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WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 3, 2023) from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California, featuring all the fallout from the WrestleMania 39 extravaganza that went down over the past two nights just down the road in Inglewood, California.
Advertised for tonight: It’s the biggest episode of Raw of the year, the special “Raw After WrestleMania!” Roman Reigns is still the WWE Universal champion but The Bloodline isn’t at 100-percent, Cody Rhodes failed to finish the story, Bianca Belair retained her Raw women’s championship, Edge vanquished Finn Balor, we have new tag team champions. There’s a lot to figure out!
Come right back here at 8 pm ET when the Raw live blog will kick off once the show starts on USA Network. It will be below this line here. Reminder: GIFs and pics allowed, but no links to illegal streams, please.
WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR APRIL 3
Fate silent warriors, sleeping souls will arise, once forgotten soldiers come to life. Fallen mercenary, dormancy is done, not content with wars we never won, but me? I’m just here to liveblog this here pro wrestling show for you, folks.
The show opens with a video recap of WrestleMania 39.
Triple H makes his entrance to King of Kings and gets on the mic.
He welcomes us to Monday Night Raw and says if he wasn’t already on a high when he came out here tonight he sure is now. He talks up the weekend and the attendance and the spectacle and the roster coming out and putting their bodies on the line every week and says he just wanted to take a moment and thank everyone.
He talks about the awe of seeing the WrestleMania set in the stadium before thanking the most important people, us. On a day where WWE is dominating news and social media, when they’re water cooler talk, and they make an announcement that is all anybody wants to talk about, he’s here to assure us they’re not going anywhere.
The same WWE that you love, that put 161,000 people in a stadium, is going nowhere. The same WWE, the superstars, the action, the drama, they’re going nowhere. Like the bumper at the top of the show, then, now, together forever.
That said, he wants one thing, he wants to acknowledge one more person. 946 days as WWE Universal Champion, please rise and help him welcome Roman Reigns!
Enter Roman Reigns, flanked by Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa.
He gets in the ring and Paul E hands him the mic.
Roman says he guesses after last night’s performance we should probably do it like this tonight, and asks Hollywood to acknowledge him.
Enter Cody Rhodes, clutching his ribs intermittently.
He gets in the ring and on the mic and says he knows what he wants to talk about. Today is turning out a lot differently for him than he anticipated. He thought he’d be standing here Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, and he’ll acknowledge this— last night in the main event of WrestleMania 39, Roman was the better competitor.
He knows we always have to do this with the world watching, but he wishes all this wasn’t a factor, because he knows that Reigns knows he’s won a lot of matches where he skated by, where he was barely the victor, but last night wasn’t one of those. Last night Cody says he had him.
So he said he knew what to talk about and it boils down to just one word, and the crowd starts chanting “rematch” before he says it himself. Paul E says he was thinking, on behalf of the Tribal Chief, when exactly would Rhodes like this hypothetical rematch?
Cody wants it tonight!
Heyman turns him down. Not tonight, not in Puerto Rico, not in SummerSlam, not at Survivor Series, not at the Royal Rumble, not at Madison Square Garden, no no no. That’s what you call calling the shots because you live on the island of relevancy.
Cody asks if Paul thinks he’s in a normal mood for games and chicanery after everything he went through to get to last night, and while they’re all here let’s just read between the lines— you don’t want a rematch tonight? He knows exactly how tough Roman is and it doesn’t change what he’s gonna say, if he doesn’t want to do the rematch, why not at least do a tag match since he had to fight the two of them last night anyway.
Paul asks for a moment and has a whispered chat with the Tribal Chief. Roman nods and turns around, and Heyman says he’s been authorized to inform Cody that item number one, his challenge is accepted, with two parameters.
Number one, if someone in that locker room is stupid enough to team with him, it has to be someone that wrestled this past weekend at WrestleMania, and number two, anyone that walks down that aisle and teams with him tonight will never get another title match against Roman Reigns as long as he’s champion.
