Our WWE Raw results for tonight include Becky Lynch explaining her vicious attack on her partner and mentee, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria, former Women’s NXT Champion Roxanne Perez challenging Rhea Ripley, and Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker & Paul Heyman set to appear. Here’s our review and grades for tonight’s show, live from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
WWE Raw Card:
- Becky Lynch explains her actions
- Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez
- Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker & Paul Heyman set to appear
WWE Raw Results:
SmackDown GM Nick Aldis is shown entering the arena. Aldis will be covering for Raw GM Adam Pearce tonight.
They are Revolutionary…
Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman, and Bron Breakker all make their way to the ring. Breakker is wearing a suit, and Rollins is dressed like Virgil from “Devil May Cry.” Rollins welcomes the crowd to “Monday Night Rollins” and reminds them they are looking at the winner of the main event of WrestleMania. Rollins notes he knows it may be painful for the CM Punk and Roman Reigns fans right now. As the crowd boos, Rollins notes we are looking at the future of this industry. The future of this industry runs through Seth “Freakin” Rollins! Sami Zayn‘s music hits. Zayn says he had to come out here and tells Rollins, as a friend, that this is all a lot of crap. As much as Rollins talked about Reigns and Punk, the one thing that connected those two is standing over Rollins’ shoulder.
Rollins is perplexed. Zayn says Rollins is a hypocrite. This whole time, Zayn just thought Rollins was obsessed with Reigns and Punk, but now Zayn can see that Rollins was just jealous. Rollins tries to explain himself. Zayn and Rollins argue. Zayn threatens to kick Breakker’s face in if he keeps eyeballing him. Rollins tries to calm Breakker down and tells Zayn that he loves him, but Zayn is either with them or against them. No matter how much Rollins loves Zayn, this is bigger than their friendship. The Wiseman could make some calls and have Zayn moved off of Raw. This isn’t a threat; this is an offer. Rollins tells Zayn to think about it, but they will need an answer by the end of the night.
Grade: B+
This new group is about to take over Raw, and Sami Zayn is the perfect foil if they will slow-roll the issues with Punk and Reigns. Zayn has a history with Rollins, Breakke, and Heyman, so they can stretch this until SummerSlam before pivoting back to the meat of the matter. Breakker looks like a million bucks next to Rollins and Heyman. This writer is excited for the WrestleMania 43 main event of Jacob Fatu vs. Bron Breakker (it will happen).
Rhea Ripley vs. Roxanne Perez
Perez runs around the ring until she catches Ripley with a chop block. Ripley can’t get out of the gates. Perez is working over Ripley’s leg. Perez tries a dive and gets caught by Ripley. Ripley tosses Perez into the ring post. Perez trips Ripley and slams her leg into the ring post. Ripley blocks a head scissors into a Russian leg sweep with a lariat. Perez tries a crossbody off the top. Ripley catches Perez again and lifts her into a suplex. A dropkick from Ripley sends Perez flying out of the ring.
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After the break, Perez is working a Death Lock. Ripley struggles and eventually kicks Perez away. Ripley fires up and lands a flurry of offense. Razor’s Edge by Ripley. Basement dropkick by Ripley. Perez kicks out. Ripley is clutching at her injured leg. Giulia walks down to ringside. Small package by Perez. Ripley kicks out. Perez lands a rolling knee. Perez kicks out. Ripley sets up Riptide. Giulia rolls in the ring and chop blocks Ripley’s bad knee, causing a disqualification.
Winner- Rhea Ripley
After the match, Perez and Giulia beat down Ripley. Women’s World Champion IYO SKY makes the save.
Grade: B
This was a fun match. Ripley gave Perez a lot here, which was a welcome change, as so many people get called up and lose when they face anyone with a name. The fact that this match didn’t have a finish shows that some care is being given to Perez’s official (she got called up months ago, and they want us to forget it happened for reasons this writer doesn’t understand, but whatever) call-up.
Sigh… It’s Logan Paul
Paul gloats about beating AJ Styles and dumps on the crowd for being stupid. The crowd has no idea what a champion looks like. Paul says Jey Uso doesn’t look like a champion. Paul says Jey Uso should consider his days numbered because he has something Paul wants. World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso interrupts. Jey says, watching his twin get destroyed by Gunther lit a flame in him that isn’t going out. The championship is earned, not given. If Paul wants it, he can come take it, Yeet. Paul says… stuff. Jey superkicks Paul’s head off his shoulders.
