WWE Monday Night Raw Review – 4.06.26

We’re a mere two weeks away from WrestleMania. Yes, we’re going to make it there. Will we have more corporate synergy tonight than we already have on ? Let’s find out!

The week in WWE: Raw / NXT / Evolve / Impact / SmackDown / Stand & Deliver / Lucha Libre WWE

As always, let me plug the SmackDown Rewind. On last week’s adventure, it’s the last SmackDown before Armageddon and there is a sea of masked men. No, Seth Rollins is not involved.

Then, Now, Forever, Together.

Arrivals! Oba Femi is the first person we see tonight. Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky! WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta, Je’Von Evans and Dragon Lee! WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is here later tonight… but no, he’s heading out right now because he’s a rebel!

WWE World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk starts us off in the arena with “Cult of Personality” and a steady march to the ring, tossing his title into the ring. 11,769 are here in Houston at the Toyota Center for Monday Night Raw, live on Netflix and presented by DoorDash.

Punk sits down on top of the Slim Jim logo and sits out a “CM Punk” chant mixed in with some booing that turns into chants for “OTC.” He talks about the history of wrestling in Houston but there are ghosts of things that were supposed to happen that haunt him as well. He can’t help but compare himself to old timers and wonders what Harley Race would do. “Roman Reigns is not here tonight.” He talks about Roman putting him through the announce table two weeks ago and then doing the same to Roman last week. “If Roman hates me, that tells me I’m exactly where I need to be.” Punk heads over to the announce table, occupied by Michael Cole and Corey Graves, and hands his gold to Cole. “I showed up and I’m an old man. Old, not weak.” Very mixed crowd here for the Punkster.

Punk climbs on top of the announce table and Points To Sign. He tells us he understands why TKO sends Roman to Jimmy Fallon. “It’s because you’re safe and you’re boring and you’re plastic and you’re saccharine and me, I’m dangerous. Why is it that I can film half a dozen television shows and movies and never miss a goddamn day?”

“At least The Rock is a Hollywood superstar. Oh, I’m sorry. WAS a Hollywood superstar. My bloated cousin isn’t on the board of directors.” He’s paid his dues and earned everything he’s busted his ass. “You are just a bucktooth nepo baby who ate dog food for a weird old man.” The fans continue to mix booing and the Punk chants. “And that weird old man for years treated me like a dog and he expected me to smile, but I had FU money, so I took that and my dignity and I left and THAT’s why you hate me.” He says Roman sucked at the first eight WrestleManias he competed at and “I can gleefully stand on the bridge AND blow it up because bitch I know how to swim. Everybody’s getting it tonight. Pat MAGAfee, you buggy-whipped armed no brain hillbilly, you think you can come here to my business of pro wrestling and run your mouth. You just wrote a check that your narrow ass can’t cash. You want to talk about ticket sales? Call up that agent that was foolish enough to shoehorn you into this business and this show and tell him to LOWER THE TICKET PRICES.” He promises McAfee a receipt. “Houston, lower the ticket prices because I want all these families to come and watch me stand on Roman Reigns’ throat at WrestleMania because my name is CM Punk and I approve this message.” Well, he certainly won over the crowd with the end. That was a lot, but it worked for me. I’ve been critical of a lot of Punk/Reigns being a bit too shooty, but it works a bit better in the flow of a Punk “pipe bomb” instead of the two guys arguing at each other.

Let’s take a look back at LA Knight attacking IShowSpeed on Speed’s YouTube stream.

IShowSpeed is here and encounters Danhausen, asking for him to lift the curse again. Danhausen says he’ll uncurse him for his mansion. Raw General Manager Adam Pearce walks up and begs for help, Danhausen disappearing. Pearce advises him to go home and up walk WWE World Tag Team Champions The Vision (Logan Paul & Austin Theory), telling Speed that he’s screwed and his only safe space is around The Vision. They lead Speed off. Pearce: “That is a terrible idea.”

WWE World Tag Team Champion Austin Theory (with Logan Paul and IShowSpeed) vs L.A. Knight

Cole tells us this is the first time in three years these two men have faced each other, knowing I was ready to complain about a Knight vs Vision match. Knight starts hot with a series of slams on Theory. Knight kicks Theory to the outside and clotheslines him into the timekeeper’s area, celebrating on top of the barricade to take us to a break for commercials.

