WWE Raw Results, Winners, Live Grades, Reaction, Highlights From April 6

The road to WrestleMania 42 rolled through the Toyota Center in Houston with another explosive episode of WWE Raw on Netflix.

World heavyweight champion CM Punk was on hand after driving Roman Reigns through the announce table last week, as were Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar as they prepare for their titanic clash in Las Vegas.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky reunited, Finn Balor faced JD McDonagh in a battle between former Judgment Day teammates, and the hottest feuds and rivalries wrote their latest chapters.

Find out what else went down on the penultimate Raw before WrestleMania with this recap, complete with grades and analysis from each segment.

Match Card

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Announced in advance of the show were:

CM Punk appearance

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar face-to-face

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs. Michin and B-Fab

Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh

LA Knight vs. Austin Theory

CM Punk Kicks Off Raw

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Last Time in Action: CM Punk defeated Finn Balor (Elimination Chamber, February 28)

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A strictly business CM Punk made his way to the ring to open the show, immediately grabbing the microphone and taking a seat in the middle of the ring, ready to address the WWE Universe.

After waxing poetic about Harley Race and what the old timers would say about wrestling today, Punk revealed that his WrestleMania 42 opponent, Roman Reigns, was not in Houston.

"If Roman Reigns hates me, then I'm right where I need to be because I won't trade my authenticity for approval," Punk told the audience. "Keep chanting. Maybe he'll show up," he taunted the fans as they chanted for The OTC.

Punk proceeded to tell the WWE Universe why he hates Reigns. He called him "safe," "boring," and "plastic," while labeling himself "dangerous" and touting that no one ever knows what he's going to say.

In his latest pipebomb promo, The Best in the World took shots at Reigns, The Rock, Vince McMahon, and "they" in reference to TKO, who he said can't control him.

Punk ended by promising Pat McAfee a receipt after the ESPN personality's attack on Cody Rhodes on Friday's SmackDown, demanding lower ticket prices, and standing tall with the fans to close things out.

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Grade

A+

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Top Takeaways

"Be careful what you wish for when you ask me for a pipebomb because this is what you get." Great television and raw emotion. This felt authentic, and that is something Punk brings to the table that no one else in WWE can replicate, no matter how much they try.

It is going to be incredibly difficult for Reigns to hit back next week and have the same impact, no matter what he brings up.

Backstage, IShowSpeed interacted with Danhausen, again, before reluctantly heading to the arena with The Vision.

LA Knight vs. Austin Theory

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Last Time in Action: LA Knight lost the Elimination Chamber Match (Elimination Chamber, February 28); Austin Theory and Logan Paul defeated The Usos (Raw, March 30)

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IShowSpeed reluctantly watched from ringside with fellow influencer and world tag team champion Logan Paul as LA Knight squared off with Austin Theory in singles action.

Driven by an insatiable appetite for revenge against the same Vision faction that has been the bane of his existence for nearly a year, Knight repeatedly bashed Theory's head into the commentary table, all while eyeballing Paul and Speed.

Eventually, Paul sent Speed into Knight, intensifying the issues the Megastar had with the YouTuber. The Usos appeared, but the distraction allowed Theory to score a cheap roll-up victory, further infuriating Knight.

Before Jimmy and Jey Uso could drop Speed with a 1-D, though, Paul pulled his buddy to the arena floor.

Knight called out Raw general manager Adam Pearce, then issued a challenge for a six-man tag at WrestleMania, and the authority figure made it official.

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Result

Theory defeated Knight

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Grade

C+

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Top Moments and Takeaways

For the love of all that is good, let this issue between Knight, The Usos, and The Vision write its last chapter at WrestleMania and never be revisited after. Enough is enough.

This was all about Speed and the inevitable match announcement. Why that had to be at the expense of the night's first match and not elsewhere on the show is another question.

At least the match itself at WrestleMania should be fun, as long as there isn't too much for Speed to do at the expense of others in the ring. In no way should he control any action for any period of time based on the story they have laid out here.

Finn Balor vs. JD McDonagh

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Last Time in Action: Finn Balor lost to CM Punk (Elimination Chamber, February 28); JD McDonagh defeated Akira Tozawa (Main Event, April 2)

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Before the scheduled matchup between Finn Balor and JD McDonagh could get started, Dominik Mysterio attacked his WrestleMania 42 opponent from behind.

Balor fought back and cleared McDonagh from the ring, but Mysterio rocked him with the AAA Mega Championship.

A two-on-one beatdown of Balor ensued, with Mysterio attacking him with a steel chair. He placed the chair over his former tag team partner's fallen body and sat on it, standing tall and pointing to the WrestleMania sign to close out the segment.

