4/22/19 Live Raw Coverage: A new era begins on the red brand
* Live from Des Moines, IA
– Raw opens with Triple H headed to the ring. Two triple threat matches are announced for tonight – Samoa Joe vs. AJ Styles vs. Rey Mysterio, plus Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin vs. The Miz. Seth Rollins music hits, out comes the Universal Champion. Rollins and Triple H hug. Rollins says the moment is surreal, being in the ring with the Universal title and Triple H in the ring, in his home state. Rollins says he slayed the beast, and brought the title home. The fans chant “welcome home!” Triple H says Rollins stopped the bucket head Brock Lesnar, and left Wrestlemania the Universal champion. Fans chant “burn it down.” Triple H says the landscape has changed thanks to the roster shakeup, and now, everyone is gunning for Rollins. Rollins remains us of his Money in the Bank history, and is fine with everyone gunning for him. Triple H said he hasn’t heard from Brock Lesnar or Paul Heyman regarding a rematch. The winner of the triple threat winners will face off to face Rollins for the Universal title at Money in the Bank.
Here comes the United States champion Samoa Joe. Joe said he has arrived on Raw! Joe enters the ring. Samoa Joe likes the idea of having two belts like Becky Lynch. Rey Mysterio comes out. Mysterio says he’ll face Rollins at Money in the Bank. Here comes Drew McIntyre. He said its his time now for title opportunities. Drew said Rollins is the champion because he got to Lesnar first. McIntyre tells Rollins he will become the Universal champion at Money in the Bank. Here comes The Miz. The Miz tells Rollins has something he wants. He says the A-lister is back on Raw. Miz says The Miz vs. Seth Rollins at Money in the Bank is a must see match. Here comes Baron Corbin. Corbin has he is the most deserving to face Rollins at Money in the Bank, reminding us he retired a legend at Wrestlemania. Here comes AJ Styles! He asks if Baron if he ever shuts up. Styles says he’ll win his triple threat match tonight. Styles says at Money in the Bank, it will be Styles vs. Rollins for the Universal championship. Rollins says everyone is gunning for me, and he’s ready. He doesn’t care who he will at Money in the Bank, because he’s going to burn it down!
Commercial break
(1) Triple Threat match: United States Champion Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles. Winner will face Drew McIntyre vs. The Miz vs. Baron Corbin later tonight for the opportunity to headline Money in the Bank against Seth Rollins. Joe tossed Mysterio out of the ring, after Styles attempted a styles clash on Mysterio, but Joe made the save. We paused for a commercial break during the contest.
Back from the break, Styles goes for the pin, but Mysterio returns and makes the necessary save. In position, Mysterio wants to go for the 419, but Joe bails out of the ring. Mysterio dives over the ropes onto Joe on the floor. Mysterio and Styles climb to the second rope, followed by Joe. Joe tosses both of his competitors to the mat. “This is awesome” chants the crowd. Joe covers Styles, but he kicks out. Another commercial break….
Joe nearly covers Styles as we return from the break. Mysterio nails Joe from the top rope, but can’t cover Joe thanks to interference from Styles. Mysterio DDTs Samoa Joe. Mysterio goes for the 419, but Joe applies the Coquina Clutch. Styles hits the Styles clash on Mysterio onto Samoa Joe and covers Joe. Styles gets the 1-2-3 pinfall victory. Styles will now face the other triple threat winner later on tonight.
BEST. STYLES. CLASH. EVER.@AJStylesOrg gets the better of @SamoaJoe & @reymysterio to get one step closer to a #UniversalTitle opportunity at #MITB! #RAW pic.twitter.com/fzDbMPABUv
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
* They plug Becky Lynch vs. Alicia Fox for later on….
* We see clips of John Cena hosting the Ellen Show.
Here comes Naomi and the glow…
(2) Naomi vs. Billie Kay (with Peyton Royce). Billie and Peyton talk on the way to the ring, claiming they are tag team champions because they have each other’s back. They ask who has Naomi’s back since Bayley has jumped to the Smackdown roster. Naomi gets the win in a short TV match. Billie and Peyton argue with the referee after the match.