Knight hits a neck breaker on Theory as Cole tells us how reluctant Speed is to be out here. Knight is mostly cruising here but Theory nails a left hand and a rolling blockbuster to bring himself back in. Knight clotheslines Theory out in front of his partner. Knight pounds Theory into the announce table and rolls in to break the count before rolling back out. Paul distracts Knight and Logan shoves Speed into Knight. This is not good for Mr. Speed. Knight stalks Speed down the aisle and Main Event Jey Uso and Big Jim Uso come out to Jey’s theme as Speed speeds back into the ring and is caught by Knight. Speed screams for help and Theory nails Knight, rolling up Knight for the distraction win.

Austin Theory pins L.A. Knight. This was all fun business. An entertaining match and they’re nailing everything with this Speed deal. Never thought I’d say this, but you should watch an Austin Theory match.

Post-match, Speed is stuck in the ring telling the Usos and Knight that he didn’t do anything. The fans chant “you fucked up.” Jey grabs Speed in the corner and calls for the 3D. Logan grabs Speed out to safety. Knight grabs a mic and tells Adam Pearce to walk himself out. Knight thinks we should have a six-man match at WrestleMania. Pearce makes it official, though he should probably have had Speed sign a contract first. Speed gives us fear and The Vision continues to try to gaslight him.

It’s McAfee highlight package time. Cole tells us about his disappointment in McAfee’s behavior on SmackDown. He wants to let it play out and see where it goes. I’ve heard that line somewhere.

Finn Balor is walking and passes an arguing Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller.

WrestleMania Moments: CM Punk will always remember being on John Cena’s car and seeing his path forward to the future.

Finn Balor vs JD McDonough

They’ve toyed with it off and on, but we’re fully embracing Finn’s former theme and fan interactions. AAA Mega Champion Dominik Mysterio attacks Finn during said entrance and mocks it, Finn fights back and tosses JD in to the ring post as he does. Finn tosses Dom into the match and stomps him down, trying to fight off both men. Dom hits Finn from behind with his AAA gold and grabs a chair from JD, smacking Finn with it. Dom puts the chair over Finn and sits on it, taunting Finn and Pointing To Sign.

Here’s a vignette on WWE Women’s Intercontinental Champion AJ Lee, covering her prior run (hi Kaitlyn!) and her return, including her title win at Elimination Chamber.

Earlier today, AJ Lee sits down with Michael Cole. Becky Lynch walks right in to interrupt and mock Cole being a terrible announcer for 29 years. He leaves and Becks takes his place. “I remember your last WrestleMania. You gave me a hug with your fake niceness and I saw it in your eyes, I saw your nervousness because you saw your replacement. The very next day you quit because you knew I was coming for you.” Becky says there’s no homefield advantage at WrestleMania. Lee tells her to keep underestimating her. She’s proud of Lynch for everything she’s done, “but none of that happens without me. Those heights that you soared to? I shattered those glass ceilings.” She reminds Becky that her own daughter would say AJ is her favorite wrestler and says she’ll see her at Mania. This was a very good promo for both of them.

Bayley (with Lyra Valkyria) vs WWE World Tag Team Champion Lash Legend (with Nia Jax)

I don’t feel like we get a clean ending here. Cole tells us that Nikki Bella is trying to rehab an injury so she can compete at WrestleMania and sends congratulations to Lola Vice on her Stand & Deliver win. Lash kicks Bayley to the outside and we take another break, something we just did about four minutes ago.

Back from it (including an ad for WrestleMania tickets), Lash catches Bayley and smashes her into the turnbuckle before slamming her into a backbreaker. Legend tries for a powerbomb, Bayley ranas her into the corner but then runs into a big forearm. Bayley catches Lash with a running knee and drops an elbow from the top for a two. Jax trips Bayley, Lash still misses an attack on Bayley and Lyra tries and fails to topple Nia. Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss come out for the attack on Nia, Bayley leaps on the whole crew. She heads to the top again and Lash nails her with a forearm before climbing to the second rope and trying to superplex Bayley, who grabs Legend’s leg to cause Bayley to fall on top for the pin.

