WWE RAW Results
April 22, 2019
Des Moines, Iowa
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Renee Young
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com
“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.
We go into the arena to hear Triple H’s music hit. The WWE COO makes his way to the ring dressed in a suit. We’ll have two triple threat matches with the winners facing each other in the main event tonight. The winner of that match will be the number one contender for the WWE Universal Championship at WWE Money in the Bank on May 19. The first match will see WWE United States Champion and new RAW signee Samoa Joe take on AJ Styles and Rey Mysterio. The second triple threat will see Baron Corbin take on The Miz and Drew McIntyre.
Seth Rollins’ music hits, and the WWE Universal Champion makes his way to the ring. Rollins and Triple H shake hands and embrace in the ring. A loud “Burn it down” chant fires up. Iowa is the home state of Rollins. Rollins say this is so surreal for him to be standing in the middle of this ring in his home state with the championship around his waist. Two weeks ago at WrestleMania, he was in the fight of his life, but he slayed the beast and brought the title home. A “Welcome home” chant picks up. Triple H talks about how Rollins stomped that bucket head of Brock Lesnar into the mat. He came into WrestleMania as a Kingslayer and left a Beastslayer. The crowd is really into Rollins. Triple H says the landscape has changed. Rollins is the measuring stick as the champion. The whole world is gunning for him. Rollins understands that and knows Money in the Bank is right around the corner. If anyone knows a thing or two about the Money in the Bank contract, it’s him. Rollins successfully cashed in and changed his career, but he’s also had it cashed in on him. Rollins will never let that happen again.
Triple H tells him to not put the cart before the horse. Rollins should be worried about who he’ll be defending the Universal Championship against that night. Rollins asks if Paul Heyman has been blowing up his phone for a rematch. Triple H says he hasn’t head from Heyman. Rollins asks what is next. Triple H says we’ll figure that out tonight. The best of the best have landed on RAW. There will be two triple threat matches with the winners fighting in the main event tonight. The winner of that match will face Rollins for the Universal Championship at Money in the Bank.
WWE United States Champion Samoa Joe makes his entrance and says he has arrived on RAW. Joe gets in the ring and says Becky Lynch has come up with a real interesting concept for two championships. His shoulders are wide and has room for one more. That next title will be Rollins’.
Rey Mysterio’s music hits, and he says Joe isn’t the only former Smackdown superstar looking to make an impact on RAW. Mysterio isn’t on RAW to hang out and drop knowledge. Mysterio has a match in mind. When all is said and done, at Money in the Bank he sees Rollins versus Mysterio.
Drew McIntyre’s music now hits, and he says he doesn’t give a damn what everyone in the ring thinks. McIntyre has spent a year cleaning this place up and had zero title opportunities. It is now his time. McIntyre says the only reason Rollins is Universal Champion is because he got to Brock Lesnar before he did. McIntyre will win the triple threat tonight, go to Money in the Bank, beat Rollins, and finally be Universal Champion.
The Miz makes his entrance and says the A-lister is back on RAW. That gets a good reception. Miz says the more things change, the more they stay the same. Rollins once again has something Miz wants. Miz has a movie reboot of sorts. These past few months have shown him that he can be a certain man. That’s a man worthy of the Universal Championship. There isn’t a more must see match at Money in the Bank than Seth Rollins versus The Miz.
Baron Corbin now interrupts and says he is the most deserving champion to face Rollins. Rollins may have slayed a beast at WrestleMania, but he retired a legend. Corbin asks if anyone else in the ring has defeated a Gold Medalist in his farewell match at WrestleMania.
AJ Styles’ music hits, and he comes out to a good reception. Styles gets in the ring, and an “AJ Styles” chant picks up. Styles asks if Corbin ever shuts up. Corbin’s face is almost as annoying as his voice. Speaking of annoying, it seems like everyone in this ring has forgotten that AJ Styles is on RAW. Styles calls out Rollins. Styles says he’ll win his triple threat match tonight. Then he’ll face whoever wins the next triple threat match. Then everyone will find out why Smackdown was the house that AJ Styles built. He’s going to give RAW what they always wanted. At Money in the Bank, it’ll be Seth Rollins versus AJ Styles for the Universal Championship.
Rollins looks at Triple H and says this is what he was talking about with everyone gunning for him. Rollins says he’s ready. It doesn’t matter which of them he faces at Money in the Bank. In case they forgot, he’s Seth Freakin’ Rollins, and he’s going to burn it down!
AJ Styles will take on Rey Mysterio and Samoa Joe in the first of two triple threat matches tonight, next.
