Raw after WrestleMania Live Results (4/20/26)
It’s the night we hit the reset button, but first, a montage of the weekend in case you missed it or simply want to revisit it. We are officially off the road to WrestleMania 42 as we begin the long and winding journey to WrestleMania 43. And ya know, all of the PLEs and TV that will happen before that. It’s the WWE Raw after WrestleMania, and we’re kicking things off with the Ruler.
Oba Femi Has a Message
Clad in a suit, Oba Femi soaks in the chants and cheering of his name before simply saying, “The ruler has arrived.”
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs Kabuki Warriors
Asuka and Kairi Sane are in a pre-recorded promo as Asuka says she will always be her senpai and Sky will always be her protege. Asuka points out that since Sky aligned with Rhea Ripley, Ripley has become a champ, but Sky is nothing. Asuka says she would have always had Sky’s back, but Sky turned on her and tried to turn Sane against her as well. Sane promised the Kabuki Warriors would win tonight before Asuka said, there will be consequences as Ripley and Sky aren’t ready for Asuka. That leads us into Ripley and Sky’s entrance. The two hug as Ripley holds up her newly won championship. Seems this could be the finale for Rhiyo if Ripley is headed to SmackDown. We head to break. The match is up next.
Sky and Sane start things off with the two showing off to each other. Sane gets a full head of steam behind her as she looks for approval from Asuka. Sky manages to turn the tables, sending her knee into Sane’s spine before tagging in Ripley. Quick cover for the champ, but Sane kicks out. Ripley tosses Sane to the mat, leading to a tag from Asuka. Ripley and Asuka exchange strikes right away, with Asuka getting in some quick offense before Ripley lands a massive kick for a nearfall. Asuka and Sane utilize a rep bump for a distraction, allowing Sane to tag in and take Ripley out on the outside with an InSane Elbow that takes us to break…Sane is on top out of the commercial and gets a nearfall before a double team and tag in to Asuka. Ripley evades Sane from the top rope as both Sky and Asuka tag in. Sky with the early lead as both Sane and Asuka are taken down. Sky hypes up the crowd before hitting a double Bullet Train to Asuka and Sane in opposite corners. Sky with a nearfall off a kick. Ripley tags in for a double team from Rhiyo. Asuka kicks out a 2 from a missile dropkick by Sane. Ripley looks for Riptide, but Asuka with a cheapshot to take Sky off the apron. Double team by the Kabukis leads to a nearfall, but Sky breaks it up. Sane and Sky argue, which ends with Sane sending Sky into Asuka on the outside. Riptide from Ripley and Over the Moonsault from Sky, and this one’s a wrap…Asuka tends to Sky on the outside briefly before yelling at her in Japanese, seemingly blaming her for the loss.
Penta, Je’Von Evans, and Ethan Page
Penta and Adam Pearce are backstage when Je’Von Evans rolls up to congratulate Penta. He says he’s going to be champ one day, and he’s not going anywhere. Penta says the title isn’t going anywhere before adding a Cero Miedo. He leaves as Ethan Page shows up and is introduced as Raw’s newest superstar. Page says he is here now, and he always gets what he wants. What he wants is the Intercontinental Championship. Pearce does the thing and makes a match between Page and Evans official for tonight.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes Tease Future Title Match
Las Vegas doesn’t appear to be a CM Punk fan. Amid a few Punk chants, the crowd mostly boos the former champ as he makes his way down the ramp. Doesn’t stop them from singing his song, though. After some Punk chants, he took the mic. Punk said he has been dealing with a lot these past few months, with the death of his friend and then the death of his dog. Punk noted a lot of members of the WWE family have passed away recently, people behind the scenes who help make WWE a well-oiled machine and grind day in and day out without the accolades. They make his job easy, so he wanted to show them respect. Punk notes the losses kept piling up, including his loss last night. Every week, he came, and the crowd was the one who helped him heal and get through the losses. Being champion gave him a reason not to slow down, so he thanks the fans for helping him process all his grief. Punk says the fans will help him get through his loss last night, too. He wasn’t even supposed to be world champion, so part of him thought being champ even for just three minutes wasn’t bad. But instead of wallowing in his loss, he stayed ready so he could come here and entertain the fans. Because he stayed ready, the opportunity to be champion again came his way. If he hadn’t stayed ready, they’d probably be talking to Jey Uso tonight instead of him. Punk said all he came to do is stay ready, and that’s why he’s smiling today. He lost, but he’s still the best in the world because he got to fulfill his dream and prove it. He gave everything he had, but it just wasn’t his night. He’s not going to sulk, and he’s not going on vacation. He’s going to stay ready because you never know when a title opportunity is going to fall out of the sky…Enter Cody Rhodes and his black eye.
