WWE Raw Results 4/22 - Women's World Championship Battle Royal, GUNTHER Returns & More
Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s results for "WWE Raw" on April 22, 2024, coming to you live from the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio!
Last week, Rhea Ripley was forced to vacate the Women's World Championship after suffering an injury during a backstage attack at the hands of Liv Morgan the week prior. Tonight, several "Raw" Superstars from the women's division go head-to-head in a Battle Royal with the winner being crowned a new titleholder. Among those participating will be Becky Lynch, who put her fellow competitors on notice earlier today.
GUNTHER hasn't appeared on WWE programming since Sami Zayn put an end to his impressive 666 day reign as Intercontinental Champion during WrestleMania 40 Saturday. In light of such, he will be making his return with something on his mind to share.
R-Truth and The Miz will be defending the World Tag Team Championship for the first time since winning the title at WrestleMania in a Six-Pack Challenge Ladder Match as they put them on the line against #DIY. Not only did Triple H present Awesome Truth with newly designed and renamed titles last week, but Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa defeated New Day and The Creed Brothers in a Triple Threat Number One Contenders match to secure their spot in tonight's match later that same night.
Ricochet will be joining forces with Andrade to square off with Judgment Day's JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio. The four men came face-to-face last week when Andrade defeated Dominik in singles competition, which led to the latter and McDonagh attacking the former post match, and Ricochet providing a helping hand to him.
We are live! Michael Cole and Pat McAfee greet the live audience and the audience at home, then run down the card for tonight's show.
Jey Uso then makes his way down to the ring.
Jey Uso and Damian Priest Meet In The Ring
Jey says he's in Columbus, then says WWE Backlash is in two weeks where he will be challenging Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship. He says he has a lot to prove to both himself and the rest of the world.
Priest's music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring. He tells Jey to take it easy, and says he just wants to talk. He says Jey's presentation and vibe suits him, then recalls the two of them going to war last year. He says there was one night Jey beat him down so bad that he went over to him in the locker room and earned his respect. He explains that's why he wanted him to join Judgment Day, and he invited him to drinks. He says he may not remember much from that night, but he does remember Jey telling him that they were next. He says he's standing with Jey proud to say that he was right, but only half right because he was next and not Jey. He says the title he holds is proof of why he's now. He says Jey is the first of many to show why Priest's title looks good on him, and although he'll be the first to fall, he'll be the first to lead the people in rising for him.
Priest looks to leave the ring, but Jey stops him. He asks if all Priest sees him as is just another tag team guy, and says that's strong talk coming from the leader of Judgment Day. He says the only reason Priest is the leader is because Rhea Ripley is out with an injury, then says Priest is getting fed to him because he's next. He says he'll be the next World Heavyweight Champion, and stares down Priest.
JD McDonagh looks to blindside Jey, but Jey sees him coming and superkicks Priest. McDonagh looks on in shock as Priest looks back at McDonagh with fury in his eyes.
#DIY then makes their way down to the ring. Awesome Truth follows.
Awesome Truth (c) vs. #DIY for the World Tag Team Championship
Truth and Gargano begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. Truth executes an arm drag before Miz tags in and double teams on Gargano with Truth. Miz charges at Gargano in the corner, then looks to cinch in a Figure Four Leg Lock. Gargano avoids it and tags in Ciampa. Miz cinches in a Figure Four Leg Lock on Ciampa, but Gargano breaks the hold. Truth dumps Gargano out of the ring, but Miz dumps Gargano onto the apron. Gargano tags in and delivers a spear to Miz through the middle rope. He then sends Miz through the outside.
Back from the break, Truth sends Ciampa crashing into the mat face first and tags in Miz. Miz delivers a pair of clotheslines to Ciampa, then fires off the Miz Kicks on him in the corner and delivers a splash in the corner. He looks to fly into the ring from the apron, but Ciampa catches him with a jumping knee. Truth becomes legal and delivers a flying shoulder tackle to Ciampa. Ciampa catches him with a superkick. Ciampa levels Miz with a knee on the apron, but Gargano flies through the ropes to level him on the outside.
