WWE RAW Live Coverage - April 22nd, 2024

[Kemo]

New Women's World Champion will be crowned in a special Battle Royal on Raw

After the stunning announcement by Rhea Ripley that she must vacate the Women's World Championship due to injury, a new champion will now be crowned live in a special Battle Royal on Monday Night Raw. With the WWE Draft right around the corner, which Superstar will step up and etch their name into the record books by winning the Women's World Title in the total free-for-all?

We have a developing story: Michael Cole and Pat McAfee are in the ring. Cole talks about how Rhea Ripley had to vacate her Women’s World Championship due to injury. McAfee says for only the fourth time ever, a Battle Royal will determine a new World Champion. The last woman standing will be the brand new Women’s World Champion.

Video:
After an attack on the Raw after WrestleMania, Rhea Ripley announced a week later that she would have to vacate the Women’s World Championship due to injury. Ripley said when she returns, she’s coming for blood.

Liv Morgan, who injured Ripley, was shown entering the arena earlier today. “The Man” Becky Lynch will also make her first appearance since her WrestleMania 40 loss to Ripley.

“Main Event” Jey Uso, the #1 Contender for Damian Priest’s World Heavyweight Championship, makes his way to the ring. That title match will take place one week from Saturday at Backlash France. Jey says, “‘Main Event’ Jey Uso is now in your city!” Backlash is in two weeks (YEET), so he has a lot to prove (YEET). He’ll prove to the world who he says he is: “Main Event” Jey Uso. Oh, yes, YEET. Jey says he has to beat Damian Priest to make sure everything he went through was worth it.

World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest makes his way to the ring. Priest gets into the ring, and Jey is pacing. Priest says Jey is thinking the wrong thing. Priest congratulates him on the vibe of his gimmick. It’s working. They went to war last year, but Priest wants to talk about one specific night. Priest has never talked about this publicly, but there was one night that Jey Uso whooped his ass so badly that he went up to him in the locker room and told Jey to his face that he earned all his respect. That’s why Priest wanted him in the Judgment Day. Then he told Jey they were going out, and drinks were on him. Priest says he knew he paid the bill (Jey mentions that he took an Uber), but Jey said something to him that he’s very proud of. Jey said, “We next, Uce.” Priest is proud to stand here with Jey and say he was right. Priest then corrects himself by saying that Jey was half right. Only Priest was next. This title shows why Priest was next. This title shows why Priest is now. Jey is just first on a list of people the machine will feed Priest to make sure the title looks good on him. Jey will be the first to fall, but he can be the first to lead the people across the world to make sure all rise for el campeón.

Priest goes to leave, but Jey calls him back. Jey asks if that’s all he sees him as — just another tag team guy? Tough talk coming from the leader of the Judgment Day. The only reason Priest is the leader of the Judgment Day is because Rhea Ripley got hurt. Jey tells Priest to give Ripley his best. That makes Priest “Dom Mysterio’s bitch.” Priest is furious. Jey says Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania and made himself World Heavyweight Champion. Priest thinks Jey is being fed to him, but it’s the other way around. The crowd loudly says, “YEET!” They go face-to-face in the ring.

JD McDonagh runs into the ring to blindside Jey. Jey tries to avoid him, but McDonagh collides with him anyway. Jey goes to hit McDonagh with a superkick, but McDonagh sidesteps it, causing Priest to be hit with it instead. Jey taunts them and leaves the ring. An irate Priest gets to his feet and stares angrily at McDonagh.


We’ll hear from Chad Gable about his vicious attack on Sami Zayn later tonight. Gunther will also make his first appearance since the end of his record-breaking Intercontinental Championship run.

DIY make their way to the ring. They’ll face Awesome Truth for the World Tag Team Championship next.

We go to commercial.

Tournaments for King and Queen of the Ring start next month. The new King and Queen of the Ring will be crowned on Saturday, May 25, from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
World Tag Team Championship


RAW Tag Team Championship
Awesome Truth (R-Truth and The Miz) (c) vs. DIY (Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano)

Johnny Gargano will start the match against R-Truth. R-Truth gets the crowd clapping and does a dance. They lock up, and R-Truth wrenches the arm. Gargano twists to reverse the pressure and wrenches R-Truth’s arm. R-Truth rolls around the reverse the pressure and connects with an arm drag. R-Truth keeps the armbar applied. Gargano fights to his feet and counters out with an arm drag. R-Truth quickly takes him down before jumping over a takedown and doing a leaping split. Gargano looks impressed and shakes hands with R-Truth.