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Grade

B+

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Top Takeaways

If Balor needed to awaken a certain side of himself, he got the motivation he needed here with another cheap attack by his former Judgment Day teammates.

This was an effective segment that did not reinvent the wheel but put heat on Mysterio while giving Balor a reason to reach into his past and bring out a side of himself that we have not seen in three years. Effective, not overthought.

Update: It has been awakened.

A pre-taped promo featuring AJ Lee and Becky Lynch aired, in which the former said that she was proud of The Man but reminded her that she knocked down doors for Lynch to walk through. She ended by reminding her WrestleMania opponent that her daughter's favorite wrestler is still AJ Lee.

Bayley vs. Lash Legend

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Last Time in Action: Bayley and Lyra Valkyria lost to Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss (SmackDown, April 3); Lash Legend and Nia Jax defeated Bayley and Valkyria via DQ (Raw, March 31)

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Bayley looked to regain momentum Monday night, just three days after a disappointing loss on SmackDown, as she squared off with one-half of the women's tag team champions, Lash Legend.

Legend blasted a flying Bayley with a forearm ahead of the commercial break and controlled the bout coming out of it, thanks to her size, strength, and speed advantage.

The resilient Bayley, though, mustered a comeback and fought her way back into the match. As the action broke down, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss appeared, only to be laid out by The Role Model at ringside, along with Nia Jax.

Back in the ring, Valkyria appeared, tripped up Legend during a superplex, and Bayley earned the pinfall victory.

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Result

Bayley defeated Legend

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Grade

C+

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Top Takeaways

Bayley and Legend were in the midst of a fun match before the overbooking and interference dragged it down late. Of course, the interference made sense given the four-way feud for the tag team titles, but it still hampered what was a solid match-up between a future Hall of Famer and a woman with a ton of potential to join her there one day.

The women's tag team division has been one of the bright spots entering WrestleMania and one can only hope that the Fatal 4-Way bout is not rushed. The talent has earned better, as have the titles at stake, which have traditionally gotten the short end of the proverbial stick since their introduction in 2019.

Seth Rollins Promo

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Last Time in Action: Seth Rollins defeated Cody Rhodes (Crown Jewel, October 11)

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Seth Rollins hit the ring and spoke about Paul Heyman and the negative impact he had on The Vision, with Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed both hurt and out of action.

He knew Heyman would find someone to protect him, he said, then turned his attention toward The Ring General.

Before he could address his WrestleMania opponent, Gunther attacked from behind, only for Rollins to escape. The two brawled before being pulled apart by referees.

As Gunther walked through the curtain and into the backstage area, Heyman waited for him and said he owed him a "very big thank you." Gunther said his attack on Rollins was not for The Wise Man, then pulled Heyman close and warned him, "You owe me so much more than a very big thank you."

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Grade

B+

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Top Takeaways

Rollins claimed he put Brock Lesnar "on a silver platter" for Oba Femi. That is an interesting take that ties The Visionary to that particular story. It will be interesting to see if that is followed up on or revisited after WrestleMania.

The vagueness of Gunther's explanation for attacking Rollins, claiming it was personal to him, was the only negative here. We got the first real taste of physicality from Rollins, a new story thread in Heyman's owed favor, and a hint at what The Architect did to draw The Ring General's ire. Another brief, efficient segment.

Penta, Je'Von Evans and Dragon Lee vs. Los Americanos

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Last Time in Action: Penta defeated Kofi Kingston (Raw, March 31); Dragon Lee defeated Grayson Waller (Main Event, April 2); Je'Von Evans defeated Rayo Americano (Main Event, April 2). Los Americanos lost to Vanity Project (NXT Stand and Deliver, April 4); El Grande Americano and Los Americanos defeated Vanity Project (NXT, March 27)

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Je'Von Evans and Dragon Lee will challenge Penta for the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match at WrestleMania 42, but partnered on Monday to battle El Grande Americano, Rayo, and Bavo in a six-man tag team bout.

As expected, the high-flying babyfaces took to the skies to seize control early, laying the heels out entering the commercial break.

Back from the timeout, the action broke down, with all six men making their presence felt. Lee delivered a Styles Clash at one point, earning a two-count before Americano broke up the pin.

Penta delivered a Mexican Destroyer on the apron, and Evans delivered the OG Cutter to pick up the win for his team.

After the match, Rey Mysterio returned and entered himself in the ladder match at WrestleMania.

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Result

Penta, Evans, and Lee defeated Los Americanos

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Grade

B

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Top Takeaways

"The Young OG getting higher than Bad News Barrett on a scissor lift," Corey Graves said. What a line.