Grade: A
Logan Paul got his head kicked off. Can we make the grade on this an AA+++?
The World Tag Team Champions, The New Day, are at the commentary desk for the next match.
Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh vs. The War Raiders
McDonagh and Bálor work over Ivar in the corner. Erik gets the tag and floors Bálor with a running knee. Ivar tosses Bálor into a knee from Erik. Erik and Ivar get distracted jawing with Kingston and Woods at ringside. Bálor and McDonagh try to attack from behind. Ivar and Erik land stereo slams and clear the ring. Ivar sets up his patented low crossbody against the LED board. Carlito pulls Bálor out of the way. Ivar crashes into the ring, seemingly moving it a few inches. After the break, The Judgement Day are taking turns working over Erik.
Erik manages to tag in Ivar. Ivar clears the ring. Ivar misses the Doomsault. McDonagh dives off Erik’s back to knock Ivar off the apron. Asai moonsault by McDonagh. McDonagh sends Ivar back into the ring and lands a moonsault. Ivar kicks out. Ivar takes out Bálor and McDonagh with a handspring double elbow. The fight spills out of the ring. Bálor gets tossed into the New Day at ringside. Ivar crashes into everyone outside the ring. Carlito distracts the referee as McDonagh goes up top. Penta appears and pushes McDonagh off the top. War Machine hits their finish for the win.
Winners- War Raiders
Grade: C+
This one was a bit messy but fun. McDonagh had his working boots on tonight, and he was flipping and bumping all over the place. The Raw tag team division is a mess (it’s non-existent beyond three teams). Fraxiom being sent to SmackDown makes no sense.
The Man Comes Around
Becky Lynch wants to get down to business. Bayley was taken out before her WrestleMania match. There is no need for an investigation or anything like that… Lynch gleefully admits to taking Bayley out. The crowd boos. Lynch yells at them not to boo her; Bayley has been attacking Lynch for years. Bayley deserved it. Bayley was on a podcast complaining about not being a bigger star; well, Bayley saw what a star looked like when Lynch walked to the ring at WrestleMania. That brings Lynch to Lyra Valkyria. Valkyria wouldn’t be in this business if it weren’t for Lynch.
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Valkyria had the nerve to team up with Lynch’s sworn enemy. The Women’s Intercontinental Champion interrupts and says she is going to make Lynch pay for what she did to Bayley and her. Lynch rolls out. Valkyria wants Lynch in the ring right now. Lynch only fights when she wants. Valkyria offers Lynch a title match at Backlash. Lynch agrees. Valkyria says she knows she’s a better wrestler than Lynch. Lynch goes nuts. Valkyria dropkicks Lynch through the ropes. Lynch escapes through the crowd. As Valkyria celebrates on the stage, Lynch attacks her from behind.
Grade: B-
You have to appreciate WWE not wasting our time with a murder mystery to find out who attacked Bayley. It was apparent it was Lynch, so it’s great that it is out of the way. Unhinged Lynch is probably the best version of her. With her natural attitude, Lynch has always worked better as a bad guy. Valkyria’s comeback here was rough to start, but she finished strong. This writer has never been a fan of Valkyria, especially on the mic, but she has shone as of late in the ring. Once this gets to the match at Backlash, this feud will have longer legs.
NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer vs. Ivy Nile w/Chad Gable
Nile lands a slam. Rolling prawn hold by Vaquer. Nile kicks out. Nile and Vaquer trade pinning combinations. Suplex by Vaquer. Vaquer sets up Devil’s Kiss. Nile reverses it into a butterfly hold. Vaquer counters that with Devil’s Kiss. After the break, Vaquer lands another Devil’s Kiss. Gable puts Nile’s foot on the bottom rope. Vaquer confronts Gable outside the ring. Nile surprises Vaquer with a German suplex out on the floor.
Nile goes up top. Vaquer cuts Nile off. After a struggle, Vaquer lands a superplex. Nile kicks at two. Vaquer and Nile trade strikes. After a series of reversals, Nile lands a spinning sidewalk slam. Nile gets caught up in the ropes. Vaquer lands a vicious dragon screw. Vaquer hits her finish for the win.
