WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights Before WrestleMania 41
Just five days before WrestleMania 41, WWE Raw emanated from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento with an episode brimming with some of the biggest Superstars in the industry, headlined by CM Punk, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
What went down with the three men involved in Saturday's main event and what role did Paul Heyman play amid his increasing significance to the layered storyline?
Find out with this recap of the April 14 episode, including live grades and instant analysis to the night's biggest and most important segments and matches.
Match Card
1 of 9
Announced in advance for Monday's show:
* Appearances from Roman Reigns, CM Punk, Seth Rollins, world heavyweight champion Gunther and Logan Paul.
* AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross
* Bayley vs. Liv Morgan
Gunther Promo
2 of 9
Gunther delivered the best promo of his WWE career, a defiant one in response to Jey Uso's threats from a week ago.
Despite claiming to be in full control of his actions and not at all shaken by the No. 1 contender, he was clearly rattled as he vowed to defeat Uso Saturday night in Las Vegas.
For all of his claims that he is in control, he clearly wasn't.
This was not the Ring General fans are familiar with. He marched to the ring ahead of schedule, wore street clothes and let the reaction from the WWE Universe frustrate him. He lacked the confidence that has been a trademark of his career in WWE.
Gunther unraveled before our eyes, and no promise to beat Uso for the fourth consecutive time will change what fans witnessed in this opening segment.
The challenger at WrestleMania 41 may not be afraid of The Ring General, but this proved the same cannot be said of Gunther in relation to Uso.
Grade
A+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "At the end of the day, the bell has to ring and when that happens, you still can't lace my boots and I will put you down for the fourth consecutive time," Gunther warned his WrestleMania opponent.
* "Two weeks ago, when I took a bath in your brother's blood, I was in full control and I loved it."
* "Thank the Lord I was in control two weeks ago because if I wasn't, I would have drowned you both in Jimmy's blood."
Bayley vs. Liv Morgan
3 of 9
Liv Morgan has never defeated Bayley in singles competition and that did not change Monday night on Raw.
With the action breaking down late in the match, Raquel Rodriguez booted down Lyra Valkyria, only to eat a Stunner from Bayley. Morgan attempted to capitalize with ObLIVion, only for Valkyria to assist her tag team partner in blocking the move.
The Role Model earned the victory from there, building even more momentum for her and Valkyria ahead of Sunday's match against the women's tag team champions.
A second week, a second strong showing from Bayley, who remains as good as ever between the ropes, even if her creative lacks. She and Valkyria may not win the tag titles this weekend, but if they can bring the same chemistry we saw between the victor and Morgan here, fans could be in for a treat in Vegas.
Result
Bayley defeated Morgan
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Morgan appeared to bang her back on the suplex off the steel steps. It appeared to affect her throughout the rest of the match.
* With that said, the heel showed some great intensity throughout this one, not just looking to build momentum entering WrestleMania but also finally erase that zero in her win-loss record against Bayley.
* Morgan's work has endeared her to the fans, who greeted the combatants with dueling chants.
Rey Mysterio vs. Julius Creed
4 of 9
Rey Mysterio appeared to have gained momentum ahead of WrestleMania by defeating Julius Creed in a strong singles contest Monday night, only for El Grande Americano to lay him out.
His mask loaded with metal, he fended off LWO during an attempted save and left them lying, too.
The attack came at the conclusion of a match in which Creed continued to impress with his raw athleticism and ability to work great matches against any opponent, from any background.
There was a spot or two that wasn't exactly smooth, but Creed and Mysterio recovered nicely and the result was a match that earned chants of "this is awesome" from fans in Sacramento.
The match between Mysterio and El Grande Americano has the potential to be a fun one, with a potential ode to WrestleMania IX and the double Doink spot in the form of Americano and Chad Gable in the same place at the same time.
Result
Mysterio defeated Creed
Grade
B+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* Michael Cole and Pat McAfee put over Creed's abilities from the moment he made his way to the ring. Hopefully, the emphasis on the uber athlete results in something more significant for him post-WrestleMania because he is ready to be a star.
* Mysterio has no business being as good as he is at this point in his career. History will look back fondly at this late run.
AJ Styles vs. Karrion Kross
5 of 9
The biggest takeaway of the AJ Styles-Karrion Kross match was not The Phenomenal One's victory ahead of his WrestleMania 41 showdown against Logan Paul but rather the renewed emphasis on the other Superstar in the match.
Kross was the star here, working through a spot or two that did not go as planned and still turning in a performance that gave fans a reason to suspect he may be in line for a post-WrestleMania push.