-Commercial Break-
Samoa Joe vs. Rey Mysterio vs. AJ Styles
Joe quickly takes both men down, but Mysterio comes back with an enzuigiri on him. Styles attacks Mysterio from behind and viciously whips him into the corner. Styles hits a running clothesline in the corner. Mysterio charges, so Styles catapults him into Joe. Mysterio then hits Joe with a hurricanrana! Joe goes outside the ring to recover.
Styles and Mysterio face off. Mysterio punches away at him, but he has a whip reversed. Mysterio slides through the legs, but Styles counters him with a backbreaker. Styles goes to the apron and hits a sliding knee to the face of Samoa Joe. Styles hits a snap suplex on Mysterio before hitting another backbreaker for a near fall. Styles sets up for a Styles Clash, but Mysterio quickly gets out of the ring. Styles goes outside and attacks Joe before getting Mysterio back in the ring. Styles goes for a Styles Clash on Mysterio, but Mysterio counters into a hurricanrana. Joe quickly breaks up the pin. Joe attacks both men before eliminating Styles with a nasty back elbow. Joe punches away at Mysterio in the corner before sliding him out of the ring sternum first. Styles fights back at Joe, but Joe quickly takes him out with a uranage for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Mysterio attacking Joe. Joe then wipes out Mysterio with a scoop powerslam. Styles joins in and hits Joe with a strike combo. Joe comes back with a strike combo of his own, but Styles flattens him with a vicious step-up enzuigiri. Mysterio quickly breaks up the pin. Mysterio kicks away at Styles before kicking him in the face. Mysterio connects with a wheelbarrow bulldog on Styles before putting Joe in position. Mysterio goes for a 619, but Joe gets out of the ring. Mysterio then takes him out with a corkscrew plancha! Mysterio goes to the top rope, but Styles cuts him off. They tease a superplex to the floor, but neither go. Joe then climbs the ropes and takes them both out with a double superplex! The crowd is chanting, “This is awesome.” Joe covers both for a near fall.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Joe hit Styles with an absolutely vicious clothesline for a near fall! Mysterio takes Joe down with a flying seated senton before hitting a crucifix slam. Styles breaks up the pin. Styles sends Mysterio into the corner, but Mysterio catches him with a head-scissor that takes Styles out of the ring. Mysterio then counters a Joe powerslam with a tornado DDT. Mysterio goes for a 619, but Joe counters into a Coquina Clutch. Styles breaks it up, so Joe applies a Coquina Clutch to him. Styles counters into a pin, but Joe kicks out. Styles then hits an overhead kick. Mysterio hits a hurricanrana on Styles to put him in position. Mysterio hits Joe with a 619 before waiting for Styles. Mysterio goes for a springboard hurricanrana, but Styles counters into a powerbomb. Styles follows up with another powerbomb onto Joe! Styles then hits Mysterio with a Styles Clash onto Joe before pinning Joe for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: AJ Styles
AJ Styles will go on to the main event tonight to face the winner of the second triple threat match. The winner will face Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship at Money in the Bank. Samoa Joe is furious and bleeding profusely from the bridge of the nose.
Baron Corbin takes on The Miz and Drew McIntyre later on tonight. We’ll also see Becky Lynch take on Alicia Fox in a non-title match.
Highlights are shown of John Cena hosting The Ellen Show.
Naomi makes her entrance. She’ll be in action, next.
-Commercial Break-
Replays are shown of Naomi pinning Billie Kay in a tag team match last week on RAW.
The IIconics make their entrance. Billie Kay says what Naomi did last week can be summed up in one sentence. Peyton Royce says, “Thank you, next.” They then quote Ariana Grande. The IIconics wonder who has Naomi’s back now that Bayley is on Smackdown Live. The IIconics says they are the future.
Naomi vs. Billie Kay w/ Peyton Royce
Kay quickly kicks her down and covers for a no count. Kay immediately goes to a rest hold. Naomi fights up and clotheslines her down. Naomi hits a back elbow and knocks Royce off the apron. Naomi then catches Kay with a sunset flip for the win.
Winner by Pinfall: Naomi
Another creepy doll promo is shown.
The Miz makes his entrance. The second triple threat match is next.
