WWE RAW Live Coverage - April 20th, 2026
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World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns returns to Raw after conquering CM Punk
Last night at WrestleMania 42, Roman Reigns overcame CM Punk in an epic showdown to become the World Heavyweight Champion. The OTC announced at the WrestleMania Post-Show that he will be on Raw tonight.
:raw:
— The show opens up with a video package recapping this past weekend’s WWE WrestleMania 42.
— Michael Cole and Corey Graves welcomes us to the show as we see the arrivals of WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan with The Judgment Day and WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley with IYO SKY as they will battle The Kabuki Warriors tonight.
— Oba Femi’s music hits and he struts his way down to the ring to a big ovation from the fans. The crowd loudly sings to Oba. Oba looks around before raising the microphone to his mouth. He is then cut off by an “Oba Femi” chant. Oba says "The Ruler has arrived". Oba drops the microphone and poses as his music plays. The crowd chants his name.
— We see Asuka and she tells IYO SKY she chose her like family and she will always be IYO’s senpai. Asuka says you seem to forget this. Asuka says tonight you will remember. Asuka says since you devoted yourself to Rhea Ripley, how has that worked out. Asuka says Rhea is champion, but what about you. Asuka says you are nothing. Asuka says it didn’t have to happen that way. Asuka says you would have shown respect and your senpai would be by your side. Kairi tells IYO she beat her last week and they will beat her again. Asuka says IYO is not ready for her.
— IYO SKY and WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley make their way down to the ring for the first match of the night and The Kabuki Warriors follow.
RHIYO (Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY) vs. The Kabuki Warriors
The match starts off with IYO and Sane and they lock up. IYO then gives a clean break and Sane pushes IYO. Sane then cinches in a wrist lock and IYO does a reversal into a side head lock. Sane then grabs IYO’s hair and sends her to the mat. Sane then tosses IYO to the mat, but IYO does a handspring to land on her feet. IYO then hits a kick and she cinches in a wrist lock. Sane then hits an Irish whip and IYO sends Sane to the apron. Sane then leaps over IYO and she taunts IYO and Rhea. Sane then stomps on the foot and she hits a head scissors and a drop kick. IYO then gets a rollup for a near fall. IYO then goes for a butterfly back breaker and she hits it.
Rhea then tags in and she sends IYO onto Sane and Rhea gets a near fall. Rhea then hits a face plant and Asuka makes the tag. Rhea then misses a round kick and Asuka hits a slap. Rhea then hits a face buster, but Asuka hits a back fist and several kicks. Asuka then hits a running knee, but Rhea hits a round kick for a near fall. Rhea then kicks Asuka and Asuka distracts the referee, but Sane cannot take advantage. Asuka then hits Rhea and Sane tags in. Sane then hits an elbow drop to the floor. Sane then sends Rhea into the announce desk and chops her. Sane then gets a near fall. Sane then sends Rhea into Asuka’s boot and Asuka tags in. Asuka then does some dancing in the ring and she slaps and pie faces Rhea.
Rhea then slaps Asuka. Asuka then hits a kick and follows it up with more Kawada kicks. Asuka then hits a scorpion kick. Sane then tags in and she goes up top and Sane hits a boot and a head scissors in the ropes. Asuka then tags in and she applies an arm bar. Asuka then distracts the referee and Sane kicks Rhea. Sane then tags in and snap mares Rhea and follows with a drop kick. Asuka tags in and Asuka with a reverse DDT set up but Rhea escapes. Rhea with a running kick to Sane and both are down. Asuka and Iyo tag in and Iyo with a back elbow and shotei. Iyo with a kick to SAsuka and Iyo blocks a kick from Sane and sends her boot into Asuka.
