This week’s episode of WWE RAW aired live from the Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tennessee. Bianca Belair defended the RAW Women’s Championship in front of her hometown crowd against Sonya Deville. Becky Lynch made her first appearance on the red brand since dropping the title to Belair at WrestleMania 38. Randy Orton celebrated 20 years in WWE during tonight’s show as well.
RAW Results
- Bianca Belair def. Sonya Deville to retain the RAW Women’s Championship
- Veer Mahaan def. Sam Smothers
- Lashley def. Omos in an arm-wrestling contest
- Akira Tozawa & Tamina def. Reggie & Dana Brooke
- Damian Priest def. Finn Balor
- Mustafa Ali def. The Miz
- RK-Bro, Cody Rhodes, Ezekiel def. The Usos, Seth Rollins, Kevin Owens
Here are the takeaways from this week’s show:
Orton Celebration, 8-Man Tag Team Match Announced For Tonight
RAW Tag Team Champion Riddle was in the ring to begin the show and rolled highlights of Randy Orton’s WWE career. Riddle introduced Orton and he said it has been a hell of a journey with a lot of ups and downs. Orton added that he hopes the crowd isn’t getting sick of him because he’s not going anywhere for a long time. Randy brought up Triple H, Undertaker, Shawn Michaels, and added that it is because of Mick Foley that he’s even here right now.
Randy claimed that he’s having more fun than he’s ever had in his career, told Riddle he loved him and RK-Bro shared a hug. The crowd broke out in a loud “RK-Bro!” chant and Orton thanked the crowd for their support over the years. Riddle then introduced Cody Rhodes and he made his way to the ring.
Cody Rhodes shared a hug with Orton and Seth Rollins showed up in an absurd green jumpsuit. Rollins circled behind the rest of the superstars surrounding the ring while shouting that that Orton shouldn’t trust Orton. Seth added that Cody was trying to steal the spotlight and not everything is about Cody.
Rollins told Orton that his best years are behind him and that he is not the present or the future of WWE. Seth claimed that the next generation of superstars are not going to be inspired by a Viper, a bro, or a nightmare, they will be inspired by a visionary. Ezekiel interrupted and got in the ring.
Ezekiel said he was Elias’ younger brother and shook Orton’s hand. Ezekiel complimented Orton for dominating as the legend killer. Kevin Owens entered through the crowd and shouted that Ezekiel is lying and he is Elias. Owens got in the ring and called Ezekiel a disgusting piece of trash. Owens rambled that he’s the only one that is still sane around here.
SmackDown Tag Team Champions The Usos joined the party and vowed to win the Tag Team Championship Winner’s Take all match at WrestleMania Backlash. Adam Pearce interrupted and announced that Owens, Rollins, The Usos will face RK-Bro, Ezekiel, and Cody Rhodes in the main event in an 8-man tag team match. A brawl broke out with the faces clearing the ring to end the opening segment.
Bianca Belair Retained The RAW Women’s Championship
Bianca Belair defended the RAW Women’s Championship against Sonya Deville in the first match of the night. Kane gave Belair some words of encouragement backstage before the match. Sonya Deville made her entrance during the commercial break.
Belair connected with a shoulder tackle and Sonya rolled out of the ring. Deville dragged Bianca out of the ring and bounced her face off the ring apron. Belair responded by launching Deville over the announce table and posed in the ring. Deville lost the match via count out but demanded that the match be restarted. Belair attacked and sent Deville into the timekeeper’s area. Deville then bashed Bianca with the chair and restarted the match again with No DQ.
Deville waved Carmella and Queen Zelina down to the ring as RAW went to a break. The three superstars had Belair trapped in the corner when RAW returned. Deville planted Bianca with a DDT on top of a chair for a two count. Zelina set up a chair in the corner but Belair end Sonya flying into it. Belair booted Carmella and Vega off the apron before planting Deville with the KOD for the pinfall victory. Bianca Belair is still the RAW Women’s Champion. Deville slapped Vega and Carmella backstage after the match.
