Raw Deal - Raw Deal recap for April 30, 2018

Roman Reigns shows up to start tonight's show. Roman says he will not make excuses, as there is no need to. He says that he is the real Universal Champion as the crowd continues to heavily boo him. The crowd eventually begins to chant "Roman sucks!" Roman then says he should be the Universal Champion, but he is not...yet. He then says a lot of people doubted and lost faith in him, but he is a man of his word and he kept his word, saying he beat Brock Lesnar in the steel cage, and that he will never lose faith in himself. After mentioning that Brock Lesnar is not here, he mentions Samoa Joe, who soon appears on the TitanTron. Samoa Joe tells him he knew he would lose to Lesnar, and says he plans to put his downward-spiraling career to sleep. Samoa Joe's image then disappears from the TitanTron, then all of a sudden, Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh appear. Jinder says that Roman is making excuses for his shortcomings, and says nobody hears him complaining that Jeff Hardy cheated. He says that Roman lost fair and square to Lesnar, and that at Backlash, he will lose to Samoa Joe. As for tonight, Roman will lose to him. Jinder says Roman's career is in the tubes, and now that he is here, he will flourish and eventually raise up the Universal Championship. Tonight, he will prove exactly that. Sami Zayn then shows up to a massive hometown ovation. Sami thanks the Montreal, Quebec, Canada crowd and says something in French, then tells Jinder and Roman they are complaining about Greatest Royal Rumble while he could not make it due to suffering vertigo at the hands of Bobby Lashley. He then says he is feeling better now, and that there is no other way to make up for it than showing up in his own hometown and becoming the one to take on Roman Reigns. The crowd starts a loud "Yes!" chant, then Kevin Owens shows up, also to a huge crowd ovation. Kevin Owens speaks to the crowd in French, and the fans react positively. This starts a "Oui!" chant. He then says that he knows Sami can beat Roman; however, the people want to see Kevin Owens face Roman Reigns. However, since so many people want Roman, Kevin decides to hold a popularity contest. Sami Zayn gets plenty of cheers and Jinder Mahal gets plenty of boos, but Kevin gets the best reaction. He approaches Roman only to get punched, then he, Sami Zayn, Jinder Mahal and Sunil Singh gang up on Roman. All of a sudden, Bobby Lashley runs into the ring, and as powerful as he is, even he cannot fight off Owens, Sami, Jinder and Sunil all at once. Braun Strowman then runs in to cause some mayhem of his own, and when he gets ganged up on, Lashley throws one of them out so that Braun Strowman can fight back. Sunil Singh ends up getting tossed out of the ring and onto everyone else.

Elias is seen backstage drinking a special tea that is meant to massage and soothe his throat before his performance tonight.

Elias is in the ring. Elias forgets he gets so lost in his own thoughts that he forgets how people feel to see him and how everyone knows WWE stands for "Walk With Elias." He then talks about Greatest Royal Rumble and how he eliminated a few people, then says he is reaching a new level of fame almost nobody can comprehend, especially Bobby Roode. Elias then proceeds to sing and play guitar about Bobby Roode, but when he asks everyone to be quiet, the fans cheer even louder and clap in time with the music. As soon as Elias makes fun of the people of Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Bobby Roode's entrance interrupts the concert.

Elias vs. Bobby Roode ends when Elias works on Bobby Roode's throat and sends him throat-first into the ring post, causing the referee to call for medical assistance for Roode. After the match, Elias grabs a microphone and declares himself the winner, then heads to the back.

Charly Caruso interviews Jean-Paul and Francois, who say that they are two proud French-Canadians and that they never back down from a challenge as they also speak in French to play up to the crowd. (Jean-Paul and Francois are - respectively - Jeff Parker and Matt Lee, also collectively known as 2.0. They will later become WWE Superstars in their own right under the names of Chase Parker and Matt Monroe - also respectively - under the team name of Ever-Rise.)

The Authors of Pain (Akam and Rezar) quickly beat Jean-Paul and Francois. After the match, Akam says The Book of Pain remains open, and Rezar says there will be a chapter for every person on Raw, as they are centered on destruction.