Ciampa lands a forearm on Truth in the ring, then delivers a knee to the side of his head. #DIY then deliver Meeting In The Middle and Gargano pins Truth, but Miz pulls Gargano out of the ring. Miz sends Ciampa crashing into the crowd, then tags in and delivers the Skull Crushing Finale-flatlined combination with Truth to Gargano for the win.
Winners (and still): Awesome Truth
After the match, Gargano shakes hand with and hugs both Truth and Miz, but Ciampa elects not to and storms to the back.
We then head backstage and see Damian Priest chew out JD McDonagh for trying to help him earlier tonight. Dominik Mysterio and Santos Escobar then walk in, and Dominik explains that Escobar will be replacing him in his and McDonagh's tag team match against Ricochet and Andrade to the anger of Priest.
Back from the break, Imperium makes their way down to the ring.
We Hear From GUNTHER
GUNTHER says fans expect him to talk about WrestleMania and take shots at Sami Zayn, but he has something different on his mind. He says he took some time away to digest him and took the Intercontinental Championship to new heights during his reign as titleholder. He says his name will forever be embedded in the history of the Intercontinental Championship, and for the two years he held the title, he was walking around with a target on his back. He says the weight has been lifted off his shoulders now that he doesn't hold the title, then says thank you. He says he's the hunter now rather than the hunted, and with the WWE Draft around the corner and the turn of a new era, he's officially declaring himself as the first entrant in the 2024 Men's King Of The Ring match. He gives other champions some advice.
New Day then makes their way down to the ring. Kofi Kingston says GUNTHER is correct in saying it's a new era, but what better way to usher it in than New Day. Xavier Woods says GUNTHER is looking at the reigning King Of The Ring match. He continues to brag about being a two time King Of The Ring before GUNTHER takes a shot at Woods. The two parties then go back and forth, leading Woods to challenge Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci to a tag team match against him and Kingston.
Imperium vs. New Day
Kingston and Kaiser begin the action. The bell rings and the two lock up. GUNTHER has taken a seat at ringside as Kingston lands a dropkick on Kaiser, but Vinci and Woods tag in. Woods delivers a double ax handle on Vinci, then Kingston tags in and delivers a crossbody off the top. Kaiser tags in and delivers a double dropkick to Kingston with Vinci. Vinci then tags in, and Kaiser turns Kingston inside out with a clothesline.
Back from the break, Kingston levels Kaiser by flying out of the corner and tags in Woods. Vinci tags in and levels Woods with a boot, then delivers a suplex. Woods then connects with a Tornado DDT and a chop, then tags in Kingston. Vinci turns inside out with Kingston, and Imperium looks for the Imperium Bomb on Kingston. Kingston escapes by landing a hurricanrana on Vinci, then tags in Woods. Woods then ascends to the top and delivers a double stomp to Vinci as Kingston hold him in place and pins him for the win.
Winners: New Day
After the match, GUNTHER throws the chair he was sitting on and storms to the back without Kaiser or Vinci. Kaiser then hugs Vinci and helps him to the back, but Kaiser then sends Vinci crashing into the ring skirt. He then sends him crashing through the ring post and onto the announce desk before he sends him into the ring steps. Officials then run down to the ring and escort Kaiser to the back. Kaiser then runs back down to the ring and dropkicks Kaiser. Kaiser then runs into GUNTHER in Gorilla Position, and both men smile.
Back from the break, Drew McIntyre makes his way down to the ring.
We Hear From Drew McIntyre
McIntyre takes a seat in the ring cross-legged as fans chant CM Punk, and McIntyre questions why fans continue to chant for him. He says the evidence over the years proves that Punk hates fans, but says he hates himself even more. He says he loves professional wrestling so much, but it doesn't quite reciprocate that love, and says fans won't understand complex relationships like the one he has with professional wrestling. He says Punk is too much of a coward to face him one-on-one and reviews a couple of instances of him doing so. He looks to speak about King Of The Ring, but Sheamus' music cuts him off and he makes his way down to the ring.