-Commercial Break-
The Miz vs. Baron Corbin vs. Drew McIntyre
The Miz tries to blindside both men and leaves the ring as soon as they appear to get an advantage. They try to cut him off, but he gets in the ring and hits them with a baseball slide. Corbin quickly clotheslines him on the floor. McIntyre and Corbin stomp away at Miz. McIntyre gets Miz in the ring and chops him down. Miz tries to fight back, but McIntyre and Corbin quickly put a stop to that. Corbin punches Miz in the midsection. Corbin then punches McIntyre in the face. Corbin throws Miz out of the ring and drives him into the barricade. Miz soon reverses a whip into the barricade. McIntyre quickly attacks Miz from behind. McIntyre gets him in the ring and hits a suplex for a near fall. Corbin gets in the ring, and McIntyre stares back at him. McIntyre punches Corbin down before turning his focus to The Miz. Miz fights back, and Corbin hits McIntyre with an out and in clothesline. Miz quickly rolls Corbin up for a two count. Miz then sidesteps Corbin and puts him into the ring post shoulder-first. Miz punches away at Corbin and kicks away at him. Miz hits Corbin and McIntyre with running double knees before hitting McIntyre with his patented corner clothesline. Miz then drops them both with a springboard axe handle. Miz then starts hitting them both with IT Kicks. Corbin eats a big roundhouse, and McIntyre drops Miz with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre puts Miz on the top rope and clubs away at him. Miz quickly punches him off. McIntyre soon sends Corbin into Miz on the top rope. McIntyre goes for a slam off the top rope, but Corbin also catches him with a powerbomb.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see McIntyre and Corbin brawling at ringside. Miz takes them both out with a dive off the top rope to the floor. Miz then puts Corbin into the timekeeper’s area. In the ring, McIntyre makes a comeback on the Miz. McIntyre hits Miz with an inverted Alabama Slam for a near fall. McIntyre sizes Miz up, but Miz counters into a Figure Four Leglock. AJ Styles is seen watching backstage. McIntyre gets out with a thumb to the eye. Corbin gets in the ring and hits Miz with a Deep Six for a near fall. Corbin cannot believe Miz kicked out. Corbin tries to attack Miz at ringside, but Miz sends him into the ring steps. Miz rolls McIntyre up for a near fall. McIntyre then slams him down and covers for a near fall. McIntyre signals for the Future Shock DDT, but Miz counters into a DDT for a near fall. Miz counters Corbin’s End of Days into a DDT for another near fall. Miz goes for a Skull Crushing Finale on Corbin, but he fights out. Miz clotheslines him over the top rope. McIntyre then wipes Miz out with a vicious Claymore Kick! Corbin quickly runs into the ring and pushes McIntyre out of the ring. Corbin then covers Miz for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin will face AJ Styles in tonight’s main event with the winner facing Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal Championship at WWE Money in the Bank.
Charly Caruso interviews AJ Styles about facing Baron Corbin. Styles says it’s not the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog. Styles says that Corbin always talks about his resume, but he also has a great resume. Styles may not have defeated Kurt Angle in his farewell match, but he beats up John Cena on a regular basis. He’ll do the same to Corbin.
Sami Zayn makes his entrance. We’ll hear from him, next.
-Commercial Break-
A video plays for all the great work WWE does with the Make A Wish Foundation.
Sami Zayn continues to hold the WWE Universe accountable
Sami Zayn tells the crowd to stop singing his music. People don’t like to hear the truth about themselves. They’re now creating a false narrative about him by saying he’s a bitter person. Zayn is jubilant. The last ten months he was away were the happiest times of his life. Zayn shows pictures of himself from his Instagram hiking in Switzerland, in Norway, on a beach in Mexico, and in front of a castle in Scotland. Zayn was enjoying himself. The closer he got to returning to WWE, he was starting to feel anxiety. What was it about WWE that was making him sick? Was it the corporate structure that he doesn’t always agree with? Is it the WWE Superstars that are egomaniacs and delusional? Zayn dug and dug and got to the root of the problem. The problem is the fans. Zayn says it’s easy for them to boo than accept blame for all this. Zayn will make them responsible. He’s holding every single member of the WWE Universe accountable. Mob mentality won’t keep them safe from him. Zayn says he would much rather be back in Norway or Iceland or Sweden. He’d rather be anywhere than depressed Des Moines, Iowa. Zayn says they should take a trip to hell. Zayn dances around and leaves the ring.
AJ Styles will take on Baron Corbin in the main event to determine who will face Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship at Money in the Bank. We’ll also see Becky Lynch take on Alicia Fox.
Video Package: Cedric Alexander highlight package
Cedric Alexander makes his entrance. He’ll face new RAW superstar Cesaro, next.
