WWE Raw Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights After WrestleMania 40
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Credit: WWE
Damian Priest cashed in his Money in the Bank contract Sunday at WrestleMania 40, defeated Drew McIntyre, and won the World Heavyweight Championship.
The Judgment Day possesses the top two titles on the Raw brand and renewed dominance following the biggest show of the year.
Will The Scottish Warrior target The Archer of Infamy and his newly one title, looking to avenge the most devastating loss of his career?
Will CM Punk, the man responsible for McIntyre's loss, make an appearance?
Where does former champion Seth "Freakin" Rollins fit in?
Find out the answer to those questions and more, including all of the surprises from the hotly anticipated broadcast, with this recap of the April 8 show.
The Raw After Mania
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Raw general manager Adam Pearce announced earlier in the afternoon that the first hour of Monday's show will air commercial free.
The post-WrestleMania broadcast is typically one of the most anticipated and exciting of the entire year, with surprises and the unexpected at every turn.
What will go down Monday from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia?
Could we see the first appearances of NXT talent ready for the big time? Will any championships change hands? What rivalries will kickoff and carry the company through the spring and summer months.
No matches or segments have been announced in advance of the broadcast.
Triple H and Cody Rhodes Kicked Off Monday Night Raw
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- The chants of "you deserve it" from 20,000 strong were as strong a nod of approval from an audience as you can get in an industry where contrarianism is often the name of the game.
- It appears as though WWE has dropped the "universal" part of the championship name. It can feel free to do the same with the "undisputed" part considering there is very much a second world title in play.
- "We don't have to like him but I certainly acknowledge what he's done. Perhaps, he's the most important Superstar of our generation," Rhodes said, leading to a huge ovation of "thank you, Roman" chants.
- Rock's entire shtick at this point is angry Board of Directors member who likes to drop F-bombs and we should all be here for it.
- "This is awkward" chants during the exchange of belts as the fans in Philly stayed red-hot.
- "Your story with Roman Reigns is over. You did it. But our story...has just begun," The Rock warned the new champion.
Credit: WWE
The Triple H Era of WWE kicked off Monday, appropriately enough, with the COO making his way to the ring. After calling this weekend's WrestleMania 40 the greatest ever, he introduced the man who will lead the company into the next era, the new undisputed WWE universal champion, Cody Rhodes.
After congratulating The American Nightmare on his big win, he threw to a special video package put together by some of Rhodes' longtime friends in the production team.
WWE @WWEThe American Nightmare was just surprised by <a href="https://twitter.com/TripleH?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TripleH</a> with an incredibly emotional tribute video thanks to the very best behind the scenes in the studio. ❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawAfterMania?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RawAfterMania</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q3ZXy4YZCN">pic.twitter.com/Q3ZXy4YZCN</a>
Rhodes talked about being at the front of the line before The Rock hit the ring and was instantly greeted by chants ranging from "Rocky sucks" to ones best not repeated in this space.
Rock and Rhodes exchanged titles before The Final Boss warned the new champion that he is coming back after his upcoming hiatus and targeting him. Rock placed something in Rhodes' hand and told him not to break his heart again, leaving the babyface seething but without any explanation as to what he was given.
This was a long promo segment to kick off the show at 45 minutes and with three lesser talented orators, this would have been a torturous way to kick off the first Raw after WrestleMania.
As it was, it was a strong segment that set in motion the road to Rhodes vs. Rock, perhaps at SummerSlam in Cleveland this August. That is a monumental main event and one fans should be excited for.
Grade
A, but even better with 10 or 15 minutes shaved off.
Top Moments and Takeaways
Ilja Dragunov vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
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- Michael Cole revealed on commentary that the WWE Draft will take place on Friday, April 26 and Monday, April 29.
- Furthermore, Dragunov will enter the draft, suggesting his time in NXT and as its champion is drawing near.
Credit: WWE
NXT champion Ilja Dragunov was the first surprise of the night as the ferocious Russian battled Shinsuke Nakamura in the night's opening contest.
A perfectly fine match served more as an introduction to the champion rather than the good, competitive contest it would have otherwise been.
Dragunov weathered the storm of The Artist and put him away with the Moscow Missile for the win.
The reigning champion is, or at least should be, in the conversation for the best wrestler in the world right now. He is a tenacious, tough, punishing, and exhausting competitor who wears opponents down and ultimately outlasts them.
That was the case here and the crowd responded favorably to his appearance, making this a worthwhile surprise to kick things off.
Result
Dragunov defeated Nakamura
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
The Judgment Day Promo and 6-Man Tag Team Match
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- More "you deserve it" chants reflect an overwhelmingly positive sentiment coming out of WrestleMania.
- The commitment to Truth, his unofficial relationship with The Judgment Day and never-ending fandom of Cena is astonishing.
- Cena is having so much fun anytime he comes through the curtain that the idea of him hanging up his Reeboks sometime over the next year is disappointing.
- Priest immediately took a backseat here and in that regard, this was a failed segment.
Credit: WWE
What started as a celebratory promo featuring The Judgment Day and new world heavyweight champion Damian Priest descended into chaos with new Raw tag team champion R-Truth once again believing himself to be part of the group.
The Miz interrupted and a six-man tag team match was made, pitting the champions and a partner "no one can see" against Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Finn Balor.
The heels dominated the cation through two commercial breaks before John Cena's music played and the greatest of all time rushed to the ring. He exploded into the match off a tag and laid waste to the opposition before joining The Awesome Truth for a 15 Knuckle Shuffle.