Sheamus asks McIntyre what's going on, and says he keeps complaining about everyone being a coward. He says all he sees is a person who refuses to take accountability for his mistakes, and that makes him a coward. He calls for McIntyre to stand up and says he's known him for twenty years. He says McIntyre finally had his moment after much complaining as his brother and wife watched on from the crowd, but he blew it. He says McIntyre should be World Heavyweight Champion, but he threw it all away over a meme and a t-shirt. He says he and McIntyre have traveled the world together and had banger after banger when it comes to matches, then gives McIntyre a reality check and says Punk gave him a good beating.
McIntyre gets real with Sheamus and says while they had banger after banger before Sheamus got injured, it now looks like burger after burger. Sheamus says McIntyre has gotten really good at one liners, and while he can lose weight, McIntyre can't lose stupid. He tells McIntyre to stop blaming everyone else for his mistakes. McIntyre tells Sheamus that he cares what everyone has to say about him, and says he's still there for him right now even though their current conversation isn't worthwhile. He says he'll be watching Sheamus' upcoming match from ringside, and tells him to watch his back.
Shinsuke Nakamura then makes his way down to the ring.
Shinsuke Nakamura vs. Sheamus
The bell rings and the two lock up. Nakamura fires off right hands and kicks on Sheamus, then low bridges him onto the apron. Nakamura then drapes Sheamus across the top turnbuckle and delivers a knee to his midsection before Sheamus delivers The Ten Beats of the Bodhran and connects with a jumping knee on Nakamura on the apron. He gets him back in the ring, but Nakamura rolls out on the other side. Sheamus meets him there, but Nakamura sends his face bouncing off the announce desk and delivers a knee to the back of his head off the barricade.
Back from the break, Sheamus delivers a backbreaker to Nakamura. He ascends to the top rope and delivers a clothesline to Nakamura, but Nakamura delivers his signature German suplex through the middle rope and climbs up it. He delivers a knee before Sheamus gets him on his shoulders and climbs up to the middle rope. He then delivers White Noise and goes for a pin, but Nakamura kicks out.
Sheamus sends Nakamura crashing into the mat, then looks to deliver a Brogue Kick. Nakamura avoids it by rolling up Sheamus, but Sheamus kicks out. He then delivers a jumping knee and sets up for the Celtic Cross, but Nakamura escapes. He delivers a knee and a kick, but Sheamus catches him with a Brogue Kick for the win.
Winner: Sheamus
We then head backstage and see Sami Zayn chat with Cathy Kelley. Bronson Reed approaches Zayn and tells him that he has bigger problems. Zayn grants him a future Intercontinental Championship match, and Reed walks off. Reed then reappears and blindsides Zayn, sending him crashing into a road case.
Back from the break, Alpha Academy is waiting in the ring.
We Hear From Chad Gable
Gable says it's safe to say Zayn's had a rough couple of weeks after what just happened backstage, then says what he did to Zayn last week blindsiding him with an attack post Intercontinental Championship match as justified. He says he and Zayn tore the house down, but Zayn had to rub it in. He says he laid down his title in the ring, but that wasn't enough. He says Zayn then rubbed it in further while celebrating his life.
Gable says he's been wasting his time training a bunch of losers in Alpha Academy, then tells Akira Tozawa all he does is dance around the ring while racking up losses. He then tells Maxxine Dupri that she's pretty as a princess but as dumb as a box of rocks. He says he's given her everything but gotten nothing in return. He then tells Otis not to get started on him, and says he's proven himself without a shadow of a doubt to be the biggest disappointment of them all. Gable says Tozawa, Dupri, and Otis all signed up for honest feedback. He says they're all now going to focus on him and winning his Intercontinental Championship. He demands to hear Otis say that out loud, and Otis does.
Back from the break, Ricochet makes his way down to the ring. Andrade, Santos Escobar, JD McDonagh, and Dominik Mysterio follow.
