The night preceding Raw saw WWE Champion Drew McIntyre retain his belt against Seth Rollins as well as Asuka claim the women’s MITB briefcase. Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch made a personal announcement in addition to Edge and Randy Orton returning to television for the first time since their match at WrestleMania 36.
Becky Lynch announces pregnancy
The Man was not in action in WWE’s latest pay-per-view, but she was the first segment on Raw following MITB. Lynch walked to the ring carrying the women’s MITB briefcase.
Lynch was shaken while speaking and talked about coming into the industry. She said the fans had her back and were her source of comfort when she was alone. Lynch announced she “has to go away for a while.”
Women’s MITB winner Asuka entered the ring and questioned why Lynch had her briefcase. Lynch said she asked executives to “up the stakes” of the women’s MITB Ladder Match. She opened the briefcase to reveal the Raw Women’s Championship.
After Asuka paraded the arena and celebrated the start of her title reign, Lynch revealed the reason she is taking time off: she is going to be a mother.
Bobby Lashley vs. Humberto Carrillo (No Disqualification Match)
Lashley cost himself a chance to compete in the men’s MITB Ladder Match when he was disqualified during the Last Chance Gauntlet Match. Lashley fought Carrillo without worrying about disqualifications.
Lashley began the match by slapping Carrillo. Carrillo hopped over the ropes and answered Lashley with a slap. Lashley grabbed a chair and went to hit Carrillo, but his opponent dropkicked him and sent the chair right back into his face.
Carrillo relied on his legs and utilized the ropes and barricade. Carrillo hit four chair shots to Lashley but was caught in a full nelson and submitted, allowing Lashley to win.
Angel Garza vs. Akira Tozawa
Before the match, Zelina Vega and her three clients argued backstage. The match between Garza and Tozawa began in progress.
Garza controlled Tozawa for the first half of the match and kicked the chest of his upside-down opponent, who hung from the turnbuckle. Garza hit a Wingclipper and stared down Theory as he earned the victory.
Theory and Garza got face-to-face in the ring post-match. Drew McIntyre entered the ring and asked if the trio was on the same page. McIntyre hit a Claymore to Theory and Garza. Andrade and McIntyre stared one another down, prompting a second Champion vs. Champion match between the two.
Andrade vs. Drew McIntyre
Thrusting himself into the turmoil Vega’s clients had boiling, McIntyre began the match by cornering Andrade.
McIntyre targeted the left arm of his opponent and knocked him down as Andrade bounced from the ropes. Andrade jumped off a turnbuckle but McIntyre responded with a kick to the chest. McIntyre slammed Andrade to the apron of the ring. Andrade rolled under the ring and pulled McIntyre into the side of the ring as he looked to pull his opponent out.
Andrade slung the left arm of McIntyre against the ring post and baseball slid into the same arm. McIntyre climbed a turnbuckle and clotheslined the United States Champion through the air.
Andrade delivered double knees to a sitting McIntyre, and the WWE Champion kicked out at one. Andrade set up a Hammerlock DDT but McIntyre countered with a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre hit an Alabama Slam and a Claymore to defeat Andrade a second time.
Post-match, McIntyre addressed his win over Seth Rollins. The WWE Champion announced he will compete against King Corbin next week on Raw in a brand-brand invitational.
A Moment of Bliss
The Raw Women’s Tag Team Champions hosted The IIconics. The returning Billie Kay and Peyton Royce advised the hosts to focus more on their championships. Kay said the future has arrived, and the two teams prepared for a non-title match.
The IIconics vs. Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross
Royce and Kay handled Bliss at the beginning of the match. Cross tagged in and halted her opponents’ momentum and held Royce in the middle of the ring.
Kay and Royce double-teamed Cross using the ropes. Cross attempted several pins before Royce clotheslined her for a two-count. Royce and Kay returned to their double team moves and Royce kicked Cross’ side. Bliss and Kay hot tagged and Bliss struck the face of Kay and hit a Five Feet of Fury for a two-count.
