WWE Monday Night RAW 04 26 2021

WWE Raw Results
April 26, 2021
Tampa, Florida (Yuengling Center)
Commentary: Adnan Virk, Corey Graves, and Byron Saxton
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

A video recaps last week’s show. Drew McIntyre was attacked by T-Bar and Mace again, so he faced them in a 2-on-1 Handicap Match. McIntyre won by disqualification, so Strowman made the save. McIntyre and Strowman ripped the masks off T-Bar and Mace.

T-Bar and Mace say they’re going to show Drew McIntyre, Braun Strowman, and the entire world what’s underneath the masks. Mace says they’re unmasked and it’s all business. They’re focused on extinction.

Drew McIntyre is doing squats in the Gorilla Position. Braun Strowman comes up and says he deserves a “thank you” for saving McIntyre last week. Strowman tells him to follow his lead and calls him “kid.” McIntyre says Strowman speaks before thinking. McIntyre says he’s the current #1 Contender. Strowman says if he’s not going to show him respect and tag with him, he’ll go out there and do what McIntyre couldn’t last week: beat T-Bar and Mace on his own.

The ring announcer announces that this is a tag team match, but Strowman takes the microphone and says it’ll be a 2-on-1 Handicap Match.

2-on-1 Handicap Match
T-Bar and Mace vs. Braun Strowman

Strowman starts against T-Bar and punches away at him. Strowman sends him hard to the corner and clubs the back. Strowman viciously whips T-Bar to the corner and immediately attacks Mace on the apron. Strowman avalanches T-Bar before sending him to the opposite corner. Mace blind tags in as Strowman hits another avalanche on T-Bar. Mace attacks Strowman from behind. Mace goes for a side kick, but falls over executing it. T-Bar tags in and attacks the fallen Strowman. Mace tags in and stomps Strowman. Strowman kicks Mace away and punches him. Strowman rocks Mace with a right hand. T-Bar tags in and stomps Strowman before digging his boot into his face. Mace tags in and clubs the back. T-Bar and Mace double-team Strowman until they get disqualified.

Winner by Disqualification: Braun Strowman

-Commercial Break-

Tag Team Match
T-Bar and Mace vs. Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre

We join this match in progress. McIntyre elbows T-Bar in the face. They get into a chop battle. T-Bar punches McIntyre and hits the ropes, but McIntyre floors him with a Glasgow Kiss (the commentators missed the move at first). McIntyre picks up a two count. Mace tags in and double-teams McIntyre with T-Bar. Mace hits a spinning slam for a two count. McIntyre fights back at Mace and hits a side leg sweep.

Strowman and T-Bar tag in. Strowman hits shoulder block on T-Bar and avalanches him. Strowman whips him across the ring and charges, but he hits the ring post shoulder-first. McIntyre tags in and knocks Mace off the apron. McIntyre attacks T-Bar and hits a neckbreaker. T-Bar quickly drops McIntyre on the apron, but McIntyre lands on his feet and hits a diving clothesline off the top rope. McIntyre kips up and lifts T-Bar. T-Bar elbows out and lifts McIntyre. McIntyre slides off and hits a Future Shock DDT, but Mace breaks up the tag. Strowman runs Mace over and punches away at him in the corner before throwing him out of the ring. Mace lands hard and gets his chin hung up on the bottom rope. Strowman runs Mace over with a shoulder block. McIntyre goes for a clothesline on T-Bar and hits Strowman by accident in a spot that was poorly timed. T-Bar gets in the ring and wins by count-out.

Winners by Count-Out: T-Bar and Mace

Strowman hits McIntyre with a Running Powerslam after the match and yells at him for not following his lead.

The New Day teams with Damian Priest to take on Elias, Jaxson Ryker, and the Miz, next.

-Commercial Break-

WWE Official Adam Pearce is texting on his phone when Drew McIntyre barges in. McIntyre wants a match against Braun Strowman tonight. Pearce says he can do that. McIntyre walks off.