They lock up again, and Garagno applies a side headlock. R-Truth backs him into the ropes, and Miz tags in. Miz and R-Truth hit Gargano with a double-team hip toss, followed by a double-team elbow drop for a one-count. Miz sends Gargano to the corner and charges, but Gargano avoids and rolls him up. Gargano goes for a kick, but Miz blocks it and goes for a Figure Four Leglock. Gargano kicks him away and tags in Tommaso Ciampa. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Ciampa elbows him in the mouth. Ciampa sidesteps a big boot, and they exchange blows. Miz and Ciampa counter each other before Miz applies a Figure Four Leglock. Gargano breaks it up with a basement dropkick. R-Truth runs in, but Gargano sends him out of the ring. Miz hits Gargano and sends him to the apron. Ciampa rolls Miz up for a two-count. Gargano tags in and hits a slingshot spear. Ciampa’s left knee appears to be giving him some trouble. Gargano looks concerned. Gargano then hits Miz with a plancha. #DIY sits on the apron and pats themselves on the back.

We go to commercial.

We return from the break to see R-Truth hit Ciampa with a sit-out front suplex. Miz tags in and runs over Ciampa with a pair of clotheslines. Miz kicks Ciampa to the corner and kicks away at the chest. Miz backs up and hits his patented corner clothesline. Miz gets on the apron, kicks Gargano, and delivers a DDT on the apron. Miz shoulders Ciampa and springboards off the top rope into a knee out of midair from Ciampa. Ciampa covers 1… 2… Miz kicks out. That was all one continuous camera shot. Miz crawls to his corner and kicks Ciampa away.

R-Truth tags in, and he clotheslines Ciampa and then Gargano. R-Truth hits Ciampa with a pair of running shoulder tackles. R-Truth connects with a back suplex powerbomb a la his childhood hero, John Cena. R-Truth goes for a 5 Knuckle Shuffle, but Gargano superkicks him down. Ciampa tells R-Truth to “suck it” and hits a Pedigree! Ciampa covers 1… 2… R-Truth kicks out! #DIY cannot believe it. Ciampa knees Miz in the face to knock him off the apron. Gargano follows up with a suicide dive on Miz. R-Truth then rolls Ciampa up for a two-count. R-Truth kicks Ciampa and goes for a Scissor Kick, but Ciampa avoids it. Ciampa knees R-Truth in the face. Gargano tags in. #DIY hits Meet in the Middle! 1… 2… Miz pulls Gargano out of the ring to break up the cover.

Ciampa angrily charges Miz at ringside, but Miz drops him over the barricade. Miz tags in and avoids a Gargano Escape takedown. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale, but Gargano counters into a roll-up for a near fall. Miz then pops up. Awesome Truth hits a Truth Crushing Finale (Skull Crushing Finale/What’s Up) for the win.

Winners: Awesome Truth (retain championship)

After the match:
The Awesome Truth stands tall in the ring and shakes hands with Johnny Gargano. They want to shake hands with Tommaso Ciampa, but he angrily walks off.


The Judgment Day Clubhouse
World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest is backstage with JD McDonagh. Priest is angry because he never asked for his help. Tonight, it caused him to get kicked in the face. “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio, with his left arm in a sling, walks in with Santos Escobar. Mysterio says he got banged up, so he asked Escobar to return the favor from WrestleMania. It has been cleared. Escobar asks if they have a problem. Priest says he clearly does, but they have no choice. Priest tells Mysterio to go out there and handle his business. Priest then tells McDonagh to stay out of his business.

Backstage:
Gunther is walking backstage with his Imperium stablemates Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. We’ll hear from Gunther for the first time since the end of his record-breaking Intercontinental Championship run next.

We go to commercial.

The UFC Apex will hold NXT Battleground on June 9.

Gunther addresses his WrestleMania 40 loss
Gunther, whose 666-day Intercontinental Championship reign, the all-time record, ended at WrestleMania 40, makes his way to the ring with his Imperium stablemates, Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. They get in the ring, and Vinci hands Gunther the microphone. Gunther says he knows they expect him to talk about WrestleMania and take shots at Sami Zayn, but he won’t do that. Gunther took some time away to digest what happened and wants to say this. For 666 days, he elevated the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship to heights never seen before. In that process, he became the greatest champion in its illustrious history. His name, “The Ring General” Gunther, will forever be embedded in the history of the Intercontinental Championship. The crowd gives him a nice ovation.

However, that also means that for almost two years, he was walking around here with a big target on his back, with the pressure of living up to everyone’s and his own expectations. That weight has been lifted off his shoulders. Gunther thanks Sami Zayn. Now, he’s not a target anymore. Gunther has gone from being the hunted to the hunter. Gunther can do whatever he wants. This is a brand new era. No matter which brand he’s drafted to, he’ll make sure his name is embedded in the new era. Gunther officially declares his participation in the King of the Ring Tournament. After that, it’s up to him to decide which championship to take next. Whether it’s Sami Zayn and his Intercontinental Championship or any other title in WWE. As a champion in WWE, you will be targeted and hunted by a challenger who cannot only take titles but can hold them longer than anyone. He’s already the general of the ring and will soon be King of the Ring.

