Happy Monday everyone! It is time for the second edition of Raw for WWE in the Paul Levesque Era and we can only hope it is better than last week. The show opens up with the Women’s World Champion, Rhea Ripley, rumours have been swirling all day about her possibly being injured and needing to relinquish the title.
Ripley made her way to the ring with her right arm in a sling and she let us know that due to Liv Morgan’s attack last week, she will be out for a few months. She has also been told that she needs to vacate the thing that means the most to her, her world championship. This was so painful for Ripley as she laid the title in the ring and she said this is all because of Morgan’s stupid little revenge tour. She would’ve had respect for Morgan if she came face-to-face, but instead, she attacked her like a coward because she knew Mami would drop her where she stood.
Get well soon Mami. Credit: WWE
Her next message was for whoever wins her championship (it was announced later in the show a new champion will be crowned next week), Ripley promised that when she comes back she’s coming for blood! She then said everyone better hope she doesn’t see Morgan tonight because she will end up in a Montreal jail tonight. Morgan’s music hit and surrounded by security she walked towards the ring laughing at Mami. Ripley wanted to get her hands on Morgan, but Adam Pearce held her back and Morgan continued to laugh at the now-former champ. We can only hope for a speedy recovery for Ripley.
When Ripley got to the back the rest of The Judgement Day was waiting for her, they told her when she comes back Morgan would regret ever messing with her. Ripley just asked them to keep Judgement Day on top!
Sheamus vs. Ivar
Welcome back Sheamus. Credit: WWE
The Celtic Warrior, Sheamus is back (With his iconic Written in My Face theme song)! After eight long months, Sheamus is finally healthy and he is on Raw battling Ivar. He looked great to begin this match, taking down the massive Ivar with a shoulder block and then delivering a brutal avalanche White Noise. He followed all that with the 10 Beats of the Bodhran, but Ivar battled back with a spin kick and diving splash.
Ivar then attempted a springboard from the second rope, but he turned into a big knee from Sheamus in mid-air. Sheamus then hit a bicycle knee and finally, a Brogue Kick to get the victory.
Winner: Sheamus
Paul “Triple H” Levesque made his way to the ring with Adam Pearce and it seems like they have something to unveil. Triple H said it is hard to believe that WrestleMania was just 8 days ago, the night when a whole new era started. Pearce added especially a new era for the tag team division, we walked into ‘Mania with one set of champions and walked out with two. He believes the new champions deserve to head into this new era with titles they can be proud of and the Raw Tag Team Champions, The Awesome Truth, were now brought out to the ring.
Triple H congratulated them both for making history and he told R-Truth it was awesome to see him have his ‘Mania moment. He now said they need championships to represent the new era and going forward they will be known as the World Tag Team Champions and wearing the brand new titles! Which are absolutely stunning in my opinion.
The new World Tag Team Championships. Credit: WWE
Truth was baffled because he thought Triple H was a magician making titles appear out of nowhere. Miz had to let him know that Triple H is not a magician, but Truth wanted to know what else he was hiding LOL. Miz cut in and said this is exactly what they’ve wanted, they get the chance to elevate the tag team division. Truth was still confused, even thinking Triple H was Tommaso Ciampa, so Miz gave it one more shot. He spoke French since they were in Montreal and Truth finally understood, those are their new titles! Triple H now took the old titles and presented The Awesome Truth with their new championships.
The World Tag Team Champions. Credit: WWE
Pearce then announced it was time for a triple threat tag team match to determine the number one contenders for The Awesome Truth’s new titles.
Triple Threat World Tag Team Championship Number One Contender’s Match: #DIY (Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano) vs. The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods) vs. The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus)
One weird tidbit about this match is as New Day was making their entrance, a weird graphic appeared over the screen. It seems as though someone could be coming to Raw, but I wonder who?
Nonetheless, Brutus began this match showcasing some strength, taking down both Woods and Gargano. #DIY even attempted a dive onto both Creed Brothers, but they were both caught in mid-air and New Day then dove over the top onto all four of their opponents. As the match progressed, Ciampa, Kingston and Julius were all trading strikes in the centre of the ring. This ended with Julius and Ciampa exchanging knees before Gargano hit Woods with a slingshot spear and #DIY gained some momentum. Gargano dove onto Julius and Woods and Ciampa hit Kingston with a Project Ciampa.
