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WWE Raw results, match grades: Brock Lesnar turns on Cody Rhodes in a post-WrestleMania 39 hangover show

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Daniel Yanofsky
• 14 min read
Brock Lesnar - Cody Rhodes
(WWE.com)

The talk of the town this past weekend, momentum was on WWE's side. Two nights of WrestleMania took place, and then Endeavor got a hold of WWE, merging the two. Taking over headlines, how would WWE take advantage after "The Showcase of the Immortals?"  

At the beginning of the Raw after WrestleMania 39, Triple H promised that WWE isn't going anywhere. That appeared to be the case. However, depending on who you ask, there were mixed feelings surrounding Raw. 

Raw was inside the Crypto.com Arena for what is normally one of the craziest nights of the year. This year, it felt subdued, with what seemed like the fingerprints of the returning Vince McMahon within the creative side of things. However, it still had moments that set up the next few months of WWE programming. 

While there were no surprise debuts, there were some returns and swerves. Matt Riddle returned after a few months away from the ring. Meanwhile, Brock Lesnar, who was supposed to compete in his first TV tag team match since around 2004 to face Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa in the main event, swerved us all by turning on partner Cody Rhodes. Lesnar beat Rhodes up for about seven minutes, potentially securing a match between the two. 

WWE WrestleMania 39: Night 1 Match Grades | Night 2 Match Grades

Meanwhile, recording artist Bad Bunny teased a rivalry with Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest by getting attacked on the show. He is expected to compete in a match at Backlash, which will be in Puerto Rico on May 6.

Looking into the future, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair, champions of their own brand, teased a potential WrestleMania 40 match. If done right, the booking and match could be legendary. 

Throughout the night, Fightful reported that there were several changes to Raw at the last minute. McMahon, who returned to WWE after he retired following several sexual assault allegations, said on CNBC that he was not going to be 100% in charge of creative. 

"I don't want to be in the creative process again, just oversee it," said McMahon. "I'll just be in business. I was prepared to drop everything and leave the company forever, but Ari Emanuel told me that I was not going to allow it." 

WrestleMania has come and gone. A new chapter begins for WWE. And now the company will look to build off that momentum. Can they do it? Did Raw do enough to give fans hope? 

The Sporting News provided results and match grades for the RAW after WrestleMania. Check it out! 

MORE: WWE's merger with Endeavor Group, explained

WWE Raw after WrestleMania 39 results, highlights

Welcome everyone to The Sporting News' live bog of the Raw after WrestleMania. Raw starts at 8 p.m. ET | 12 a.m. GMT | 11 a.m. AEDT. 

The first hour of Raw will be commercial free! 

8 p.m. ET: The show started with a recap of WrestleMania.

Triple H: 'We ain't going nowhere'

Crypto.com Arena sounds like they are ready for action. Triple H came out, and welcomed everyone to Raw. He praised WrestleMania for over 40 years of entertainment. Starting from WrestleMania I inside Madison Square Garden, to the last two nights. Triple H said thank you to the fans, everyone who has performed in a ring, to those who did so this weekend. He even thanked Stu the camera guy.

He then thanked the fans, who make everything possible. During a time when WWE is all anyone wants to talk about, Triple H said, "we ain't going nowhere." He said WWE will be sold out week in and week out. "We are the WWE. Just like it says in the beginning: Then. Now. Forever. Together." Triple H then asked everyone to acknowledge one more person: Roman Reigns. 

This felt like Triple H reassuring everyone that everyone will be OK following the Endeavor news. It was a big weekend for him and WWE, and this promo got the job done. 

Grade: A-

The Nightmare and The Beast, together

Triple H hugged Reigns as he entered the arena. Reigns was getting a mixed reaction, with most of the fans booing him, like it's WrestleMania 33. "Hollywood, acknowledge me." Cody Rhodes interrupted him. The crowd still loves him.

Rhodes said today started different compared to what he thought it would be like. He acknowledge's that Reigns was the better competitor at WrestleMania. He said he knows that Roman knows that he won matches where he skated by. Rhodes said he had Reigns. Cody brought up one word: Rematch. 

