WWE Raw Results 4/8 - WrestleMania Fallout, Commercial Free First Hour & More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on April 8, 2024, coming to you live from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
Aside from "Raw" General Manager Adam Pearce revealing that the first hour of the "Raw" after WrestleMania 40 will be commercial free, nothing else has officially been announced for tonight's show but there is sure to be much fallout from the two night Premium Live Event.
Cody Rhodes finished the story last night when he finally took the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship from Roman Reigns. While the match was Bloodline Rules due to Rhodes and Seth "Freakin" Rollins losing a tag team match to Reigns and The Rock the night prior, Rhodes received some help in evening the odds against The Bloodline from Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Jey Uso (who defeated his twin brother Jimmy Uso on Saturday), John Cena, and WWE Hall of Famer The Undertaker.
Rhodes wasn't the only Superstar who won a championship at the two night Premium Live Event, as Judgment Day's Damian Priest shocked the WWE Universe when he became World Heavyweight Champion last night. Priest cashed in his Money In The Bank briefcase to become the new titleholder, landing a South of Heaven on Drew McIntyre just moments after McIntyre had dethroned the aforementioned Rollins. Priest's Judgment Day teammate Rhea Ripley also emerged victorious on Saturday after she retained her Women's World Championship over Becky Lynch.
GUNTHER had a history making reign as the longest Intercontinental Champion at 666 days. However, it came to an end on Saturday when Sami Zayn dethroned him to mark his fourth time as the titleholder, having two previous reigns in 2020 and a third one in 2022.
The "Raw" and "WWE SmackDown" Tag Team Championships were separated for the first time since May 2022 on Saturday when Awesome Truth won the former title, and A-Town Down Under won the latter title. The two teams both emerged victorious after climbing a ladder to win their respective titles to defeat New Day, New Catch Republic, #DIY, and the former titleholders Finn Balor and the aforementioned Priest in a Six-Pack Challenge Ladder Match.
We are live! Michael Cole and Pat McAfee greet audiences at home as Triple H makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Triple H
As fans thank Triple H, he says he came out to the ring to thank them. He says less than 24 hours ago, fans made something very special happen. He says he can now really say WrestleMania 40 was the greatest WrestleMania of all time, and the biggest one ever by every metric out there. He says he had the privilege of welcoming fans to WrestleMania on Saturday, and he now has the privilege of welcoming fans to "Raw". He says he had on Saturday that a new era had become, and he's happy to now welcome the man that will be ushering in the new era, Cody Rhodes.
Rhodes' music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He shakes hands with Triple H and holds up his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship as Triple H raises his other hand. Triple H then congratulates Rhodes on winning Undisputed WWE Universal Championship and says he deserves it, then congratulates him on ending Roman Reigns' historic time as champion. He says he got a call about two hours after WrestleMania, and they asked him to show something special they made for Rhodes. He says while they asked him to show just Rhodes, he thought that he should show it to the entire WWE Universe. Triple H throws it to a video showing several highlights and moments of Rhodes' WWE career (and a few of his time on the indies), and Rhodes hugs him when the video finishes playing.
We Hear From Cody Rhodes
Rhodes lays the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship down in the ring and kisses it, then asks Philadelphia what they want to talk about. He says he felt like he knew what he wanted to talk about. He asks Samantha Irvin to introduce him as the new Undisputed WWE Universal Champion once again, and she does so. He says two years ago on the "Raw" After WrestleMania, he laid out his goals. He says last night, his dream became reality.
Rhodes says despite the altitude of Philadelphia being 39 feet, the air in the Wells Fargo Center feels a little thin because he and fans are standing on top of the mountain. Rhodes says he acknowledges what Roman Reigns has done, and says he may perhaps be the most important Superstar of his generation. He says when one gets into wrestling, a big thing that is asked is why a wrestler is doing it. He says one of his main whys is his daughter Libby, and he wants his daughter to know that he doesn't just work, but he works in the main event. He says he wants his daughter to know that he's fighting as champion rather than challenger, and says while he's always stood in line, the line is for him. He introduces himself and says while he was once undesirable, he became undeniable and the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion.