IYO then splits the defense with handsprings and she hits a double drop kick and does the ears gimmick. IYO then hits a running double knee strikes to Asuka and Sane. IYO then hits a round kick for a near fall. Rhea then tags in and she sets up for a Razor’s Edge and hits it. IYO then hits a missile drop kick. Rhea then gets a near fall. Asuka escapes RipTide and Asuka hits Iyo on the apron. Sane tags in and they hit a series of double team moves including a double kick for a near fall. Iyo with a stomp to Asuka and Sane with forearms to Iyo. Iyo with a suicide dive when Sane Irish whips her. Rhea with a head butt and Iyo tags in. Rhea with RipTide and Iyo with a moonsault for the win.
Winners: RHIYO
— After the match, while Rhea and IYO celebrate in the ring, Asuka yells at Kairi again.
— We see Adam Pearce, backstage, with Penta and he congratulates him. Je’Von Evans then shows up and he congratulates Penta on his win, but he says he is not going anywhere. Penta says he will do it again, but his title isn’t going anywhere. Ethan Page shows up and Pearce says he is the newest member of RAW. Page says he gets what he wants. Page says he wants the Intercontinental Title. Page says he won’t need a second chance. Pearce interrupts and says they can settle it in the ring. Evans says nobody is going to take his spot especially Page.
— We see Los Americanos in the interview area. Bravo says this is Sin City. Bravo says it is like Jobbero City. Rayo says these people cannot dress like them. Bravo says they cannot dance like them and Bravo dances. Rayo says you have no respect. Bravo says they have no culture. Grande says he promises to him and to you and everyone all over the world that he will take this mask off your ugly mug, raise it high and walk to his home to celebrate the greatest fiesta ever seen.
— Andre The Giant Battle Royal winner Royce Keys is shown in the crowd.
— We see CM Punk walking backstage and he walks out to the ring with no music and with just some spotlights on him. Punk stands at the entryway and looks around. He gets ready and poses and his music hits and Punk walks down to the ring. Punk gets in the ring and stands in the middle of the ring and looks at the mat for a minute and start speaking. He says he's dealt with a lot of loss lately - talks about losing his wrestling friends and peers and talks about losing his dog in November. Punk gives a shout out to the people behind the scenes that make the show run. Punk talks about his loss last night and talks about how the fans help him get through these losses. Punk thanks everyone for helping him process all this grief and he knows the fans will help him get over his loss from last night. Punk talks about how he wasn't meant to be a champion but he always stayed ready and he earned it. He says if he didn't stay ready, Jey Uso would be in his place right now. Punk says even though he lost last night he's still smiling because he's still the best in the world. He says last night wasn't his night but he's going to stay ready because he may get another opportunity.
Cody Rhodes' music plays and Rhodes makes his way out. Rhodes' face is all banged up from his match with Randy Orton over the weekend. Rhodes gets in the ring and Punk is all smiles and examines Rhodes' black eye and bruised up face. Punk asks Rhodes if he went over his time and that he was just leaving. Rhodes tells him not to leave and says RAW is Punk's time. Rhodes says he wasn't expecting Punk to react to losing like this and he expected Punk to freak out. Rhodes says he's glad Vegas gave Punk the flowers Punk deserved and then says he doesn't know what to do. Rhodes says he feels like a loser and Punk asks if Rhodes is saying he should feel like a loser because Punk lost his match and Rhodes won his match. Punk says Rhodes isn't a loser and tells Rhodes that Rhodes beat a legend. Punk says Orton is Rhodes' friend and that's why he feels like a loser. Punk says Rhodes is a winner and Punk is a loser. Punk tells Rhodes to keep winning because he's going to stay ready and eyes up Rhodes' championship belt and drops the mic and leaves the ring. Rhodes calls for Punk and tells Punk to "just say when".
— Finn Bálor cuts a promo on The Judgement Day in a pre-recorded promo. Bálor says he expected betrayal from Dominik Mysterio but he didn't expect this from JD McDonagh. He says he brought McDonagh into this business and he'll take him out tonight.
