). With three championships on the line and women’s wrestling taking center stage, the crossover delivered high stakes along with endless fun.
John Cena’s Words That Changed Everything for Chelsea Green (EXCLUSIVE)
“We aren’t in Hawkins anymore!”
The night kicked off in unforgettable fashion. Commentators Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomed viewers not from their usual desk, but from the iconic WSQK van, announcing, “We aren’t in Hawkins anymore,” as the Stranger Things theme echoed through the Barclays Center.
A Scoops Ahoy boat sat ominously near Gorilla Position, as if pulled straight from Starcourt Mall. Then came the moment that set social media ablaze: a Demogorgon bursting through the curtain, turning a routine walk-through area into the Upside Down.
And because no crossover is complete without a showstopping visual, Netflix’s Elle Duncan unveiled a Stranger Things-themed championship belt. It was bold, bizarre and unapologetically fun—and the result wasn’t just entertaining…it was electric.
Women’s wrestling dominates the Upside Down
If the theme was supernatural, the performances—especially from the women—were downright legendary.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
Kabuki Warriors (C) vs. Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY
Result: Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY win the titles
The night kicked off with fireworks as Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY entered to a roaring crowd and dethroned the Kabuki Warriors, capturing the Women’s Tag Team Championships.
Women’s Intercontinental Championship
Maxxine Dupri (C) vs. Becky Lynch
Result: Becky Lynch wins the title
Becky Lynch defeated Maxxine Dupri in a sneaky way to take back the title from the rookie and become 2x Women’s Intercontinental Champion.
Hellfire collides
Liv Morgan (w/ Roxanne Perez) vs. Lyra Valkyria (w/ Bayley)
Result: Liv Morgan wins
Chaos met control in this fan-favorite matchup, with Liv Morgan emerging victorious from her first singles bout after returning from injury.
Shocking moment
Stephanie Vaquer attacked by Raquel Rodriguez
In one of the night’s most alarming moments, WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer was attacked by Raquel Rodriguez, leaving Vaquer injured and sending shockwaves through the women’s division.
CM Punk Retains in a Main Event Showdown
WWE World Heavyweight Championship
CM Punk (C) vs. Bron Breakker
Result: CM Punk retains
In a clash of eras and a truly epic brawl, CM Punk defeated Bron Breakker to retain the World Heavyweight Championship‚ which, of course came with a bit of chicanery from the Vision (Bronson Reed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory), who were quickly chased away by the legendary Luchadores (Rey Mysterio, Penta and Dragon Lee).
Major moments beyond the titles
- Gunther addressed the WWE Universe—before getting clocked by AJ Styles, officially setting up their clash for next week’s Raw in Germany.
AJ Styles walking out to confront GuntherWWE - High-flyer Je’Von Evans made it official, signing with the Raw roster.
- Jey and Jimmy Uso came out to “Yeet” with the crowd and celebrate their newly won Men’s Division Tag Team Championships.
WWE Raw x Stranger Things: Why it worked
At their core, both WWE Raw and Stranger Things have always been about storytelling.
The story of women’s wrestling, of championships changing hands, of rivalries escalated. And the Upside Down didn’t distract from Raw—it amplified it.
With Stranger Things officially concluded (or is it?) and WWE Raw thriving in its Netflix era, the night became a love letter to fandom, proving that when storytelling leads the way, joy follows—and being a little strange is something worth celebrating.
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