The April 23rd, 2018 edition of WWE RAW aired live from the Scottrade Center in Saint Louis, MO.
– RAW opens up with a tribute to Bruno Sammartino with the entire roster and Vince McMahon on the stage. We see a video package looking at Bruno’s legendary career.
– WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar comes down to the ring with Paul Heyman. Heyman gets on the mic and talks about Lesnar’s various victories throughout his career, and when it comes to Lesnar the Universal Title belt is real. Heyman says Lesnar used non-PG Era elbow smashes to Reigns’ face to beat him, and gloats about Lesnar hitting multiple F-5’s on Reigns and leaving him laying like a “piece of Samoan trash.” Heyman talks about Lesnar heading in to the Greatest Royal Rumble on Friday to beat Reigns again. Heyman says this is a spoiler: The greatest cage fighter ever will destroy Reigns in the cage match this Friday. Roman Reigns’ music hits and The Big Dog comes out to interrupt. Reigns steps in the ring and comes face to face with Brock and they briefly exchange words off-mic. Reigns gets on the mic and keeps it short, and tells Brock he’s coming home with the Title. Reigns walks off and Brock stares him down from the ring.
– Elias is backstage getting ready for a match with Bobby Roode tonight.
– We see another video package looking at Bruno Sammartino and celebrity reactions on Twitter.
– Elias is in the ring for a song, but he’s immediately interrupted by Bobby Roode.
– Bobby Roode vs. Elias: The opening bell sounds and Roode and Elias trade chops to the chest back and forth in the opening moments. Roode misses a shot off the middle rope, but he hits a spinebuster for a two count. They fight into the corner where Roode connects with some more chops to the chest. Elias comes back with some strikes of his own and throws Roode in to the ring post. Elias gets in control now and tries to keep Roode grounded with a chin lock. Roode comes back with a flying clothesline off the middle rope, and the goes for the Glorious DDT but Elias escapes. Roode kicks Elias away, then hits the Blockbuster off the middle rope. Elias rolls outside to avoid being pinned, then Elias hits a cheap shot on the apron and rolls up Roode for the three count.
Winner: Elias
– Roode looks surprised after the match as Elias heads up the ramp.
– We see a pre-taped promo from Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt about their intentions to go after the RAW Tag Team Titles.
– Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt vs. The Ascension: Matt starts off cool, but The Ascension starts trading frequent tags and repeatedly double-teaming Matt. Wyatt comes in and evens the odds with a Sister Abigail on Konnor, then gets back on the apron and tags in. Wyatt and Matt hit a double team move on Viktor for the three count.
Winners: Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
– Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn come out to the ring next and get on the mic. They have pictures set up in the ring of them on SmackDown beating up Shane McMahon, and there’s a table with chairs. They tell us this is the hottest new interview show in WWE, “The Sami and Kevin Show.” They bring out Kurt Angle, and they give him a small child’s lawn chair to sit on. Sami and Kevin tell Kurt that they want to have a good relationship with him, but Kevin adds that his bosses in Connecticut have Kurt’s manhood in a jar. They talk about the toxic environment at SmackDown caused by Shane McMahon. They talk about how Kurt better be nice to Stephanie because he needs this job. Kevin and Owens make some jokes about Kurt forgetting about Jason Jordan, then they ask Kurt how he’s going to use Kevin and Sami to the best of their ability. Kurt says he appreciates how nicely Sami and Kevin have treated him, so he’s going to repay them. Kurt says in the Greatest Royal Rumble match on Friday – Kurt will be in it, Daniel Bryan will be in, and Chris Jericho will be in it, along with every other star who Kevin and Sami have crossed over the years. Kurt says that’s Friday, but tonight, Sami and Kevin will have a tag match against Bobby Lashley and Braun Strowman. Kurt heads to the back, and Sami and Kevin don’t look happy about their match tonight.
– Seth Rollins is backstage talking to Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel. Dallas and Axel talk about leaving The Miz behind, and then they reveal their Seth Rollins shirts under their jackets, and say they want to be the new Shield. Rollins tells them no, and walks off.
