In case you missed the show, the following is the WWE Monday Night Raw results, highlights and headlines from the show on April 25th.
WWE RAW Results, highlights and headlines from last week’s show
WWE RAW Results 4/25
Riddle introduces a promo for 20 years of RKO, before Randy Orton cuts a promo about having the most fun he’s ever had now in WWE, and we set up the main event after many interruptions.
Bianca Belair def. Sonya Deville in a No-DQ match to retain her Women’s Championship.
Edge and Damian Priest promo: They’re better than your favorites, and it’s time to make their judgment known.
Veer Mahan def. local competitor and attacks him after match.
Bobby Lashley beats Omos in an arm wrestling match, but is destroyed by Omos and MVP afterward.
R-Truth offers couple’s counseling for Reggie and Dana Brooke, and Tamina and Tozawa.
Tamina & Tozawa def. Reggie & Dana Brooke.
Becky Lynch says she is ready for her comeback, but Asuka returns and reminds her no one is ready for Asuka.
Damien Priest w/Edge def. Finn Balor.
Miz and Theory celebrate Theory’s US title, then Mustafa Ali returns to challenge them both.
Mustafa Ali def. The Miz, attacked by Tommaso Ciampa afterward.
Rhea Ripley explains she turned heel last week because she deserves better, and is attacked by Liv Morgan.
RK-Bro, Cody Rhodes, & Ezekiel def. The Usos, Seth Rollins, & Kevin Owens.
WWE RAW Highlights From 4/25
Randy At His Best
20 years in, and I think we’ve all hopefully come around on Randy Orton. Yes at times he was too methodical, or too reliant on the best finisher ever. However, now I think it becomes clear he’s been consistently good in the ring, good on the mic, and a feature in the main event since his debut. He should be remembered alongside HBK and Undertaker in terms of consistency, and tonight was a great way to celebrate RKO. The finale match was a fun RKO fest that managed to include all of RAW’s main storylines currently. But the real treat? An opening promo from Randy Orton where he showed why he and Riddle may be one of the best face tag teams of all time. For someone who will be remembered as a bad guy most of all, this is the genuine, happy Orton we rarely got to see. He thanked the crowd, his peers, and praised Riddle as a true friend during the most fun period of his career. It was impossible not to smile during this, and it’s clear that RKO’s hall of fame career has yet to wind down.
Asuka Returns!
Becky Lynch made her first appearance since losing at WrestleMania, and she seemed truly unraveled. She was despondent, before exclaiming she knew the only way from here was up. Becky was cooky, but funny here. She made arrow noises, riled up the crowd, and declared that no one could stop her rise. Then, she was stopped in her tracks. Because no one is ready for Asuka.
After months, the empress of tomorrow has returned, and she looked awesome here. She was exuding a confident, dangerous energy that got the crowd excited for her comeback, And most importantly, she was great in contrast to the uncertainty of current Becky. I’m all in on Becky vs. Asuka for the summer, and the women’s division got a much-needed boost in the return of perhaps its best in-ring worker.
Mustafa Ali Returns!
Another return, this time even more surprising. For six months, Mustafa Ali has been boycotting his WWE contract, publicly demanding a release and voicing his discontent. But now? He returns, and it was a welcome shock. His promo to Theory and the Miz showed just how much of a waste his talent has been at times in WWE, as he effortlessly put himself as a star-level threat to Theory.
His match with Miz was fun, and although the attack by Ciampa after was random, that will be a great feud as well. I’m worried about Mustafa Ali losing that feud, but for now, I’m thrilled to have him back. And he looked happy tonight at least. I desperately want WWE to understand the potential they have with Ali and finally give him the push he’s earned.
WWE RAW Lowlights From 4/25
Attack, Attack, Attack!
WWE sometimes feels like they accidentally hit the repeat button on their shows, and tonight they did so with post-segment beatdowns. Local competitor vs. Veer? You get a beatdown. Bobby Lashley? You get a beat down. Mustafa Ali? You get a beatdown. Rhea Ripley? You get a beatdown. There were more segments that ended this way than didn’t tonight, and that’s ridiculous. Not only did this feel super tedious by the end of the show, but in some cases it didn’t progress anything either. I think that this was one reason that, while this show was eventful, it felt lackluster at points.
You Said They Weren’t Friends Anymore
Another show nitpick, but twice tonight WWE thought we wouldn’t remember that they just split up two friendships before putting them together again. First, a random re-teaming of Carmella and Queen Zelina came to help Sonya Deville after breaking up their team a month ago! And why did they bury the hatchet? For a tag title shot?? But, you said they weren’t a team anymore!
Second, Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins just fell out. AGAIN. And then what? One week later they’re on the same team. Sure, they said they weren’t friends again, but they still teamed together without issue. Why would you even do that one week after it headlined your show? These two instances screamed of WWE’s lack of forward-thinking in booking and will no doubt only be temporary in their renewed alliances again. I’m fine with both pairings, but there was no need to break up either, especially just to bring them back within weeks. Terrible, terrible storytelling here.
WWE Headlines
AEW announces Forbidden Door super show with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Brett Hart reportedly turns down AEW contract in exchange for WWE legends contract.
Mustafa Ali and Asuka return to Monday Night RAW.
Randy Orton celebrates the 20th anniversary of his WWE debut, and states in an interview before show he hopes he’s remembered as “the first guy since Undertaker to not go anywhere else.”
