WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction, Highlights of Go-Home Backlash Show
The WWE draft continued Monday night on Raw, with SmackDown women's champion Rhea Ripley and The Judgment Day among the top stars waiting to find out which brand they would call home moving forward.
Who landed where, what went down between the ropes and what fireworks ensued when Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar were under the same roof?
Find out with this recap of the go-home episode of Raw, just five days before Backlash.
Match Card
1 of 12Announced in advance for Monday's show, live from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas, were:
- Night 2 of the WWE draft
- Brock Lesnar appearance
Draft Pool for Night 2
2 of 12Available to be drafted on Monday night were:
- Akira Tozawa
- Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis)
- Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo
- Asuka
- Austin Theory (Current United States Champion)
- Baron Corbin
- Braun Strowman and Ricochet
- Brock Lesnar
- Bronson Reed
- Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin
- Charlotte Flair
- Dana Brooke
- Elias
- Emma
- Johnny Gargano
- The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio)
- Karrion Kross (with Scarlett)
- Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn (WWE undisputed tag team champions)
- LA Knight
- Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez (WWE women's tag team champions)
- Nikki Cross
- Piper Niven
- Rhea Ripley (SmackDown women's champion)
- Rick Boogs
- Riddick Moss
- Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
- Seth Rollins
- Shotzi
- Tamina
- Tegan Nox
- The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Butch and Ridge Holland)
- The LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Cruz del Toro, Joaquin Wilde and Zelina Vega)
- The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
- The Usos (Jimmy and Jey)
- Trish Stratus
- Xia Li
- Select NXT Superstars
The Draft Resumes and Paul Heyman Speaks
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Triple H kicked off Monday's show by announcing the night's first draft picks, headlined by Rhea Ripley to Raw and Austin Theory to SmackDown as titles continued to swap brands.
From there, he introduced Paul Heyman for a promo that was interrupted by Seth Rollins and Solo Sikoa en route to the announcement of a star-studded main event for Monday night's broadcast.
This was a solid if way-too-long promo segment that delivered some noteworthy picks, positioned Rollins as one of the faces of the brand and set up the night's marquee bout.
This was all while highlighting the new World Heavyweight Championship and establishing Rollins as a favorite to win it.
Not a bad start by any means.
Grade
B+
Round One Recap
- Raw selected SmackDown women's champion Rhea Ripley
- SmackDown selected United States champion Austin Theory
- Raw selected Seth Rollins
- SmackDown selected Charlotte Flair
Top Moments
- Triple H revealed Brock Lesnar has renegotiated his status as a free agent and can appear on any brand at any time.
- The WWE chief content officer showed Paul Heyman the new World Heavyweight Championship, almost taunting him as the special counsel to undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns.
- "Wouldn't that title look relevant around the waist of your Tribal Chief, Roman Reigns?" Heyman said, teasing the possibility that the top star in the company might add the title to his collection.
- Rollins answered Heyman's thinly veiled criticisms, including him being called a "clown" and a "joker," by making his way to the ring to a deafening ovation.
- "Roman doesn't have to run from me anymore and you don't have to run around backstage, pulling strings so I don't get my title match again," Rollins told Heyman.
- "Seth Rollins, you're pissing off your Tribal Chief!"
- Rollins teased putting Heyman down with the Stomp, but Sikoa made the well-timed save.
Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez vs. Bayley and Dakota Kai
4 of 12
Mark Monday, May 1 in the history books as the day Damage CTRL was actually allowed to win a match.
Bayley and Dakota Kai defeated WWE women's tag team champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez in a non-title match, with The Role Model scoring the win with a sunset flip.
The victory essentially sets Damage CTRL up for a title match at some point in the near future, but one has to wonder if that is the right call for the faction. It feels very much like a "been there, done that" booking decision.
The difference? Bayley's determination to get a championship win and remain in the spotlight as Kai and Iyo Sky flirt with their own singles aspirations. This way, she has a chance to bask in the glory of a title win while keeping Kai close.
What this means for Sky, who was conspicuous in her absence despite a big title match against Raw women's champion Bianca Belair at Backlash, remains to be seen but one thing appears clear: Damage CTRL as we have known it to this point is unlikely to remain intact.
Result
Bayley and Kai defeated Morgan and Rodriguez
Grade
C+
Top Moments
- Bayley delivered a blind tag to Kai, which went undetected by Morgan.
- After ObLIVion by Morgan, Bayley caught her with a sunset flip as the heels scored a rare and much-needed victory.