So, WWE teased Mysterio vs. Gunther via the latter's interactions with Lee, then threw that into disarray when it looked like the former would not be cleared to compete, only for the Hall of Famer to return Monday and put himself in the ladder match? Sounds about right.

This was a really fun match, as you would expect with this much talent involved. Evans, in particular, stood out and was appropriately highlighted.

Backstage, as Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky prepared for their tag team match, Austin Theory could be seen talking to Maxxine Dupri. This is not the first time. Could the former women's IC champion be the first female member of The Vision?

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky vs. Michin and B-Fab

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Last Time in Action: Rhea Ripley defeated Michin (SmackDown, April 3); Iyo Sky lost to Raquel Rodriguez (Raw, March 31); B-Fab lost to Rhea Ripley (SmackDown, March 27)

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Michin and B-Fab set out to do the dirty work of WWE women's champion Jade Cargill on Monday night as they squared off with Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky.

The heels controlled a large portion of the match, isolating Sky during the commercial break and working over her coming out of it. When Cargill pulled Ripley off the ring apron, preventing a tag, Sky rolled B-Fab up and won anyway.

After the match, the heels kept hold of Ripley and forced her to watch as Cargill unloaded on Sky with a kendo stick, then finished her off with Jaded before exiting to a chorus of boos.

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Result

Sky and Ripley defeated B-Fab and Michin

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Grade

C+

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Top Takeaways

Ripley is still out here getting the loudest pops of the night. One of the biggest stars in pro wrestling right now, and there are only a handful that are close.

What does it say about Michin and B-Fab's credibility that Sky essentially beat them by herself?

The feud between Ripley and Cargill still doesn't feel as hot as it should, given the women involved. The creative has not been there, either.

Backstage, Liv Morgan tried to discuss Roxanne Perez's loyalties to The Judgment Day, given that Finn Balor brought her into the group, but Stephanie Vaquer attacked from behind and sent her face-first into a TV.

Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar Contract Signing

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Last Time in Action: Oba Femi defeated Rusev (Raw, March 9); Brock Lesnar lost the men's Royal Rumble match (Royal Rumble, January 31)

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Triple H and Adam Pearce hit the ring for the contract signing between Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar ahead of their WrestleMania 42 clash.

Heyman introduced Lesnar before Femi hit the ring to a thunderous ovation and chants of "Oba! Oba!"

As The Ruler stepped through the ropes, Lesnar attacked, and a brawl ensued, ending with both men crashing through the table. Security attempted to separate them, but both broke free and resumed the fight.

The show went off the air abruptly as chaos reigned supreme.

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Grade

A+

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Top Takeaways

Femi is the next big star and if he is not at least in WWE or World Heavyweight Championship contention next year at this time, it will be a massive fumble on the company's part.

The intensity here was off the charts. The fans in Houston were red-hot for all of it, as brief as it may have been. At the same time, not overstaying its welcome will only help add to that "less is more" mentality that has helped produce the night's best segments, sans the opening promo.

Lesnar has gone all-out to help elevate Femi to the point that anything other than a Ruler victory at WrestleMania is going to be considered a huge disappointment.

MVP and Overall Grade

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Imagine that: If you give CM Punk a microphone, let him out in front of an audience to fire off some live rounds, you get almost instantly renewed interest in the product.

Regardless of how much of it was a work or how much was authentic frustration, Punk willed fans to care about this year's Showcase of the Immortals by introducing a little reality into the mix.

He took aim at Roman Reigns, The Rock, Ari Emmanuel, Pat McAfee, and anyone else in his path. He even won over a Houston audience that was very much pro-Reigns at the start and, perhaps his greatest achievement, silenced the "What?" chants that have plagued pro wrestling for 20-plus years.

This was, arguably, his finest night since his comeback, a reiteration that Punk carries as much value as any other wrestler on the roster when it comes to drumming up genuine excitement for a pro wrestling event.

His importance to this show and the build to WrestleMania is undeniable.

MVP: CM Punk

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This was the best show WWE has produced on this road to WrestleMania.

From the Punk pipebomb to Femi and Lesnar tearing up the place in the closing segment, everything had a purpose and promoted a match at WrestleMania.

Finn Balor vs. Dominik Mysterio got a big boost, and the seeds for Gunther vs. Lesnar were planted, though not outright.

The good outweighed the bad. There were future stories teased and hinted at throughout the show, and the result was the most enjoyable watch in weeks.

How WWE follows up and sticks the landing with next week's show will be the question.

Grade: A