The Rock's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring with his People's Championship in hand. He says he came to the ring to deliver flowers to Rhodes and to tell Philadelphia they broke another record for the largest gathering of trailer park trash. He says it's just him and Rhodes here tonight, then says he beat Reigns in the middle of the ring at WrestleMania. He says he tried doing everything in his power to keep Rhodes from winning, then says Rhodes' mother had a big smile on her face as did Dusty Rhodes in heaven.
The Rock says Dusty was his hero, and says they were good friends that ran up and down the roads. He says he didn't care if his own dad was proud of the things he did to Rhodes, then says Rhodes finished his story to get a brand new belt with brand new side plates. He asks Rhodes if he can hold the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship, and assures him that there will be no harm if he hands him the title. He says he's held many titles, but not the one that Rhodes holds.
Rhodes says The Rock can hold his title for a moment as long as The Rock lets him hold the People's Championship. The Rock agrees, and the pair swap titles. The Rock puts the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship on his shoulder, and says it feels right. He hands Rhodes back his title, and takes back the People's Championship.
The Rock thanks Rhodes, and says he has to go away for a while. He says he doesn't want to leave after he (and Rhodes) made wrestling cool again, but when he comes back, whether or not Rhodes is champion, he's coming back for him. Rhodes says he's looking forward to it, and The Rock tells him that while he beat Reigns in the middle of the ring, he beat him in the middle of the ring less than 24 hours before then. He says while Rhodes' story with Reigns is over, their story is just beginning whether or not he believes it.
Rhodes says he believes it because The Rock is his literal boss as a member of the TKO board, but he's the champion. He says he's a champion of the fans, and that means that he's The Rock's champion as well. The Rock says Rhodes is the champion of the fans, the world, and even him, but there's one last thing before he leaves. He has something to give him, and hands him an object. He says Rhodes doesn't need to open his hand to know what it is, then tells him not to break his heart ever again.
Shinsuke Nakamura then makes his way down to the ring. "NXT" Champion Ilja Dragunov follows in his "Raw" debut!
Ilja Dragunov vs. Shinsuke Nakamura
The bell rings and Nakamura lands a kick on Dragunov. The two then exchange forearm shots with one another before Nakamura delivers a series of knees to Dragunov's oblique. Dragunov responds with an enzuigiri and a splash in the corner, then lands a knee to Nakamura's midsection off the middle rope. He connects with a pair of German suplexes and the Constatine Special, then ascends to the top and looks to land a senton. Nakamura moves out of the way and delivers a sliding German suplex, then follows it up with a knee off the middle rope and goes for a pin. Dragunov kicks out and delivers a German suplex, but Nakamura responds with a kick to the back of Draguov's neck and follows it up with a back body drop. He rocks Dragunov with a knee, but Dragunov lands a kick and a powerbomb. He follows it up with the H-Bomb and the Torpedo Moskau for the win.
Winner: Ilja Dragunov
Back from the break, Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio, and JD McDonagh are waiting in the ring.
We Hear From Judgment Day
Balor says to all the haters, doubters, everyone who thought that Rhea Ripley wouldn't be able to retain her title against Becky Lynch, or Damian Priest would be able to successfully cash in his Money In The Bank briefcase, they were all wrong. Dominik then introduces Ripley, and she makes her way down to the ring. She says WrestleMania was almost perfect, and while Judgment Day has a couple of new problems to deal with, two good things came out of WrestleMania weekend. She says Mami is always on top, and a new era of Judgment Day has begun. Finn Balor then introduces Damian Priest.
Priest's new entrance music hits and he makes his way down to the ring. He says the terror twins stand before the WWE Universe as World Champions, and it goes without saying that Judgment Day rises to the occasion. He demands fans rise for Judgment Day, and holds up his title as Ripley does the same.
R-Truth appears out of nowhere and joins in with his "Raw" Tag Team Championship. He says he brought back his title to Judgment Day, but he's only one half of the title he holds.