Punk takes in Rhodes’ eye before he says he was just getting ready to leave. Rhodes says this is Raw, and this is Punk’s time. Rhodes says maybe he assumed and was incorrect, but he was watching backstage, and this isn’t what he expected. Punk asks Rhodes if he thought he was going to freak out or crash out. Rhodes says he did. They know who each other are and how they like to handle things. Punk is buttoned up, and Rhodes is glad that Vegas gave him the flowers because he deserves them. Rhodes isn’t sure what he’s supposed to do as he’s feeling and looking like a loser. Punk questions if Rhodes is saying he should feel like a loser, but Punk says he doesn’t. Maybe he looks like one to some people. Punk says Rhodes isn’t a loser. He beat a first ballot Hall of Famer and a legend, but he feels the way he does because he beat his friend and someone who was his mentor. Punk says he fought someone he hated, so that was easy, but Rhodes fought a friend, and that was a challenge. Rhodes is a winner, and in a word, Punk is a loser. Punk said heavy is the head that wears the crown. Punk shouldered the responsibility, but it wasn’t his night. The path for Rhodes is to keep being champ and keep winning, and his path is just to stay ready. Punk eyes Rhodes’ title and repeats his line about never knowing when a title shot is going to fall out of the sky. Punk leaves the ring, and Rhodes says, “Just say when.”
Finn Balor Promises Retribution for JD McDonagh
Finn Balor is in a pre-recorded promo where he says Dominik Mysterio brought out the demon last night, but he’s not done with the Judgment Day. He expected this from Mysterio but not from JD McDonagh. Balor remembered when McDonagh was just a 12-year-old kid who walked into his gym in Ireland. He helped make him one of the best wrestlers in the world, but when he needed someone to have his back, McDonagh chose Mysterio instead. So for Balor, this was going to be a full-circle moment. He brought McDonagh into the business, and now he was going to take him out.
Ethan Page vs Je’Von Evans
Ethan Page gets the early edge, but he gets cocky, and it allows Evans the first nearfall of the match. Evans showcases his athleticism before Page takes advantage of a cheap shot to take back the edge. Page takes out Evans with a knee, but Evans quickly rebounds with a series of strikes. Page catches him with a right of his own. Back elbow for a nearfall for Page, who takes advantage of Evans being less than 100 percent after last night’s ladder match. Page tries to wear down Evans, but Evans is still bouncy as he sends Page to the outside before coming over the top rope to take him down. That leads us into a break…Back from break, and Evans with another dive to the outside. He rolls Page back in the ring and tosses him into the corner before taking him out with a crossbody for a nearfall. Evans climbs back to the top, but Page stops him and follows him up, tossing him to the mat and into a powerslam for a nearfall. Evans fights off Page and sends him back to the outside before going for a flip off the apron. Page moves out of the way and sends Evans into the post. Evans kicks Page onto the commentary table, but before he can do anything, Rusev appears. Evans takes out Rusev in the timekeeper’s area, allowing Page to get back in the ring. Page counters the OG Cutter and hits the Twisted Grin for the win.
Rusev gets in the ring and starts beating up Evans as Page leaves. Rusev locks in the Accolade, prompting Penta to come out and make the save. Page comes back to send Penta into Rusev’s clutches before he backs off, not wanting the smoke. An Accolade from Rusev to Penta as Page claps on the ramp. Rusev picks up the Intercontinental Championship and puts it over his shoulder, making his intentions clear.
A Championship Celebration with some Sol
Liv Morgan takes in “You deserve it” chants before proclaiming herself the greatest world champion of all-time. Before the celebrations, however, she wants to thank some people, starting with Judgment Day. Morgan says she wouldn’t be where she is without her Judgment Day family. Morgan thanks Stephanie Vaquer next. They beat the hell out of each other, but in doing so, Vaquer reminded Morgan of a feeling she hasn’t felt in a long time. It reminded her of who she is, the most talented woman in all of WWE. This is her ring, her division, her show, and her title. Morgan says if they thought she was trouble before…enter NXT’s Sol Ruca.
Ruca enjoys some cheers before apologizing for interrupting. She calls Morgan an inspiration to her. She’s been watching her journey over the past decade. Seeing her win that title taught Morgan what she learned in the battle royal: that she’s the top woman in the division. Morgan thanks her but says she has some nerve coming out here during her celebration. But since she had kind words, Morgan will be nice in return. She tells Ruca she is no Liv Morgan, but she’ll give her a chance to save herself by getting out of her ring right now. Ruca says she didn’t come out to pick a fight, but she’s not going to back down from one either. Enter Adam Pearce to make this official, because this is a wrestling show that needs wrestling matches. Pearce brings out Jessika Carr as the match starts right now.
