WWE Raw Results For 4/16: The Superstar Shakeup Begins, The US Title Is Defended & Raw Tag Team Eliminator Finals
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Raw post-show podcast:
– Raw GM Kurt Angle makes his way to the ring and he has a microphone in hand, Angle welcomes everybody to Monday Night Raw. Angle talks about the Superstar Shakeup before getting interrupted by Sunil Singh, Singh introduces WWE United States Champion Jinder Mahal as the newest member of the Raw roster. Mahal makes his way to the ring and he has a microphone in hand, Mahal congratulates Angle for bringing him to Raw. Mahal argues with Angle over his transportation to the arena, Mahal states that he is better than all the other Raw stars. Angle says that Mahal should prove that he is the best on Raw, Angle says that Mahal will defend the WWE United States Title against whomever wants to face him and Jeff Hardy answers the challenge.
WWE United States Title Match
Jinder Mahal (c) w/Sunil Singh vs. Jeff Hardy
The match begins with Mahal nailing Hardy with a kick to the midsection before landing a few strikes, Mahal traps Hardy in the corner while landing a few stomps. Hardy fights back and he catches Mahal with some strikes of his own, Hardy catches Mahal with a snap mare before landing a drop kick. Mahal recovers to drop Hardy before landing a few more strikes, Hardy recovers and he drop kicks Mahal out of the ring. Hardy then leaps off the ring apron on Mahal as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Mahal holding Hardy in a chin lock. Hardy gets free by nailing Mahal with a jaw breaker, Mahal recovers and he drops Hardy across the top rope before landing a series of knee drops.
Hardy gets to the ring apron and Mahal drops him with a right, Hardy catches a charging Mahal with a shoulder thrust before dropping him neck first on the top rope. Hardy goes to the top rope and Mahal crotches him, Mahal goes to the top rope and Hardy knocks him off. Hardy then hits Mahal with a Whisper In The Wind, Sunil tries distracting Hardy and Hardy nails him with a drop kick. Hardy then hits Mahal with an atomic drop followed by a leg drop, Hardy hits Mahal with a basement drop kick for a near fall. Hardy goes for a Twist Of Fate and Mahal counters with a knee strike for a near fall, Mahal goes for his finisher and Hardy escapes with a roll up for a near fall.
Mahal then clobbers Hardy with a boot to the face for another near fall, Mahal goes for a gut buster and Hardy counters with a Twist Of Fate. Hardy lands the swanton bomb for the three count.
Winner: Jeff Hardy, your new WWE United States Champion
– Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh are interviewed by Renee Young, Mahal believes everything is a conspiracy and he wants his rematch with Jeff Hardy at the Greatest Royal Rumble. No Way Jose appears and he leads a fiesta line to the interview area, Jose then takes Young away in the fiesta line.
Bayley vs. Sasha Banks
The match begins with Banks nailing Bayley with a kick before throwing her into the corner, Bayley tries fighting back and Banks drops her. Banks nails Bayley with a chop, Banks looks for a rope assisted arm drag and Bayley blocks it before tossing her out of the ring. Bayley goes through the ropes to nail Banks with a hurricarana on the arena floor as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Banks holding Bayley in a straight jacket hold. Bayley eventually gets free by tossing Banks across the ring, Banks catches Bayley with a back elbow strike before eating a back body drop. Bayley then traps Banks in the ropes before landing a stunner, Bayley then hits Banks with a shoulder smash in the corner followed by a leaping elbow strike.
Bayley would then catch Banks with a middle rope reverse DDT for a near fall, Banks recovers by kicking Bayley in the head before knocking her out of the ring. Bayley tries getting back in the ring and Banks nails her with a few knee strikes, Banks gets Bayley back in the ring before landing a top rope double knee strike for a near fall. Banks trash talks to Bayley before a slapping exchange breaks out, the slapping exchange turns into a striking exchange. Banks then drops Bayley with a knee strike before landing a double knee strike, Bayley goes for a roll up and Banks counters with a Bank Statement. The Riott Squad hits the ring to attack both women and end the match.
Match Result: No Contest
After the match, The Riott Squad continue their attack on Bayley and Sasha Banks.