The New Day’s music hits. Xavier Woods wants to sound the alarm. Kofi Kingston says that Gunther is correct… it is a new era. The New Day is the best way to usher in that new era. Woods mentions that he is the current King of the Ring. The New Day gets in the ring. Woods says Gunther is a usurper for his throne and a pretender. Woods will cement his legacy by becoming a two-time King of the Ring.

Gunther says he will re-establish the King of the Ring Tournament, while Woods will be remembered as a man who won it by accident and pretended to be a champion. Woods then mentions that Gunther isn’t a champion. The New Day goes back and forth, asking where his gold is at. Gunther says this is beneath him and tells Kaiser and Vinci to handle this. Woods is not happy because they’ve faced them so much already, but if Gunther wants them to BTC (beat those cheeks), they’ll oblige because New Day rocks.

We go to commercial.

Bacjktage:
Piper Niven and Chelsea Green were shown entering the arena earlier today. Nia Jax is also in the building.

Tonight, we’ll have a Battle Royal to determine the new Women’s World Champion.

Gunther is seated at ringside by commentary for this match.
Tag Team Match


Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)

Kofi Kingston will start against Ludwig Kaiser. Kaiser whips Kingston into the ropes, but Kingston counters with a monkey flip, followed by a dropkick. Kingston pulls him up, but Kaiser powers him into his corner. Kaiser takes Kingston down for a one-count. Giovanni Vinci tags in and punches away at Kingston. Kingston fights back and tags in Xavier Woods. Woods hits a double ax handle to Vinci’s shoulder. Kingston tags in and hits a springboard cross-body block for a two-count. Kingston sends Vinci into the ropes, but he holds on and boots Kingston. Kaiser tags in, and they hang Kingston in the tree of woe. Imperium sandwiches Kingston with stereo dropkicks. Kaiser saunters around before Kingston hits him with a jawbreaker. Vinci tags in, and Kingston sends Kaiser over the top rope. Vincii grabs Kingston, and Imperium hits High/Low. Vinci knocks Woods off the apron and covers Kingston for a two-count.

We go to commercial break.

We return from the break to see Kaiser standing over Kingston. Kingston punches back at Kaiser and goes for a tag, but Kaiser holds him back. Kaiser sends Kingston to the corner, but he springboards off the second rope with a takedown.

Woods and Vinci tag in. Woods hits a pair of clotheslines before sending him into the ropes for a side kick. Woods hits the ropes and counters out of a takedown with a vertical suplex. Woods knocks Kaiser off the apron and drops Vinci into the middle rope. Woods splashes Vinci on the ropes before sliding to ringside to take Kaiser down. Woods then hits Vinci with a slingshot tornado DDT for a near fall. Woods chops the chest and tags Kingston in. Vinci kicks Woods away and turns Kingston inside out with a clothesline for a two-count. Kaiser tags in. Imperium goes for an Imperium Bomb, but Woods knocks Kaiser off the top into Vinci. Kingston hits Vinci with a hurricanrana. Kingston clotheslines Kaiser over the top rope. Woods then wipes Kaiser out with a diving clothesline off the apron. Woods tags in, and The New Day hits a backbreaker/diving double stomp combo for the win.

Winners: The New Day

After the match:
Gunther is irate and throws the chair he was sitting in to the side. Gunther coldly stares at Kaiser, who looks disgusted by what just happened, and walks off. Kaiser gets in the ring and checks on Vinci. Gunther shakes his head and walks off.

Kaiser helps Vinci up and embraces him. Kaiser helps Vinci out of the ring before shoving him into the LED apron. Kaiser then hits Vinci in the chest with a running kick. Kaiser drives Vinci headfirst into the ring post. Kaiser shouts in German at him and kicks him in the ribs. Kaiser presses him against the commentary table and chops him. Kaiser then whips him hard into the steel steps. Kaiser then grabs Vinci and puts him on the steel steps. WWE officials and referees run down to stop Kaiser. They back Kaiser away, but Kaiser breaks away and runs around ringside to dropkick Vinci’s head into the steel steps! Vinci is completely out. Kaiser then walks off on his former partner.

Kaiser goes through the curtain into the Gorilla Position. Gunther is waiting for him. Kaiser says, “I told you I would get it done.” Gunther smiles at him.


Backstage:
Drew McIntyre is walking backstage. We’ll hear from him next.

We go to commercial.