The Miz and John Morrison are in the ring for another edition of Miz TV. Elias and Jaxson Ryker are also in the ring. Miz puts over his WWE 24 documentary. Elias strums his guitar and greets everyone. Miz talks about putting Bad Bunny over at WrestleMania, but they didn’t get a thank you. John Morrison says they didn’t even get a ticket to Bad Bunny’s concert. Miz says they’re going to one up Bad Bunny and present a concert featuring “Hey Hey Hop Hop” unplugged.

Elias, Ryker, Miz, and Morrison do some bad harmonizing before starting the song. Damian Priest interrupts and apologizes for interrupting an “emotional performance.” Priest says they have a concert of their own. The New Day comes out. Xavier Woods is carrying a guitar case. Priest says their performance was “rotten” and pulls out a tomato from the guitar case. The case is filled with tomatoes. The New Day and Priest pelt Miz, Morrison, Elias, and Ryker with tomatoes, which they take bumps for.

-Commercial Break-

6-Man Tag Team Match
The Miz, Elias, and Jaxson Ryker w/ John Morrison vs. Damian Priest and The New Day (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston)

Xavier Woods starts against Elias. Woods applies a side headlock, but Elias quickly gets out and punches away at him. Jaxson Ryker tags in and slams Woods. Elias tags back in and uppercuts Woods down. Woods ducks a pair of back elbows, slides through the legs, and hits a spinning elbow for a two count. Elias quickly punches him in the midsection and tags the Miz in. Woods quickly takes Miz down and applies a side headlock. Kofi Kingston tags in. The New Day take Miz down and hit a double-team facebuster for a two count. Kingston tags Woods in. Kingston hits a snapmare and kicks Miz. Woods also kicks Miz. Kingston hits Miz with a splash before Woods hits a diving elbow drop off the second rope for a two count. Kingston tags in, shoulders Miz back, and hits a springboard clothesline for a two count. Woods and Ryker tag in. They get in a stalemate with a lock up. Priest sweeps the feet and blocks a kick before hitting another leg sweep. Elias tags in, but Priest sweeps the feet. Miz runs in and jumps over a sweep from Priest. Priest catches him from behind. The New Day and Priest clear the ring and celebrate with the trombone. Elias gets in the ring, and Kingston catches him with a cross-body block for a two count. Elias fights back. Kingston goes to the second rope, but he’s thrown to the floor. Miz then big boots him down.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Miz beating on Kingston. Miz distracts the referee, and John Morrison smashes a tomato into Kingston’s face. Elias and Ryker trade tags and continue to attack Kingston. They can’t put him away, however. Miz tags in and stomps away at Kingston until the referee makes him back up. Elias chokes Kingston while the referee’s back is turned. Kingston eventually fights back and hits an SOS.

Priest and Elias tag in. Priest hits a Stage Dive (corner back elbow) on Elias and then one on Ryker. Priest kicks away at Elias and goes for a Broken Arrow, but Elias gets out. Priest clotheslines him down and picks up a two count. Priest goes to the top rope, nearly loses his footing, and hits a spin kick on Elias. Miz breaks up the pin. Priest hits Miz with a Broken Arrow. Woods tags in and comes off the top rope, but Elias knees him out of midair. Ryker tags in. Woods kicks Elias and tags Kingston. Priest and Woods hit a leg sweep on Ryker while Kingston hits a missile dropkick. Priest picks up a two count. Priest kicks Miz off the apron, but Morrison catches him. Priest hits Miz and Morrison with a somersault senton. Elias goes to the top rope, but Kingston pulls him off. Woods pins Ryker with an inside cradle for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Damian Priest and The New Day

WWE Official Sonya Deville is walking backstage and lets Charlotte Flair into the building. Flair is supposed to be suspended for attacking a referee last week.

-Commercial Break-

WWE Official Sonya Deville is in the ring, and she introduces the 13-Time Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair to the ring. Flair makes her entrance to the ring. Referee Eddie Orengo is in the ring. He looks very sheepish.

Video Package: Charlotte Flair attacks the referee last week.