The Draft Continues; Ricochet and Braun Strowman vs. Alpha Academy
5 of 12
A wholly random match turned out to be a fun little sprint as Ricochet and Braun Strowman earned a hard-fit victory over Alpha Academy's Otis and Chad Gable, seconded by Maxxine Dupri of Maximum Male Models.
Strowman and Otis had an entertaining exchange of clubbing rights and lefts before sprinting into the finish.
This furthered the heels' storyline in that Gable was late on making the save for Otis, to the dismay of Dupri, something the fashion-forward manager will likely look to use against the Olympian in her quest to recruit his teammate.
Result
Strowman and Ricochet defeated Alpha Academy
Grade
C+
Round Two Recap
- Raw selected undisputed WWE tag team champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
- SmackDown selected The Usos
- Raw selected The Judgement Day
- SmackDown selected The LWO
Top Moments
- "I have it on good authority that Otis was invited to the Met Gala but turned it down to be here with us," Corey Graves said on commentary.
- Maxxine Dupri watched gleefully from ringside as Otis threw fists at Strowman and then with dismay as The Monster Among Monsters fired back.
- Ricochet delivered his picture-perfect swanton off the shoulders of Strowman as Dupri watched and Alpha Academy lost again.
Brock Lesnar Returns; More WWE Draft Picks
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Cody Rhodes was again halted by security in his bid to avenge the post-WrestleMania beatdown at the hands of Brock Lesnar. However, he did deliver one good warm-up shot to the face of The Beast Incarnate ahead of their clash at Backlash.
The overuse of security in Lesnar segments continued but, as was the case last time, it was explicitly to keep Rhodes from getting his hands on him and threatening his own well-being before Saturday.
A segment like this would have been more effective had we not seen one almost identical to it two weeks ago. It was not nearly the hot-sell job this feud could have used leading to the PPV, but the freshness of the match and the fact that they have been kept apart should help accentuate the heat for the bout when they finally do meet in San Juan.
Grade
C
Round Three Recap
- Raw selected WWE women's tag team champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
- SmackDown selected Asuka
- Raw selected The New Day
- SmackDown selected The Brawling Brutes
Top Moments
- Pearce's pleas fell on deaf ears as Lesnar stalked toward the squared circle.
- Rhodes attacked from behind, his entrance music providing just enough of a distraction to allow him to enter the ring and get one good shot on The Beast before security swarmed.
Matt Riddle vs. Jimmy Uso
7 of 12
Jimmy Uso found himself going it alone after Jey was booted from ringside, the result of some chicanery from undisputed WWE tag team champions Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens.
It did not go well.
Uso fell to Matt Riddle in singles competition, continuing the brothers' shortcomings of late as tension mounts within The Bloodline. Saturday night in San Juan, they will look to turn things around alongside Solo Sikoa in a big six-man tag against Owens, Zayn and Riddle.
To preserve their spot at the table, let alone in favor of the head of it, they will have to prove their value and do something they have not done since before WrestleMania 39: defeat Owens and Zayn.
They will have to do so with no momentum and a scheming, manipulating Paul Heyman seemingly working against them, something that was on full display in a backstage segment involving Sikoa.
Result
Riddle defeated Uso
Grade
B
Top Moments
- Backstage, an enthusiastic Riddle expressed his desire to hang out with Owens and Zayn all the time, to which The Prizefighter asked if the undisputed WWE tag team champions can still be drafted to SmackDown.
- Zayn and Owens feigned a steel-chair assault, leading to Jey's banishment from the ringside area.
- Uso removed the turnbuckle pad but Owens, undetected by the referee, sent him into the exposed bolt. Riddle took advantage and delivered the Floating Bro for the win.
Draft Round 4; Miz TV with Shinsuke Nakamura
8 of 12
If Shinsuke Nakamura's return on SmackDown was well done, then his appearance on Miz TV was the opposite.
The talk-show segment was utter garbage, its only real purpose being to set up a "tiny balls" punchline. It undid all of what made Nakamura's return effective, eating away at the aura of The Artist and making him feel like the watered-down version of the character that had become commonplace the last time we saw him on TV.
Hopefully, some of that specialness can be rekindled Friday when he battles Karrion Kross.
The reveal that Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler are heading to Raw, though, was a positive and injects some star power into the red brand, all while setting up a program for the women's tag team championship with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Grade
F-
Round Four Recap
- Raw selected Trish Stratus
- SmackDown selected Karrion Kross and Scarlett
- Raw selected Shayna Baszler and Ronda Rousey
- SmackDown selected LA Knight
Top Moments
- "When Triple H said he was looking for a workhorse champion, he was talking about me," Miz said.
- Miz pitched a working relationship with Nakamura.