Heath Slater & Rhyno vs. Authors Of Pain (Rezar & Akam)
The match begins with Slater and Rhyno jumping their opponents before the bell sounds, the bell sounds and Slater nails Akam with a few strikes. Rhyno tags in and he also nails Akam with a few strikes, Rhyno lands a shoulder thrust in the corner. Slater tags in and he nails Akam with a top rope forearm strikes, Akam recovers to drop Slater on the top rope. Rezar tags in and he attacks Slater with some hammer fists, Akam tags in as AOP nail Slater with a double gut buster. Rezar tags back in and Slater makes the tag to Rhyno a short time later, Rhyno then hits Rezar with a shoulder tackle before landing a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Slater hits the ring and Akam throws him right out of it, AOP hits Rhyno with The Last Chapter for the three count.
Winners: Authors Of Pain (Rezar & Akam)
– The Miz & The Miztourage are in the ring for an edition of Miz TV, Miz says his guests tonight are the newest members of the Raw Brand. The newest members of the Raw brand are revealed to be Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, Owens and Zayn hit the ring to hug The Miz and The Miztourage. Miz then says that everybody in the ring represents the best collection of talent in the WWE right now, Miz says that they are going to reshape Raw into what they want. Raw GM Kurt Angle interrupts and he reminds Miz that he doesn’t have any control over the WWE, Angle says that Owens and Zayn both lost last week and cannot have jobs on Raw. Owens and Zayn says Angle should’ve gotten an email about them a short time ago, Zayn reads the email and it was from Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon.
The email states that she has signed Owens and Zayn to the Raw brand, everybody in the ring celebrates while Angle stands on the stage dumbfounded. Angle mocks Stephanie after Ronda Rousey re-injured her arm last week, Angle also reveals that The Miz has been traded to Smackdown Live. Miz says that Smackdown Live has now gone from the B show to the A show with him on it, Angle then reveals that The Miztourage will remain on Raw brand. Angle then makes The Miz, The Miztourage, Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens versus Finn Balor, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman and a mystery partner for tonight’s main event.
– Bray Wyatt & Matt Hardy appear, they both announce that they are here.
WWE Raw Tag Team Title Eliminator Finals
The Revival (Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder) vs. Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
The match begins with Dawson backing Hardy into the corner before tagging Wilder in, Hardy fights back and he smashes the face of Wilder into the turnbuckle multiple times. Hardy then catches a charging Wilder with a hip toss, Wyatt tags in and he kicks Wilder in the face. Dawson distracts Wyatt during a Sister Abigail attempt so Wilder can nail him with a few strikes, Hardy distracts Wilder and Wyatt drops him with a single blow. Hardy tags in and he double teams The Revival with Wyatt, Hardy tries getting Wilder in the ring as Dawson tags in. The Revival then hit Hardy with a double clothesline, Dawson stands over Hardy while landing a few strikes.
Dawson then catches Hardy with a short arm clothesline for a near fall, Dawson slows things down further by holding Hardy in a chin lock. Hardy gets free and Dawson nails him with a right to the face, Wilder tags in and The Revival double team Hardy again. Dawson tags back in and he attacks Hardy with a few kicks in the corner, Hardy fights back and he drops Dawson with a Side Effect. Wilder and Wyatt get tagged in by their respective partners, Wyatt cleans house against the opposing team. Wyatt catches Wilder with an avalanche followed by a uranage, Wyatt then hits an interfering Dawson with Sister Abigail. Hardy tags in and he works with Wyatt to hit Wilder with a super Twist Of Fate for a three count.
Winners: Matt Hardy & Bray Wyatt
– The Bar are pumping each other up backstage when Breezango arrive, Fandango announces that Breezango are now on Raw. Breezango mocks The Bar’s style before writing them tickets.
– The Raw announce team go over the new stars added to the Raw brand last week and tonight.
– A video airs of Ronda Rousey re-injuring the arm of Stephanie McMahon from last weeks Raw airs.