Ethan Page vs. Je'Von Evans
We get the bell, Page and Evans lock up. Page gets Evans in a headlock and then takes Evans down with a shoulder check. Evans flies around the ring and rolls up Page for a near fall. Evans dodges a bunch of moves by flying around and then hits a springboard stunner and sends Page into the corner. Page punches Evans and then mounts Evans and delivers some punches to Evans. Page hits Evans with some elbows and drives Evans to the mat with a back breaker. Evans kicks Page from the mat and then chops Page. Evans punches Page and Evans runs into a punch from Evans. Page drops Evans with a back elbow and covers him for a near fall. Evans gets locked in a chin lock and Evans powers out of the hold and drives Page into the corner. Evans dropkicks Page and then hits a springboard hurricanrana. Page rolls out of the ring and Evans flies over the ropes taking out Page and we cut to a break.
We're back and Evans and Page punch each other in the middle of the ring. Page slams down Evans and drives some knees into Evans' back. Evans punches Page and chops him. Page kicks Evans in the face grounding him. Evans tosses Page out of the ring and flies through the ropes and takes out Page. Back in the ring, Evans punches Page and kicks him in the corner. Evans hits a springboard crossbody and covers Page and Page kicks out at two. Evans climbs the ropes and Page gets to him and punches him. Both men are on the top turnbuckle and Page is knocked down. Page tosses Evans off the top rope to the mat and then hits a powerslam and covers Evans and Evans kicks out at two. Evans counters another powerslam and sends Page out of the ring. Evans kicks Page and backflips off the apron and then drives Page into the ring post. Evans kicks Page onto the announce desk. Rusev shows up and he and Evans go at it. Evans jumps over the barricades and takes out Rusev. Back in the ring, Page hits Twisted Grin and gets the win.
Winner: Ethan Page
— After the match, Rusev gets in the ring and beats up Evans. Rusev locks Evans in The Accolade. Penta runs out and makes the save and starts kicking Rusev. Penta drops Rusev and climbs the ropes, Page gets on the apron and pushes Penta off the top rope and Rusev kicks Penta with the Mashka Kick. Page applauds Rusev and leaves. Rusev locks Penta in The Accolade and poses with Penta's Intercontinental Championship.
— The Judgement Day (Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, JD McDonagh & Roxanne Perez) walk backstage as they're set to celebrate Liv Morgan beating Stephanie Vaquer on Saturday.
— We cut to ringside, Paige and The Bella Twins (Nikki & Brie) are sitting in the front row.
— The Judgement Day (Dominik Mysterio, Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, JD McDonagh & Roxanne Perez) then comes out to the ring. Morgan circles the ring as the rest of The Judgement Day clap for her. You deserve it chants start and Morgan says that's the smartest thing Vegas says and says she's the greatest champion of all time. Morgan has some people she wants to thank - she thanks her Judgement Day family. She tells them they're her rock and she loves them. She also thanks Stephanie Vaquer and says they beat the hell out of each other and that Vaquer woke up a feeling in her that she hadn't felt in a long time. She says this is her division and her show, and her women's world championship.
Sol Ruca's music hits and she comes out interrupting Morgan. Ruca gets in the ring and grabs a microphone. Ruca apologizes for interrupting and tells Morgan that Morgan is an inspiration to her. Ruca says Morgan is the top woman in the division. Morgan tells Ruca that she has some nerve interrupting her. Morgan says she appreciates the kind words, but Ruca is no Liv Morgan. Morgan tells Ruca to get out of her ring. Ruca says she isn't here to pick a fight but she won't back down from a fight either. Adam Pearce comes out and issues a match between Ruca and Morgan.