-Commercial Break-
Cedric Alexander vs. Cesaro
They lock up, and Cesaro immediately powers him down. Cesaro wrenches the arm, but Alexander twists out and applies a side headlock. Alexander flips through a suplex, so Cesaro catches him with an uppercut. Cesaro uppercuts him to the corner and chops the chest. Alexander makes a comeback and dropkicks him out of the ring. Alexander teases a dive, but Cesaro quickly gets in the ring and scoop slams him. Cesaro then applies a modified chin lock. Alexander fights up and boots him. Alexander dives off the second rope, but Cesaro catches him and hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Alexander is screaming in pain. Cesaro attacks the small of the back before applying a chin lock. Alexander fights up, but Cesaro big boots him down for a near all. Cesaro powers him up and hits a gutwrench suplex for a near fall. Cesaro stomps the hands and applies a chin lock. Alexander tries to make a comeback, and he rolls Cesaro up for a two count. Alexander chops him a few times before connecting with some forearms. Alexander blocks a big boot and elbows him. Alexander dropkicks him in the knees before dropkicking him in the head. Alexander goes for the Flatliner, but Cesaro fights out. Alexander connects with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Cesaro counters a backslide, but Alexander comes back with a handspring kick to the head. Cesaro leaves the ring to recover. Alexander wipes Cesaro out with a summersault senton. Alexander gets him in the ring and does a springboard, but Cesaro uppercuts him out of mid-air for the win!
Winner by Pinfall: Cesaro
Charly Caruso is backstage with The Usos. They’re happy to be on RAW. They make a joke about drinking and driving… The Revival walk up to them. Scott Dawson says they’re decent hands in the tag team division, but this is RAW. This is Top Guy Territory. It’s The Revival Reformatory. They’re not locking down anything. The Usos welcome them to the Uso Penitentiary before walking off.
The newly named Viking Raiders make their entrances. They’ll be in action against Lucha House Party, next.
-Commercial Break-
The Viking Raiders vs. Lucha House Party
The Viking Raiders immediately attack Lucha House Party during their entrance and hit an impressive double slam/powerbomb onto Gran Metallik and Kalisto. They then hit a flapjack into a powerslam, which is now called The Viking Experience. The Viking Raiders then celebrate in the ring. This match never started.
RAW Tag Team Champions Zack Ryder and Curt Hawkins are backstage looking nervous after watching The Viking Raiders kill Lucha House Party. Ryder says they’ve been here for a decade. Hawkins says they earned these titles, just like they did in 2008. They won’t let these new guys take what they’ve earned.
RAW and Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch makes her entrance. She’ll be facing Alicia Fox, next.
-Commercial Break-
Becky Lynch is standing in the ring. The crowd is chanting her name. Lynch says there’s something in the air in Iowa tonight. The Superstar Shake-up creates new opportunities. Her next challenger is Lacey Evans, who likes to sucker punch The Man. Lynch says she’s made a career out of putting bleached blondes that have curried favor with management in their places. Lynch says she’s out here fighting while Evans is in the back furthering her career.
Lacey Evans interrupts. Evans says a woman never loses her temper. Maybe it’s because she’s Irish. Evans says she’ll show Lynch a Woman’s Right and wear those two belts around her waist. Lynch says Evans is getting on her last nerve. Her happiness shouldn’t be taken for complacency. It’s time for The Man to start collecting her debts. Alicia Fox makes her entrance.
Becky Lynch vs. Alicia Fox
They lock up, and Lynch takes her down. Fox fights up and applies a side headlock. Lynch fights out, blocks a dropkick, and kicks Fox in the midsection. Fox rolls out of the ring to recover. Lynch then hits her with a baseball slide. Fox beats her around ringside and throws her into the barricade.
-Commercial Break-
We come back from the break to see Fox still working over Lynch. They nearly botch a head-scissor by spiking Lynch on her head, but luckily they tucked at the end. Lynch goes outside and throws Fox into the barricade. Lynch gets her in the ring and hits a pair of Bexploders. Fox comes back with a roll-up for a two count. Lynch immediately applies the Dis-Arm-Her for the win.
Winner by Submission: Becky Lynch
Lacey Evans immediately comes in the ring and hits Lynch with the Woman’s Right. Lynch slowly pulls herself up, and Evans connects with a second Woman’s Right.
Baron Corbin is warming up when Charly Caruso interrupts him. Corbin says he’ll make Seth Rollins pay for making his life miserable. Caruso asks if he’s looking past AJ Styles. Corbin says he’s looking right through him.
Ricochet makes his entrance. He’ll take on Bobby Roode who will be known from now on as Robert Roode, next.
-Commercial Break-
Robert Roode was interviewed earlier today. Roode says because of the Superstar Shake-up, he dropped dead weight in Chad Gable and will continue to be glorious.
Ricochet vs. Robert Roode
They lock up, and Ricochet pushes him to the corner. Corey Graves says there will be a spike in pregnancies in this area tonight because of Robert Roode and his new mustache. Roode applies a side headlock and punches him down. Roode chops the chest, but Ricochet comes back with a dropkick. Roode tries to beg him off, and he pulls Ricochet to the apron. Ricochet comes back with a back body drop over the top rope. Ricochet teases a flip, but Roode moves. Ricochet lands on the apron and takes him out with a moonsault off the second turnbuckle to the floor.