:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66676363/20200417_Raw_DrewSeth_FC__c7167cfff1f3776c6c19da7d581fe9d2.0.jpg)
WWE Monday Night Raw comes waltzing back into our lives tonight (April 20, 2020) from the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, with all the latest build to the upcoming Money in the Bank pay-per-view (PPV) scheduled for next month.
Advertised for tonight: Drew McIntyre responds to Seth Rollins’ attack from last week, and more!.
Come right back here at 8 p.m. ET when the Raw live blog kicks off once the show starts on USA. It will be below this line here. (REMINDER: NO GIFS OR PICS ARE ALLOWED IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED.)
WWE RAW RESULTS AND LIVE BLOG FOR APRIL 20
The day that civil glory dismembered my civility, I could have parted ribs and flesh like a different kind of Red Sea, drowned the ancient east in western progress, custom and the least of all our pride and sentiments which turned out to be the closest thing to a fashion trend that’s ever been put on trial. But tonight? Tonight I liveblog this here pro wrestling show. On my birthday. Let’s hope for the best, friends.
The show opens with a recap of last week’s main event.
Drew McIntyre makes his entrance.
He welcomes us to Raw and says it’s a highlight of his week before thanking us for joining him. He talks about the meaning of the WWE Championship— history, prestige, glory, fame, and all of those are cool, but realistically it paints a huge bullseye on his back. Whoever holds the title is the best of the best, and everybody wants to be on top of the mountain.
Which brings us to Seth Rollins, who stomped Drew’s head into the canvas twice last week. Read between the lines of the messiah rhetoric and he’s not that complex— he just wants to be champion. But does he deserve a shot? A lot of people say no, but McIntyre thought about it and he came to a conclusion that he could make Seth jump through hoops but realistically he’s one of the most decorated superstars of all time, and he needs to continue to beat the best.
So, in three weeks’ time, at Money in the Bank, it’ll be Drew McIntyre vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship. He gets real close to the camera to talk to Rollins directly. He says he’s not gonna hurl insults, because—
Enter Angel Garza, with Zelina Vega and Austin Theory in tow. Drew says he’ll get to them later, he’s got a match against Garza, but Zelina pipes up. She says they’re sick of his little rah-rah speeches, and the problem is he’s too focused on Money in the Bank and he’s looking past Angel Garza— ANDRADE “CIEN” ALMAS BLINDSIDES THE CHAMP BUT HE EATS A CLAYMORE WHEN HE GOES FOR THE CORNER KNEES!
Vega tries to rally her forces to double-team Drew but they’re not having it. 3... 2... 1... CLAYMORE DOS SENDS ANDRADE SPILLING OUT OF THE RING!
Commentary hypes up tonight’s content and we go to break.
Aleister Black vs. Austin Theory (Money in the Bank Qualifying Match)
Theory going for an armbar, Black shrugs him off, collar and elbow, go-behind, again Austin picking the arm, wristlock, Aleister strugging but he reverses it. Leg pick, arm wringer, Theory reverses to a front chancery and wrenches it in. Black fighting out of it, into a grounded backhammer, Austin reverses to a side headlock, the wristlock again, roll through, an upkick gets the young man out of it.
Arm drag, off the ropes, shoulder block, Black throws him to the apron and Theory barely ducks Black Mass by falling to the floor! Shotgun dropkick knocks him down for good, Zelina Vega gets up from commmentary and berates Aleister for not playing fair. The distraction works, Austin throws Black into the barricade and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Theory with the rolling thunder dropkick for two and he follows it with mounted punches. Argentine backbreaker rack, dropping Black into the turnbuckles face-first, he does it again, into the rack for a third time but Aleister fights out. Boot up in the corner, scoop and a slam and Black starts to put it together again. Victory roll cover, only two, Austin catches a kick, fireman’s carry, ATL blocked, roll through into a waistlock.
Back elbow gets him out but Black catches him into a Sol Naciente! Deadlift one-arm powerbomb counters and keeps Theory in the match! Referee Chad Patton issues the standing ten count but both men get up. Back elbows from Aleister, strike rush, off the ropes, sliding knee connects! Quebrada lands true, only two! Upkick from the mat, off the ropes, boot ducked and Austin nails him with a superkick!
Crossleg brainbuster over the knee... NOT ENOUGH! ATL blocked again, Black to the apron, up top, nobody home, he rolls through and hits a huge jumping knee! Everest German suplex into the bridge... NOPE! Black Mass ducked, back elbow connects but Aleister is ready...