The four women entered the ring and Cross was thrown from the ring and Kay struck Bliss’ throat while the referee was not looking. The IIconics slammed Bliss to the mat and earned the victory.
Cedric Alexander, Ricochet and R-Truth vs. Brendan Vink, Shane Thorne, and MVP
Vink and Thorne have found themselves against Alexander and Ricochet in recent weeks. R-Truth and MVP joining the mix – along with a Pretty Ricky appearance – allowed for a humorous veteran presence.
R-Truth impressed with agility and kicks to MVP. Ricochet hit a neck breaker to Thorne and leaped onto Vink and Thorne, who held Alexander. The referee grabbed the false teeth from R-Truth and the veteran did not miss a step as he hit a Lie Detector to pin MVP.
Bobby Lashley entered the ring and targeted R-Truth once again, holding him in a full nelson. MVP and Lashley beat down R-Truth and the two exited the arena.
Rey Mysterio and Aleister Black vs. Seth Rollins and Murphy
Mysterio revealed he and Black fell onto a secondary rooftop after being thrown off by Corbin. The two paired up one night later to take on Murphy and the Monday Night Messiah, who is now a soon-to-be father.
Rollins walked down the ramp with a focused yet distant stare – perhaps due to the result of his match against McIntyre or the news he received earlier in the night. Murphy and Black began the match and the latter was held in an armbar. Murphy went for a tag but Rollins continued to stare across the ring.
Mysterio kicked Murphy’s head and Black kicked his chest after Rollins ignored another tag attempt. Black threw Murphy from the ring and played mind games with him, sitting in the middle of the ring. Murphy kicked Black into the ring post after Black got Rollins to turn his head toward him.
Mysterio bulldogged Murphy and knocked Rollins off his corner. He set up for a 619 but was caught by Rollins, who threw Mysterio to the floor and the referee called for the bell.
Rollins targeted Mysterio’s eyes and tossed Black over the barricade. He yelled for Murphy to stay back during his beatdown. Rollins pushed Mysterio’s right eye into the corner of the steel steps and Mysterio laid on the floor bleeding from the injured eye.
Street Profits vs. The Viking Raiders (2-on-2 basketball game)
Erik and Ivar proclaimed that anything the Raw Tag Team Champions do, they could do better. The Street Profits put that to the test in a half-court basketball game.
Dawkins took advantage of Ivar not knowing what a ‘check’ was and began the game with a layup. The Street Profits led 37-0 at the half as The Viking Raiders tried unusual basketball moves. The Viking Raiders celebrated their first basket when Erik sank a jumper midway through the third quarter.
The Street Profits won 74-2, but The Viking Raiders revealed they let the champions win and proved it by making several long shots and a dunk.
Shayna Baszler vs. Natalya
Natalya took offense to Baszler’s comments about Lynch’s pregnancy earlier in the night. As the two engaged in the ring Natalya called Baszler a “fake wrestler.”
Baszler held Natalya by her left arm and Natalya answered with slaps. Baszler pushed her opponent into a corner and leg-swept her. She continued to punish Natalya with body shots but was unable to fend off submissions and roll-ups. Baszler looked to stomp Natalya’s arm but she moved away. Baszler kicked and pinned Natalya to earn the win.
Randy Orton and Edge return
The Rated R Superstar returned to the WWE ring in January at the Royal Rumble and built a feud with Randy Orton. Edge defeated Orton in a Last Man Standing match at WrestleMania 36.
Charly Caruso welcomed Edge to the ring. He spoke of returning to WWE and wanting to retire on his own terms. He said he got his closure at WrestleMania, and Orton entered the arena.
Orton said he came to the ring to congratulate him and said: “the better man won at WrestleMania.” He walked up the ramp before returning to the ring while laughing.
Orton exclaimed the better wrestler “did not” earn the victory and mocked Edge’s return. Orton admitted staying down for ten seconds but followed up by saying it didn’t take “nine years to get back on his feet.”
Orton detested Edge’s passion and grit, then challenged him to a match at Backlash if he has “the guts.”