Winner- Stephanie Vaquer
Grade: B
Good match that may have overstayed its welcome a bit. Nile hasn’t had many matches this long on the main roster, and while it wasn’t offensive in any way, the NXT Women’s Champion should have put this one away in half the time. At the end of the day, who are they trying to highlight here? One would think it would be the champion on the other show that you brought to Raw to… you know… feature her.
Let’s Go!
Pat McAfee stands on the commentary desk and cuts a promo about standing up for the people who have your back. Michael Cole has McAfee’s back. McAfee’s family told him he shouldn’t have done that, but if he dies, he dies. McAfee calls out GM Aldis. McAfee asks Aldis to lift Gunther‘s suspension because he wants to fight Gunther. Aldis says no, but McAfee can have an official match against Gunther at Backlash. McAfee agrees.
Grade: A
This segment didn’t get an A because it was particularly good. No, this segment gets an A because it set up the literal murder of Pat McAfee on live television. The thought of Gunther chopping McAfee’s head off is more than worth the price of admission for Backlash.
The Decision
Seth Rollins stands in the ring and calls out Sami Zayn. Zayn joins Rollins in the ring. Rollins asks Zayn to hear him out and explains that he’s putting Rollins in a tough spot. Seth Rollins doesn’t want anything bad to happen to Zayn. Rollins makes a final impassioned plea to get Zayn to join him. When Zayn doesn’t budge, Rollins tells Zayn to take whatever deal Heyman offered him. Rollins begs Zayn to take the out. If Zayn doesn’t believe, Rollins doesn’t want to see anything bad happen to him. Zayn notes that he believes who Rollins is outside the ring, but in the ring, he thinks Rollins is playing games.
The crowd cheers. Zayn notes that Rollins is trying to manipulate him by offering him the one thing he has always wanted: the WWE Championship. Zayn says he will not be threatened. He will not run; he will become a world champion, and when he does, it won’t be because of a favor from someone else; it will be because he did it the right way. Zayn respects and loves Rollins, but he has to tell him to go to hell. Bron Breakker’s music hits. Breakker and Heyman walk to the ring.
Sami Zayn vs. Bron Breakker w/Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins
Breakker suplexes Zayn. Zayn lands an axhandle. Zayn dives off the top into a suplex from Breakker. Breakker works over Zayn. Zayn tries to fire up but ends up tripping on the apron. Breakker lands a diving clothesline off the apron that sends Zayn careening over the commentary desk. After the break, Zayn lands a sunset flip bomb. Breakker blocks the corner exploder. Rope walk DDT by Zayn. Breakker kicks out at two. Zayn goes up top. Breakker cuts him off with the Breakinsteiner. Breakker calls for the Spear.
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Zayn counters with an exploder in the corner. Zayn calls for the Helluva Kick. Breakker counters with a Spear. Breakker glares at Rollins. Rollins nods. Breakker hits a Super Spear. Zayn writhes in pain. Rollins tells Zayn to take the deal. Zayn tells Rollins to go to hell. Breakker lands another Super Spear. Rollins rolls out of the ring. Officials and the medical staff check on Zayn. Breakker rolls out and hits a Super Spear out on the floor. Breakker tosses Zayn back into the ring. The referee covers Zayn and calls for the bell.
Winner- Bron Breakker
After the match, Rollins screams at Breakker about Zayn making his bed and having to lie in it. Rollins crushes Zayn with the Stomp.
Grade: B
Solid match. Breakker looked like a killer and that was the point. So, mission accomplished there. Having Logan Paul take out Jey Uso minutes before this made it believable that no one was able to make the save as Zayn was getting destroyed. This whole thing seems to be morphing into a vehicle to turn Breakker into a main event. Can’t be mad at that.
WWE Raw Review:
Overall, this week’s episode of WWE Raw featured a strong night of storytelling, setting the table nicely for Backlash while elevating essential players. The show opened with a fantastic in-ring promo featuring Seth Rollins, Paul Heyman, Bron Breakker, and Sami Zayn that planted the seeds for a long, juicy storyline. There were several quality matches (all the best-featured women- Ripley vs. Perez and Vaquer vs. Nile), but tonight’s highlight was the promo work. Between seeing Logan Paul get his head kicked off (we’ll ignore him getting revenge later in the show; it never happened) and Pat McAfee signing his death warrant by challenging Gunther. What do you think will happen next week? Let us know in the comments!
Rating: B
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