The Miz's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring. Miz tells Truth he doesn't want to be in Judgment Day, but neither does Truth. Priest reiterates that Truth isn't in Judgment Day before Miz introduces him and Truth as the new "Raw" Tag Team Champions. Balor says it won't be funny when they have a short reign, then challenges them to put their titles on the line in a tag team match. Truth says him and Miz can't because there's three of them to the confusion of both Balor and Miz. Miz checks to make sure that it isn't Lil Jimmy, and Truth says it'll be a six man tag team match against him, Miz, and the guy he can't see. Judgment Day agrees, and Truth looks to introduce him and Miz's tag team partner.
Balor, Dominik, and McDonagh then blindside Truth and Miz. They dump the pair out of the ring.
Back from the break, a 2-On-3 Handicap Match between Judgment Day and Awesome Truth has begun.
Judgment Day vs. Awesome Truth In A 2-On-3 Handicap Match
Dominik delivers The Three Amigos to Truth, but Truth prevents Dominik from landing the final one. McDonagh tags in and fires off stomps on Truth, and Dominik lands one of his own while the referee is distracted. Miz tries getting in the ring, but the referee prevents him from doing so. Dominik tags back in and fires off more stomps on Truth, then goes for a pin.
Truth kicks out before he tags in Miz. Miz levels Dominik with a crossbody, then fires off the Miz Kicks on him in the corner and lands a clothesline. He rolls up Dominik, but Dominik kicks out. Miz then delivers a double DDT to Dominik and McDonagh, and sets up for the Skull Crushing Finale. Dominik escapes, and Balor pulls Miz out of the ring. He begins beating him down on the outside with McDonagh, and the pair send him crashing into the barricade.
Back from the break, Miz looks to tag out to Truth, but Balor keeps him from doing so. McDonagh tags in, and Miz looks to tag in Truth. Dominik pulls him off the apron and sends him crashing into the ring steps. Balor joins in as McDonagh fires off right hands on Balor.
John Cena's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring revealing himself to be the third partner of Truth and Miz! Cena tags in and lands a pair of flying shoulder tackles on McDonagh, then sends him crashing into the mat. Truth and Miz follow suit with Balor and Dominik before Awesome Truth and Cena deliver a triple Five Knuckle Shuffle. They follow it up with a Triple Attitude Adjustment to McDonagh, Balor, and Dominik, then pin the trio for the win.
Winners: John Cena and Awesome Truth
We then head over to a video of Bronson Reed as he stands next to his Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal and sends a message to Drew McIntyre, Jey Uso, and Ricochet ahead of their Fatal Four-Way Number One Contenders Match for the World Heavyweight Championship later tonight.
Back from the break, we see Dominik and Rhea Ripley talk about what just happened. Ripley says Dominik's problem is with Andrade El Idolo for turning on him on "SmackDown" this past Friday. Dominik leaves to talk to Adam Pearce. Liv Morgan then throws a chair at Ripley and attacks her before officials pull her off.
Back at ringside, Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae are waiting in the ring. Roxanne Perez follows.
Roxanne Perez vs. Indi Hartwell (w/ Candice LeRae)
The bell rings and Perez offers her hand to hartwell. Hartwell looks to shake it, but Perez slaps it away. Perez then locks Hartwell in a Sleeper, but Hartwell escapes and delivers a shoulder tackle. She looks to land an elbow drop, but Perez avoids it and delivers a dropkick to Hartwell's knee. Perez delivers a Side Russian Leg Sweep and begins targeting Hartwell's left knee. Hartwell sends Perez crashing into the mat, then lands a few offensive strikes and charges at Perez in the corner. Perez moves out of the way and sends Hartwell crashing into the top turnbuckle. She then lands an uppercut, but LeRae grabs Perez's ankle from the outside. Hartwell questions what LeRae just did, opening the door for Perez to take advantage. She rakes Hartwell's eye, then delivers a boot to her midsection and follows it up with Pop Rox for the win.