– Raw GM Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey are talking in his office, Angle warns Rousey that Stephanie McMahon may not go away quietly. Natalya comes in the office as the newest member of the Raw roster, Angle announces that Natalya will compete in a match tonight. Natalya and Rousey embrace before Natalya leaves the office.
Ember Moon vs. Mickie James
The match begins with James catching Moon in a headlock, Moon escapes the wrench away on the arm of James. James gets Moon in a head scissors before dropping her with a single punch, Moon recovers to catch James with an arm drag followed by a drop kick. Moon goes to the middle rope and James knocks her off for a knee fall, James slows things down by holding Moon in a chin lock. Moon gets free and James nails her with a knee strike followed by an elbow strike, James reapplies the chin lock to Moon. Moon gets free and James nails her with a neck breaker for a near fall, Moon recovers and takes James down with a head scissors before landing a few kicks.
Moon then hits James with a head and arm suplex followed by a handspring clothesline, Moon then hits James with the Eclipse for the three count.
Winner: Ember Moon
– Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are shown talking in the locker room about the main event for tonight, The Miz arrives and he asks them how they think Shane McMahon will treat him. Zayn and Owens ask Miz to focus on the main event tonight, Miz reminds everybody that tonight is his Raw finale.
– Dolph Ziggler makes his way to the ring as the newest member of the Raw roster, Ziggler grabs a microphone and he says that he is back on Raw. Ziggler says he still steals the show and is the best superstar to ever walk the aisle, Titus Worldwide interrupts Ziggler. Titus O’Neil grabs a microphone and he welcomes Ziggler back to Raw, Titus offers Ziggler a spot on Titus Worldwide. Ziggler says he didn’t come back to Raw alone when Drew McIntyre arrives to attack Titus Worldwide, McIntyre throws Titus into the ring post. Ziggler then hits Titus with a super kick, McIntyre then mounts Crews while landing a bunch of strikes. Ziggler nails Crews with the Zig Zag while McIntyre lands the Claymore at the same time.
– Roman Reigns makes his way to the ring and he has a microphone in hand, Reigns says that WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar isn’t here tonight. Reigns says he will leave Lesnar in the steel cage at the Greatest Royal Rumble, Reigns promises to win the WWE Universal Title at the event. Samoa Joe interrupts and he has a microphone in hand, Joe says that Reigns can never brag about getting the job done. Joe says that Reigns will never get the job done in the WWE, Joe says that Reigns fails to realize what he is in for at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Joe also says that Reigns fails to realize his place in the WWE, Joe then says he will get rid of Reigns for good at WWE Backlash. Joe then plays a video package of all the beatings Lesnar gave to Reigns, Reigns then challenges Joe to come into the ring.
Joe makes his way towards the ring before turning back and heading towards the locker room, Joe changes his mind and heads back towards the ring. Joe stops and tells Reigns they will meet at WWE Backlash.
Mandy Rose w/Sonya Deville vs. Natalya
The match begins with Natalya catching Rose with a roll up for a near fall, Natalya takes Rose down and she gets caught in a head scissors. Natalya gets free and she attacks Rose with a ton of strikes, Rose rolls out of the ring and Natalya gets her back in. Rose gets back out of the ring again and she hits Natalya with a knee strike on the arena floor, Rose gets Natalya back in the ring for a near fall on a pin attempt. Rose traps Natalya in the corner while stomping away on her, Rose then catches Natalya with a suplex for a near fall. Rose follows that up by applying a modified abdominal stretch to Natalya, Natalya gets free and she catches Rose with a hip toss. Rose goes for another knee strike and Natalya counters with the sharp shooter to force a submission.
Winner: Natalya
After the match, Absolution attacks Natalya until Ronda Rousey makes the save to chase everybody off. Sonya Deville gets in the ring and Rousey nails her with a plethora of strikes before scoring a takedown.
– A video package airs showing Baron Corbin as the newest member of the Raw roster.
Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) vs. The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro)
The match begins with Fandango grabbing Cesaro’s jacket and putting it on, Cesaro gets angry and he drops Fandango with a forearm strike. Cesaro goes for a sunset flip and Fandango lands a leg drop for a near fall, Breeze tags in and Cesaro nails him with an elevated European uppercut. Sheamus tags in and he mauls Breeze with strikes in the corner, Breeze fights back and Sheamus traps in in the corner before tagging Cesaro in. The Bar double teams Breeze in the corner before Cesaro applies the chin lock to him, Sheamus tags in and he works with Cesaro to hit Breeze with a double clothesline. Sheamus applies his own chin lock to a downed Breeze, Breeze gets free and Sheamus nails him with a clothesline.
Cesaro tags in and The Bar hits Breeze with a Destruction Device for a near fall, Fandango attacks Sheamus from behind and Breeze rolls up Cesaro for the three count.
Winners: Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango)
– Renee Young interviews Elias, who says he won’t perform live tonight because he won’t do small time shows anymore. Elias says Bobby Lashley doesn’t matter and then proclaims himself the biggest star in the WWE, Elias warns Lashley to never attack him again. Elias claims that Renee wants a private concert by him, Renee says that they don’t have time for this and the interview ends with Elias playing a song.
The Miz, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn & The Miztourage (Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas) vs. Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley & Bobby Roode
The match begins with Owens kicking Rollins in the midsection, Rollins goes down and Owens attacks him with a bunch of strikes. Rollins recovers and he sends Owens into the corner, Rollins then hits Owens with a springboard clothesline. Rollins dumps Owens on the arena floor before taking him out with a dive as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Axel holding Rollins in a headlock. Rollins gets free and he nails a charging Axel with a drop kick, Roode tags in and he nails Axel with a suplex. Balor tags in and he nails Axel with a top rope axe handle smash to the arm, Balor then catches Axel with a basement drop kick for a near fall.
Axel backs Balor into his corner before tagging Owens into the match, Dallas quickly tags in and he stomps away on a downed Balor. Miz tags in and he mauls a cornered Balor with some more strikes, Miz drops Balor for a near fall before applying a chin lock. Miz then hits Balor with a back breaker into a neck breaker for a near fall, Zayn tags in and he catches Balor with a few more strikes. Zayn misses a charge into the corner and Lashley tags into the match, Lashley quickly destroys Zayn with a running clothesline and spear into the corner. Lashley then drops a charging Zayn with a clothesline, Lashley follows that up with a delayed vertical suplex on Zayn.
Lashley then throws an interfering Miz onto his teammates and they all crash to the arena floor as we go to a commercial break, we return from the break to see Owens attacking Rollins with cross face strikes before applying a chin lock. Owens releases the hold to hit Rollins with a senton bomb for a near fall, Miz tags in and he rips away at the face of Rollins. Miz then traps Rollins in the corner before kicking away at him, Rollins tries to get free and Miz nails him with a DDT for a near fall. Miz would then attack Rollins with the It Kicks, Miz misses the final kick and Rollins nails him with a back suplex. Miztourage attack Lashley and Balor by throwing them into the barricade, Rollins then catches Miz with an enzaguri.
Owens and Zayn try to interfere and Strowman takes them out, Roode and Axel get tagged in by their respective partners. Roode quickly cleans house against the opposing team, Roode catches Axel with a clothesline from the top rope. Roode goes for the Glorious DDT and Axel traps him in the corner, Roode recovers to hit Axel with a blockbuster for a near fall. Dallas interferes and that allows Axel to hit Roode with a chop block, Miz tags in and Roode nails him with a clothesline. Strowman tags in and he chases Miz out of the ring before throwing Miz into the barricade, Strowman attacks the opposing team before getting back in the ring. Strowman then gets back in the ring to hit Miz with a clothesline followed by a choke slam, Strowman misses a charge in the corner and The Miztourage attacks him.
Balor hits the ring alongside Rollins to take care of The Miztourage, Rollins then takes out The Miztourage with a suicide dive. Members of both teams hit the ring and they all take each other out, Miz then attacks Strowman with a few running drop kicks. Strowman recovers and he crushes a charging Miz with a drop kick of his own, Miz looks for a tag and The Miztourage exit the ringside area. Strowman crushes Miz with an avalanche followed by a running power slam for a three count.
Winners: Finn Balor, Braun Strowman, Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley & Bobby Roode
