WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 23

With the Greatest Royal Rumble taking place in Saudi Arabia this Friday at noon ET, WWE Raw hit the USA Network airwaves live from St. Louis with a show that spotlighted the competitors who will play a big role on that show and set up stories and rivalries that will define the red brand in the coming months.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens raised the ire of general manager Kurt Angle and paid for it dearly. Bobby Roode underestimated Elias and got beat. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre sent a message loudly and clearly to the Raw brand, and the women of Monday nights headlined the show with a special appearance by Ronda Rousey.

Baron Corbin and Chad Gable made their presences felt, while Seth Rollins and Finn Balor were forced to coexist just days before doing battle for the Intercontinental Championship.

Find out everything that went down Monday night, how it graded out and what it means for the Superstars involved with this recap of the April 23 broadcast.

Universal Champion Brock Lesnar Returns to Raw, Roman Reigns Interrupts

After the Superstars of today paid respects to Bruno Sammartino at the top of the show, universal champion Brock Lesnar made his way to the ring alongside advocate Paul Heyman.

Heyman claimed WWE had no choice but to reward Lesnar with a hefty new contract after he decimated Roman Reigns at WrestleMania. He said The Beast Incarnate agreed to defend his title in Saudi Arabia, but only if management gave him The Big Dog.

Heyman would end by saying Reigns has more odds against him Friday than he had at WrestleMania, a huge statement given how that match turned out.

Reigns interrupted, came face-to-face with Lesnar and vowed to return home from Saudi Arabia with the Universal Championship.

They stared each other down to close out the segment.

Grade

B

Analysis

This was a nice change of pace from the WrestleMania build, and logically so.

Why would Reigns be quick to engage Lesnar in a brawl given how well that worked out for him before? Instead, they came face-to-face, did just enough to sell a match that really does not need to be sold and left.

Short, sweet and to the point works from time to time. As it did here.

Bobby Roode vs. Elias

Announcer JoJo introduced Elias to the WWE Universe coming out of the break.

Before he could sing a single line or insult the audience, "Glorious" exploded over the PA system and Bobby Roode made his way to the squared circle for the first singles match of his red-brand career.

Elias was elusive ahead of the commercial break, escaping an attempt at the Glorious DDT, but ate a big clothesline over the top rope moments later.

The sinister songster sent Roode shoulder-first into the ring post and seized control of the bout, wearing the former United States champion down with an offensive attack centered around using the ring as a weapon.

Despite a spirited comeback by Roode, Elias was able to catch The Glorious One as he re-entered the ring and hang his shoulder up on the middle rope. He would capitalize and score a big win over the newcomer.

Result

Elias defeated Roode

Grade

B

Analysis

It is interesting to see Roode lose so early in his Raw run, but the defeat should serve as the first chapter in a rivalry between the Superstars.

That is, if WWE management does not opt to continue with the teased program between Elias and Bobby Lashley.

If that is the case, Roode dropping this match is even more questionable.

Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt vs. The Ascension

In its first action since arriving on Raw as part of the Superstar Shake-up, The Ascension battled Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt, just days before the Woken are was set to battle Sheamus and Cesaro for the vacated Raw Tag Team Championships.

Hardy led the WWE Universe in a round of applause, almost mockingly, directed at Viktor.

The heels isolated Hardy and worked the future Hall of Famer over, cutting the ring off from him and his partner Wyatt.

The Reaper of Souls exploded into the ring and turned the tide in the babyfaces' favor. Hardy and Wyatt rode the wave of momentum to victory, scoring a pinfall over Viktor.

Result

Wyatt and Hardy defeated The Ascension

Grade

C+

Analysis

This was a generic squash match that did nothing to hurt The Ascension but, in the same turn, did little to benefit a Hardy and Wyatt team likely to capture the Raw tag titles Friday at the Greatest Royal Rumble.

The Ascension has been so incredibly jobbed out over the years that its overness was literally dependent upon backstage comedy skits with Breezango, which were awesome.

Without those, its lack of credibility is only more obvious.