BROCK LESNAR IS HERE!
Cody shakes his hand and Brock pulls him it! It’s on!
The Bloodline leave solemn while Rhodes raises Lesnar’s hand!
Elias vs. Omos
Omos throwing him around, shoving him hard into the corner and posing! Scoop, Snake Eyes, off the ropes with a big boot! Gets him up...
Omos wins by pinfall with the chokebomb.
We see the Usos walking backstage.
Jimmy knocks on Roman Reigns’ locker room door and Paul Heyman answers, greeting them effusively as the greatest tag team of all time.
They want to see Roman but Paul says he just stepped out to have a chat with Solo Sikoa ahead of their match, and Reigns wanted them to know that their contributions are appreciated, the jet is fired up, and as soon as they mop the floor with Brock and Cody they’ll be on it with them to fly off to the usual festivities.
They leave and Heyman walks back in, barely heard saying he “took care of it” to someone inside.
We get a recap of this year’s Hall of Fame ceremony, and a media hype reel for WrestleMania 39 follows.
Cathy Kelly interviews Bad Bunny at ringside.
He talks about how excited he is to host Backlash in his home of Puerto Rico.
Rey Mysterio makes his entrance and gets on the mic.
He talks about how special the Hall of Fame is and thanks everyone for their support. He calls Bad Bunny out for his own special thanks and—
Enter Austin Theory.
He says he and Rey were the only ones who did exactly what they said they were going to do at WrestleMania, and he beat the greatest of all time, John Cena. The difference here is Mysterio’s too busy trying to correct the past, and he’s on top of the world and he can’t be touched.
He tells Rey he’s just like Big John, and he’s gonna beat his ass too and add to the collection. Mysterio says the only thing he’ll be collecting is his teeth after he hits the 619.
Austin Theory vs. Rey Mysterio
Theory choking Mysterio in the corner, circling, side headlock, shot off, shoulder block connects and we go to break, merciful break.
Back from commercial, Austin posts Rey shoulder first, big back elbow gets a one-foot pin for two! Left hands, whip out of the corner, up and over, tornado DDT from Mysterio! Jockeying for position in the turnbuckles, diving seated senton, springboard crossbody... NOPE!
Mounted punches in the corner, Theory comes back with a spin-out backbreaker rack powerbomb... SO CLOSE! Kick from the apron, slingshot headscissors sets up the 619 but Austin explodes off the ropes and takes his head off for two! Dominik Mysterio tries to run in, clobbered, 619 but Theory catches his legs and gets him up...
Austin Theory wins by pinfall with A-Town Down.
Post-match, Dom attacks his dad and beats him down some more! Mysterio the Younger points at Bad Bunny and goes to the floor to confront him.
They go back and forth in Spanish and Bunny says he did the right thing. Dom turns around, Bad calls him back and drops him with one punch! Damian Priest pulls Bunny over the barricade and tells him he didn’t need to get involved! Bad shoves him, an elbow for Dominik and Priest lays Bad Bunny out with a lariat!
Dragging Bunny over to the announce desk, clearing it, goozle... CHOKESLAM THROUGH THE ANNOUNCE DESK! Dom goes back in the ring to hit his dad a few more times for good measure and Judgment Day take their leave.
Medics check on Bad Bunny and Corey Graves apologizes to his fans on behalf of WWE.
We get a recap of Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn winning the tag titles and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of what we just saw, because Raw is three hours long. (Three hours long.)
Backstage, Adam Pearce berates Damian Priest for attacking Bad Bunny. Priest defends himself by saying if he didn’t like the guy, Adam would REALLY have a reason to be angry.
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn make their first entrance as WWE Undisputed Tag Team Champions.
The crowd chants “You deserve it!” and Kev says they do deserve it, but so do the fans. Sami says it’s been a long year for him, from Johnny Knoxville at WrestleMania last year to main eventing this year, and he hasn’t had a chance to say it and he knows it’s corny so he’s gonna say it once and move on, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for us.