* We see …
She's back. #RAW pic.twitter.com/OTRiZjtypp
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
(3) Triple Threat match: The Miz vs. Drew McIntyre vs. Baron Corbin — winner faces AJ Styles later on the show. Early pinfall attempt on McIntyre, but he quickly kicks out. On the outside, Corbin and McIntyre double team The Miz on the arena floor. In the early stages of the match, Corbin and McIntyre go after The Miz, but then Corbin delivers a right hand on McIntyre.
.@mikethemiz is going to be just fine on #RAW.
Scratch that.
He's going to be MUST-SEE! #TripleThreat pic.twitter.com/sJbnAYhA9f
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 23, 2019
Back in the ring, Miz pins Corbin, but he escapes. Miz delivers right hands to Corbin, followed by kicks and double knees to both of his opponents. Miz kicks Corbin and McIntyre, but a McIntyre headbutt kills Miz’s flow. Corbin stops McIntyre and The Miz in the corner, landing them from the ropes back on the mat as we head to a commercial break.
WOW. #TripleThreat #RAW @BaronCorbinWWE @mikethemiz @DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/8DB1NwcUjW
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
Back from the break, The Miz launches himself onto McIntyre and Corbin on the outside. In the back, we see Styles watching the action on a monitor. Miz applies the figure four on McIntyre, but Drew escapes by distracting the referee. Corbin nearly pins Miz, but Miz kicks out, which upsets Corbin.
Miz hts a DDT on McIntyre, but Drew kicks out. Miz hits a DDT on Corbin, but Corbin kicks out.
McIntyre wipes The Miz out with a vicious Claymore Kick! Corbin quickly runs into the ring and pushes McIntyre out of the ring.
Corbin pins The Miz. Later tonight, Corbin vs. Styles, with the winner facing Rollins at Money in the Bank for the Universal championship.
– Backstage, AJ Styles is interviewed. He doesn’t care about Corbin’s size, and he thinks of himself as a bulldog full of fight. Styles says he’s a two time WWE champion, longest Smackdown champion. Styles hopes Rollins is watching, because he is going over tonight.
– Here comes Sami Zayn.
– We see a video for Make-A-Wish
– Zayn cuts a promo in the ring. Fans have gotten the impression that he was bitter in his ten months of recovery from should surgery, says Zayn. He says it was great being away from the fans. Zayn shows pictures from his Instagram traveling around the world and relaxing. Zayn said he was living the good life, but he was getting depressed as his return date approached. He figured out what is problem was, the toxic culture of fans.
.@SamiZayn is absolutely NOT having it with the @WWEUniverse tonight. What a shock. #Raw pic.twitter.com/HfiTNhJb0V
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
Zayn is holding all the fans responsible for their negativity. He said he would rather be anywhere in the world instead of being in Des Moines, Iowa. He suggests the fans take a trip to hell. He falls down laughing in the ring as he is booed by the fans.
As Zayn leaves the ring, Cedric Alexander music hits, and he passes Zayn on the way to the ring.
(4) Cedric Alexander vs. Cesaro. Back from a break, the match is in progress. Cesaro puts Alexander in a headlock on the mat. Sunset flip by Alexander. Cesaro is powered to the mat by Alexander, but he can’t get the three count. Alexander flies over the top rope onto Cesaro, but Cesaro is able to pick up the win thanks to a stiff upper cut.
WHAT AN UPPERCUT! 😮 @WWECesaro caps off an IMPRESSIVE #RAW return by pressing pause on the #AgeOfAlexander. @CedricAlexander pic.twitter.com/49HZfwmJBu
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
– Backstage, Charly Caruso interviews The Usos. As they talk, here comes The Revival to interrupt.
.@WWEUsos aren't trying to listen to ANYTHING #TheRevival is saying tonight on #Raw. pic.twitter.com/fXexYbEefo
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
(5) The Viking Raiders vs. The Lucha House Party. Not an official match. The Viking Raiders simply destroy The Lucha House Party.
