WWE returns to Columbus, Ohio tonight for WWE RAW at the Schottenstein Center. Nearly 8,000 fans will be in attendance as WWE looks ahead to the 2024 Draft later this week, as well as WWE Backlash: France on Saturday, May 4. Here’s a quick preview, followed by our detailed breakdown of what to look forward to:
Matches:
- Awesome Truth (c) vs. DIY for the World Tag Team Championships
- Battle Royal to determine the new WWE Women’s World Champion
- Andrade & Ricochet vs. Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh
Segments:
- Gunther returns
World Tag Team Championships: Awesome Truth (c) vs. DIY
One week after trading in their WWE Raw Tag Team Championships for the newly crafted World Tag Team Championships, The Miz and R-Truth, collectively known as Awesome Truth, are now tasked with defending the titles against Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa (DIY). Gargano and Ciampa earned this title shot after defeating The New Day and Creed Brothers in a triple threat number one contenders match on last week’s episode of WWE Raw.
For The Miz and R-Truth, tonight will mark their first title defense since claiming tag team gold at WrestleMania 40. For Ciampa and Gargano, tonight marks another chance to secure their first set of tag team gold on WWE’s main roster. The duo previously held the NXT Tag Team Championships from late 2016 until early 2017.
WWE Women’s World Championship Battle Royal
Fueled by her desire for revenge, Liv Morgan brutally attacked Rhea Ripley at the Wells Fargo Center two weeks ago. Unfortunately for Ripley, that attack proved to not only be rather brutal, but ultimately detrimental to her WWE Women’s World Championship reign.
During the opening segment of last week’s Raw, Ripley revealed the unfortunate news that she had sustained an injury from Morgan’s attack, and as a result, she was forced to vacate her title. Reports later indicated that Ripley suffered an injury to her AC joint after crashing into a wall at the Wells Fargo Center.
With Ripley expected to be out of action for several months, WWE will now crown a new WWE Women’s World Champion tonight via a battle royal. While WWE has yet to formally announce the complete field of competitors for the battle royal, a promotional video clip for the match included the following faces:
Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Maxxine Dupri, Chelsea Green, Natalya, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Indi Hartwell, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler, Tegan Nox, Piper Niven, Ivy Nile, and Candice LeRae.
Gunther Returns
WWE fans last saw “The Ring General” Gunther on night one of WrestleMania 40, where his history-making Intercontinental Championship reign was dramatically ended by Sami Zayn. Following his loss to Zayn, Gunther will return to WWE television, likely looking for retribution.
Meanwhile, newly-crowned Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn looks to bounce back from a stunning betrayal at the hands of Chad Gable last week.
Andrade & Ricochet vs. Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh
Last week, Andrade defeated Dominik Mysterio in singles action. Before Andrade could celebrate this victory, Mysterio and his Judgment Day stablemate JD McDonagh ambushed him. Luckily for Andrade, Ricochet rushed down to even the odds, forcing Mysterio and McDonagh to retreat. Now, the pairs will meet in tag team action on tonight’s episode of Raw.