Paul Heyman asked when Rhodes would like the hypothetical rematch. Rhodes said tonight! Reigns said no, not at any event or arena. Reigns is on the Island of Relevancy. Rhodes said Reigns doesn't want to give the people what they want. He instead offered a tag match with him and someone vs. Reigns and Solo Sikoa. Heyman said the challenge was accepted. However, if someone in the locker room teams up with Rhodes, it has to be someone that wrestled at WrestleMania. They also will be banned from challenging Reigns if it happens. 

Brock Lesnar came out to a thunderous ovation. He is already banned from challenging Reigns following SummerSlam. Rhodes and Lesnar shake hands as Reigns left the ring.  

Was not expecting Lesnar to come out. They are teasing another Reigns-Rhodes match, which is questionable considering the WrestleMania outcome. However, setting up the main event was a good way to go. 

Grade: A-

Omos rebounds against Elias

Omos, who lost to Lesnar at WrestleMania, came out to the ring to face Elias. Omos chopped him down to the floor, then bullied him all over the ring. A big boot and a chokeslam later and Omos won the match. 

Lesnar gets the main event spot, and Omos goes back to square one. 

Grade: D+

The Usos knock on Reigns' locker room door and Heyman answered. He said Reigns wanted them to know that some people had a good night, and Sikoa has a nice seat on Reigns' jet. He then told Reigns he took care of The Usos, who lost at WrestleMania. 

A Hall of Fame recap, then Cathy Kelly spoke to Bad Bunny, the host of Backlash. The event will be in Puerto Rico.

Out comes Rey Mysterio, who beat his son Dominik on night one. He called the past week emotional and thanked the fans and Bad Bunny. WWE United States Champion Austin Theory came out. He said both men deserve respect, while he trashed Rey's parenting. Theory said he's too busy trying to correct the past as the crowd said he tapped out to John Cena.  

Theory asked where the rough crowd after WrestleMania is. He called Cena a part-timer and said he'd beat Rey up so he could join the legend collection.

Austin Theory def. Rey Mysterio, Bad Bunny gets put through a table

A match is happening, the second of a commercial free show. But before we could see any offense, a commercial break happened five minutes before the commercial-free hour ended. 

Theory took control of the bout, hanging Mysterio by the ropes. Crossbody by Mysterio off the top rope, but Theory dropped him to the floor with an elbow right after. Theory caught Rey on the ropes, but Mysterio landed a spinning DDT to counter. Mysterio up top, Theory joined him, but Mysterio countered with multiple crossbody dives. The masked luchador landed multiple shots in the corner, but Theory landed a spinning Torture Rack Bomb, but only for two. 

Mysterio dialed up the 619, but Theory countered with a clothesline. Theory tried to flip in the ring, but Mysterio countered. 619 attempt but Dominik interfered. Theory landed A-Town Down for the win. 

Dominik attacked Rey again after the bell, with Damian Priest by his side. He called out Bad Bunny. Dominik tried to hit Bad Bunny, but the latter hit a shot of his own. Priest attacked Bad Bunny, who fought both of them. Priest put Bad Bunny through a table. 

The match started with a commercial, which didn't help the grade for this match. However, the entire segment was saved thanks to Bad Bunny. 

Grade: B-

Priest was getting grilled for attacking Bad Bunny. He brought up that he was his friend, bringing up their past relationship. Continuity!

The new tag team champions, Sami Zayn, and Kevin Owens, came out to talk about their win against The Usos. The crowd chanted "they deserve it." Owens said they do deserve it, as do the fans. Zayn brought up his journey from wrestling Johnny Knoxville last year to winning tag team gold. He thanked the fans and that Los Angeles likes to celebrate. Owens likes celebrating with a good fight. He called out whoever wants to fight them. 

The Street Profits come out to answer the challenge. Montez Ford toasted to them. Angelo Dawkins brought up their win during the WrestleMania showcase tag team match. They want the smoke. 

Fighting champions: Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens def. Street Profits

This time, the tag team match started after the break. Dawkins and Zayn to start, and they traded headlocks. Zayn then took control and then tagged Owens, who landed multiple sentons. Ford was now legal and he used his unique skills to speed things up. Owens came in and he slowed it down, way down. 

Back from a commercial break, and Ford and Owens were chopping one another. Ford landed a senton from the middle rope and both of them are down. Zayn tagged in and landed a crossbody, following by a cross-rope DDT. A senton to the outside by Zayn flattened the Street Profits. On top, Zayn got stopped by Ford, who got dropped by a sunset bomb off the top.

