How many of you thought Cody Rhodes would be challenging Theory for the United States Championship tonight? Well, that’s exactly what’s happening, apparently.
Off the back of a second straight singles win over Seth ‘Freakin’ Rollins last night at WrestleMania Backlash, Rhodes has earned his first title shot since his WWE return, and it’ll be going down tonight… unless we get any typical WWE shenanigans.
Rhodes vs Theory is actually the only thing announced for Raw so far, so we could be in for a fun night of even more randomness, especially since it’s post-pay-per-view season.
Follow along with all the happenings on tonight’s Raw with our live blog below from the start of the show at 8pm ET!
7:54pm
Asuka vs. Bianca Belair
As Becky pointed out earlier, a championship contender’s match makes no sense, you have to beat the champion to face the champion…? Zippy match between these two where both get some great offense in but there isn’t a lot of time for a truly interesting back and forth as the third match on the night ends in DQ as Becky attacks both Asuka and Bianca. Bianca and Asuka are left sort of hugging each other in the ring with Becky on the ramp jabber jawing to end the show. She’s big-time for a reason!
Dana Brooke tells Reggie and Akira Tozawa to meet up with she and Tamina for a double date, R-Truth says “A snake date!” as they walk up and Truth serves Reggie and Tozawa with divorce papers. Tozawa shouts “I don’t want a divorce!” and then runs away, Tamina reminding Truth “it’s not official until you serve him!” and R-Truth has to chase him down. Reggie tries to talk to Dana and Tamina blocks him.
Becky Lynch makes her entrance to be on commentary for Asuka vs. Bianca in the main event!
Naomi and Sasha Banks vs. Nikki A.S.H. and Doudrop
Solid match for storyline progression purposes with Nikki A.S.H. taking the pin and post-match tongue lashing from Doudrop as they fall to Boss & Glow after a Rent’s Due (which is a delightful name for the finishing move.)
Theory vs. Cody Rhodes for United States Championship
A nice little match between these two which unfortunately didn’t end in a Cody Rhodes United States Championship victory – rather, a bit more predictably, Seth Rollins interfered, attacking Cody on the outside of the ring causing the DQ and laying stomp on Cody on top of the announcer’s table.
Sorry Frank – your wife and your triplets are about to watch a squash match with Veer Mahaan beating you with a move literally called the “cervical clutch” but adding the miniature interview with Byron before these squashes actually brings a lot.
Cody makes his entrance as he and Theory for the United States Championship is NEXT!
6:40pm
Ken Owens
In this more amusing than it sounds segment, “Kevin Owens’ older brother Ken Owens” is here to attempt to get to the bottom of this Ezekiel/Elias business… and when that doesn’t work, a fight breaks out leaving Ezekiel down and KO and Alpha Academy standing tall.
Back from the break, Pearce comes out and tells Sonya that upper-level management has determined that as an official she abused her authority, and accordingly… she has been terminated.
And her opponent for the match – a returning Alexa Bliss is back! Her look, music and Lilly doll are all pretty much the same.
Essentially a squash match with Alexa hitting a Twisted Bliss off the top rope on Sonya for the pinfall victory, barely breaking a sweat as she has nary a hair out of place as she wins, grabs Lilly, and leaves again while Sonya is hilariously selling her horror at having been fired and then losing (but it seems more about getting fired.)
VIP Lounge segment with MVP, Omos, Cedric Alexander and Bobby Lashley
MVP is out for a VIP lounge with Omos, they’re interrupted by Cedric Alexander who is excited about their win at WrestleMania Backlash… but before we resolve the Cedric bit, they’re interrupted by Bobby Lashley who lays waste to the stage, the security and especially Alexander who tries to get involved multiple times.
Afterwards, we zip backstage with Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville, she is demanding to know who her opponent is but then decides she doesn’t care because whoever it is, she’s ready for business.
They pre-announce that Cody vs. Theory will be at the top of the hour which is interesting but informative – Sonya vs. a mystery opponent is next.
6:06pm
Finn Balor vs. Damian Priest
Match ends in a DQ when Ripley distracts Balor who is getting ready to take flight towards the downed Priest near the announcers’ desk but stops as to not collide with Rhea, Edge rushing in the ring and spearing Styles right in front of the ref. After the match, Ripley and Styles almost come to blows but Styles “can’t strike a woman!” and instead gets laid out by the Judgment Day as well as the three baddies stand tall to end the multi-match segment for their new faction.
5:56pm
Rhea Ripley vs. Liv Morgan
Fairly fast match between the two ladies with Liv getting a little offense in and while Liv certainly has an emotional investment in this match, Ripley dominates her, and she wins via submission.
After the match, Edge encourages Rhea to continue an assault on Liv however it is cut a little short by Balor and AJ Styles’ music hitting with a graphic announcing that Balor vs. Priest is NEXT!
Make their way to the ring, including a very slick haircut for Edge!
They each take turns on the mic as Edge describes Priest and Ripley as “Saints of Fate” as Priest is proud of Ripley for joining their movement.
Rhea describes that the choice to join the Judgment Day was the easiest decision of her life, she is sick of stopping to sign autographs for little kids and then seeing them on eBay, she’s done being used!
Edge says that he is the one that told Ripley she needed to free herself of the dead weight that is Liv Morgan describing her as a “human LOL doll” which is actually very funny, but that they’re not done recruiting yet… before interrupted by Liv Morgan’s music – Rhea vs. Liv is next!
RK-Bro kicked off the show and they don’t care what happened last night, they still want a unification match against The Usos and they’ll be going to SmackDown to demand the match this Friday!
They’re interrupted however by the Street Profits who remind them that they earned the opportunity to have a match against RK-Bro for the Raw tag team titles and that match is next!
The match kicks off with great energy, RK-Bro showing off some fun dual moves before Montez Ford makes his trademark at this point dive over the top rope to take out Riddle going into another commercial break.
When we’re back, the crowd remains hot for Randy Orton but after “a rare miscommunication” between Riddle and Orton leads to Riddle’s move off the ropes and taking out Orton, there’s a massive set of moves by the Profits with a powerbomb from Dawkins to Riddle, Ford comes off the top rope and gains a stunning near fall but no dice after Randy has to interrupt the pin.
Finally in the last exchange, Riddle reverses a huge frog splash from Ford into an RKO, getting the pinfall victory and retaining the tag team championships for RK-Bro.
12:04am
Will The American Nightmare Become The Champion Of America Tonight?
Well this came out of nowhere… What are your predictions?
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