- The Artist made a "tiny balls" joke at The A-Lister's expense as that shtick shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
- The former NXT champion delivered Kinshasa, sending Miz to the floor to close out the segment.
Omos Squash; Draft Picks Continue
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Omos is a free agent following the first night of WWE draft action and he celebrated by squashing Anthony Alanis.
The takeaway?
The Nigerian Giant is big, strong and destructive, all things we knew before and realizations we would have arrived at without the seconds-long, one-sided match.
Omos will battle Seth Rollins at Backlash in what is likely to be the best match of his career, thanks almost exclusively to the guy he will be sharing the ring with.
Result
Omos defeated Alanis
Grade
C-
Round Five Recap
- Raw selected Ricochet and Braun Strowman
- SmackDown selected Shotzi
- Raw selected Bronson Reed
- SmackDown selected Pretty Deadly
Top Moments
- "Yes, boy!" Corey Graves exclaimed as Elton Prince and Kit Wilson of Pretty Deadly were officially drafted to the main roster.
Mixed Tag Team Match: The LWO vs. The Judgment Day
10 of 12
The Judgment Day has momentum on its side following a signature win by Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio and SmackDown women's champion Rhea Ripley over Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar and Zelina Vega of the LWO.
The faction capitalized on the numbers advantage that has been such a staple of their act since day one, benefiting on interference from Finn Bálor to pick up the win.
It was another match in this series between rivals in which neither team could really afford a loss, but the chicanery from the heels at least gives the LWO an out and afforded Priest a bit of shine by way of his win.
A solid match with all of the action you would expect given the talent involved, it was a great follow up to a strong promo from the heels that saw the crowd nearly boo Dominik into silence.
Result
Judgment Day defeated The LWO
Grade
B
Top Moments
- "Is there any surprise as to who the first draft pick would be? I mean, Mami is always on top," Ripley said.
- "Bad Bunny, at Backlash, you receive your punishment," Damian Priest warned his former friend ahead of their Street Fight.
- The crowd mercilessly booed Dominik, making it almost impossible for him to cut his promo. Even when he finally did, the fans nearly drowned out his words.
- Ripley pie-faced Rey Mysterio, only for the WWE Hall of Famer to send Vega into a hurricanrana.
- Rey exploded into the match and took the fight to Dominik, drawing the loudest reaction of the match to that point.
- Action broke down, with Escobar laying out Dominik, Vega wiping out Ripley, and Priest benefiting from interference by Bálor to score the win with South of Heaven.
Final Draft Picks; Seth Rollins vs. Solo Sikoa
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Solo Sikoa will be a star of the future as long as he continues to get reps with the best in the business, as was the case in Monday's main event.
The match with Seth Rollins did not accomplish much of anything from a storyline perspective, but it did allow the second-generation competitor the opportunity to work with the best wrestler in WWE in a fairly good main event.
It also led into a show-closing brawl between the six men involved at Backlash in a big tag team match, so there was that.
For a main event closing the go-home episode of Raw, though, this felt rather anticlimactic, even if Rollins continues to be as over with the audience as any other Superstar on the roster, including Cody Rhodes.
Result
Rollins defeated Sikoa via disqualification
Grade
B
Round Five Recap
- Raw selected Alpha Academy
- SmackDown selected Rick Boogs
- Raw selected Katana Chance and Kayden Carter
- SmackDown selected Cameron Grimes
Top Moments
- Sikoa cut off Rollins with a spinning heel kick entering the final break of the show.
- Heyman watched from ringside while on the phone with Roman Reigns.
- Rollins dared Sikoa to bring the fight, which The Enforcer did with a Rock Bottom.
- The Visionary sent Sikoa into the ring post and appeared to have the win in hand when The Usos hit the ring to draw the disqualification.
- Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn rushed the ring and chaos ensued to close out the show.
Overall Show Grade
12 of 12The May 1 episode of Raw promised the continuation of the WWE draft and some of the final hype before Saturday's Backlash PPV.
It delivered the goods regarding the draft, even if the picks lacked the punch that some of the choices made Friday night on SmackDown carried. There were stars, future stars and potential wild cards added to the main roster and that should satisfy fans who tuned in specifically for that.
From a go-home perspective, the show felt flat.
There were either segments that did not do enough to build to Saturday's show (i.e. Cody and Brock) or did nothing at all to promote excitement for the upcoming event (whatever the Omos squash was meant to be).
A so-so show that may have had too much to accomplish and failed to sustain the excitement WWE had coming out of SmackDown, it will again rely on the blue brand to deliver the goods as far as promoting and generating excitement for Backlash is concerned.
Overall Grade: C+
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