Woods now got involved catching Gargano with the Honor Roll and New Day then hit an assisted Famouser. Julius then hit all four of his opponents with a different suplex and then dropped Kingston with a superplex. However, as he landed Woods dove onto Julius with his signature elbow drop and went for the pin. While he was in the pin #DIY hit him with the Meet in the Middle to steal the victory and become the number one contenders.
Winners: #DIY
Drew McIntyre was supposed to chat with Jackie Redmond backstage about CM Punk costing him again last week. He was laughing as the interview began, but didn’t say another word and instead kicked down the screen where he rewatched the incident.
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell vs. Ivy Nile & Maxxine Dupri
Dupri was looking to impress early and showcase her progress, she hit Hartwell with a diving crossbody and a fisherman suplex. LeRae then got involved and took control by attacking Dupri. However, Dupri battled back and went for the tag, but Hartwell distracted the referee so he didn’t see the tag. He then went to remove Nile from the ring and Hartwell hit Dupri with the big boot before placing LeRae on the pin. Hartwell is picking up on LeRae’s evil tactics.
Winners: Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
WWE aired a video package highlighting the career of the new World Heavyweight Champion, Damian Priest. As usual, an amazing video package from WWE and following that, J-Day was in their locker room upset about Ripley’s injury.
THIS IS DAMIAN PRIEST.
Take a very special look at the WWE journey of World Heavyweight Champion @ArcherofInfamy accompanied by the sounds of @IamDesRocs. pic.twitter.com/sbqgyCy0yZ
— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2024
Priest told them they are still the Judgement Day, Dom needs to focus on teaching Andrade a lesson tonight and JD needs to have Dom’s back. As for Finn Bálor, he was confused as to why he was facing Jey Uso tonight and he and Priest aren’t focused on regaining the tag titles.Priest told Bálor all he needs to be focused on is tonight and then at Backlash he will take care of Jey Uso once and for all. Bálor didn’t seem too enthusiastic about Priest not being interested in the tag titles anymore. Could some problems and jealousy be arising in J-Day?
Andrade vs. Dominik Mysterio w/JD McDonagh
Andrade was in complete control, hitting Dom with a diving crossbody and the Three Amigos. However, he then went to the top rope and JD distracted him so Dom could attack. Despite the outside interference, Andrade made his comeback and hit Dom with the running double knees. He then attempted a springboard moonsault, but Dom moved out of the way and both ended up on the apron where Dom planted him with a vicious Canadian Destroyer. Dom then wanted a 619, but instead, he ran into a spinning back elbow from Andrade and he then hit his new finisher to get the victory.
Winner: Andrade
Following the match, JD jumps Andrade from behind and J-Day was beating him down two-on-one. Ricochet rushed the ring to make the save and J-Day retreated to the back.
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven vs. Katana Chance & Kayden Carter
Niven was overpowering both Chance and Carter, but once Green was tagged their control was lost. Carter and Chance used their speed to attack Green and Niven needed to save her partner. She hit Chance with a fallaway slam and Carter with a running crossbody, so all Green had to do was pin her for the win.
Winners: Chelsea Green & Piper Niven
#LMRT is just getting started…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/QA33FU6xwP
— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2024
Liv Morgan joined Cathy Kelly to discuss Ripleu relinquishing the title, she said she is confused as to why people are seeing her as the bad guy. Nobody had any sympathy for her when Ripley tore her shoulder out of its socket, this is just an eye for an eye or a shoulder for a shoulder. Morgan views this as karma and says her revenge tour will come to an end when she is the Women’s World Champion.
The Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, has arrived in Montreal and to quite the electric reaction. He spoke about the fact that he is now a Smackdown superstar since he is the WWE Champion, but he promised the Raw crowd he is not going anywhere. He was here to speak about the man who promised to be hisShield, Seth Rollins, and he wanted to thank him for his help. He then turned his attention to The Rock’s post yesterday, and he said he believes that Rock has a lot more than one match left in him. He knows Rock said he will make him bleed again and he may bleed, but next time if he bleeds, Rock is going to bleed with him.