Aleister Black wins by pinfall with Black Mass to qualify for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Post-match, Black is interviewed about his plan to win Money in the Bank.
He says he doesn’t really know much about corporate life, and he probably has to cover his tattoos, but when he enters the match, for his opponents, each floor of that building is turned into their own personal hell.
Commentary promises us Shayna Baszler in action, after the break.
Back from commercial, Shayna Baszler is interviewed.
She dismisses the idea that she went too far last week— she didn’t break any rules, she just broke Sarah Logan’s arm.
Indi Hartwell vs. Shayna Baszler
A squash match— Indi ducks the arm break stomp and gets a little offense but Baszler jacks her up and gets the stomp anyway...
Shayna Baszler wins by referee stoppage.
Post-match, Shayna goes and gets a ladder with evil intentions. She drags Hartwell out of the ring and swings her into the barricade before wedging her arm into the ladder... AND KICKING THE LADDER!
Medics tend to Indi and we go to break.
Brendan Vink & Shane Thorne vs. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet
Aussies dominate Ricochet to start, working him over bigtime, quick tags, but a Frankensteiner into the corner lets Cedric tag in. Running hot, dragon screw neck whip into a superkick, fighting ‘em off two for one. Tornado DDT on Thorne, tag back to Ricochet for the running shooting star press but Vink breaks it up! Off the ropes, satellite DDT takes him out, tag back to Alexander.
Gamengiri sets up a ripcord Recoil, Cedric is ready...
Cedric Alexander & Ricochet win by pinfall with Lumbar Check from Alexander on Shane Thorne.
Asuka and Kairi Sane are interviewed backstage about the rematch between Sane and Nia Jax tonight. Japanese ensues, then Asuka says be serious and tonight, nobody is ready for Kairi.
Bobby Lashley appears from the gym and introduces himself and Lana. He wants to demonstrate how easy it is to flip a huge tractor tire, and Lana says if you’re jealous now, just wait to see Bob in action.
And so we go to break.
Kairi Sane vs. Nia Jax
Sane ducks a lariat and taunts Jax, going behind for a sleeper hold and getting thrown off. Dropkick caught, Nia with a giant swing! We see Asuka cheering her partner on backstage as Jax continues to throw her around. Kairi fighting desperately from the corner, bieled across the ring, drawn up for short-arm lariats. Sane looking for a sunset flip, Nia drags her to her feet and chokebombs her into the turnbuckles neck-first!
Charging in, Kairi sidesteps, hamstring kicks, dropkick to the knee, targeting the surgically repaired joint. Jax’s knee gives out on a backbreaker attempt and Sane hammers her with forearms on forearms! URAKEN! Sliding forearm in the corner, Kairi heads up top and perches but nobody’s home! Roll through, charge in, Nia scoops her up...
Nia Jax wins by pinfall with the Annihilator.
Another recap of last week’s main event follows, because Raw is three hours long. (Three hours long.
We get a promo from Seth Rollins talking about how not many men know what it’s like to walk in Drew McIntyre’s shoes, but he does. They have a lot in common, including their deep love and passion for this industry. He accepts the title match at Money in the Bank out of necessity, because now more than ever, the WWE Universe needs a leader, and as much as they have in common, he’s a proven leader and Drew isn’t.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a quick video package of the Viking Raiders driving and talking about themselves.
MVP cuts a promo before his match, talking about how he’s seen a lot of WWE superstars rise and fall in pursuit of the Money in the Bank briefcase, and he lays out the stakes of the match. He puts Apollo Crews over, calling him the most gifted athlete on the roster, but he’s outmatched. He talks about how well-suited he is to the ladder match and how he’s gonna win, but Crews’ intro cuts him off.
Apollo Crews vs. Montel Vontavious Porter (Money in the Bank Qualifying Match)
Crews right in with punches, whip across, backflip evasion into a series of dropkicks and Porter rolls to the apron and calls for a time out. Apollo blasts him off the apron, action to the floor, MVP turns the tide and we go to break.
Back from commercial, Porter is in control with a camel clutch locked in, telling Crews he’s NXT good, but he ain’t Monday Night Raw good. Apollo fights to his feet and rams MVP into the corner to break it! Montel absolutely drops him with a lariat for two before dragging him back into a rear chinlock and hammering him with crossfaces as he jaws at him.