Liv Morgan (w/The Judgement Day) vs. Sol Ruca
Morgan charges at Ruca and Ruca dodges Morgan by flipping around her. Morgan kicks Ruca and rolls her up and Ruca reverses and Morgan kicks out. Ruca kicks Morgan after countering a headscissors. Ruca slams into Morgan in the corner and tries a standing Moonsault but Morgan gets her knees up. Ruca rolls to the apron and tries to springboard into the ring but Morgan trips her up. Morgan kicks and stomps on Ruca. Ruca is sent to the corner and Morgan slams into her. Morgan kicks Ruca in the corner and then dropkicks Ruca. Morgan covers and Ruca kicks out. Morgan kicks Ruca and Ruca fights back and slams Morgan to the mat. Morgan punches Ruca in the gut and then knees her several times. Ruca hits Morgan with an X-Factor and Morgan rolls out of the ring. Morgan hits a moonsault off the apron onto Morgan and we get a commercial break.
Back to RAW, Morgan punches Ruca and suplexes her. Morgan goes for the Three Amigos and Ruca reverses the third one and suplexes Morgan back. Ruca and Morgan punch each other in the middle of the ring. Ruca kicks Morgan and uppercuts her. Morgan is taken down by some elbows and Ruca hits a German Suplex on Morgan. Ruca climbs the corner and hits a missile dropkick on Morgan. Ruca hits a running knee and covers Morgan for a near fall. Ruca climbs up on the turnbuckle and comes off the top rope into a codebreaker by Morgan. Morgan covers Ruca and Ruca kicks out. Morgan goes for Oblivion but Ruca counters and hits a Sol Snatcher on Morgan and Morgan rolls out of the ring. Ruca hits a roundoff backhandspring over the ropes onto Rodriguez and Perez who are tending to Morgan. Zaria comes out of nowhere and takes out Ruca outside the ring while the ref checks on Morgan. Zaria leaves and Ruca almost gets counted out and slowly gets in the ring. Morgan hits Oblivion immediately and gets the win.
Winner: Liv Morgan
— As Morgan leaves with Rodriguez and Perez, Stephanie Vaquer comes out. Morgan and Vaquer stand face to face at the entryway.
— A highlight reel type video plays with WWE Superstars talking about Brock Lesnar and clips from some of his WWE and UFC moments air.
— Back inside the arena, Paul Heyman comes out with The Vision and heads towards the ring.
Heyman gets on the mic and says he has a whole speech prepared but today's RAW has thrown him off a bit. Heyman says WrestleMania is always a time to expect the unexpected. Heyman says this year was no different and brings up how CM Punk came out here earlier and was all bubblegum and happiness. Heyman is pissed Punk have kudos to production when production hasn't removed Brock Lesnar from the now, in the opening credits to the forever part because Lesnar is gone. Heyman wants to talk about the now and says Paul and Theory have elevated the tag team division. Heyman says Paul has a personal message for everyone and hands the mic to Logan Paul.
Paul says the only reason that The Usos and LA Knight stole the victory was because of iShowSpeed. Paul says he is sick of these YouTubers and streamers coming into his business to try to do what he does. Paul says he hates these outsiders and nothing that happened in their match matters because iShowSpeed has left with an imprint of Paul's fist in his face and he and Theory are still champs. Theory and Paul pose with their tag titles. Heyman says they need to take a moment to realize the magnificent favor Gunther did for him. Heyman says he's willing to repay whenever Gunther is ready. Heyman then welcomes back Bron Breakker.
Breakker comes down to the ring and hugs Paul and Theory and then gets the mic from Heyman. Breakkers talks about how a year ago, he became the leader of The Vision because Seth Rollins was too weak. Breakker says his favorite part of WrestleMania is watching Rollins get so close to beating Gunther and for him to ruin it all for Rollins. Breakker tells Rollins he is coming after him and will be attacking him every chance he gets.
