WWE Raw live results: Battle royal for vacant Women’s World title
Date: April 22, 2024
Location: Schottenstein Center in Columbus, OH
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Show Recap —
Michael Cole and Pat McAfee stood in the ring and welcomed us to Raw. McAfee said tonight’s match to determine a new Women’s Champion would be just the fourth time a world champion would be crowned in a battle royal and called it one of the biggest matches in company history.
There was a Rhea Ripley video package. Liv Morgan and Becky Lynch were shown arriving earlier today.
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Jey Uso and Damian Priest segment
Jey Uso entered. He said Backlash was in two weeks and he had a lot to prove. He had to prove he was Main Event Jey Uso. He had to beat Damian Priest to make everything he went through worth it.
Priest entered. Jey was ready for a fight but Priest told him to relax. Priest put him over and said he’s earned this spot. Priest told a story about a match they had in the past where Jey whooped his ass so bad that Priest approached him in the locker room to tell him he earned his respect. That’s why he wanted him in Judgment Day. They went out for drinks that night and Priest paid the bill. Jey said he took an Uber home.
Priest also remembered Jey telling him that they were next. Priest was proud to stand there with him and tell him that he was right. But Jey was only half right because Priest was the champion. Priest called Jey the first on a list of people that the machine would feed him to make the belt look good. Jey could then lead the fans to rise for their campeón.
Jey was offended that Priest only thought of him as a tag team guy (even though he didn’t say that) and thought that was rich coming from someone in a stable. Jey told Priest the only reason he was the leader of Judgment Day was because Ripley was hurt. Jey wanted Priest to tell Ripley he said hi. He also said Priest was just Dominik’s bitch. Jey said Priest was the one being fed to him because he was the next champion.
JD McDonagh tried to jump Jey from behind but Jey saw it coming. Jey went to superkick McDonagh but McDonagh ducked and Jey hit Priest. Jey had a slight moment of regret but he brushed it off and left. Priest got up and was pissed at McDonagh.
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Chad Gable and Gunther were shown arriving earlier today.
They plugged King and Queen of the Ring.
R-Truth & The Miz defeated Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano to retain the World Tag Team Championships (10:07)
It seemed like Ciampa hurt his knee early in the match but he appeared fine after a commercial break. Miz tried a springboard move but Ciampa nailed him with a mid-air knee strike. Truth tagged in and performed John Cena’s moves but Gargano cut him off with a superkick. Ciampa followed with a Pedigree for a nearfall. Gargano took out Miz with a suicide dive while Truth cradled Ciampa for two.
DIY hit Truth with Meet in the Middle but Miz yanked Gargano out of the ring as he made the cover. Miz chucked Ciampa over the barricade and tagged in. Miz and Truth hit Gargano with their combo Skull Crushing Finale/Flatliner for the pinfall win.
— Truth and Miz embraced Gargano after the match. Miz offered a handshake to Ciampa but Ciampa left the ring instead. The crowd booed.
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Priest admonished McDonagh in the back. They were approached by Dom (and his mustache) and Santos Escobar. Dom was supposed to team with McDonagh tonight but his arm was in a sling. He told Priest that he was banged up so he brought in Escobar as his replacement tonight. (Dom cleared it with Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce.) Priest was annoyed and told Escobar to handle things tonight. Escobar told him not to worry.
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Gunther segment
Gunther entered with Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser. Gunther said he wasn’t here to talk about WrestleMania or take shots at Sami Zayn. He elevated the Intercontinental Championship over his 666-day reign to heights it had never seen and he became the greatest IC Champion in history.
Gunther walked around with a target on his back for two years but now that weight has been lifted. Gunther said “thank you” to Zayn for lifting that weight. He could now be the hunter instead of the hunted. He declared himself for the King of the Ring tournament. After he won KOTR, he could decide which championship he wanted to go after. He warned every champion that they would be hunted by the general of the ring and the soon-to-be King of the Ring.
New Day interrupted. Xavier Woods noted he was the defending King of the Ring and called Gunther a usurper to his throne. Woods would cement his legacy by becoming a two-time King of the Ring. Gunther called him a clown king. Gunther said he would win the tournament and reestablish the prestige of KOTR. Gunther said Woods won the tournament, covered himself and gold and pretended to be a champion. New Day mocked Gunther for being a former champion.
Gunther wanted Imperium to take care of New Day. Woods was annoyed because they’ve already wrestled them so many times. New Day accepted the match anyway and Woods said he would take care of Gunther in KOTR.
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Piper Niven, Chelsea Green and Nia Jax were shown arriving earlier.
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods defeated Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci (8:38)
[SECOND HOUR]
(Kaiser turned on Vinci after the match.)
Imperium were in control after a break but Woods made a hot tag and hit Vinci with a tornado DDT for two. Kingston tagged in but Vinci turned him inside out with a clothesline. Imperium tried a double-team move but Woods intercepted and Kingston was able to counter. New Day hit Vinci with UpUpDownDown (backbreaker/foot stomp combo) for the pinfall win.