Enough mushy stuff, he knows LA likes to celebrate! Owens says that sounds pretty good, but hopefully they have the same kind of celebration in mind. KO wants a good fight, and there’s gotta be lots of people in the locker room want to make a name for themselves against the tag champs, so if you want some, they’re right here!
Enter the Street Profits.
Montez Ford gets on the mic and gives the champs a big intro before offering them a toast. Angelo Dawkins proposes to accept the challenge and Montez makes a case for it to back him up, and we’re set... after the break.
Back from commercial, we see some of the cast of Bel-Air at ringside.
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn vs. Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Zayn and Dawkins to start, headlock takeover to a headscissors, repeat the cycle, Sami with an arm drag into an armbar. Tag to Owens, big senton, another one, tag back to Zayn and Ford tags in as the Profits rally and regain the momentum, but it only lasts until KO comes back in.
Working a backbreaker hold, rear chinlock follows, back suplex, lands on his feet, Stunner denied and Montez rolls to the floor! Enzuigiri, tag to Angelo, big back elbow lays the champ out! Kneeling armbar applied and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Zayn with the tag, off the top with a crossbody... NOPE! Whip reversed, Sami slips out, step-up tornado DDT! Up top, big avalanche sunset flip powerbomb... FORD KICKS OUT! Enzuigiri, electric chair, blockbuster doomsday device from the Profits... KEVIN OWENS BREAKS IT UP!
Sami catches Montez with the corner exploder suplex, crawling... TAG MADE! Kev in hot, clearing the apron, cannonball for Ford! Diving senton atomico... DAWKINS BREAKS IT UP! Passing Sami to the floor, Montez sends Owens out after him with a superkick, Ford crosses himself... TOPE CON GIRO!
Back inside, KO hits the Stunner, Sami shoves Ford into position...
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn win by pinfall with a Helluva Kick from Zayn on Montez Ford.
We get a recap of Logan Paul vs. Seth Rollins.
Seth is interviewed backstage.
He says he’s feeling good, he’s on cloud nine, and it’s the Raw after WrestleMania, where he hit the stomp heard ‘round the world and sent Logan Paul and his little pal KSI back to the wasteland of social media. But something’s not right, something about tonight is missing and he can’t quite put his finger on it.
He’s got it, the party isn’t back here, it’s out there! He tells the DJ to play his song and starts walking to the ring.
Seth Rollins makes his entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Seth Rollins is in the ring, listening to the crowd sing his theme song.
He conducts them from the ring before heading out to the floor and leaving.
Bobby Lashley is interviewed backstage.
He says he’s got a lot of pent-up frustration from standing in front of the WrestleMania crowd without competing.
Bronson Reed rolls up and asks if he can call him Uncle Bobby, but he’s not having it. Reed asks him to hear him out, because Lashley taught him how to lose, but eventually the pupil can school the teacher. Bob asks if he wants to fight right now and Bronson says he can’t do tonight, but eventually, yes.
Mustafa Ali appears and says Lashley has had a lot of nos coming his way lately, and he needs to change the way he thinks, to think more positive-Ali and make sure he never takes “no” for an answer. Bob asks if he should just take somebody to the ring and maul them.
Mustafa objects and Lashley starts throwing him around towards gorilla! Throwing him through Gorilla and out to the stage, down the ramp, referee Danilo Anfibio right behind and we have a match!
Bobby Lashley vs. Mustafa Ali
Ali sidesteps, enzuigiri from the apron, Lashley shrugs it off, roll through, under a lariat, under a backfist, finally Bob takes his head off with a lariat! Hurt Lock and it’s over that easy...
Bobby Lashley wins by submission with the Hurt Lock.
Commentary promises us Bianca Belair after the break.
Back from commercial, the Bloodline are in Roman’s office, sans the Usos.