Liv Morgan vs Sol Ruca
Sol Ruca starts hot, but Morgan gets the first nearfall with a roll-up. Ruca reverses into one of her own. Ruca sends Morgan into the mat, but Morgan gets the knees up on a moonsault attempt. Morgan hangs Ruca up on the ropes before stomping the mudhole. Morgan drags Ruca up and throws her into the ringpost before hitting the running knee in the corner. Morgan gets a nearfall, but Ruca kicks out and gets some momentum, taking Morgan down with a takedown. Morgan gets back to her feet, but Ruca hits the X Factor. Morgan rolls out of the ring, and Ruca follows to take her out on the outside, taking us to commercial…Morgan goes for the 3 Amigos out of the break, but Ruca reverses on the third one with a snap suplex. Ruca and Morgan with strikes on the mat as both women rise to their feet. Ruca gets the edge and takes out Morgan with a big elbow. She hits a German suplex and then climbs to the second rope for a missile dropkick. Running knee to Morgan, who kicks out at 2. Ruca climbs to the top, but Morgan catches her with a Codebreaker for a nearfall. Morgan goes for Oblivion, but Ruca counters and lands the Sol Snatcher. Morgan rolls out of the ring before Ruca can make the cover. Ruca does a backflip over the ropes to take out Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez, and Roxanne Perez. She rolls Morgan back in the ring, but Zaria shows up to take out her former tag team partner and friend. Carr didn’t see it, so the match resumes. Ruca beats the count, but Morgan catches her with Oblivion right away for the win.
As Morgan celebrates on the ramp, Vaquer enters. Her and Morgan exchange words we can’t hear before Morgan raises the title with a smirk on her face.
One Singular Vision
After a montage celebrating Brock Lesnar’s legendary career in both UFC and WWE, Paul Heyman and the Vision make their entrance and send us to a commercial. They’ll be up next. Heyman says he had an entire speech prepared, but the beginning of the show tonight threw him off. Yesterday was so unexpected for him as he had a moment that will forever live in his heart. Heyman said CM Punk was out there earlier kissing the asses of the production team that was supposed to be so good, but they didn’t take Brock Lesnar out of the now from the show intro. Heyman said no one can accept the reality of what went down on Sunday. Heyman says remove Lesnar from the forever as he’s not the now, but he will forever be the baddest man who has ever been in a WWE ring. Heyman does the, “and his name is Brock Lesnar,” but before the crowd chants, “Thank you, Brock.” Heyman says now they can talk about the now, the now being the Vision. WWE is experiencing a tag team resurgence thanks to Logan Paul and Austin Theory. Heyman hands Paul the mic for a personal message from one half of the champs. Paul keeps getting cut off as the crowd gets louder and doesn’t let him speak. Paul finally yells into the mic, saying the only reason he and Theory lost at WrestleMania was because of Ishowspeed. Paul says he is sick of YouTubers thinking they can come into “our” business and do what “we” do. He hates outsiders. Nothing at WrestleMania matters because Speed left with a piece of Paul’s fist lodged in his face, and he and Theory are still champions. Heyman says it’s only fitting if they take a moment to realize what a magnificent favor Gunther did for him. Heyman thanks Gunther and knows he owes him one whenever he is ready. The best assist of the weekend, however, belongs to Bron Breakker.
Breakker gets his own entrance as he’s welcomed back to Raw. He says one year ago is when he became the leader of the Vision in that very same arena because Seth Rollins was too weak. Breakker’s favorite part of WrestleMania was watching Rollins get so close to beating Gunther before he ruined everything for him. The crowd starts chanting Rollins’ music as Breakker calls him out. He hopes he’s back there or at home watching because from here on out, he’s coming after him every chance he gets. And out comes Rollins, but he’s in the ring with a steel chair to Breakker’s back. Theory traps Rollins as Paul attacks him. It’s two-on-one until the Street Profits come out and go after the Vision. Montez Ford goes after Logan Paul as Angelo Dawkins chases Austin Theory through the crowd. Breakker gets back in the ring and looks to spear Rollins, but Rollins evades it. Rollins goes for the stomp, but Breakker takes him down. He tares Rollins’ shirt off, and you can see he’s taped up. Breakker says he never needed Rollins and promises to ruin him so that everyone only remembers him as a shell of what he used to be. Breakker charges at full speed and hits the speed.