Kurt Angle Appears on the First Sami & Kevin Show

"The Sami & Kevin Show" debuted Monday night as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn welcomed their first guest, Kurt Angle. The tandem mocked the Raw general manager and ran down their accomplishments on SmackDown, including their assaults on Shane and Vince McMahon.

The segment ended with Angle getting the last laugh, courtesy of a match announcement.

Zayn and Owens, he revealed, would battle Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman in a huge tag team match later in the broadcast.

Grade

C

Analysis

Letting Owens and Zayn go out there every week and get their personalities over in a talk-show environment is a great idea.

Using that talk show for nothing more than a platform to book another tag match is not.

This existed just to get to that tag team match rather than for any interesting storyline advancement. If anything, it teased tension between Owens, Zayn and Angle, not something anyone needs given the months-long feud with SmackDown's authority figures earlier this year.

Titus Worldwide vs. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre

A week after Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre sent a message loud and clear to Titus Worldwide, the two teams did battle Monday night.

The outcome was largely the same this week, as Ziggler and McIntyre ran over Apollo Crews and Titus O'Neil en route to an impressive victory.

After the match, Ziggler revealed he brought McIntyre in to watch his back. The Showoff wrapped the promo by vowing not to steal the show because he and McIntyre...they are the show.

Result

Ziggler and McIntyre defeated Crews and O'Neil

Grade

A

Analysis

If WWE Creative can protect the Ziggler-McIntyre act, the potential is there for big things.

The live crowd loves them, as was obvious by their reactions both here and last week, and the promos cut by both men after the match were tremendous.

They need to be more fine-tuned as a team if that is the direction WWE is heading with them, but the early results have to be encouraging to the creative team.

Ziggler already appears more motivated than he was previously, which will only benefit every match and segment he is in going forward.

Ditto McIntyre, who is an absolute beast and could believably stand toe-to-toe with Braun Strowman right now.

Chad Gable vs. Jinder Mahal

One week after becoming the first Superstar to jump to Raw and simultaneously lose his United States Championship to Jeff Hardy, Jinder Mahal looked to get back to winning ways as he battled Chad Gable.

A distraction by Sunil Singh allowed The Modern Day Maharaja to attack Gable before the bell and seize control of the bout from the get-go.

Just as Gable began to build momentum for himself, he ate a big clothesline from Mahal heading into the commercial break.

The former WWE champion continued to overwhelm his fellow SmackDown alumnus, wearing him down with his strength advantage. The faster, quicker and more elusive Gable fought back and targeted the leg of his opponent.

Gable continued his attack but wound up on the receiving end of a running knee by Mahal. The heel set him up for the Khallas, but Gable took a page out of Bret Hart's book, using the ropes as leverage to push off and roll up his opponent for the shocking upset victory.

Result

Gable defeated Mahal

Grade

B

Analysis

Gable has been in this position before. He has received brief singles pushes in the past and garnered a great reaction from fans in the process, but he has not been able to parlay them into substantial runs, thanks to inconsistent booking on the part of WWE management.

With a lack of box-office attractions in the Raw midcard, he may finally have the room to grow and evolve into the performer so many believe he can be.

However, one win over a Mahal seemingly on the decline in terms of stature is not enough to warrant excitement—yet.

Luckily, the match was a fun one that could be the beginning of many more if WWE Creative so hopes.

Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens

Credit: WWE.com

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens were seemingly outmatched and overpowered as they took to the squared circle for their match with Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman.

Surprisingly enough, they were able to isolate Lashley, wearing the former ECW champion down for a significant portion of Monday's tag team match.

A senton from Owens really allowed the heels to seize the control.

By the time Strowman obliterated Owens—running him over at ringside—and Lashley delivered an impressive vertical suplex to Zayn, any chance the attitudinal baddies had at earning a victory had evaporated.

Strowman finished Zayn off with the running powerslam to pick up the win.

Result

Lashley and Strowman defeated Owens and Zayn

Grade

B

Analysis

The match itself was fine for what it was, and it allowed Lashley to get some extended ring time in front of the audience, but one has to wonder how wise it is to book Zayn and Owens to lose so convincingly when they have the potential to be the top heel act on Raw.