— Gunther was pissed and he stared a hole through Kaiser before leaving.
Kaiser helped Vinci to his feet but drove him into the side of the ring. Kaiser tossed Vinci around ringside and drove him into the steel steps. Kaiser placed Vinci face-first on the steps and was about to kill him but officials ran down to stop Kaiser.
Officials escorted Kaiser away but he sprinted around the ring and dropkicked Vinci’s head as he dangled over the steel steps. This got “holy sh*t” chants.
Kaiser marched to the back where Gunther awaited. Gunther was pleased.
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There was an Andrade video package where he targeted Judgment Day. He said he was not their fool or their servant. He was now their biggest problem.
Drew McIntyre and Sheamus segment
McIntyre entered and was greeted with “CM Punk” chants. He sat cross-legged in the ring and asked the crowd why they insisted on chanting for Punk every time he came out. McIntyre informed the fans that Punk hated them and the only person he hated more than the fans was himself. There was one “What” chant so McIntyre told them to say it again if they French-kiss their cousins. A few people did.
McIntyre called Punk a coward and said Priest could never beat him one-on-one. McIntyre didn’t get a title rematch like everyone else, he had to compete in a fatal four-way instead. Punk got involved and Jey Uso took advantage like a coward. McIntyre wasn’t going to complain and would instead come out swinging. His next prize was King of the Ring.
Sheamus interrupted. Sheamus wondered what was going on with McIntyre. Sheamus said McIntyre wasn’t taking responsibility for his own mistakes. Sheamus said McIntyre got his moment at WrestleMania 40 in front of his family but he blew it. He blew it over some social media spat (with Punk). McIntyre threw it all away over a meme and a t-shirt.
Sheamus said they were friends who had banger after banger after banger together. As McIntyre’s friend, Sheamus wanted him to know that a one-armed Punk kicked his ass. McIntyre said Sheamus should know better than anyone what Punk has done to him and did to him when he was younger. Sheamus called him obsessed.
McIntyre said they might have had banger after banger after banger but it looked like Sheamus has had burger after burger after burger. Sheamus laughed and responded, “I can lose the weight but you can’t lose stupid.”
McIntyre said guys in the back were mocking Sheamus’ weight during his match but McIntyre stood up for him. Sheamus didn’t care what they said because it didn’t bother him. McIntyre did care because Sheamus was his friend. McIntyre told the truth and he was Sheamus’ only friend here.
McIntyre said they’ve always been able to fight and have pints after. McIntyre was past that now. He only fought if it was worthwhile and this wasn’t worthwhile. McIntyre was still Sheamus’ friend and said he would remain at ringside for his match to “watch your back.” (McIntyre’s tone changed when he said that, leaving it ambiguous what he really meant.)
These guys were good here.
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Sheamus defeated Shinsuke Nakamura (11:22)
Nakamura targeted Sheamus’ neck but Sheamus fought back after a break and hit an avalanche White Noise for a close nearfall. Sheamus looked at McIntyre allowing Nakamura to hit him from behind with a knee strike. Sheamus countered a Kinshasa into a power slam. Nakamura avoided a Brogue Kick but Sheamus responded with a knee strike for two. Nakamura hit a few strikes but Sheamus suddenly hit Brogue Kick for the pinfall win.
This was good while it lasted. They’ve wrestled before but this was their first televised singles match.
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There was a video package of Zayn beating Gable last week and Gable turning on him.
Cathy Kelley interviewed Zayn. Zayn was angry and hurt. He had a lot to say but was biting his tongue. He wanted to hear what Gable had to say tonight because he didn’t know how Gable could defend his actions.
Bronson Reed approached Zayn and said he had bigger problems. Zayn told him they could fight any time, any place. Reed left and Kelley was about to continue the interview but Reed suddenly decked him. Officials pulled Reed away but Reed crushed Zayn into some equipment boxes. Reed said he would be the next IC Champion.
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Chad Gable segment
Gable entered with Maxxine Dupri, Otis and Akira Tozawa. Dupri, Otis and Tozawa wore their colourful Alpha Academy gear, while Gable wore a suit.
Gable said what he did to Zayn was justified. Zayn winning in Montreal wasn’t enough for him. Zayn rubbed it in his face. Zayn saw him weeping in the corner and placed the belt right in front of him. Gable was the bigger man and he raised Zayn’s hand. That wasn’t enough for Zayn either.
Zayn celebrated with his wife in the front row knowing Gable was standing right there. Zayn knew that was his moment. That should have been Gable celebrating at WrestleMania with his daughter. Instead, he wasted his time training Zayn and he’s been wasting his time training a bunch of losers.
He admonished Tozawa for raking up loss after loss every week. He called Dupri pretty as a princess but dumb as a box of rocks. He wondered what else he had to do for her because he’d gotten nothing in return and it was pathetic. The crowd chanted for Otis as Gable turned his attention to him. Gable called Otis the biggest disappointment of them all.