The #VikingRaiders with the #VikingExperience!!!
If you haven't joined the raid, you really should… #RAW @Ivar_WWE @Erik_WWE pic.twitter.com/ccBe953FZy
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 23, 2019
– Backstage, Tag Team Champions Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder are interviewed and are impressed with the Viking Raiders. Ryder said they are experienced, and the Viking Raiders are going to have earn what they have accomplished.
– Two belts Becky Lynch makes her way to the ring, she’s in action next.
Back from break, Lynch is cutting a promo in the ring. She says something in the air tonight. She talks about Lacey Evans, and her sucker punching. She is ready to face Alicia Fox, but here comes Lacey Evans. Evans says Lynch is always wanting to be the center of attention. Lacey says she’ll teach Lynch a lesson at the Money in the Bank PPV. Lynch says Evans is getting on her nerves, and will dismantle Evans at Money in the Bank.
(6) Raw and Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch vs. Alicia Fox. On the outside, Fox drives the champ into the barricade. During the match, we go to a commercial break.
Lynch forces Fox to submit, and after this pretty sloppy match, Evans sucker punches Lynch. She delivers a second punch before leaving the ring.
What the?? @LaceyEvansWWE has attacked @BeckyLynchWWE at the conclusion of The Man's match on #Raw! pic.twitter.com/BoJPgvqQrn
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
– Backstage, Corbin is warming up and is interviewed by Charly. He questions Charly’s interview style. Corbin is looking forward to making Rollins’ life miserable. Charly wonders if he is looking past Styles.
– We see Ricochet.
m u s t a c h e g o a l s #RAW #RobertRoode pic.twitter.com/SCwSJoGfvq
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 23, 2019
(7) Ricochet vs. Robert Roode. Ricochet gains the upper hand in the match, as we break for a commercial or two. However, during the the break, Roode gains control of the match with a headlock. Corey Graves put Ricochet over on commentary as arguably the top prospect in the WWE today. In the end, Roode scores the pinfall victory following a Glorious DDT.
.@WWEBrayWyatt, is that you?!? #RAW pic.twitter.com/8MVA9bscs5
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
– We see a segment called the Firefly Fun House with Bray Wyatt. He has missed us. Wyatt said he used to be a very bad man, but says he has been punished. Wyatt says he will never turn into that pathetic loser ever again. He chainsaws a cardboard cut out of his old character. Wyatt will see us next week.
😕😕😕#RAW @WWEBrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/d4pfSrD55z
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 23, 2019
Till next week on the #FireflyFunHouse… 👋 #RAW @WWEBrayWyatt pic.twitter.com/huDEL3J5po
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
– Next week, Alexa Bliss will announce the participants in the men and women’s Money in the Bank matches
(8) AJ Styles vs. Baron Corbin. Winner will face Seth Rollins for the Universal title at the Money in the Bank PPV. Graves brought on commentary that Styles might have been injured during his earlier triple threat match. Cole reminds us that unlike the triple threat matches, countouts and disqualifies rules apply. Big right hand by Corbin gained him the early advantage. Corbin whips Styles into the time keeper’s area. Corbin drops Styles on the guard rail as we head to the final break.
Corbin maintained control of the match during the break, Corbin pins Styles, but he kicks out. No offense yet from Styles, appearing to be in pain. Styles sells his back being sore. Styles is able to land a few punches. Styles rolls through, but a two count. Styles is unsuccessful in his first attempt of the styles clash. Announcers wonder does Styles have anything left?
Deep six, but Styles is able to kick out before the referee reaches three. Styles goes for a calf crusher submission in the middle of the ring, but Corbin grabs Styles hair and is able to power out. The phenomenal four-arm, and Styles pins Corbin. Styles advances, and will face Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship at Money in the Bank in four weeks.
.@WWERollins vs. @AJStylesOrg for the #UniversalTitle at #MITB.
You ready? #RAW pic.twitter.com/9eLQvLzx9y
— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2019
After the match, Rollins comes down to the ring. Rollins shakes AJ’s hand as they stare each other done as Raw goes off the air.