Santos Escobar and JD McDonagh (w/ Dominik Mysterio) vs. Ricochet and Andrade
Andrade and McDonagh begin the action. The bell rings and Andrade fires off right hands on McDonagh. McDonagh tags in Escobar, and Andrade levels him with a shoulder tackle. Ricochet tags in and delivers a double back elbow with Andrade. Ricochet then delivers a dropkick and a snapmare to Escobar before he follows it up with a hurricanrana and a second dropkick. McDonagh tags himself back in, and fires off kicks on Ricochet. He connects with a back elbow on him, then runs the ropes. Dominik grabs his ankle while the referee is distracted, opening the door for Escobar to deliver a hurricanrana to Ricochet off the apron.
Back from the break, McDonagh tags himself in again and delivers a suplex to Ricochet. Escobar tags in and pins Ricochet, but Ricochet kicks out. Ricochet delivers an enzuigiri to McDonagh on the apron and tags in Andrade. Andrade delivers a pair of Dragon Screws to Escobar and connects with a back elbow, then hits a pair of running double knees and goes for a pin. Escobar kicks out before Ricochet tags in and delivers a clothesline off the top. He follows it up with a standing Shooting Star Press and goes for a pin, but McDonagh breaks the fall. Andrade then takes out McDonagh.
Escobar and Ricochet level one another with crossbodies. Andrade and McDonagh tag in and exchange strikes with one another. Andrade delivers two of The Three Amigos to McDonagh, but Escobar gets in and ring and delivers a double suplex to Andrade with McDonagh. Ricochet looks to fly off the top to level him, but Escobar catches him with a pair of double knees mid-air.
Escobar and McDonagh sit Andrade and Ricochet on adjacent top turnbuckle. Andrade sends McDonagh crashing into the mat, and Escobar does the same to Ricochet. Andrade then delivers The Message to McDonagh for the win.
Winners: Ricochet and Andrade
After the match, Damian Priest appears out of nowhere and sends Andrade crashing into the ring post shoulder first. He delivers the Razor's Edge to Ricochet and levels Andrade with South of Heaven. He then chews out Dominik in Spanish, and McDonagh asks what he just said. Priest repeats in English for McDonagh, and says he doesn't need them. He says that they need him.
Back from the break, we see Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae chat with Cathy Kelley about their new changes in attitude. Noise catches Kelley's attention, and the camera pans to reveal Liv Morgan and Nia Jax both being held back by officials. Becky Lynch enters and grabs Kelley's mic, and she takes note of Maxxine Dupri and Ivy Nile. She tells Dupri that it may be her first time fighting for a World Championship, but she needs to go out there and show everyone why it won't be her last. Lynch then makes her way down to the ring, and the rest of the entrants follow.
Women's World Championship Battle Royal
The bell rings and everyone goes after Nia Jax and Piper Niven. Niven and Jax push everyone away and begin brawling with one another. Natalya gets Becky Lynch over the top and onto the apron, but Lynch gets back inside. Natalya is then sent over the top, but hangs on. Zoey Stark looks to eliminate Kayden Carter, but Carter hands on. Natalya then goes after Stark and dumps her over the top as Chelsea Green tries eliminating Katana Chance. Ivy Nile is sent over the top and onto the apron by Candice LeRae, but Maxxine Dupri sneaks up on her and dumps her out of the ring to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Candice LeRae
Dupri turns around into a boot from Indi Hartwell, but Dupri manages to toss her over the top and out of the ring.
Eliminated: Indi Hartwell
Back from the break, Natalya looks to eliminate Lynch, but Lynch fights her off and gets back in the ring. She then tosses Natalya over the top and onto the apron. Chance and Carter double team on Dupri, Nile, Stark, and Shayna Baszler. Chance connects with a hurricanrana on Baszler and tosses Stark over the top and onto the apron. Carter delivers a kick to her on the apron. Baszler tosses Chance over the top, but Carter catches her on her shoulders. Stark then delivers a superkick to Chance and Carter to eliminate them both.