Seth Rollins' music plays, Theory, Paul and Breakker prep for him but Rollins comes from behind and clobbers Breakker with a chair and takes out Paul. Theory punches Rollins and Paul gets back in the ring and they both start punching Rollins. The Street Profits come out and run to the ring. Angelo Dawkins attacks Paul and Montez Ford goes after Theory. Dawkins and Ford toss The Vision out of the ring. Ford suicide dives onto Theory and Paul. Dawkins and Ford battle Theory and Paul into the crowd. In the ring, Breakker goes after Rollins but Rollins attacks Breakker. Breakker spears Rollins and then stands on Rollins' neck. Breakker rips off Rollins' shirt and spears Rollins again.
— A video promo for JD McDonagh plays and he replies to Finn Balor calling him out earlier. McDonagh says he always took bullets for Balor and all Balor did was talk down to him.
Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh
Balor clotheslines McDonagh out of the ring before the bell even rings. McDonagh throws Balor into the barricades and Balor tosses McDonagh over the barricades into the crowd. The battle through the crowds. The fights get back into the ring and the bell rings. Balor chops McDonagh a few times in the corner and McDonagh hits Balor with a high elbow. McDonagh punches Balor a few times and Balor rolls out of the ring onto the apron. Balor kicks McDonagh from the apron and climbs the ropes and goes for a Coup de Grace but McDonagh dodges it and we cut to a break.
Back to the match, Balor elbows McDonagh and takes McDonagh down with an elbow. Balor punches McDonagh down and stomps down on McDonagh's sternum. Balor connects with a SlingBlade. McDonagh rolls up Balor and Balor kicks out. McDonagh headbutts Balor and covers him for a near fall. McDonagh goes for a Moonsault and Balor gets his feet up. Balor knocks down McDonagh and hits Coup de Grace and gets the win.
Winner: Finn Balor
— After the match, Dominik Mysterio runs in and assaults Balor. Mysterio goes for 6-1-9 but Balor gets to Mysterio and strikes him. Balor goes for Coup de Grace but McDonagh saves Mysterio.
— Jackie Redmond talks to Gunther backstage. Redmond asks Gunther if he knew about Bron Breakker and Paul Heyman having a hand in his match. Gunther says he isn't aligned with Heyman and that Heyman owes him a favour. LA Knight approaches Gunther and congratulates him. Knight tells Gunther that he has eyes on the top gold as well.
— Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky talk backstage. Ripley tells Sky to handle her business here as she has to go to SmackDown as the new champ. The two say their goodbyes. Sky leaves and Ripley starts walking and Liv Morgan is sitting on a crate and tells Ripley she'll see her around.
— In the back of the arena, Roman Reigns arrives. He makes his way out to the ring. Before coming out, he sees The Usos backstage and invites them out with him.
Reigns gets on the mic and asks Las Vegas to acknowledge him. Reigns says he was going to keep it simple tonight but then he ran into his cousins and he wants to discuss some family business. Reigns says he misses having The Usos full trust and admiration and he misses doing business with them. He says when they're separated they're weak but together they're unstoppable. He reminds Jey Uso that he's Main Event Jey Uso, the YEET man but he has washed up rappers trying to get to him and that's because they were separated. Reigns says they ran the WWE for four years when they were together. Reigns asks The Usos to be his blood and stand with him and not serve him. Jimmy says Reigns will always be their Tribal Chief and they both salute to Reigns.
Jacob Fatu's music hits and he makes his way out. Fatu gets in the ring and stand across from Reigns. Reigns says it's been a while since he's seen Fatu and he believes Fatu is out here to acknowledge him. Fatu says that's not the reason and Reigns asks if the reason is that Fatu wants his title. Fatu says he needs the title and he doesn't just want it. Fatu says he doesn't want to be the Tribal Chief but he wants everything The Tribal Chief has and he'll do anything for his family even if it means going through Reigns. Fatu challenges Reigns to a match at Backlash. Reigns agrees and says he wants all those things for Fatu and asks Fatu if he can handle the burden of being a champion. Reigns tells Fatu if he doesn't beat him, can he handle acknowledging Reigns. Reigns says he'll give Fatu till next week to decide if he's ready. Reigns drops his mic and he and The Usos leave the ring.