Gable said this is why they signed up for the Academy. They were getting honest feedback and couldn’t be upset with him for this. They were now going to focus on him and they were all going to win his IC title together — no matter what. The crowd chanted “No.” Gable wanted to hear them say it. Gable put the mic to Otis who hesitated and said, “No matter what.” Gable was pleased and he left on his own.
This was pretty good.
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Dom approached Ricochet. Ricochet was upset that Dom wasn’t cleared because he looked forward to beating him. Ricochet called McDonagh a bobblehead and he would beat him on Speed too.
After Ricochet left, Liv Morgan approached Dom. The segment ended before either of them spoke.
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Nia Jax cut a quick promo stating her intention to win the Women’s title.
Ricochet & Andrade defeated Santos Escobar & JD McDonagh (w/Dominik Mysterio) (11:52)
The heels took control ahead of a break after Dom got involved. Andrade made a hot tag and hit Escobar with dragon screws and a running double knee strike for two. Ricochet tagged back in and hit a springboard clothesline and standing shooting star but McDonagh broke up the cover. Escobar and McDonagh gave Andrade a double vertical suplex. Ricochet tried a springboard clothesline but Escobar caught him with a mid-air knee strike.
Escobar brought Ricochet off the top with a hurricanrana but Ricochet flipped over into a leg drop on McDonagh. Andrade wiped out Escobar with a back elbow and gave McDonagh his finisher for the pinfall win. (It seems they’ve renamed Andrade’s finisher to “The Shadow.”)
— Priest attacked Andrade and Ricochet from behind after the match. He gave Ricochet a Razor’s Edge and planted Andrade with a chokeslam. Priest told Dom and McDonagh that he didn’t need them, they needed him.
(This match was fine and they tried to do some creative stuff at the end. This was also the third tag match of the night and it still felt a bit samey as WWE TV tag matches don’t differ all that much.)
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There was a Zoey Stark video promo.
Jackie Redmond interviewed Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell. This was quickly interrupted by a loud commotion off-screen. The camera cut to Jax and Morgan trying to fight as officials kept them separate.
Becky Lynch strolled by and took the mic from Redmond. She marched through the back and cut a promo as she made her way to Gorilla. She stopped along the way to give Dupri some words of encouragement.
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Next week on Raw:
- Night two of the draft (night one is on Smackdown)
- Logan Paul appears
- Six-man tag match: Jey Uso, Ricochet & Andrade vs. Priest, McDonagh & Finn Bálor
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Becky Lynch won a Battle Royal to win the Women’s World Championship (21:44)
Maxxine Dupri eliminated Candice LeRae first. Indi Hartwell booted Dupri but Dupri eliminated her moments later. There were no eliminations during a commercial break.
Kayden Carter and Katana Chance worked together but Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark got the better of them. Baszler dumped Chance onto Carter’s shoulders on the apron and Stark superkicked them off the apron for the elimination.
Nia Jax slammed Ivy Nile into the ring post and Nile fell out for the elimination. Dupri stood up for her friend so Jax shoved her down. Dupri hit Jax with a few kicks and the crowd popped but Jax quickly dumped her out.
Becky Lynch eliminated Piper Niven by kicking her off the apron. Niven dragged Lynch under the bottom rope and shoved her into the steel steps. Niven also hit a cannonball before placing Lynch on the announce table.
Jax was near the rope so Niven grabbed her leg and yanked her out of the ring too for some reason. Jax fought off Niven and chokeslammed her onto Lynch. The table didn’t break so Jax hoisted Niven on her shoulders and gave her a Samoan drop onto Lynch on the table — which still didn’t break. They tried their best to kill Becky Lynch but she appeared to survive. (I have no idea why Niven went after Jax other than to set up a spot.)
Chelsea Green was eliminated as every referee checked to see if Lynch was still alive so Green popped back into the ring to continue. They went to break again and funny enough, there were no eliminations.
During the break, Jax powerbombed Lynch through the table which finally did break.
Stark eliminated Green and Baszler eliminated Natalya. Jax eliminated Stark and Baszler moments later.
That left Jax, Morgan and Lynch who crawled back into the ring. Morgan gave Jax a Codebreaker as Lynch simultaneously brought Morgan down with a neckbreaker. Jax hit each woman with Samoan drops.
Jax tried to eliminate Morgan and Lynch at the same time but they fought her off together. They tried a double suplex but Jax suplexed them both instead. Jax set up for Annihilation but Lynch shoved her over the top rope. Jax tried to get back in but Morgan hit a Codebreaker and Lynch hit a dropkick, knocking Jax out of the ring for the elimination.
Morgan and Lynch were the final two. They battled on the apron until Morgan hit a Codebreaker but Lynch managed to stay on the apron. Morgan tried an Oblivion but Lynch countered and hit a Man-handle Slam, knocking Morgan out of the ring. Lynch wins.
The crowd popped and Lynch is now a 7-time champion.
(When they went to the apron, Lynch actually went over the middle rope, not the top rope, so it wouldn’t have mattered if she got knocked out. A referee tried to tell them to get back in the ring and try again but they didn’t.)
Lynch celebrated in the crowd and one kid managed to get a selfie. They let this go a while and fireworks went off as the show ended.