Deville says Flair went very far, but Adam Pearce’s decision of the $100,000 fine and indefinite suspension felt rushed. She gives Flair a chance to speak her mind. Flair says she’s had a lot to think about. She apologizes to WWE management and to Eddie Orengo for manhandling him. Orengo accepts the apology. Orengo says he didn’t see Rhea Ripley interfere and she should have won the match. Deville says Flair has paid her fine and reinstates Flair. Flair will be in action tonight with Eddie Orengo as the referee.

Flair says Orengo admitted that was his mistake and wants an apology. Orengo apologizes, and Flair says, “Good boy.” The commentators wonder if Adam Pearce has any idea what just happened in the ring in full view of the world.

WWE Official Adam Pearce is waiting for Deville and Flair backstage. Pearce wonders what she was thinking. Deville says she tried to find him to let him know and apologizes. Pearce says he’d accept the apology if he actually believed it.

WWE United States Champion Sheamus makes his way to the ring for his open challenge.

-Commercial Break-

WWE Official Adam Pearce is backstage when Braun Strowman bursts in. Strowman says he never lost the triple threat – Randy Orton did. Strowman says if he beats Drew McIntyre tonight, he wants to be added to the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash. Pearce agrees to the stipulation.

Video Package: Sheamus destroyed Humberto Carrillo last week

WWE United States Champion Sheamus says he told everyone that he’d be a fighting champion. Humberto Carrillo is one of what will be a long list of destruction. Sheamus didn’t let the bell ring because Carrillo isn’t on his level. Sheamus is a fierce fighter and a giving fella. Sheamus has decided to do the open challenge again.

Humberto Carrillo charges down and gets in Sheamus’ face. Sheamus asks if he’s “loco” and beats Carrillo down. Sheamus says Carrillo is all bark and no bite. Carrillo jumps on his back and pulls his jacket over his head. Sheamus fights away, but Carrillo drops him out of the ring. Carrillo dropkicks him off the apron twice and sends him over the table with a suicide dive. Sheamus is infuriated.

WWE Champion Bobby Lashley is walking backstage with MVP. Kevin Patrick comes up and mentions the WrestleMania Backlash match could change drastically. MVP says Braun Strowman hasn’t been added to any title matches yet. Let’s not jump to conclusions. Patrick likes hypotheticals, but they deal in reality. They have some grievances to address. MVP could give Patrick a hot scoop, but he won’t.

-Commercial Break-

Sarah Schreiber is backstage with Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley, who they pump in boos for despite being a face last week. Ripley says she doesn’t believe anything Charlotte Flair says. While Flair is busy playing rugby with referees, she’ll be busy being the Raw Women’s Champion.

Lashley says a few weeks ago, he did what he said he would do: walk into WrestleMania as WWE Champion and leave the same way. When he held the WWE Championship up after putting Drew McIntyre out with the Hurt Lock, he got the respect from the live audience they haven’t seen in over a year. McIntyre was down at his feet like an old dollar bill all crumpled up. McIntyre is like gum on his shoe that won’t go away. Now WrestleMania Backlash might get changed. MVP says he’s offended by that. Any business that the WWE would like to conduct with the championship cannot be conducted without consulting the chief and the champ. Lashley says any decision made without them is intentionally disrespectful. MVP says Lashley’s reigns has gone on for 56 days and might be in jeopardy due to a triple threat. That happened with the United States Championship when someone beat someone else, not Lashley. The All Mighty WWE Champion might lose his title without having a hand in the outcome. That’s disgusting and disrespectful, but most of all it’s not fair. Lashley says he could beat McIntyre and Strowman in any one-on-one fight. He’ll have to come out tonight to observe his business interests.

Footage is shown of Riddle beating Randy Orton last week on Raw.

Riddle is scooting around Kevin Patrick and says he’s not even on Cloud 9. It’s more like Cloud 12. Randy Orton comes up and says they have nothing in common. Last week, he underestimated Riddle. Orton thought he’d teach him a lesson in respect, but Riddle sort of earned his respect. Orton says also likes the idea of RK-Bro. How about they give it a try tonight? They have a tag team match tonight if they want it. Riddle says he’s so down with that. They can get matching snakeskin speedos. Orton cuts him off and tells him to be quiet. If it goes well, they’ll have a chat. Orton rolls his eyes and walks away.