Video:
Andrade says he is many things, but the one thing he’s not is someone’s fool. Replays show Andrade turning on the Judgment Day to stand with Rey Mysterio. Andrade says they were never loyal from the beginning and didn’t want to do business with him in WWE. They wanted a servant. Nobody tells Andrade what to do. Andrade is now their biggest problem.

Later tonight, Andrade and Ricochet will team up to take on Santos Escobar and JD McDonagh.

WWE puts on their extreme success with their European Tour over this past week.

In-Ring Drew McIntyre talks about what’s next for him
Drew McIntyre makes his way to the ring. He stands in the center of the ring, and the crowd chants, “CM Punk.” McIntyre sits cross-legged in the middle, a la CM Punk. McIntyre warns the cameraman not to shoot up his kilt. McIntyre wants to know why they continue to chant CM Punk’s name whenever he’s out here. The amount of evidence through the years proves CM Punk hates the fans. The only person CM Punk hates more than the fans is himself. Have you ever loved something so much only to realize it doesn’t love you back? That’s McIntyre’s complex relationship with wrestling. The crowd gives him the WHAT treatment, so he tells them to say WHAT if they French kiss their cousins. Some embarrassingly admit to it. McIntyre says they’re sick. McIntyre says the most complex relationship some guys have is with their right hand.

McIntyre says he can sit here and complain all night, but he won’t do that, even though he was attacked from behind at WrestleMania by that coward, CM Punk. Then Damian Priest, who could never beat him one-on-one, hit him with the briefcase like a coward. The next night on Raw, he didn’t get his automatic rematch. Instead, he’s in a Fatal 4-Way. CM Punk interfered, and Jey Uso took advantage of it like a coward. McIntyre’s back is against the wall. He’ll come out swinging and target the King of the Ring tournament.

Sheamus, who is dressed to compete, comes out to the ring. Sheamus asks McIntyre what is going on. He’s sitting in the ring, sulking about everyone being a coward. Sheamus says he only sees a person who is unwilling to take responsibility for his mistakes. Some might say that makes McIntyre a coward. Sheamus asks if he’s going to sit there or stand up. McIntyre stands up. Sheamus says he’s known McIntyre for 20 years. For the last 4, he’s only heard from McIntyre about how he was robbed of his career-defining WrestleMania moment. Then, at WrestleMania 40, McIntyre got his moment and became champion in front of a live crowd. McIntyre’s brother and wife were in the crowd. Then McIntyre blew it over a stupid social media spat. McIntyre should be standing here with the World Heavyweight Championship around his waist. Over a meme and a t-shirt, he threw it all away. Sheamus says he’s McIntyre’s friend. They’ve traveled the roads, drank a lot, and had banger after banger matches together. Sheamus is here to tell McIntyre the hard truth: a one-armed CM Punk kicked McIntyre’s arse. A “CM Punk” chant picks up.

McIntyre says he doesn’t care what the crowd thinks they know. Sheamus knows better than anyone what CM Punk did to his career when he was a kid. McIntyre says this obsession is taking down his career. McIntyre needs to get it out of his head. McIntyre paces around and says they could’ve had this conversation backstage. If Sheamus wants the hard truth, McIntyre has one for him. Before he was injured, it was banger after banger after banger. Now, it looks to be burger after burger after burger. Sheamus laughs.

Sheamus says McIntyre is getting good at the one-liners, and he deserves it. Sheamus says he can lose the weight. McIntyre can’t lose stupid. Sheamus tells McIntyre to stop blaming everyone else for his mistakes. McIntyre says it is everyone else. “The Ginger Pillsbury Dough Boy,” “The Flubberman.” Those aren’t his words. That’s what the guys in the back were saying about him last week. McIntyre was standing up for him. Sheamus doesn’t care what they say. McIntyre says he cares because he is Sheamus’ friend. Whether Sheamus realizes it or not, he always tells the truth. McIntyre is Sheamus’ only friend here. In the past, they would throw fists and drink pints after. McIntyre says he now only fights if it’s worthwhile. This is not worthwhile. McIntyre will stand by the table and watch Sheamus’ back.

Shinsuke Nakamura makes his entrance. He’ll face Sheamus next.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
Shayna Baszler is backstage warming up. Elsewhere backstage, we see Ivy Nile preparing for the Women’s World Championship Battle Royal.

Drew McIntyre is at ringside for this next match.