– Titus Worldwide vs. Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre: Titus Worldwide comes out first, then Drew and Dolph come out separately. Ziggler and Titus start off and Titus takes control early on. Crews tags in and hits a moonsault on Ziggler for a two count. Crews continues the offense until Drew gets the tag and double teams Crews. McIntyre works over Crews and taunts Titus on the apron. Ziggler and McIntyre hit some double team moves now, and finish up with the Claymore – Zig Zag combo on Crews for the three count.
Winners: Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler
– After the match, Ziggler and McIntyre do an interview in the ring with Charly Caruso. They talk about how dangerous Drew is, and Drew says he’s a superstar and he’s the reality check WWE needs. Ziggler says they don’t care about showing off, because this is the show. They walk off and heads to the back.
– Kurt Angle is backstage watching the monitor, and seems impressed by Ziggler and McIntyre. Chad Gable walks in and thanks Angle for bringing him to RAW. Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh interrupt and complain about Jeff Hardy. Jinder says he wants to be sent back to SmackDown, but Angle says that’s not happening. Gable gets in Jinder’s face and they trade insults. Jinder and Chad starts shoving and Angle makes it a match.
– Jinder Mahal vs. Chad Gable: Gable makes his entrance and gets distracted by Sunil on the ring steps, which leads to Jinder hitting a cheap-shot on Gable from behind. Gable recovers and gets in the ring, and the ref starts the match. The opening bell sounds and Gable comes out strong, but Jinder shuts him down. The fight spills out to ringside and Jinder hits a big clothesline on the floor. Back in the ring, Jinder hits a suplex for a two count, then stomps on Gable. Gable tries to fight back, but Jinder shuts him down and takes him in to the corner. Gable starts making a comeback and takes out Jinder’s knee. Jinder comes back with a knee to Gable, then he drops Gable over the top rope. Jinder hits a running knee, then goes for the Khallas, but Gable fights out. Gable escapes and rolls up Jinder to steal the three count out of nowhere.
Winner: Chad Gable
– Gable looks shocked after the match and leaves the ring. Jinder looks shocked as well, and he’s not happy about the loss.
– The Riott Squad is backstage for an interview with Renee Young. They talk about sending a message to the entire women’s division, and they’re here to disrupt, not make friends.
– Dallas and Axel are backstage still looking for their next move. They approach Finn BAlor wearing Balor Club shirts, but Balor tells them “thanks but no thanks.”
– Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are backstage getting ready to come out to the ring.
– We see a pre-taped promo from Samoa Joe wondering if he’ll have an opponent for Backlash after Lesnar rips apart Reigns on Friday.
– Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman: Strowman and Lashley chase Zayn and Owens out to ringside early on. Lashley finally gets his hands on Kevin in the ring and hits a neckbreaker and a spinebuster. Lashley tees off on Owens in the corner and hits a series of elbows to the head. Sami finally gets the tag and they briefly double team Lashley. Sami slaps Lashley across the face, and Lashley fires up and suplexes Sami. Lashley hits an elbow to the face and then charges, but Sami blocks him with a big boot. Owens comes in but Lashley throws him outside, then hits a running powerslam on Sami. Owens comes back with a cheap shot on Lashley, and now Sami starts beating on LAshley. Lashley finally comes back and throws Sami across the ring. Braun looks for the hot tag, but Kevin stops Lashley from reaching him. Owens looks for a Senton on Lashley, but Lashley blocks it with his knees. Sami tags in and Lashley hits a back suplex. Both men are down, and Lashley crawls over to Strowman, but Owens pulls Strowman off the apron. Lashley knocks Owens down, then knocks down Sami, and gets the hot tag to Lashley. Lashley drops Sami, then rolls outside and tackles Kevin into the barricade. Braun tackles Kevin int othe barricade again, then hits the ring and clotheslines Sami down. Back at ringside, Braun hits a running dropkick on Kevin. Braun gets back in the ring now, but Sami Zayn runs off and runs up the ramp. Lashley catches Sami and catches him, then throws him back in the ring. Braun beats on Sami and hits a running splash in the corner. Braun tosses Sami across the ring, then tags in Lashley. Lashley picks up Sami and hits a stalling vertical suplex on Sami. Braun tags in and hits the running powerslam on Sami for the three count.