-Commercial Break-

Footage is shown of Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke continuing to embarrass Nia Jax.

Nia Jax is backstage with Shayna Baszler and Reginald. Jax is complaining that Charlotte Flair was reinstated. Baszler tells her to forget Mandy, Dana, and Charlotte. They don’t need any distractions, including from Reginald. They have a match and she doesn’t want more distractions. A stagehand walks up and hands Jax flowers. Reginald says he didn’t get them. Angel Garza walks up and says he got the flowers because she’s beautiful. Garza wishes her luck and kisses her hand. Jax and Reginald walk backstage before Jax throws the flowers at Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke, who do nothing.

Braun Strowman is working out when MVP walks up from behind him. Strowman doesn’t turn around and says, “Talk.” MVP says he’s the representative for the WWE Champion. Bobby Lashley doesn’t appreciate Strowman groveling to get into the match at WrestleMania Backlash. Strowman says is Lashley wants to say something to him, he can say it to his face. Strowman says after he beats Drew McIntyre tonight, there’s not a damn thing MVP or Lashley can do to prevent him from leaving WrestleMania Backlash as the WWE Champion.

Randy Orton makes his entrance. Riddle soon follows. They’ll face Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander, next.

-Commercial Break-

Tag Team Match
Randy Orton and Riddle vs. Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin

Riddle starts against Cedric Alexander. Riddle takes him down, but Alexander quickly fights back. Shelton Benjamin tags in and punches away at Riddle. Benjamin hyperextends the knee. Benjamin continues to attack the knee and tags Alexander in. Alexander attacks the knee and applies a deathlock. Riddle tries to punch out, but Alexander pie faces him. Alexander attacks the knee and taunts Randy Orton. Alexander drives his knee into Riddle’s face. Benjamin tags in and hits a knee breaker. Riddle fights back and hits an enzuigiri.

Orton and Benjamin tag in. Orton clotheslines Benjamin and punches away at him in the corner. Benjamin reverses a whip to the corner, but Orton pops out and clotheslines him down. Orton blocks a kick and spins him, but Benjamin hits a spin kick. Benjamin hits the ropes, but Orton drops him with a snap powerslam. Orton stalks Benjamin, but stops to crush Alexander with an RKO out of midair!

Orton sends Benjamin outside before going for a hanging DDT. Riddle begs to be tagged in, which Orton does. Orton hits the hanging DDT. Riddle then hits the Floating Bro for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: Randy Orton and Riddle

Riddle celebrates in the ring, but Orton just walks off. Riddle shouts, “RK-Bro!”

Alexa Bliss is swinging backstage with Lily the Puppet. We’ll hear from her later tonight.

-Commercial Break-

6-Woman Tag Match
Asuka, Naomi, and Lana vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler and Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley w/ Reginald

Asuka starts against Shayna Baszler. Baszler takes Asuka down. Rhea Ripley tags in and throws Asuka. Asuka fights Ripley away and knees her in the face. Naomi tags in on Ripley’s back (not her partner Asuka’s) and avalanches Ripley. Lana tags in and takes Ripley down for a no count. Lana goes for a whip, but Ripley puts the brakes on. Lana rolls Ripley up for a two count. Ripley hits a head-butt before connecting with a suplex for a two count. Ripley kicks Lana in the back a few times before throwing her down. Ripley applies a body scissor on Lana.

Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke walk out to ringside. Baszler approaches them, and they throw a pail of water at her. Jax approaches and takes a few pratfalls in the water. Jesus…

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the break to see Shayna Baszler dominating Lana until Lana hits a head-scissor takeover. Asuka tags in and runs wild until Baszler knees her in the mouth. Jax tags in and drops an elbow for a two count. Jax hits a Samoan Drop. Naomi tags in and hits a springboard cross-body block for a two count. Naomi bounces off Jax with elbows. Jax doesn’t go down. Naomi brings her down to a knee with a springboard kick. Naomi hits a head-scissor DDT, but Baszler breaks it up. Reginald gets on the apron to distract Naomi. Jax tags Naomi down. Ripley tags in and slams Naomi, but Asuka breaks it up. Lana blind tags in as Ripley hits the Riptide. Ripley turns into a cross-body block from Lana for a two count. Lana splashes her against the ropes. Asuka attacks Baszler at ringside. Jax takes Asuka down at ringside. Lana rolls Ripley up for a two count. Ripley hits a Riptide and tags Jax in. Jax drops a leg for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler and Raw Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley

Alexa’s Playground is next.

-Commercial Break-

Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke are talking backstage and laughing. WWE Official Sonya Deville walks up and says they should be ashamed of themselves. Mandy Rose has always had bad taste. Rose doesn’t have time to be mad at her because Charlotte Flair need an opponent, and Deville chooses Rose to be it. The match is next.

Alexa Bliss is swinging backstage with Lilly. We can all have our own Lilly. Think dark thought and repeat the name three times. Then relax. They show relaxing images before doing an attempt at jump scare with Lilly’s face. Bliss laughs and says she got the viewing audience, but Lilly made her do it.

Charlotte Flair makes her entrance. Footage is shown of Flair annihilating Eddie Orengo last week. Earlier tonight, Flair apologized to Orengo and got reinstated. Flair faces Mandy Rose, next.

-Commercial Break-

Charlotte Flair vs. Mandy Rose w/ Dana Brooke

Flair takes Rose lightly and takes her down. Rose quickly gets the better of her and hits a missile dropkick. Dana Brooke gets some distractions in there. Rose punches away at her. Flair nearly hits into referee Eddie Orengo. Flair rolls Rose up for a two count. Flair yells at Orengo for his count. Rose rolls Flair up for a near fall. Rose knees her in the face for another near fall. Flair soon hits Natural Selection for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Charlotte Flair

Drew McIntyre is walking backstage. McIntyre says he thought Braun Strowman wanted to give hands, not get handouts.

-Commercial Break-

Drew McIntyre vs. Braun Strowman

If Braun Strowman defeats Drew McIntyre, he will be added to the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash to make it a Triple Threat Match.

They approach each other. Strowman soon takes McIntyre down and throws him around. McIntyre fights back and takes him out at the knee. McIntyre goes to the top rope, but Strowman slams him off. McIntyre rolls out of the ring, so Strowman signals for his ringside shoulder block. WWE Champion Bobby Lashley makes his way to the ring with MVP. McIntyre and Strowman angrily look at him.

-Commercial Break-

We come back from the final break of the evening to see Strowman viciously whip McIntyre to the corner. Lashley and MVP are sitting at ringside casually watching. Strowman puts McIntyre in the corner and clubs the chest. Strowman whips him hard to the corner again. Strowman grabs him, but McIntyre surprises him with a sleeper hold. Strowman fights out, but misses an avalanche. McIntyre then hits him with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex! McIntyre sets up for a Claymore Kick, but Strowman counters into a powerbomb for a near fall.

Strowman grabs McIntyre and goes to club the chest, but McIntyre blocks it. McIntyre elbows him and hits a Glasgow Kiss. McIntyre floors Strowman with a big spinebuster for a near fall. Strowman fights back and puts McIntyre on the top rope. Strowman rocks him with some right hands. Strowman then hits a nasty superplex that doesn’t see McIntyre fully rotate, which gets Strowman a near fall. Strowman slams a sledgehammer club into the chest and avalanches him. Bobby Lashley distracts the referee while Strowman puts McIntyre on his shoulder. MVP pulls McIntyre off Strowman’s shoulder, so Strowman punches him off the apron.

McIntyre chop blocks Strowman and sets up for a Claymore Kick. T-Bar and Mace run in, but McIntyre punches them away. Somehow this is not a disqualification despite being in full view of the referee. Strowman then hits McIntyre with a Running Powerslam for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman will face Drew McIntyre and Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania Backlash.