Winner: Roxanne Perez
Back from the break, we see Perez walking around backstage. She runs into Natalya, and Natalya says she'll see Perez tomorrow night. Perez corrects Natalya and says she'll see her on her show.
Back at ringside, Sami Zayn makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Sami Zayn
Zayn says he's been lucky the past few years at WrestleMania, and he's done some pretty historic things. He says he really wanted to do something historic this year, and he did. He says the person who really made history was GUNTHER, with 666 days spent as Intercontinental Champion. He gives GUNTHER his flowers and says he's the best Intercontinental Champion of all time, but he beat him.
Zayn says he can't take credit, because he had a lot of help from fans. He says fans helped him believe in himself, seeing his wife and son before his WrestleMania match against GUNTHER helped him, and seeing his brother Kevin Owens helped him.
Imperium's music hits, and Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci make his way down to the ring. Kaiser says GUNTHER put in tons of hard work and dedication to make the Intercontinental Championship the most prestigious title in all of WWE, and it breaks his heart to see someone like Zayn holding that title. He congratulates the WWE Universe on having a new Intercontinental Champion that "looks like a bum", then says he and Vinci are at ringside to make things right.
Vinci and Kaiser surround Zayn on the outside, then hop up on the apron. Alpha Academy's music hits, and Chad Gable runs down to the ring to even the odds. Vinci and Kaiser hop off the apron.
Back from the break, we head over to a video hyping up Sheamus.
Sami Zayn and Chad Gable vs. Imperium
Gable and Vinci begin the action. The bell rings, and the two lock up. Vinci lands a chop, then follows it up with a crossbody and tags in Kaiser. Kaiser delivers an open palm strike to Gable, but Gable sends him crashing into the mat and tags in Zayn. Zayn delivers a double axe handle off the middle rope, then follows it up with an elbow drop off the middle rope. Vinci tags in and delivers an uppercut before Kaiser tags in. Vinci and Kaiser are sent crashing to the outside, and Gable flies off the top with a splash to level them both. Gable gets Vinci back inside the ring and delivers a crossbody off the top rope, then tags Zayn back in.
Back from the break, Zayn executes a Blue Thunder Bomb on Kaiser. Gable and Vinci tag in, and Gable fires off strikes on Vinci. He delivers a boot to his midsection, then follows it up with a Blockbuster. He delivers an Atomic Drop and a suplex and does the same to Vinci. Gable then connects with a diving headbutt to Vinci and ascends to the top before he looks to fly. Vinci moves out of the way, and tags in Kaiser. Kaiser delivers an enzuigiri, then delivers the Imperium Bomb with Vinci. He goes for a pin, but Zayn breaks the fall. Vinci tags in, and Imperium looks for the Imperium Bomb once again. Gable takes down Vinci and Kaiser looks for an uppercut off the middle rope. Gable counters into a German suplex, then delivers three more as Zayn does the same to Kaiser.
Zayn cinches in an Ankle Lock on Vinci, but Kaiser pulls Gable off the apron and delivers a kick to Zayn to break the hold. He fires off right and left hands on him, but Zayn sends him crashing to the outside. The now legal Zayn delivers an Exploder to Vinci in the corner and lands the Helluva Kick on Vinci. He tags in Gable before he does, and Gable delivers a rolling German suplex. Gable then pins Vinci for the win.
Winners: Sami Zayn and Chad Gable
After the match, Zayn and Gable hug in the ring.
We then head over and see Andrade El Idolo leaving a meeting with "Raw" General Manager Adam Pearce, "SmackDown" General Manager Nick Aldis, and "NXT" General Manager Ava. Chelsea Green storms in complaining about not being on WrestleMania 40. Pearce says he's aware that Green is unhappy, and informs her she has a very special match coming up next.
Back from the break, Green makes her way down to the ring. Jade Cargill follows.
Jade Cargill vs. Chelsea Green
The bell rings and Green protests facing Cargill, claiming she didn't agree to the match. She walks into a pump kick from Cargill, who then connects with Jaded on her for the win.