Bayley pins Lash Legend. Both women felt a bit off, maybe just not on the same page. Lash will continue to grow as she gets reps. This was never going to be a clean finish.

Celebrities! They love Raw! Here’s DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans Head Coach! And here’s Bun B, Rapper! And right there is Mark Henry, WWE Hall of Famer Class of 2018! Celebrities, they love WWE!

Cole and Graves lament this being the first WrestleMania without Hulk Hogan and send us to a trailer for the upcoming Netflix documentary series. It does include Bret Hart saying, “You’re a liar.” Hulk: “I know where all the bodies are buried.”

Seth “Freakin’” Rollins is our next entrance in the arena with all of his fire and fan singing and another all-black outfit looking like he’s the Undertaker but with a slight sense of style. He’s been waiting to hear the fans sing so they do. He soaks it in a bit and circles the ring to encourage it. He Points To Sign and begins to talk about Gunther. He’s still trying to figure out how we got here because there’s no long history or personal issue with Gunther. “The only logical conclusion that I can come up with is that Gunther has entered into some sort of business relationship with Paul Heyman.” It’s his purpose to destroy The Vision and if Gunther has business with Heyman, he’s made it very personal. Fans gasp and here’s The Ring General Gunther to try for the sleeper, but Rollins briefly turns it into his own before Gunther dodges a stomp. They brawl across the announce table and Pearce and the suits are out the break it up. Gunther breaks loose and boots Seth before it’s all broken up. This was good enough and hyped things up for the sudden match a bit.

We cut to Gunther walking backstage and coming across Danhausen! No, that would be fun. He comes across WWE Hall of Famer Paul Heyman, which is less fun. Heyman isn’t sure why Gunther did what he did but he owes him a very big thank you. Why wouldn’t Seth just run back and attack him right now? Gunther says it is personal to him and offers a handshake which Heyman accepts, but pulls Heyman closer. “You owe me so much more than a very big thank you.”

Here’s a look at last week and a vignette with WWE Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer, telling Liv Morgan that she is a brainless bitch that talks and says nothing and is trying to solve her daddy issues with Dom. “In Vegas, you will never get your hands on the Women’s World Championship because I’m taking you where no one can follow. Welcome to my inferno, Liv Morgan.”

WWE Intercontinental Champion Penta, Je’Von Evans and Dragon Lee vs El Grande Americano and Los Americanos (Rayo & Bravo Americano)

Evans and Lee qualified in matches on Main Event on Thursday to enter the ladder match for Penta’s Intercontinental Championship that they were announced for days earlier, while El Grande Americano posted a video on socials saying that he deserves to be in the match as well. One could wonder why Rayo Americano earned a qualifying match but Bravo didn’t, but that would be more thinking about the entire qualification process than WWE did.

Rayo and Evans start off with Je’Von hitting a neckbreaker, cutting backstage to Kofi Kingston watching Je’Von with a nod of approval. EGA tags in and dances with Los Americanos before Evans leaps on the crew. Je’Von flies outside onto Rayo, Lee flies on Bravo and Penta topes onto EGA before the trio do the Penta strut to take us to a break.

Penta is making short work of all three Americanos when we return. Lee tags in and dropkick Rayo in the corner and tries for his Styles Clash before Bravo pulls his partner to safety. Evans hits the Red Dot on Rayo but can’t hit the cutter. Lee hits the Clash and rolls Brayo into a pin attempt, barely broken by EGA. Lots of superkicks as Lee ranas EGA to the outside, Penta hits a Mexican Destroyer on the apron on Rayo and Evans smashes the OG Cutter from the top on Bravo.

Je’Von Evans pins Bravo Americano, the team of Penta, Evans and Lee defeat El Grande Americano & Los Americanos. A solid little match.

As Penta and friends celebrate, the music of WWE & AAA Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio surprises everyone. Rey greets the crew in the ring and he’s spoken to Pearce. The match at Mania is missing Rey Mysterio and Penta grabs his hand, saying that it’s time to make history.

Let’s talk about Pat McAfee some more! Here’s a look at what happened again and focus on Cody’s promo later in the night. McAfee has been added to the match graphic. You know what this match needed? McAfee on the graphic.