JD McDonagh Has No Regrets
McDonagh gets a pre-recorded response to Balor’s promo from earlier. McDonagh says he hopes Balor is done with the wigs and makeup, as it’s time to get serious. When Balor brought him into the Judgment Day, he told him it was a family, but the two of them were supposed to be family, the rest of the crew aside. McDonagh says Balor changed so much that he barely even recognizes him. He’s taking his cues from CM Punk and letting him get in his head, but what about McDonagh? The guy who stood behind him for 20 years, defending him, taking bullets for him. Balor walked around the clubhouse like he was the leader, talking down to everybody. McDonagh says Balor cost Judgment Day gold when he didn’t let McDonagh interfere to help Dominik Mysterio. Ever since they took him out, people have asked him how he could do that and throw away 20 years. McDonagh says the truth is, it was easy, and he would do it again. After all this time, he’s going to step out of the shadow Balor cast to show the world what everyone already knows: Finn Balor is dead.
Finn Balor vs JD McDonagh
Before the bell rang, Finn Balor attacked JD McDonagh as the action moved to the crowd area. Balor chased McDonagh through the audience, with the two throwing the other into various barricades and obstacles. Action returns to the ring, and the bell finally rings with Balor having the early edge. McDonagh is showing the results of the ladder match as he winces in pain after taking Balor down. Balor attacks the injured midsection of McDonagh and goes for the Coup de Grace, but McDonagh rolls out of the way and sends Balor to the outside as we head to commercial…Both men are down as Balor is bloodied. The two exchange strikes before Balor takes McDonagh out with a stomp, followed by a slingblade. Headbutt from McDonagh for a nearfall. McDonagh to the top rope, but Balor gets the knees up and connects with the double dropkick before a Coup de Grace for the win.
Dominik Mysterio rolls into the ring and puts the boots to Balor briefly before Balor responds, evading the 619. McDonagh saves Mysterio from a Coup de Grace.
Gunther and LA Knight
Jackie Redmond is with Gunther, who says he feels fantastic. He proved everything he said about Rollins. Redmond asks if he knew Bron Breakker was going to be in Vegas. Gunther said there is no him and Paul Heyman, but Heyman owes him a favor. The only thing people should get used to is seeing the world championship back around his waist. LA Knight shows up. He congratulates Gunther for beating Rollins, but he knows that Gunther knows he’s not the only one with eyes on the title. Knight says Gunther needed the numbers game to win, so to him, that counts as an L. And an L is short of an A and short of a Knight because there can only be one.
Rhea Ripley Bids Raw Farewell
Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky say their goodbyes as Ripley announces she’s headed to SmackDown. They go their separate ways as Ripley keeps walking and goes past Liv Morgan, who says she won’t be seeing her around. Ripley says she’s looking forward to it.
The OTC Returns and Gets His First Challenger
Roman Reigns’ limo pulls up as the new champ makes his way out, and cameras follow him all the way from the car to gorilla, where he embraces the Usos before making his way through the curtain. He pauses, telling his cousins to come out with him. Raw goes to commercial, and when it returns, the trio is already in the ring. Reigns has Las Vegas acknowledge him before saying he planned to keep things simple tonight, but then he saw the Usos backstage, so he felt it made sense to discuss some family business first. Reigns tells his cousins he missed this. He missed having their full trust and respect, love, and admiration. He missed doing business with them. Reigns says right now they are scattered, and they are weak when they are scattered. There are no limits to the disrespect people are showing the three of them. Reigns says Jey Uso shouldn’t be letting washed-up rappers run their mouths to him, and that only happens because they aren’t together. Reigns says the power comes when they come together because no one can touch them. They have proof of concept. For four years straight, they ran the business. He’s not asking them to serve him this time, just to be his blood and stand with him. Jimmy Uso says he speaks for both of them when he says Reigns will always be their tribal chief. Every time the Bloodline is somewhere, they are united.
Enter Jacob Fatu. Reigns says it’s been a while since the two last saw each other. He’s assuming Fatu is out there to acknowledge him, but Fatu says that’s not it. Reigns says Fatu must want his title then. Fatu says he doesn’t want the title; he needs the title. He’s not out there to be tribal chief, but he needs everything the chief has, the shoe deal, the private jets, the Rolex, more vehicles, a bigger house, to put his kids in better schools. He’ll do anything for his family, even if it means going through Reigns. At Backlash, he’s coming for Reigns. Reigns agrees and says he wants all of that for Fatu, too. Maybe he can beat him, but the question is, if he can beat him, can he handle the burden of the title? And if he can’t, can he handle the burden of having to acknowledge him? Reigns says it’s thin air at the top of the mountain, and he’s going to give Fatu the rest of the week to think about it, as he’s not sure he’s ready. He’ll see his little cousin next week on Raw. As they head back to the ramp, Reigns tells Big Jim to talk some sense into Fatu.