Sheamus vs. Shinsuke Nakamura

The bell rings, and Nakamura quickly takes it to Sheamus. Sheamus reverses a whip, but Nakamura holds the ropes. Sheamus charges, but Nakamura pulls the top rope down to get him to the apron. Sheamus punches Nakamura back and grabs at him, but Nakamura elbows him in the face. Sheamus blocks a kick and forearms him down. Sheamus heads to the top rope, but Nakamura kicks his feet out. Sheamus is lying across the top turnbuckle. Nakamura hits a running knee to the ribs before choking Sheamus in the corner. Sheamus challenges Nakamura to give him more. Sheamus forearms away at Nakamura, but Nakamura soon brings him to his knees with kicks. Nakamura hits the ropes, but Sheamus pops up and clotheslines him down.

During the action, McIntyre grabbed Pat McAfee’s microphone and was talking trash to them.

Sheamus has Nakamura on the apron and connects with the 10 Beats of the Bodhran. Nakamura slowly pulls himself up on the apron, and Sheamus sends him to the floor with the Kneecap. Sheamus gets Nakamura in the ring, but Nakamura quickly rolls out. McIntyre waves at Sheamus. Sheamus lifts Nakamura, but Nakamura slides off and kicks him in the head. Nakamura bounces Sheamus off the commentary table. Nakamura climbs onto the barricade and leaps off with a flying knee to the surgically repaired neck of Sheamus. McIntyre shakes his head in shame at what he’s seeing.

We go to commercial.

Back from the break, we see Sheamus catch Nakamura with an Irish Curse Backbreaker. Nakamura soon gets up, but Sheamus hits him with another Irish Curse Backbreaker. Sheamus heads to the top rope for a diving clothesline for a two-count. Sheamus lifts Nakamura, but Nakamura elbows out and kicks him in the head. Sheamus stumbles to the corner. Nakamura sits him on the second rope and hits a sliding German Suplex. Nakamura heads to the second rope and hits a flying knee to the chest to pick up a two-count.

Sheamus soon backs Nakamura to the corner and elbows him in the face. Sheamus gets Nakamura on his shoulders and climbs to the second rope. The crowd comes to its feet and hits a Super White Noise! 1… 2… Nakamura kicks out! Sheamus cannot believe it and looks at McIntyre. McIntyre speaks to him. Nakamura stuns Sheamus with a running knee to the head for a near fall. Nakamura sets up for a Kinshasa, but McIntyre approaches him. Nakamura charges, but Sheamus counters with a tilt-a-whirl powerslam. Sheamus signals for the end. Nakamura sidesteps a Brogue Kick. Sheamus ducks some kicks and hits a vicious knee to the face for a near fall. Sheamus cannot believe Nakamura kicked out. Sheamus sets up for a Celtic Cross, but Nakamura gets out. Nakamura hits a pair of pump kicks. Nakamura backs up for a third, but Sheamus floors him with a Brogue Kick for the win.

Winner: Sheamus

After the match:
Drew McIntyre looks at Sheamus and gives him a round of applause.


Video:
Last week on Raw, Sami Zayn defeated Chad Gable to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship. After the match, Gable viciously assaulted Zayn, hitting a German Suplex on the floor and applying an Ankle Lock while Zayn was hung on the ropes.

Backstage:
WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn is backstage with Cathy Kelley. She asks how he is processing everything that happened. Zayn says he was hurt by what happened. There’s a lot he wants to say, but he’s biting his tongue. Chad Gable is going to explain himself, so Zayn will be listening. Zayn is unsure how he’ll defend his actions. “Big” Bronson Reed walks up to Zayn and tells him not to mind Chad Gable. Zayn has bigger problems to worry about. Zayn holds up the title and says, “Anytime, any place.” Zayn turns back to Kelley, but she runs away as Reed viciously attacks Zayn from behind. Reed says Zayn is looking at the next Intercontinental Champion. WWE officials quickly pull Reed away, but he returns to avalanche Zayn.

“SHOOSH!”

Chad Gable comes out dressed in a suit. Behind him are Otis, who doesn’t look happy, Maxxine Dupri, and Akira Tozawa.

We go to commercial.

On “The Pat McAfee Show” last week, NBA legend Charles Barkley didn’t appreciate Chad Gable beating Sami Zayn in front of his family last week on Raw.

In Ring Chad Gable explains his actions
Chad Gable is standing in the ring with Alpha Academy. The crowd is booing Gable. Gable says considering what just happened to Sami Zayn, he’s had a rough couple of weeks. At least what he did to Zayn was justified. It was a capacity crowd in Montreal. It was Chad Gable versus hometown hero Sami Zayn. They tore the house down, and Zayn walked out as champion. It’s a great story, one that Gable could even accept even if he didn’t want to. Not Zayn. Zayn found Gable weeping in the corner and put the Intercontinental Championship in his face. Gable took it on the chin and showed class, raising Zayn’s hand to give him his moment. Even that wasn’t enough. Zayn then found his wife in the front row and brought the championship down to celebrate with her as Gable stood right there. That was Gable’s moment. That should have been Gable at WrestleMania. That should have been Gable with his daughter celebrating in the front row with his championship. Instead, he was wasting his time training Sami Zayn. Gable has been wasting his time training a bunch of losers.