After Styles delivered the Phenomenal Forearm that earned him the victory, Logan Paul interrupted and threw to a highlight reel featuring his greatest in-ring exploits.
Kross attacked Styles, who fended him off but fell prey to the Paulverizer as the social media star stood tall to close out the build to their match.
Result
Styles defeated Kross
Grade
B
Top Moments and Takeaways
* From Cole claiming Kross reintroduced his NXT entrance in an attempt to turn back the clocks to his greatest success, to the sell job he and McAfee did during the match, it seems like the heel is en route to a push of some sort after The Show of Shows.
* Kross dropped his arms and put them behind his back, not defending himself during Styles' finisher. He said last week he wanted The Phenomenal One to rediscover his evil ways. Having fired him up, perhaps it was on purpose.
Jey Uso's Warning to Gunther
6 of 9
In response to Gunther's warning earlier, and in preparation for the biggest match of his career at WrestleMania, Jey Uso entered the arena through the crowd and proceeded to cut a promo on the commentary table.
Uso claimed The Ring General was afraid and that he was going to "get him" at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday.
It was a short, sweet and to the point. There was nothing left to say. Uso issued his warning to Gunther last week. And after calling him out, he returned to the fans who have been so instrumental in his opportunity.
Grade
A
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "Gunther...you're afraid I'm gonna kick that ass," Uso said.
* Uso, having shaken Gunther to his core, Yeet'ed with fans to close out the segment.
Penta vs. Finn Bálor
7 of 9
Ahead of Sunday's Fatal 4-Way match for the Intercontinental Championship, Penta squared off with Finn Bálor in a contest between two immensely important figures in modern wrestling history.
Bálor reminded the world why he is a former world champion, taking the fight to the luchador and even surviving The Sacrifice armbreaker to stay in the fight.
The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and Carlito made their presence felt late on before IC champion Bron Breakker hit the ring.
The Badass punished Mysterio and Carlito with a double Spear and set up to deliver the same to Penta, only to join The Judgment Day on the floor, where Penta wiped them out with a plancha.
This was a solid match that led to more of the same creatively from these four Superstars. The weekend's bout will likely be excellent, but the build has been rather one-dimensional in recent weeks, mostly centering on Bálor and Mysterio's diminishing relationship as personal desires trump what is best for The Judgment Day.
Result
Bálor defeated Penta via disqualification
Grade
B-
Top Moments and Takeaways
* This was Bálor's best singles showing in a long time. He looked like a Superstar determined to prove he is still a main event-worthy competitor. Could he be motivated by a potential upcoming singles run?
* Carlito ran away rather than suffering another Spear from Breakker, only to endure one anyway.
Final Hype for Roman Reigns vs. CM Punk vs. Seth Rollins
8 of 9
Just days before they take center stage in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 41, Seth Rollins sent a message to CM Punk and Roman Reigns, leaving both lying and Paul Heyman terrified to close out the show.
The Visionary capitalized on a brawl that ensued between Punk and The Tribal Chief after Reigns shoved Heyman to the ground. With both men distracted, Rollins delivered a steel chair shot to Reigns a la the one that split The Shield over a decade ago, then put an exclamation point on things with a Stomp to Punk.
Before that, Reigns and Rollins agreed on one thing: Heyman making good on Punk's favor to accompany him to the squared circle at WrestleMania was a choice. But why?
That is a question that will likely be answered in Vegas, in Punk's first 'Mania main event.
For now, this was a solid if unspectacular segment that added nothing new of note. It's almost as if the show could have gone off the air after Penta vs. Bálor and it would have lost nothing.
Still, the Rollins chair shot was a nice callback to the moment that forever altered who Reigns would become.
Grade
C+
Top Moments and Takeaways
* "Tell me why I'm supposed to carry the tab for your dumbass favor," Reigns asked Heyman.
* Rollins sported over-the-top leather fashion that, oddly enough, resembled tactical gear not unlike that worn during his time with The Shield.
* Why is he choosing CM Punk over you?" the manipulative Rollins asked The OTC.
Overall Grade
9 of 9
This was a show where the individual pieces were better than the overall product.
There was some quality in-ring action, especially Bayley vs. Morgan and Mysterio vs. Creed. There were some strong segments, including Gunther crashing out in the opening promo.
However, Monday's Raw lacked a sense of urgency that not even a star-studded promo segment at the end could resolve.
The result was a show that felt more like the penultimate episode on the road to WrestleMania instead of the final one; a show of parts rather than one superb hype piece.
Grade: C+
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