Playmaker attempt countered into a spinning spinebuster, Apollo following it up with right hands in the corner, kick to the midsection, off the ropes with a knee, duck a lariat and hit one of his own! Scoop and a slam, cover for two! Another slam, Crews heads up top, frog splash... THE KNEES WERE UP! In position, Playmaker... NO GOOD! Gorilla press into a standing moonsault, standing shooting star— the full Uhaa Combination!
Lifting Montel up...
Apollo Crews wins by pinfall with the delayed Blue Thunder Driver to qualify for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Ruby Riott is interviewed backstage about the demise of the Riott Squad.
She said there was never really a Riott Squad to her, and she had to have double shoulder surgery because she carried the other two on her back. She was the one that made them look good, and now look at them— Sarah Logan’s got a broken arm, and Liv Morgan will be lucky if she doesn’t break both her arms tonight.
And so we go to break.
Liv Morgan vs. Ruby Riott
Collar and elbow, Morgan charges her into the corner but Riott shoves her back and puts boots to her. Desperate forearms from her knees, Liv fighting back into it, springboard dropkick gets her two, jockeying for position over a suplex and Ruby hangs her in the ropes before superkicking her... NOPE! Riott with a cravate, Morgan with elbows, Ruby traps her against the ropes and lays forearms in.
Off the ropes, trading charging forearms, Liv pulls her in by her waistband but Riott hits a hard back elbow and kicks her in the face! Demanding she beg, Ruby runs the ropes... MORGAN CATCHES HER!
Liv Morgan wins by pinfall with the Arabian Press reverse STO.
Back to the gym, Bobby Lashley is warmed up and ready to flip the tire for us. Lana says he’s not warm, he’s hot, and he talks about how elite you have to be to flip the tire.
Bob flips the tire.
He then introduces an even bigger tire and suggests only he can flip it.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, we get a graphic in memory of the late great Howard Finkel.
Buddy Murphy vs. Rey Mysterio (Money in the Bank Qualifying Match)
Light mat grappling in the feeling out, stalemate, Murphy with a wristlock that he turns into an arm wringer before grinding Mysterio down in an armbar. Whip across, Rey ducks a lariat and a back elbow and snaps off a headscissors takeover! 619, nobody home, duck the pump kick but Buddy hammers him in the corner. Action to the floor, Rey’s hand hurting and Murphy blasts him from behind!
Throwing him into the barricade and back inside, cover for one. Smashing his hand into the mat, arm wringer, another cover for another one count. Grinding the wristlock in, Mysterio rolls through to counter, gets the ropes and arm drags Buddy to the floor. Off the ropes, baseball slide countered but Rey gets a back elbow off to stop whatever Murphy had planned.
Buddy kicks him onto the ramp and stomps his injured hand to send us to break!
Back from commercial, Murphy is in control on the floor, going to town on Mysterio’s injured hand. Up on the apron, dragging Rey up, putting his hand atop the ringpost and grinding the sole of his boot into it! Rey shoves him to the floor and takes the breather, step-up tijeras off the steel steps to put Buddy into the diamond plate ramp!
Gamengiri from the apron sets up the springboard seated senton, springboard crossbody, but Murphy swats the bad hand! Rey with the drop toehold, off the ropes, Buddy back in the ring but Mysterio hits a satellite DDT! Both men on the apron, trading shots, Rey sends him to the floor with a dropkick, off the ropes, low dive into a headscissors takeover that sends Murphy into the barricade!
Mysterio rearranging his fingers, throwing Buddy back in the ring, headed up top, diving crossbody, Murphy rolls through and deadlifts him up for a spin-out fireman’s carry neckbreaker onto the knee! Knee strike, sheerdrop brainbuster... REY KICKS OUT! Dragging Rey into position, he hangs onto Buddy’s leg but gets stomped in the bad hand for good measure.
Up top, Mysterio cuts him off, climbs to join him, jockeying for position, sunset flip powerbomb denied, Cheeky Nando’s blocked with a kick... REY WITH THE FLIP PILEDRIVER! BUDDY IN POSITION... 619! Up top...
Rey Mysterio wins by pinfall with the falling splash to qualify for the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
Zelina Vega and Angel Garza are interviewed backstage.
Vega takes issue with the idea that things didn’t go as planned earlier and runs Drew McIntyre down for attacking Almas when he could barely stand, and talks about how it’d be a real shame if Drew didn’t make it to Money in the Bank. Garza asks Charly Caruso for an interview after his match.
Commentary hypes up Charlotte Flair in action, after the break.