Akira Tozawa looks pained by what Gable just said. Gable gets in his face and says he has a problem with Tozawa. All he does is his dance and rack up loss after loss. It’s pathetic. As for Maxxine Dupri, she’s pretty as a princess, but dumb as a box of rocks. Gable gave her everything and has gotten nothing in return. As for Otis, Gable doesn’t even want to get started on him. Otis is his prized pupil and #1 guy… he has proven himself beyond a shadow of a doubt to be the biggest disappointment of them all. The crowd loudly boos that.

Gable says this is why they signed up with the Academy. This honest feedback is what they signed up for. They need to get on the same page and focus on Gable. They’re going to win his Intercontinental Championship together. They’ll help him no matter what… right? Otis, Maxxine, and Tozawa look conflicted. Gable wants them to say it together. Gable orders Otis to say it. Otis thinks about it and sheepishly says, “No matter what.” Gable says, “Good,” and walks off.

Backstage:
Ricochet is warming up when “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio walks up to him. Ricochet says he’s upset that Mysterio is not cleared because he wants to beat him. Instead, he and Andrade will have to settle for JD McDonagh and Santos Escobar. Ricochet says he’ll be facing McDonagh on WWE Speed and walks off. Mysterio is not impressed. Mysterio turns and sees Liv Morgan, the woman who took out Mami. They say nothing.

Ricochet and Andrade battle Santos Escobar and JD McDonagh next.

We go to commercial.

Backstage:
Nia Jax is standing backstage. We’re having an All-Star Women’s Battle Royal for the Women’s World Championship. Fourteen women, which means there are thirteen women and one monster. Jax is that monster. She will terrorize them and eliminate them one by one by one until she’s the last woman standing. She will be the Women’s World Champion.


Ricochet and Andrade vs. JD McDonagh and Santos Escobar (w/ Dominik Mysterio)

The bell rings, and Andrade will start the match against JD McDonagh. McDonagh ducks a right hand, but Andrade soon lays them into him. McDonagh backs him in the ropes and goes for a chop, but Andrade avoids it. Andrade chops him, so McDonagh runs to his corner and tags Santos Escobar in. Escobar elbows Andrade and sends him into the ropes. Escobar drops down, and Andrade flips over him. Andrade then hits a shoulder tackle. Ricochet tags in. Andrade and Ricochet leapfrog Escobar before hitting a double-team back elbow. They hit stereo dropkicks, and Ricochet picks up a one-count. Ricochet uppercuts Escobar and dropkicks him. Ricochet hits a snapmare and follows up with an elbow drop for a two-count. Ricochet wrenches the arm and stretches Escobar out before pinning him for a two-count. Ricochet avoids a punch and hits a head-scissor takeover. Ricochet dropkicks Escobar for a two-count.

The crowd chants, “Dom, you suck.” Escobar pulls Ricochet into the middle rope. McDonagh tags in and stomps away at Ricochet. McDonagh sends Ricochet into the ropes for a back elbow to pick up a two-count. McDonagh connects with a back suplex. The crowd chants, “Shave your mustache,” to Mysterio. Ricochet punches McDonagh and hits the ropes. Escobar distracts the referee as Mysterio trips Ricochet. Escobar and McDonagh take advantage. Escobar flies off the apron with a hurricanrana to Ricochet on the floor.

We go to commercial.

Back from the break, Escobar is taking it to Ricochet. Escobar hits Ricochet with running double knees to the chest. McDonagh tags in and hits Ricochet with a snap suplex, followed by a leg drop. McDonagh knocks Andrade down. Escobar tags in and covers Ricochet for a two-count. Ricochet fights back at Escobar and McDonagh before tagging in Andrade.

Andrade knocks McDonagh off the apron before hitting Escobar with a pair of nasty dragon screws. Andrade hits a flying clothesline on Escobar before kipping up. Andrade gets the crowd going and hits the opposite corner before crushing Escobar with his double knees to the face for a two-count. Escobar quickly gets out of La Sombra, but Andrade makes a tag to Ricochet. Ricochet hits a springboard clothesline, followed by a standing shooting star press. 1… 2… McDonagh breaks up the pin. Andrade gets in the ring, but McDonagh head-butts him in the face. Ricochet kicks McDonagh out of the ring. Escobar and Ricochet then take each other out with a nasty double-running cross-body block.