Eliminated: Kayden Carter and Katana Chance
Jax sits Nile on the top rope, but Nile looks to lock in an arm submission on Jax using the ropes for extra leverage. Jax then sends her crashing into the ring post to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Ivy Nile
Jax turns around, and Dupri gets in her face. Jax shoves her, and Dupri lands a pair of kicks on her. She then delivers an enzuigir and looks to land a boot, but Jax catches her and sends her to the back.
Eliminated: Maxxine Dupri
Lynch low bridges Niven over the top, but Niven hangs on. Lynch then delivers a forearm and a kick through the middle rope to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Piper Niven
Niven pulls Lynch under the bottom rope and sends her crashing into the ring steps. She lands a cannonball on her as Green fires off forearms on Jax in the ring. Niven clears the announce desk back on the outside as Green looks to level Jax in the ring. Niven sets up Lynch on the desk while Jax gets Green up on her shoulders. Niven drags Jax under the bottom rope to save Green, and Jax chokeslams Niven on top of Lynch on the announce desk. She then gets Niven on her shoulders and delivers a Samoan Drop to her on top of Lynch. Green looks on as she yells at Jax from inside, and Natalya takes advantage. She dumps her out of the ring over the top to eliminate her, but the referees don't see her being eliminated and Greens slides back inside the ring.
Back from another break, Stark fires off stomps on Liv Morgan in the corner as we see Jax powerbomb Lynch through the announce desk during the commercial break. Green and Natalya brawl on the apron, and Green delivers a boot to Natalya. Stark then clotheslines Green out of the ring and over the top to send her to the back, and Baszler sends Natalya crashing off the apron to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Chelsea Green and Natalya
Stark tosses Morgan over to Baszler, and Baszler catches her with a jumping knee. Baszler locks in a Sleeper on Jax, but Stark superkicks Jax. Jax then dumps Stark onto the apron over the top and sends her crashing onto the floor.
Eliminated: Zoey Stark
We are down to four: Lynch, Morgan, Baszler, and Jax. Jax dumps Baszler onto the apron over the top, and pushes her onto Stark on the outside to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Shayna Baszler
Lynch slides into the ring, and both Jax and Morgan charge at her. Morgan delivers a hurricanrana to Jax and a dropkick to Jax's spine, but Jax sends her crashing into the corner. Morgan looks to land a codebreaker, but Jax catches her. Lynch then delivers a neckbreaker to Morgan as Morgan lands a codebreaker on Jax. Jax catches Morgan with a Samoan Drop before Lynch fires off right hands on her and a kick to her midsection. Lynch sends Morgan over the top and onto the apron, and Jax does the same to Lynch. Jax charges at Morgan and Lynch, but Lynch and Morgan deliver a double jawbreaker to Jax sending her face bouncing off the top rope. Morgan and Lynch then look to land a double suplex on Jax, but Jax suplexes both of them and drags them into the corner. Jax looks to land the A-Nia-Lator, but she gets sent onto the apron. Morgan delivers a codebreaker to her, and Lynch delivers a leg drop off the top to eliminate her.
Eliminated: Nia Jax
We are down to the final two: Lynch and Morgan. Lynch and Morgan fire off right hands on one another, and Morgan dumps Lynch over the top and onto the apron. Lynch catches Morgan with a kick to her head and ascends to the top. She looks to fly, but Morgan moves out of the way. Morgan looks to toss Lynch over the top, but Lynch reverses the momentum and dumps Morgan over the top and onto the apron. Morgan catches Lynch with a right hand and onto the apron through the middle rope. Lynch delivers a kick to Morgan's midsection, but Morgan lands a codebreaker on Lynch. She sets up for Oblivion, but Lynch catches her and counters into a Man Handle Slam and Morgan is sent crashing onto the floor.
Eliminated: Liv Morgan
Winner (and new): Becky Lynch
After the match, Lynch celebrates becoming the new Women's World Champion with the WWE Universe as the show goes off the air.