Winners: bobby Lashley & Braun Strowman
– We go to replays, then Lashley and Strowman celebrate their win as Sami and Kevin are still laying.
– No Way Jose comes out and dances around the ring with a conga line. Baron Corbin comes out to the stage and starts trashing Jose. He says he sees Jose’s trap – people fro his conga line will attack Corbin from behind during their match. Corbin says unlike Jose, he’s here to be a serious contender, and Jose isn’t on his level. Corbin says as long as the conga line is there, there’s no match, and Corbin walks off. Jose gets on the mic and says just because there’s no match tonight doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. The music hits and Jose starts dancing with the conga line again. As Jose stands on the stage and waves at the crowd, Baron Corbin attacks Jose from behind with a mic. Corbin beats down Jose on the stage, and hits the chokeslam backbreaker.
– We see a pre-taped promo from Alexa Bliss where she pretends to do an anti-bullying PSA. Alexa tells a story about Nia ripping a bowl of food from an old lady and eating it and laughing. She says she’ll never forget the sound of Nia chewing and laughing in the old woman’s face. Alexa says she’ll beat Nia and prove that bullies never win.
– Bo Dallas & Curtis Axel vs. Finn Balor & Seth Rollins: Balor and Axel start this one off, and Dallas tags in early to get the numbers advantage over Finn. Dallas and Axel take turns working over Balor and trying to keep him grounded. Balor finally fights them off and tags in Rollins, and Rollins cleans house. Rollins hits a suicide dive on to both Axel and Dallas at ringside, and then back in the ring Rollins hits a Blockbuster on Axel. Rollins looks for the Curb Stomp on Axel, but Dallas runs in for the distraction. Rollins superkicks Dallas, then hits the stomp on Axel. Balor tags in, then Rollins takes out Dallas at ringside. Balor hits the Coup De Grace on Axel in the ring for the three count after a short match
Winner: Finn Balor & Seth Rollins
– Natalya is backstage with Ember Moon, Nia Jax, Sasha Banks and Bayley. Natalya tries to give them a pep talk, and Ember and Nia say some one-liners. They walk off, except Sasha and Bayley, who come face to face, then Bayley walks off.
– Natalya, Ember Moon, Nia Jax, Bayley & Sasha Banks vs. Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott: Logan and Banks start off trading kicks and knees. Banks hits some knee strikes in the corner, then Liv tags in and continues the offense. Sasha comes back with a slap to the face, and then starts working over Liv’s arm. Ember Moon tags in and continues the offense on Liv. Moon hits a spinning elbow to the face in the corner, then a springboard cross body. Moon hits a suicide dive on Liv at ringside next, then takes things back in the ring. Logan and Banks tag in now and Logan gets the upper hand. Mickie tags herself in and Logan looks surprised. Mickie continues beating on Sasha and keeps her grounded. Mickie and Logan come in now and Logan starts working over her knee. Mickie comes in and hits another shot to Natalya’s knee, as Bayley tags in. Ruby tags in and drops Bayley then keeps her grounded. Referees check on Natalya at ringside. Nia tags in and hits a splash on Ruby in the corner then a gorilla press slam and a leg drop. Mickie breaks up the pin, and the aprons clear and chaos breaks loose. All of the women brawl out to ringside, and Nia comes off the apron on to all of them on the ringside floor. Mickie is the first up, and she takes out Natalya with a dropkick. Ronda Rousey comes out for the save and she chases off Mickie. Ronda helps up Natalya, but Mickie dropkicks Ronda from behind. Ronda gets up and drops Mickie in the ring and puts her in the armbar. The ref calls for the DQ and the bell sounds.
Winners via DQ: Alexa Bliss, Mickie James, Liv Morgan, Sarah Logan, Ruby Riott
– Ronda helps Natalya back, and we go to the broadcast table where Michael Cole promotes Friday’s Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. We see Ronda helped Natalya behind the curtain as RAW goes off the air.