Andrade and McDonagh tag in. They go at each other with strikes to the face. McDonagh cuts him off with a kick, but Andrade quickly comes back with a Three Amigos attempt. Escobar runs in and stops this. Escobar and McDonagh hit Andrade with a double-team suplex. Ricochet goes for a springboard, but Escobar knees him out of midair. McDonagh gets Andrade on the top rope. Escobar has Ricochet on the top rope. Andrade knocks McDonagh down to the canvas. Escobar then hits Ricochet with a wild hurricanrana that flips Ricochet onto McDonagh! Andrade hits Escobar with a nasty back elbow. Andrade hits McDonagh with La Sombra/The Shadow (they changed it from the Message, apparently) for the win.

Winners: Ricochet and Andrade

After the match:
World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest runs in from behind and sends Andrade shoulder-first into the ring post. Priest then superkicks Ricochet down. Priest grabs Ricochet and crushes him with the Razor’s Edge. Priest then wipes out Andrade with a South of Heaven. Priest looks at “Dirty” Dominik Mysterio on the apron and shouts at him in Spanish. McDonagh asks Mysterio what Priest just said. Priest says he said he doesn’t need anyone. He just needs himself. Priest walks off on Mysterio and McDonagh.


Backstage:
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are warming up backstage. Elsewhere backstage, Natalya is also warming up. The Women’s Battle Royal for the vacant Women’s World Championship is next.

We go to commercial.

Video:
Zoey Stark says it’s been one year since she was drafted to Raw. She was told to sit and listen. She didn’t want to do that. In her first year, she took out Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch. She was inches from Money in the Bank and took Rhea Ripley to the limit. She’s just getting started.

Backstage:
Jackie Redmond is backstage with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. Redmond mentions they’ve used underhanded tactics to win in recent weeks, but tonight, they have to compete against each other. They begin to speak, but a commotion is heard. WWE officials are shown pulling apart Nia Jax and Liv Morgan.

Becky Lynch takes the microphone and says it’s getting chaotic around here. She starts walking when she sees Maxxine Dupri frantically talking to Ivy Nile. Lynch walks up to her and says this is Maxxine’s first time fighting for a title, but she needs to prove it won’t be her last. Lynch continues walking and says she’ll be the next Women’s World Champion. The camera follows Lynch through Gorilla Position and through her entrance.

We go to commercial.

Next week on Raw, we will have the conclusion of the WWE Draft. United States Champion Logan Paul will be on Raw. We’ll see a 6-man Tag Team Match with World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest, Finn Bálor, and JD McDonagh taking on “Main Event” Jey Uso, Ricochet, and Andrade.


Women’s World Championship
Women’s Battle Royal

Participants: “The Man” Becky Lynch, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Natalya, Ivy Nile, Maxxine Dupri, Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Liv Morgan, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, and Nia Jax

The referee holds up the vacant Women’s World Championship, previously held by Rhea Ripley until she vacated it last week due to injury.

The bell rings, and everyone starts brawling at the start. Nia Jax and Piper Niven are being ganged up on, but they each power out of their piles. Jax and Niven start brawling with each other. Lynch goes after Jax, but Natalya hits Lynch with a German Suplex. Natalya drops Lynch on the apron. Jax puts Natalya over the top rope, but she holds on. Zoey Stark has Kayden Carter over the top rope, but Carter holds onto the bottom rope. Jax goes after her former tag partner, Shayna Baszler. Baszler won’t go over the top rope. LeRae is trying to eliminate Nile, but Maxxine sneaks up from behind and eliminates Candice LeRae. Maxxine taunts LeRae before turning into a big boot from Hartwell. Hartwell grabs Maxxine, but Maxxine spins her around and eliminates Indi Hartwell.

We go to commmercial.

Back from the break, Lynch throws Natalya over the top rope, but the B.O.A.T. holds on. Chance and Carter hit some double-team monkey flips on the competitors. Chance hits Baszler with a head-scissor takeover. Chance puts Stark on the apron. Carter kicks Stark on the apron, but she holds on. Baszler nearly eliminates Chance, but Carter catches her on the apron. Stark then superkicks Carter to eliminate Kayden Carter and Katana Chance.

Nile is taking it to Jax and has her in a triangle choke over the top rope. Jax counters by slinging her hard into the ring post to eliminate Ivy Nile. Jax taunts the crowd and turns to see a furious Maxxine Dupri. Maxxine is not happy that Jax eliminated her friend. Maxxine stuns Jax with some kicks. Jax blocks a pump kick and eliminates Maxxine Dupri. Jax avalanches Natalya in the corner. Baszler attacks Jax. Niven avalanches Lynch in the corner. Lynch boots Niven back and elbows her in the chest. Lynch pulls the top rope down to get Niven on the apron. Lynch charges Niven and attacks, but Niven holds on. Lynch then kicks the feet out to eliminate Piper Niven.