Edge & Damian Priest Warned AJ Styles & Finn Balor
Edge cut a promo from his black throne with Damian Priest standing behind him. Edge said that they look down on everyone from their mountain of omnipitence and are better than everyone. Edge poked fun at the crowd for supporting the local teams and Kane as mayor. He turned his attention to AJ Styles and noted that he didn’t hit his Phenomenal Forearm at WrestleMania. Edge claimed that the attack last week was because he doesn’t believe he can hit the move with one arm and said that Styles should stay home with his family instead of facing him at WrestleMania Backlash. Damian Priest closed the promo by saying that Finn Balor’s judgement day has arrived.
Veer Mahaan Dominated
Veer Mahaan marched down to the ring as RAW went to a commercial break. Mahaan faced “Sam Smothers” tonight and hit him with a big boot. Mahaan followed it up with a Splash in the corner, a Clothesline and the Camel Clutch for the submission victory. Veer beat Smothers down some more after the match and slammed him on top of the announce table. Mahaan then locked in the submission hold again on the table until WWE officials broke it up.
Omos Attacked Lashley After Losing The Arm-Wrestling Contest
Omos faced Bobby Lashley in an arm-wrestling competition tonight. MVP accompanied Omos to the ring. MVP said that Lashley’s ego made him believe that it was okay to go to WrestleMania without him. MVP claimed that Omos is a superior athlete and it was foolish of Bobby to accept this challenge for an arm-wrestling contest. He called the crowd “simpletons” for relentlessly chanting “what?!” before Lashley interrupted.
The All Mighty came to the ring to a great reaction from the crowd. Omos got the advantage early in the contest as MVP mocked Lashley on the microphone. Lashley got angry and wound up winning the arm-wrestling contest. Omos attacked Lashley and smashed the table into his midsection.
Tozawa & Tamina Picked Up A Win
Akira Tozawa & Tamina faced Reggie & 24/7 Champion Dana Brooke. Tozawa and Reggie started off the action. Tozawa got in some offense and kept trying to impress Tamina. Tozawa hit a Splash for the pinfall victrory. After the match, special referee R-Truth tried to roll up Dana but she kicked out at retained the 24/7 Championship.
Asuka Returned & Interrupted Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch returned and angrily walked to the ring as RAW went to a commercail break.
Lynch stood silently for a bit before saying it has been three years since she walked down the ramp without her title. Becky claimed that she has grown so accustomed to looking into the mirror and seing a champion that she doesn’t recognize herself anymore. Becky claimed that she has hit rock bottom but got excited and said “that means there is nowhere else to go but up”.
Becky said she is going to shoot into heights unknown and made “pew pew” sound effects into the microphone. Lynch had a crazed look in her eye as she said she will become champion again and nobody will be able to stop her. Asuka’s music hit and The Empress of Tomorrow returned to a great pop from the crowd.
Asuka grabbed a microphone and danced around the ring a bit as the crowd chanted her name. Asuka said “I will stop you because no one is ready for Asuka”. Asuka gave Becky a nose poke and laughed. Lynch got annoyed went to attack but Asuka was ready. Becky quickly retreated out of the ring to end the segment.
Damian Priest def. Finn Balor
Damian Priest faced Finn Balor tonight. Edge watched the match from his throne on the entrance ramp. Priest sent Balor to the corner and unloaded some strikes. Balor battled back and knocked Damian to the outside. Damian hit a Razor’s Edge onto the ring apron as RAW went to a break. When RAW returned, Damian Priest continued to dominate and hit the Reckoning for the pinfall victory as Edge looked on. Priest kneeled before Edge and then posed in front of him after the match.
Ciampa Attacked Mustafa Ali
The Miz welcomed United States Champion Theory as his guest on Miz TV to begin the final hour of this week’s RAW. The crowd gave Theory the “what?” treatment and he told them to shut up. Theory complimented Miz on his accomplishments and vowed to prove that he’s the best investment that Mr. McMahon has ever made.
The crowd booed and Miz demanded that they show Theory respect. Theory claimed that he was going to take the US Championship to new heights and he’s going to be remembered as THE United States Champion. Miz stated that everyone in the locker room is a parasite and that nobody can just come to the ring and demand a title match.
Mustafa Ali returned to RAW and made his way to the ring. The crowd chanted “welcome back!” and Miz joked “do you still work here?”. Theory added “aren’t you the guy that took his ball and went home?”. The Miz joked that he’s Mufasa, Mustafa Ali’s younger brother. Ali said that all he needs to do is watch Miz wrestle if he wants to laugh.