The babyfaces rolled to victory from there and celebrated to close out a segment that, hopefully, serves as the finale between the new tag team champions and The Judgment Day.
Result
Cena and Awesome Truth defeated Mysterio, McDonagh, and Balor
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Roxanne Perez vs. Indi Hartwell
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- Prior to the match, Liv Morgan attacked Rhea Ripley backstage before being pulled away by security. It was an intense reminder that there is unfinished business between them, with Morgan being as great an option as any to potentially dethrone Mami as women's world champ.
- The storyline involving LeRae and Hartwell is exactly the sort of thing we have been begging WWE for: storylines in the women's division that do not have anything directly to do with the championship.
Credit: WWE
NXT women's champion Roxanne Perez made her latest appearance on the main roster, battling Indi Hartwell as the surprises continued on this Raw After Mania.
Hartwell may have stood a chance of pulling off the upset victory but she failed to listen to Candice LeRae, who continues to push her nastier, rule-breaking ways on her teammate.
Perez raked the eyes behind the official's back, delivered Pop Rox and scored the win.
This was a nice introduction to Perez for fans who may not watch NXT. She came across well, is a great professional wrestler, and her personality is beginning to shine through her body language and facial expressions.
She will be ready for this call-up if and when WWE decides it is time for her to make the move.
Result
Perez defeated Hartwell
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Sami Zayn and Chad Gable vs. Imperium
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- Zayn delivering the Helluva Kick to Vinci, following by Chaos Theory from Gable, is a nice one-two punch.
- Backstage, Chelsea Green interrupted a conversation between Raw GM Adam Pearce, SmackDown GM Nick Aldis, and NXT GM Ava and, predictably, got herself booked against an unknown opponent.
- "You never know who might end up in NXT," Ava said, hinting that NXT will be part of this year's draft.
Credit: WWE
New intercontinental champion Sami Zayn found himself interrupted by Imperium's Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci Monday night, robbing him of a celebratory promo that he deserved.
Chad Gable joined the festivities and a tag team match was made for after the break.
The tag bout was quite good, with Gable shining brightly and the heels reminding fans why they may be among the most underrated competitors on the roster.
The babyfaces predictably won, but this felt more like an excuse to link Zayn to Gable even closer so that when the latter inevitably turns heel in pursuit of the IC title, it does not feel random or unearned.
Result
Zayn and Gable defeated Imperium
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green
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- This felt very much like a match that was savaged by time constraints.
- Backstage, Zayn offered Gable a shot at the Intercontinental Championship in his hometown of Montreal.
Credit: WWE
Jade Cargill followed up her monumental victory at WrestleMania 40, in which she teamed with Bianca Belair and Naomi, to defeat Damage CTRL's Dakota Kai, Asuka, by making short work of Chelsea Green.
The match was too short to matter, but it did bring Cargill to Raw, a brand she may find herself on following the WWE Draft.
Green is great at this but even her skills are limited when there are seconds to work with as opposed to even single-digit minutes.
Result
Cargill defeated Green
Grade
C-
Top Moments and Takeaways
Fatal 4-Way No. 1 Contender Match for a Shot at the World Heavyweight Championship
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- McIntyre called Priest "bondage Undertaker" and threaded to whip him but he's afraid he might like it.
- The Scottish Warrior looks to be in the best shape of his career.
- Uso is so incredibly over that the idea that he can be the established star ready to test Priest as a champion in his first defense is not a stretch.
WWE/Getty Images
An incensed Drew McIntyre, fresh off losing the World Heavyweight Championship just five minutes after winning it to Damian Priest by way of an attack by CM Punk, hit the ring for the night's main event against Ricochet, Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner "Big" Bronson Reed, and Jey Uso.
The winner would earn a shot at Priest's newly won world title.
An action-packed main event saw Ricochet throw caution to the wind with a jaw-dropping springboard 450 splash from the top rope and onto Reed, through the announce table. Late, McIntyre set up for the Claymore, only for Punk to come from out of nowhere and prevent it.
Uso took advantage and earned him a shot at the world title and Damian Priest.
The intensification of the Punk-McIntyre rivalry would seem to suggest that match is coming up sooner than we think, while Uso vs. Priest is a great introduction to Priest's reign as champion.
How well will he work against a competitor as over as Uso? If he cannot deliver in that spot, his run may be what McIntyre suggested it was: a transitional one.
Result
Uso defeated McIntyre, Reed, and Ricochet
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
Overall Grade
9 of 9
The Raw After Mania kicked off hot with Cody Rhodes and The Rock's face-to-face confrontation and never turned back.
We got the announcement regarding the WWE Draft, appearances by NXT champions, teases of the return of Uncle Howdy, and a surprisingly intense brawl backstage between Liv Morgan and women's world champion Rhea Ripley.
Chairshot Sports @chairshotsportsI can't be the only one that noticed the screen flicker… 👀👀<br><br>Plus with the ominous music and screens at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWERAW?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWERAW</a> tonight pre show… 👀👀<br><br>Make way…for Uncle Howdy<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RawAfterMania?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RawAfterMania</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/USANetwork?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USANetwork</a> <a href="https://t.co/cj407dr5rx">pic.twitter.com/cj407dr5rx</a>
It was topped off by a quality main event and the escalation of the McIntyre-Punk rivalry.
WWE has an abundance of riches at its disposal right now and it was on full display Monday night.
Was it the most noteworthy Raw After Mania episode? No, but it was interesting and showed proof of long-term planning on the part of Triple H and Co.
A welcome start to a new era on the flagship.
Grade: B+
