The Raw after WrestleMania 42 aired live on Netflix from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. New World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns closed the show by challenging his cousin Jacob Fatu to a title match. Cody Rhodes returned with a black eye. Ethan Page made his Raw debut. Bron Breakker returned to the Vision. And Oba Femi opened the show with four words.
Full Results
- Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky def. The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane)
- Ethan Page def. Je’Von Evans
- Finn Balor def. JD McDonagh in 6:15
Oba Femi Opens The Show
Fresh off defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42, Oba Femi opened the show to a massive reaction from the Vegas crowd. Standing in the ring as fans chanted his name, Femi simply said, “The ruler has arrived,” dropped the mic, and walked off.
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky def. The Kabuki Warriors
New WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley teamed with Iyo Sky to defeat Asuka and Kairi Sane in the opening match. A video aired earlier with Asuka declaring that Iyo Sky is “nothing” and Ripley is the champion, teeing up a potential Ripley vs. Iyo match down the line.
CM Punk Speaks
The former World Heavyweight Champion came out with no music, just spotlights, and stood in the ring before his theme finally played. Punk addressed the personal losses he has dealt with over the past six months, including losing his dog in November, and credited the fans for helping him heal. He said that because he stayed ready after losing the title the first time, he was able to capture it again, and he vowed not to take a vacation because he never knows when another opportunity will fall out of the sky.
Cody Rhodes then interrupted with a visibly black left eye from his WrestleMania main event. After some back-and-forth banter, Punk eyed Cody’s Undisputed WWE Championship and indicated he wanted a shot. Cody replied, “Just say when.”
Ethan Page Debuts On Raw
Backstage, Adam Pearce congratulated Intercontinental Champion Penta on his WrestleMania win. Je’Von Evans rolled up and said he came close to winning the ladder match and he’s not going anywhere. Ethan Page, formerly of NXT, then appeared as Raw’s newest Superstar and announced he wanted the Intercontinental Championship. Pearce booked Page against Evans for later in the night.
In the match, Page picked up the win with the Twisted Grin. After the match, Rusev attacked Evans and locked in the Accolade. Penta ran out to make the save, but Page shoved Penta off the top rope, allowing Rusev to hit the Mashka Kick. Rusev then locked Penta in the Accolade and posed with the Intercontinental Championship.
The Vision And Bron Breakker’s Return
Paul Heyman, Logan Paul, and Austin Theory came out. Heyman complained that Brock Lesnar was still part of the “Then, Now, Forever” opening despite being gone. The crowd responded with “Thank You, Brock” chants.
Logan Paul went on a rant about IShowSpeed, calling him an “outsider” and blaming the YouTuber for the WrestleMania loss. Heyman then said they needed to acknowledge the favor Gunther did for him, and that he’s willing to repay it whenever Gunther is ready.
With that, Heyman welcomed back Bron Breakker. Breakker hugged Paul and Theory before taking the mic and taking credit for costing Seth Rollins his match against Gunther at WrestleMania.
Liv Morgan’s Victory Lap And Sol Ruca
New Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan made her entrance with the Judgment Day (Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez) to “You deserve it” chants. Morgan thanked Judgment Day and Stephanie Vaquer for their WrestleMania match before being interrupted by Sol Ruca, who made her Raw appearance after being called up from NXT. Ruca congratulated Morgan and said she was an inspiration, but Morgan told her to get out of her ring.
Finn Balor def. JD McDonagh
In a pre-recorded vignette earlier in the show, Balor said he expected betrayal from Dominik Mysterio but not from JD McDonagh, noting he brought McDonagh into the business and would take him out. McDonagh responded with his own video, saying Balor had changed and that he would prove “the Balor everyone knew is dead.”
The match spilled into the crowd before the official bell. Once inside, Balor hit a Shotgun Dropkick and the Coup de Grace on McDonagh’s injured ribs for the win in 6:15. After the match, Dominik Mysterio ran out and attacked Balor before McDonagh pulled Dom to the floor.
Roman Reigns Challenges Jacob Fatu
Roman Reigns closed the show with his new World Heavyweight Championship and Jimmy and Jey Uso by his side. Reigns gave credit to CM Punk before shifting his focus to his cousin Jacob Fatu, who has been positioned as a rising force on SmackDown. Reigns offered Fatu the kind of moment he has dreamed of and said he wants those things for him. He then told Fatu he had a week to think about whether he could handle the burden of acknowledging him if he lost.
“I’ll see you next week at Raw, little cousin,” Reigns said.
As the show went off the air, a camera caught Reigns telling Jimmy Uso to talk some sense into Fatu.
Notes
- Cody Rhodes appeared despite reports earlier in the day that he was not medically cleared to compete following WrestleMania 42. He required three stitches to his face and four staples to the back of his head after his match with Randy Orton.
- Ethan Page made his official Raw debut after moving up from NXT.
- Sol Ruca made her Raw appearance after being called up from NXT.
- Attendance for the show was reported at 11,011 per WrestleTix, with the arena set up for 11,788.
- Next week’s Raw is expected to feature Roman Reigns responding to Jacob Fatu’s answer.