Dawkins came in and and landed a blockbuster with Ford, but only for two. Exploder by Zayn to Ford, and Owens landed a cannonball. Swanton Bomb by Owens but only for two. Ford landed a big dive to the outside onto both champions, showcasing his athletic ability. Frog Splash missed, Owens landed the Stunner, and Zayn landed the Helluva Kick on Ford for the win.  

For the short time they got, Zayn and Owens and the Street Profits delivered. Fighting champions, the former are ready for all comers. Montez Ford is a star. 

Grade: A 

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins being interviews, bragging about beating Logan Paul and KSI. He told Cathy Kelly the party is with the crowd, and wanted his song played for the fans to sing it. Back from the break and the fans were just singing Rollins' song, showing how over he is. That was that. A+ grade all around, though not having a debut or return was a choice. 

Bobby Lashley squashes Mustafa Ali

Bobby Lashley was being interviewed, talking about his Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal win. He didn't compete at WrestleMania. Bronson Reed interrupted him and wanted to bring him to school. Mustafa Ali then talked to Lashley, and Lashley attacked him. 

Lashley and Ali have a match and Ali avoided big shots. Big clothesline by Lashley and the Hurt Lock and that was it. Lashley could be doing so much more. 

Grade: D+

Reigns was backstage, asking Heyman if The Usos were gone. He also asked if he knew if Brock Lesnar was going to be at Raw.  Heyman didn't, and said that Lesnar had nothing to lose by joining the tag match later in the night. Reigns said to Sikoa he will show Rhodes he is ready, going back to a previous promo. 

Bianca Belair is out, fresh from her win against Asuka to defend the WWE Raw Women's Title. Belair praised Asuka for giving it her all. New SmackDown Women's Champion Reha Ripley came out. Ripley called Belair the luckiest woman in WWE after she challenged Charlotte Flair and not Bianca. She said she'd beat her eventually, like she beat Charlotte. One day, when Rhea is ready, they'll decide who the best is. A WrestleMania 40 tease? 

Raquel Rodriguez, Liv Morgan win tag team title showcase match

Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan come out for tag action. They will face Iyo Sky and Dakota Kai, for a chance to face to Women's Tag Team Champions. Isn't that what Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler won at WrestleMania? It looked like Ronda and Shayna were both injured heading into and following the match. 

Rodriguez used her power to her advantage. She attempted to break the leg of Kai. Morgan in now, and Kai hit her face with her boot. Sky in, but both members of Damage CTL are out of the ring, and Morgan got powerbombed by her partner to her opponents.

Back in the ring, Sky started flying around. She landed a top rope dropkick but only for two. Following that up, Sky put Morgan in a straightjacket. Codebreaker took down Sky. Rodriguez and Kai both in, and Rodriguez used her power to double-team both women. Kai got thrown into Sky. Choke Bomb and Oblivion and Rodriguez-Morgan win. 

A good showcase match for all four women. Looks like we're waiting for Rousey and Baszler to heal up. What do you do with Damage CTL at this point? 

Grade: B+ 

Miz out now, after being embarrassed both nights of WrestleMania. He complained about everyone attacking him, saying he was done with surprises. Out came Matt Riddle. "Surprise! Did you miss me?" Miz attacked Riddle from behind. Riddle hit a kick and a ripcord, following by his finishing move. No Jay White, no other surprises. 

Bad Bunny was taken to a local medical facility. A Vince McMahon word. 

Becky Lynch, Lita, and Trish Stratus were interviewed. They said that the chapter of Damage CTL is over, and are ready for Morgan and Rodriguez. 

Next week: The women's tag team title match and Matt Riddle vs. Miz. 

Main event up next, as Reigns and Sikoa face Rhodes and Lesnar. This is Lesnar's first WWE tag team match since around 2002-2004. Never mind. Brock Lesnar hit the F5 on Rhodes. And another. Cody has his new feud. He stepped on Cody's next and suplexed him. Dragging him out the ring, Lesnar put Rhodes through the barricade and hit him with a chair. 

Lesnar hit Cody with the steel steps. F5 through the announce table. With the steel steps in the ring, Rhodes is F5'd on top of it. Lesnar finished Cody off with steel chair shots and by choking him. Double bird salute by Lesnar to end the night. 

    Author(s)
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    Daniel Yanofsky
    Daniel Yanofsky is a combat sports editor at The Sporting News.
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