Undisputed WWE Champion @CodyRhodes had some very interesting things to say about @TheRock and The Bloodline…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/V5qRSwcako
— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2024
Rhodes then mentioned the arrival of Tama Tonga and how Roman Reigns supposedly sent him, but Reigns was nowhere to be seen. With the mention of The Bloodline, Rhodes said without further adieu he wanted to bring former Bloodline member, Jey Uso out to the ring. Jey is the number one contender for the World Heavyweight Championship and Raw is about to be all his. With Jey facing Bálor tonight, Rhodes knows J-Day will be with him and he wanted to offer to have Jey’s back tonight. Jey appreciated the offer, but he said he’s gotta be him and do this on his own.
Jey Uso vs. Finn Bálor
Uso was waiting in the ring for Bálor and he was attacked from behind by Bálor to get himself the advantage before the match began. That momentum carried on after the bell sounded as he dropkicked Jey off the apron and onto the floor. After a commercial break, Jey battled back hitting Bálor with an enzigiri and then a flurry of strikes. He tried to follow that with a Samoan drop, but Bálor raked his eyes and dropped him with a reverse DDT. Bálor now hit a sling blade and then ran into a superkick from Jey followed by a spear. Jey then went to the top rope and hit the Uso Splash to get the victory.
Winner: Jey Uso
The champion and the challenger. Credit: WWE
Following the match, the World Heavyweight Champion, Damian Priest, came to the ring to go face-to-face with his challenger. As they were in each other’s faces JD and Dom attacked Jey from behind and Bálor then joined the attack. However, once Bálor got involved everything went wrong, and Jey was able to fight off all three men and escape through the crowd. Priest also didn’t look too happy about this attack even happening, I think there are some serious issues in Judgement Day.
Jey walked out of the arena into the streets of Montreal where he met Sami Zayn.
Zayn said 25 years ago he went to his first show here and now he walks in a champion. But he comes in the same way, through the front door. We then got the amazing visual of Zayn walking through the fans in the concourse and into the stands with a Canadian flag draped over his shoulders. The crowd was electric as Zayn circled the arena, this was one of the best entrances I have ever seen on an episode of Raw.
WELCOME HOME, SAMI!@Montreal welcomed WWE Intercontinental Champion @SamiZayn home at @CentreBell with a gigantic ovation for an unforgettable entrance!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/I4BjmxJIl7
— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2024
Before Gable makes his entrance, he is approached by Bronson Reed who tells him it doesn’t matter who wins because whoever does will have to answer to him.
Intercontinental Championship Match: Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable
After some early back and forth, Gable took control with a lariat and attacked the left knee of Zayn. He dove from the top rope to the outside onto Zayn and then brought him back into the ring to hit a diving headbutt from the top. The focus was now on Zayn’s left leg again, he manipulated the joints and drove the knee into the mat. Zayn tried to battle back with a diving elbow, but Gable went right back at his leg locking in an ankle lock. Zayn broke the hold by rolling through and then hit Gable on the outside with an Arabian Press Moonsault.
And STILL. Credit: WWE
After a commercial break, Gable drove Zayn into the mat with an avalanche Olympic slam from the top rope and he followed that with two German suplexes. He attempted a third, but Zayn blocked and then hit Gable with two German suplexes of his own. This carried on with both men exchanging German suplexes back and forth until Zayn delivered one that dropped Gable right on the back of his head and neck. Zayn stayed on the attack with an exploder into the corner and he then wanted the Helluva Kick, but Gable cut him off and locked in the ankle lock again.
Zayn was able to break the hold and he then wanted to lock in a Sharpshooter, but his left leg gave out when he tried the move. Gable saw Zayn reeling and German suplexed him into the corner before locking in the ankle lock for a third time. Zayn broke the hold again to send Gable into the corner with an exploder suplex and he then finally was able to hit the Helluva Kick to retain the title.
Winner: Still Intercontinental Champion, Sami Zayn
HOW COULD HE?!?@WWEGable just turned on and destroyed @SamiZayn following their incredible #ICTitle match on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/zmBbBHugHi
— WWE (@WWE) April 16, 2024
Following the match, Zayn showed respect to Gable and went to embrace his wife. However, while Zayn was hugging his wife he was attacked from behind by Gable. He German suplexed Zayn on the floor, threw him into the ring post and locked him into a brutal ankle lock through the turnbuckle. Gable has finally snapped and turned heel on the Intercontinental Champion.