Reigns asks Heyman if they’re gone and he says yes, they’re on the jet. He asks Paul if he knew Brock Lesnar was here, and Heyman says usually this is when he goes home for months and reiterates his love for his Tribal Chief. Reigns asks how this happened, and Paul points out their last match was Brock’s last against Roman ever, and that meant he had nothing to lose.
Roman says it doesn’t matter, smashing Brock Lesnar is his greatest achievement and then he’s gonna do it again, then smash Cody, then tag Solo Sikoa in and we’ll see who’s ready now.
Bianca Belair makes her entrance.
She gets on the mic and says she’s still the champion but she can’t be the EST without stepping in the ring with the best, and Asuka is definitely one of the best she’s ever been in the ring with. She thanks Asuka for pushing her to be the toughest she can be, because now she can proudly say we did it.
Enter Rhea Ripley.
She says Bianca was lucky she chose Charlotte Flair to beat and we’ll come back to this challenge. Belair says to mind her business as SmackDown champion and one day, when she’s ready, they’ll see which of them is really the best of the best.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez make their entrance as Rhea takes her leave and we go to break.
Back from commercial, we see Cody Rhodes walking backstage.
Damage CTRL (Dakota Kai & IYO SKY) vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez (WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match)
Kai and Rodriguez to start, scorpion kick puts Raquel in position for a tag but Dakota blasts Morgan with a boot! Sending the heels to the floor, Rodriguez powerbombs Liv into the crush and we go to break!
Back from commercial, SKY working Morgan over, she fires off palm strikes for some breathing room and then the Codebreaker! Tags made, Rodriguez throwing Kai around, big fallaway slam, charging in, corkscrew Vader Bomb connects! Tag to IYO, but she throws Dakota into her own partner!
One-arm powerbomb blocked, Raquel shoves Kai into IYO! Dakota wants a kick, Rodriguez gets her up, tag made, one-arm powerbomb sets her up...
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez win by pinfall with Oblivion from Morgan on Dakota Kai, becoming #1 contenders to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Miz is shown walking backstage to send us to break.
Back from commercial, the Miz cuts a promo about all the matches he had to fight this week, between Pat McAfee, George Kittle, Shane McMahon, and Snoop Dogg himself.
He’s done with surprises, and there will be no more surprises—
Enter Matt Riddle.
Riddle gets on the mic and asks if we missed him, and Miz unloads on him, stomping him hard in the corner! Matt with palm strikes, a kick, ripcord knee, scooping him up, fall-forward Tombstone piledriver!
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a recap of Judgment Day’s altercation with Bad Bunny and we’re informed that Mr. Bunny has been taken to a local medical facility and may have a separated shoulder.
Byron Saxton interviews Becky Lynch, Lita, and Trish Stratus backstage.
They talk about how amazing it was and how they’re just getting started around here. Becky Lynch says her life has been on repeat dealing with Damage CTRL, but now they can raise the prestige of these titles by beating Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez on Raw next week.
Commentary hypes next week’s show.
The Bloodline makes their entrance and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Brock Lesnar F-5’s Cody Rhodes at the end of introductions for what was supposed to be our main event tag team match. Sigh.
He picks Cody up again and hits another F-5. Sure. He puts boots to Rhodes and steps on his neck before throwing him with a German suplex. To the floor, beating Cody down, he rings the bell for some reason and then smashes him in the face with the steel steps.
F-5 through the announce table for good measure. Adam Pearce tries to regain control of the situation but Brock shoos him away. Taking Rhodes and the steel steps into the ring, Brock hits one more F-5 onto the steel steps.
Lesnar starts leaving, referees and Adam Pearce check on Cody while they wait for the medics, Brock rushes back into the ring, grabbing a steel chair on the way. He hits Cody with the chair a few times. Choking Rhodes with the chair, screaming abuse at him before leaving.
Medics finally arrive and of course Brock comes back to the stage, but this time he settles for just flipping the bird.
That’s the show, folks.
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