Winner: Jade Cargill
We then head backstage, where Sami Zayn tells Chad Gable that they're now even after he let him pin Vinci earlier tonight. Gable says they aren't and Zayn says since he knows what he wants more than anything, he's willing to give him a shot at the Intercontinental Championship next week.
Back at ringside, Drew McIntyre storms down to the ring.
We Hear From Drew McIntyre
McIntyre says what happened last night after he won the World Heavyweight Championship is complete BS. He says his moment lasted for 5 minutes 45 seconds, and tells Seth "Freakin" Rollins he respects him for giving him a moment to share that only warriors understand. He says Damian Priest screwed that moment up, then says the Money In The Bank briefcase is a complete joke for messing up two of his title wins. He calls Priest a transitional champion and puts him on notice, then blames CM Punk for causing the whole thing to happen. He says he did what he said he would and had his moment at WrestleMania, all the while Punk put on the headset and made jokes. He continues expressing his anger with Punk, then says if he thought it was bad when he tore his tricep, he's targeting his weakest part: his entire body.
Jey Uso's music cuts off McIntyre, and he makes his way down to the ring. Ricochet and Bronson Reed follow.
Drew McIntyre vs. Jey Uso vs. Ricochet vs. Bronson Reed In A Fatal Four-Way Number One Contenders Match for the World Heavyweight Championship
The bell rings and McIntyre begins brawling with Jey as Reed and Ricochet go at it. Reed and McIntyre level Jey and Ricochet before McIntyre fires off right hands on Reed. Reed levels McIntyre with a suplex, then clotheslines Jey out of the ring. Ricochet sends him crashing on the outside, and McIntyre ends up there as well. Ricochet then goes flying off the top rope to level everyone.
Back from the break, McIntyre pins Ricochet, but Jey breaks the fall. McIntyre charges at Jey, but Jey sends him crashing to the outside over the top as we see that a table has been set up in one of the corners. Reed delivers an elbow drop to Jey, then delivers a Hip Attack in the corner and clocks Ricochet. Reed looks to send Jey crashing through the table with a Razor's Edge, but Jey slips off his shoulders. Reed picks up Jey and sends him crashing through the table.
Back from another break, Ricochet delivers an enzuigiri to Reed and lands a second one on McIntyre. Ricochet then delivers strikes to both men in opposite corners, but McIntyre catches him and delivers a belly-to-belly suplex. Reed tosses Ricochet across the ring, then stares down McIntyre. The pair exchange chops, and Reed delivers a splash in the corner. McIntyre responds with a Michinoku Driver and goes for a pin, but Jey breaks the fall.
Jey lands a superkick on McIntyre, then delivers a double one to him with Ricochet and a triple one with Reed. Jey and Ricochet then deliver a pair of double superkicks to Reed, and Jey lands an enzuigiri on Ricochet. Ricochet responds with a knee, but Reed connects with a clothesline on Ricochet. Jey catches Reed with a Spear and pins him, but McIntyre breaks up the fall. McIntyre and Jey teeter on the top rope, but Jey drapes McIntyre from his knees and delivers a headbutt to him. McIntyre pulls Jey off the top, but Ricochet delivers a dropkick to his chest. Reed powerbombs Ricochet onto McIntyre, then connects with a Death Valley Driver on Ricochet and goes for a pin. Ricochet kicks out, and Reed lands a running senton. He looks to ascend to the top, but McIntyre prevents him from doing so. Reed then delivers a running shoulder tackle to McIntyre from off the apron, then clears the announce desk. McIntyre lands a Glasgow Kiss and sends Reed crashing into the ring post, then lays him on the announce desk. Jey delivers a tope suicidia to McIntyre.
Ricochet ascends to the top and delivers a 450 Splash to Reed through the announce desk. Jey fires off right hands on McIntyre in the ring, but McIntyre responds with a Futureshock DDT and kips up. He sets up for the Claymore Kick, but CM Punk appears and grabs his ankle from the outside. This allows for Jey to deliver a spear and the Uso Splash off the top rope for the win.
Winner (and new Number One Contender): Jey Uso