A furious Niven pulls Lynch out of the ring under the bottom rope (this is not an elimination, as it has to be over the top rope). Niven then sends Lynch into the steel steps and hits a cannonball. Niven clears the commentary table. In the ring, Green attempts to take it to Jax to no avail. Niven puts Lynch on the commentary table and chops her. Jax goes to eliminate Green, but Niven pulls at her foot to save Green. Niven pulls Jax out of the ring. Jax attacks Niven and gives her a uranage onto Lynch and the commentary table, but the table doesn’t break! Jax makes a second attempt to break the table by (barely) lifting Niven up for a Samoan Drop onto Lynch and the table, but it still doesn’t break! I AM THE TABLE!

Natalya then dumps Green over the top rope, but the referees are all distracted by what is happening at the commentary table. Green gets back in the ring since her elimination wasn’t seen.

-Commercial Break-

When we return from the final break of the evening, Lynch is lying in the wreckage of the commentary table. During the commercial break, Jax put Lynch through the table with a NASTY powerbomb. Natalya and Green are fighting on the apron. Green kicks Natalya into the ring post and gets in the ring. Stark then clotheslines Green over the top rope to eliminate Chelsea Green. Baszler then knees Natalya in the face to eliminate Natalya.

Stark slings Morgan into a knee from Baszler. Jax attacks Baszler in the corner and dumps Stark on the apron. Jax punches her to eliminate Zoey Stark. Jax then pushes Baszler off the apron to eliminate Shayna Baszler.

Becky Lynch pulls her broken body into the ring. It’s down to Jax, Morgan, and Lynch. Lynch boots Jax and forearms Morgan. Jax head-butts Lynch down. Morgan hits Jax with a head-scissor takeover. Morgan avalanches Jax against the ropes. Jax sidesteps a move and blocks a codebreaker. Lynch hits Morgan with a neckbreaker as Morgan hits Jax with a codebreaker.

All three women are down. Lynch gets to her feet and tries to eliminate Morgan unsuccessfully. Jax grabs Lynch and crushes her with a Samoan Drop. Jax grabs Morgan and catches her with a Samoan Drop as well. Lynch gets up and punches away at Jax. Lynch sends Morgan over the top rope, but Morgan lands on the apron. Jax knocks Lynch onto the apron and charges them. Morgan and Lynch snap Jax off the top rope. They get in the ring and go for a double-team suplex on the Irresistible Force. Jax blocks it and hits them with a double suplex! Jax stacks them up and goes for an Annihilator. Lynch gets up and knocks Jax over the top rope onto the apron. Morgan quickly hits Jax with a codebreaker. Lynch then hits a flying leg drop to eliminate Nia Jax!

It’s down to Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan. One of these two will be the next Women’s World Champion. The crowd is buzzing, and they begin brawling in the center of the ring. Morgan sends Lynch over the top rope, but Lynch lands on the apron and kicks her back. Lynch goes to the top rope and jumps over Morgan. Lynch quickly grabs her and puts her on the apron. Morgan pulls Lynch through the middle rope and attempts a suplex. This would not be an elimination. Lynch blocks it and tries to suplex Morgan to no avail. Lynch attempts to give her a German Suplex off the apron, but Morgan holds on. Morgan kicks away at Lynch and hits a codebreaker on the apron. Lynch stumbles near the ring post. Morgan goes for Ob-Liv-ion, but Lynch blocks it. Lynch hits a Manhandle Slam on the apron, and Morgan rolls to the floor! Lynch wins!

Winner: Becky Lynch (new champion)

After the match:
“The Man” Becky Lynch wins her seventh Women’s Championship and celebrates with the fans. Lynch then goes into the crowd with the Women’s World Championship and celebrates with the fans. Fireworks go off as the show comes to an end.

End of show.

[LionDen]

Set for tonight's WWE Monday Night Raw:

*The new Women's World Champion will be crowned in a Battle Royal.

*WWE World Tag Team Champions The Miz & R-Truth will make their first championship defense vs. DIY.

*Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh vs. Andrade & Ricochet.

[LionDen]

Michael Cole and Pat McAfee in the ring open the show.

[LionDen]

In ring

[LionDen]

DIY (DX) lol vs The Amazing Truth, first fight of the night for the world doubles championships.

[LionDen]

Awesome Truth defeated DIY. Gargano congratulates the champions but Ciampa passes by.

[LionDen]

Santos Escobar will team up with JD McDonagh to face Andrade and Ricochet

[LionDen]

Gunther and others in ring

[LionDen]

New Day defeats Imperium, and Kaiser goes crazy with Gio, brutally attacking him and Gunther thanks him for it.

[LionDen]

McIntyre and Sheamus in ring