Charlotte Flair vs. Kayden Carter
Flair with a huge boot right out the gates and the tone is set. Toying with Carter, jawing, disdainful kicks, she gets hung up in the ropes and Kayden rallies, snapping off a crucifix driver and getting the octopus hold locked in. Charlotte gets her in the ropes and leverages her right into the top rope to cut the hold off! Off the ropes for the spear, spinning toehold into the figure four leglock, bridging back...
Charlotte Flair wins by submission with the Figure Eight.
And so we go to break.
Back from commercial, Bob Lashley wants to flip that tire for you.
It’s 450 pounds and he doesn’t know if he can move it, but if anybody in the whole world can, it’s him.
It takes a false start or two but he sure does flip that tire.
He says everybody in the locker room needs to fear his power and leaves.
A recap of our opening segment follows, because Raw is three hours long. (Three hours long.)
Andrade “Cien” Almas makes his entrance, he’ll be in action after the break.
Akira Tozawa vs. Andrade “Cien” Almas
Trading strikes, Tozawa with 540 roundhouse kick into a running knee, cover for one! Stomping away, forearms against the ropes, whip reversed, Andrade pops him up but Akira hits a Frankensteiner! Pump kick blasts Andrade off the apron, slingshot follows to the apron, Tozawa flies off the apron with a cannonball that bulldozes Almas into the barricade!
Back inside, Akira hits a missile dropkick, action back to the floor and Andrade turns the tide with Zelina Vega’s assistance. Back in, putting boots ot him, clubbing blows to the shoulder, back suplex lift, Tozawa lands on his feet. Off the ropes, octopus hold applied! Wrenching hard on the wrist but Almas gets the ropes to force the break!
Hammering back elbow, Andrade with a fireman’s carry but Akira slips out, rolling solebutt, both men are down and out. Duck the roundhouse, Tozawa crawls under and pops him with the Tozawa Right! Off the ropes, big dropkick from Cien, front chancery, calling for the Three Amigos, reversal into a pin! Akira trying cover after cover, no dice! Superkick, headed up top, Andrade cuts him off...
Andrade “Cien” Almas wins by pinfall with the hanging hammerlock DDT out of the turnbuckles.
Post-match, the Street Profits make their entrance. They dance on and around the commentary station as we go to break.
Back from commercial, the Profits are still dancing.
They get on the mic and say it’s time for the EST of the WWE, Bianca Belair!
Bianca Belair vs. Santana Garrett
Circling, collar and elbow, Belair backs her into the corner and breaks clean at referee John Cone’s behest. Back to the lockup, slamming her down, block the leg pick, lift her up into the Canadian backbreaker rack but Garrett fights out and hits her in the face. Bianca shoves her to the mat, waistlock takedowns, fired up, putting boots to her in the corner.
Big hip toss, Santana rallies, Belair cuts her off, showing off her athleticism and her strength...
Bianca Belair wins by pinfall with KOD.
Street Profits celebrate with Belair and we go to break.
Angel Garza vs. Drew McIntyre
Garza charging right in with forearms but McIntyre turns him around and wails on him in the corner! Chop block, kicking Angel’s leg out of his leg, Drew jaws at him and draws him up for more chops! Back elbow for breathing room but McIntyre keeps the pressure on with an overhead belly-to-belly that sends Garza to the floor! Charging out after him dropping him across the barricade before chopping him more!
Hammering the poor kid, turning his chest to hamburger before taking him back inside. Almas running interference but Drew catches Garza on the dive and then headbutts him on the steel steps! Zelina jawing at him, Theory attacking from behind but Drew cuts him off with an elbow! Angel gets a dropkick that finally staggers the Scotsman and follows it up by ramming him into the posts!
Back inside, Garza up top, missile dropkick connects for one! Half crab with a knee to McIntyre’s back, but Drew gets out and drops him hard! Up top, diving double chop into the kip-up! Angel running away, McIntyre gets a hand on his pants and tears them off for him before running the ropes... DREW MCINTYRE TOPE CON GIRO! Sending Almas over the barricade, dropping Theory with the Claymore, Drew heads back inside!
Inverted Alabama Slam countered into a victory roll, off the ropes...
Drew McIntyre wins by pinfall with the Claymore.
Post-match, Drew chats with Byron Saxton and asks if he should do another Claymore.
Back inside... CLAYMORE!
He tells Vega to keep lining them up and he’ll keep Claymore-ing them down. Theory rushes the ring... CLAYMORE!
That’s the show, folks.