Yes, it will probably be used to create a further issue between them and Kurt Angle, but as stated earlier in this show, the last thing Owens and Zayn need is another repetitive rivalry with management.

The grade for this one is almost exclusively for the match itself.

Baron Corbin Attacks No Way Jose

Credit: WWE.com

No Way Jose made his way to the squared circle, accompanied by his conga line.

The fun and games would be short-lived, though, as Baron Corbin made his presence felt.

The Lone Wolf said Jose was not at all on his level, and as long as there were a conga line and dancing, there would be no match between them.

As Jose and his friends made their way up the ramp, Corbin came from out of nowhere and blasted the fun-loving NXT alumnus.

He dropped him with a chokeslam backbreaker and stood tall to close the segment.

Grade

C

Analysis

A feud with No Way Jose is not exactly the way WWE Creative will get Corbin over as a future main event talent on Raw.

Corbin should be in the Intercontinental Championship picture, targeting Seth Rollins and Finn Balor. Working Jose in what amounts to an opening-match rivalry is hardly the way to build credibility for a Superstar whose legitimacy took a major hit over his last year on SmackDown.

It deserves time to grow and evolve, but this feels like a step in the wrong direction for Corbin.

Seth Rollins and Finn Balor vs. The Miztourage

Credit: WWE.com

Curtis Axel and Bo Dallas may not have been able to find new leadership Monday night, but they did find their way to the ring for a match with intercontinental champion Seth Rollins and Finn Balor.

Surprisingly enough, they held their own, cutting off Balor from his partner and working him over thanks to an array of quick tags and double-teaming.

The hot tag to Rollins sparked a babyface comeback and allowed Balor to down Dallas with the Coup de Grace for the win.

Result

Balor and Rollins defeated Axel and Dallas

Grade

C+

Analysis

Balor and Rollins will be opponents Friday at the Greatest Royal Rumble, and this was designed to spotlight them. On that front, it succeeded, but overall it was as basic a tag team match as imaginable.

Not once did anyone think Dallas and Axel would win the match, and that led to an anticlimactic outcome.

10-Woman Tag Team Main Event

Credit: WWE.com

The Riott Squad made an impact on its first night on Raw a week ago, laying out everyone in its path. Monday night, it teamed with Alexa Bliss and Mickie James to battle Sasha Banks, Bayley, Natalya, Ember Moon and the Raw women's champion, Nia Jax.

The babyfaces rolled early and again later as Natalya took the fight to James. She even applied the Sharpshooter. James made the ropes, though, and chop-blocked The Queen of Harts' knee out from underneath her.

After a brief exchange between Bayley and Riott, Jax received the hot tag and exploded into the match. She wiped out Riott with a big Samoan drop. She then proceeded to dive off the apron, finishing off the competitors at ringside.

With the rest of the field taken out, James returned to ringside and targeted Natalya.

Ronda Rousey's music played, and the former UFC star came to the aid of her friend. She proceeded to attack James, tapping her out to the armbar and drawing a disqualification in the process.

Rousey helped Natalya out of the arena to close out the show.

Result

The Riott Squad, Bliss and James defeated Jax, Moon, Banks, Bayley and Natalya via DQ

Grade

B

Analysis

It was nice to see WWE give the women's division the spotlight in a week when the male Superstars will grab headlines as part of a Greatest Royal Rumble event that female competitors will not have the opportunity to appear on for reasons beyond their control.

James revisiting the slightly unhinged side of herself as she targeted Natalya was a nice change of pace. For weeks, the focus has been on Jax-Bliss and Banks-Bayley to the point that the other women have gone underutilized. That was not the case here, as everyone got a chance to shine.

Could The Riott Squad have been better utilized on night one? Sure, but even it was well represented early in the bout.

Rousey coming out to the star pop, closing out the show and teasing a program with James was a solid decision. Not only does it give her the brightest spotlight, it sets her on course for a showdown with one of the more acclaimed workers of her generation.