Ali said he was hoping that Theory would issue an Open Challenge so that he could answer it. Theory declined and Ali called him “all biceps and no balls”. Ali added that he’s running away like The Miz and Theory said that Miz doesn’t run away from a fight. Miz responded that he doesn’t have a magic want to make matches and Theory interrupted. Theory said he just got a text from Adam Pearce and Miz is facing Mustafa Ali next.
The Miz controlled the action early and got Ali in a Headlock in the middle of the ring. Mustafa escaped but Miz caught him with a boot to the face. Miz went back to the Headlock as the crowd got behind Ali. Mustafa battled to his feet and broke the hold with some chops to Miz’s chest. Miz caught Ali with a knee to the midsection and followed it up with a kick to the face for a two count.
Miz sent Ali into the turnbuckle and unloaded some punches to the face. The Miz followed it up with some It Kicks but Ali kept getting back up. Miz missed with a kick and Ali caught him with a roundhouse kick of his own. Ali connected with a Dropkick and then a Neckbreaker for a near fall. Miz responded with a DDT and went for the cover but Ali was able to kick out at two and the match continued.
Ali perched Miz up on the top turnbuckle and joined him up there. Miz shoved him down and hit a Dropkick to the knee. Miz went for the Figure Four but Ali countered into a roll-up for the pinfall victory. After the match, Ciampa attacked Ali on the entrance ramp.
RK-Bro, Ezekiel, and Cody Rhodes Picked Up A Win
Rhea Ripley was set to be interviewed backstage but Liv Morgan attacked her and WWE officials quickly broke it up.
The Usos, Kevin Owens, and Seth Rollins then battled RK-Bro, Ezekiel, and Cody Rhodes in an 8-man tag team match. Cody Rhodes made his entrance as RAW went to a break. Before the match, The Usos told Owens & Rollins that they better get the win or the Tribal Chief will be angry.
Ezekiel went right after Owens to start off the match. Rhodes, Ezekiel, and RK-Bro knocked Owens, Rollins, and The Usos out of the ring as RAW went to another break. Jimmy Uso and Ezekiel started off the action. Ezekiel took control and tagged Riddle in. Riddle unloaded a boot to the chest and tagged in Orton.
Riddle used Orton as a springboard for a Floating Bro and Orton followed it up with some stomps to Jimmy. Cody Rhodes tagged in and beat Jimmy down in the corner. Rhodes stomped Jimmy down to the mat and then planted him with a Suplex. Rollins got in the ring for a cheap shot but Cody shrugged it off.
Jey Uso tagged in and planted Cody with a Samoan Drop. Jey trapped Cody in the corner for a bit and tagged in Jimmy. The Usos choked Cody against the ropes until the referee broke it up. Kevin Owens got in a cheap shot while the referee was distracted and The Usos kept Cody trapped in the corner.
Seth Rollins asked for a tag and went for a Splash but Cody got out of the way. Cody started crawling towards the corner but Rollins booted Randy Orton off the apron. Ezekiel got the tag and hit Rollins with a big Spinebuster for a two count. Ezekiel shouted “who wants to hear Zeke speak?!” and Owens responded “nobody wants to hear you speak. you are in the ring”. Riddle tagged in and elbowed Seth in the face and climbed to the top rope. Uso tripped Riddle up and Rollins capitalized with a reverse Superplex as RAW went to the final commercial break of the night.
When RAW returned, Riddle was trapped in the ring as The Usos took turns beating him down. Riddle hit Jimmy Uso with the Ripcord Knee and both superstars fell to the mat. Seth dragged Orton off the apron and Riddle had nobody to tag. Kevin Owens tagged in and connected with a Senton on Riddle for a near fall.
Jey hit an Enziguri and Riddle stumbled to the corner. Randy Orton tagged in and connected with a couple Powerslams. Randy bashed Seth and Kevin Owens off the apron before slamming Jey on top of the announce table. Orton did the same to Rollins and then to Owens.
Back in the ring, Orton hit the draping DDT as Corey Graves said “vintage Orton!”. Randy set up for the RKO but Rollins broke it up. Cody booted Rollins in the face and Orton followed it up with an RKO. Owens hit Cody with a Superkick but turned around into an RKO from Orton. Randy delivered another RKO to both Usos for the pinfall victory.