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky are stretching and hugging. We see Austin Theory and Maxxine Dupri discussing things in the background.

Here’s a look at Speed and then a look at Brock and Oba interacting last week. Lots of video packages.

Here’s another! Asuka tells Iyo Sky that she came to WWE to pave a path for her and Kairi Sane and Iyo took advantage of her kindness.

Rhea Ripley & Iyo Sky vs Michin & B-Fab (with WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill)

I am very sorry for poor Cathy Kelley who thought she finally had Rhea to herself again until Iyo showed up. This is only the second Raw match for B-Fab, who last competed on the show in February 2024 in a last chance Elimination Chamber qualifying battle royal with names such as Elektra Lopez, Katana Chance, and the winner Raquel Rodriguez.

Shoutout as always to our ring announcer, the great Alicai Taylor. Rhea and B-Fab start out, Rhea flipping Michin in as well and then tossing her back out. B-Fab works over Rhea with a few elbows in the corner and catches a good DDT for a two count. Iyo and Michin get tags and Iyo rolls Michin into a stomp. Iyo leaps onto both opponents with a missile dropkick and points to her head before suicide diving onto both of them and taking us to a commercial break.

We return to Graves talking about the improvements of B-Fab and Michin as B-Fab works over Iyo and knocks Rhea down with a cheap shot. Jade pulls Rhea off the apron, preventing the tag. Michin runs into the ring post and Iyo rolls B-Fab into a three count, just like that. Jade and her girls work over Iyo and Michin grabs a kendo stick but Rhea makes the save, Michin doing a spectacular sell on the headbutt before Jade taunts Ripley. As B-Fab and Michin hold Rhea back, Jade grabs that kendo stick and goes to work on Iyo, Ripley screaming out in agony. Jade lands Jaded on Iyo and looks back at Rhea.

Iyo Sky pins B-Fab, Ripley & Sky defeat B-Fab & Michin. The match itself wasn’t anything special, but the post-match stuff did a lot more to sell the match than most anything else the last few weeks.

Kit Wilson and Kiana James are at Netflix House, which is a thing that exists.

Finn Balor has found time to film an entire multi-camera fully edited vignette about the attack earlier tonight. There’s a side of him that he’s never shown Dom, one that he thought was gone forever, and Dom has awoken it. “It’s back and at WrestleMania, it’s coming for you.” We hear the heartbeat of his music as we fade out.

Dominik is backstage with Liv Morgan, Raquel Rodriguez and JD McDonough. JD wonders how Dom’s deadbeat dad got into the ladder match and Dom suggests they go talk to Pearce. When the boys leave, Roxanne Perez walks up on the girls and Liv asks for time alone with her. Liv wants to address the elephant in the room, Finn. Liv says they did what needed to be done and Stephanie Vaquer attacks, tossing Liv into the TV but not disturbing the PS5 at least.

The center of our universe, WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, gets his full entrance and is here for our main event contract signing alongside Adam Pearce. Lotta baldness walking the ramp. The voice of Paul Heyman interrupts Pearce. Heyman talks a lot before the fans interrupt him with “Oba” chanting and then introduces Brock Lesnar as the credits roll. Brock shakes the hands of Levesque and Pearce as the fans chant again for Oba.

Oba Femi joins us to a gigantic response and struts his way down to the ring looking like the coolest man alive. Brock attacks Oba as he tries to enter and Oba catches him, driving him into the ring post. Pearce calls for security as they brawl through a table and security tries to break them up. You know how that goes, right? Brock breaks free and leaps on Femi, then Femi does the same to Brock. Brock launches a chair at Brock; Femi tosses it back. We fade on the chaos.

Now this, THIS felt like a Raw that made me care about WrestleMania. It all hit tonight. The Punk stuff at the beginning is something we’ll probably talk about for a long time and the Oba/Lesnar brawl continues to make their match feel must-see. In between that, we had a good six-man that hyped up the ladder match and added Rey to it, good attacks by both women’s singles champions on their challengers, and good build for Speed and friends, Finn/Dom and Seth/Gunther. The weak spot might’ve been Bayley and Lash, but overall, a home run of a show. Go watch the opening and closing segments, check out the Theory/Knight highlights, and jump into the close of the Ripley/Cargill situation if nothing else.