Seth Rollins shows up. Rollins says the last month of his career has been wild ever since he won the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, defended the title in Cape Town, South Africa, took it back to Raw in St. Louis, Missouri and defended again at Greatest Royal Rumble. Now, he is here tonight in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Rollins receives a thunderous ovation. Rollins responds by saying "Merci, beaucoup," which starts a "Oui!" chant. He then says the Montreal crowd makes the whole month worth it. Seth then says he has thought about what kind of champion he wants - and does not want - to be, and says he does not want to be like Brock Lesnar, who only shows up when it is convenient and fights only when the price is right. As Seth says he wants to be a fighting champion and be on television every Monday night, Finn Balor shows up. Balor says "Je m'appelle Finn Balor," and says he has had time to look back on Greatest Royal Rumble, and congratulates Rollins on beating him by a sliver. He then mentions that they have had four singles match against each other and that they have both won two, and tells Rollins to prove he is a fighting champion by defending the Intercontinental Championship against him tonight. Seth mentions he has The Miz with the Intercontinental Championship on the line at Backlash, but he is a fighting champion, and he will leave it up to the fans, who are very receptive to Rollins vs. Balor for the Intercontinental title tonight. Rollins tells Balor he is on, then The Miztourage (Bo Dallas and Curits Axel) shows up. Curtis Axel says they should worry about what is best for them, not for the fans, and Bo Dallas says Rollins and Balor should be fighting together, especially alongside them. They then regret meeting with them individually last week, then say they should have had a group conversation as they reveal shirts with all four of their faces. Bo tells Balor to forget about the Balor Club and Rollins to forget about The Shield, and say they should become "The Four Horsemen of the WWE." Rollins decides to talk it over with Balor privately, then Rollins tells them no. Bo and Axel then pretend to leave, but Rollins and Balor are ready for a fight. Both teams brawl, and Rollins and Balor easily come out on top. Afterwards, Balor then attacks Rollins from behind to send him a message.

Before the next match, Charly Caruso interviews Sasha Banks. Sasha admits that Bayley will not be in her corner tonight, and that she has not heard from her. She thinks Bayley is okay with The Riott Squad taking over, but she is not, and if Ruby Riott wants a riot, she is going to get one.

Ruby Riott beats Sasha Banks after Sasha Banks fights off Liv Morgan at ringside. During the match, Bayley is seen watching the match from backstage.

We see another "Moment of Bliss" segment from Alexa Bliss. Bliss talks about Nia Jax making fun of how short she was when they went to Walt Disney World, and says that at Backlash, she will win back the Raw Women's Champion, and says this is for everyone who has ever had a Nia Jax in their life and that she will not let the bully win.

Backstage, Renee Young interviews Titus O'Neil. Titus O'Neil jokes around, saying he loves when a plan comes together, but says he just fell at Greatest Royal Rumble and says not many people have the opportunity to fall flat on their face in front of the world and get back up, although Jennifer Lawrence did it at the Oscars a few years ago. Suddenly, Baron Corbin shows up and says it would be more inspirational if he did not fall in the first place, and says he does not know why Renee Young is wasting her time on Titus. He then leaves. Titus is not flustered by the interruption.

We hear from Matt Hardy, who is reading a book. He then says his and Bray Wyatt's story has always been told and always transcended time and space. He talks about how the two of them have been around in the course of human history, then Bray Wyatt shows up and says they are the darkness and the light. He then says their shadow will continue to consume everything in their path. He then calls himself and Matt Hardy "The Deleters of Worlds."

Bobby Lashley, Braun Strowman and Roman Reigns beat Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn.

We see a short video package of Greatest Royal Rumble.

Before the next match, Baron Corbin says that a wise man once said that "If you want to make money, you can't be funny." As the crowd boos him and chant that he is boring, he says that other WWE Superstars want to be funny and make people laugh. He makes fun of Titus O'Neil, then says his opponent for tonight, No Way Jose, is no different, and it makes him want to puke. He says he is here to make money and win matches, and he does that by punching people in the teeth. Baron says he will put the nonsense to an end tonight, and when he is done tonight, no one will be laughing.

No Way Jose beats Baron Corbin with a schoolboy pin after Titus Worldwide (Titus O'Neil, Apollo Crews, Dana Brooke) show up to distract Baron Corbin. Titus gets on the apron after almost attempting to do the slide only to be stopped by Apollo and Dana, but falls off. Baron laughs and claps at Titus only to be rolled up in a schoolboy pin by No Way Jose.

Natalya beats Mickie James with an inside cradle after "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey chases Alexa Bliss around the ring for distracting Natalya, which in turn distracts Mickie James. After the match, Natalya tends to her knee, then Nia Jax shows up and chases Alexa Bliss, who flees through the crowd. Nia then celebrates with Ronda and Natalya.

Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley vs. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn is made official for Backlash.

We hear from Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says that when he speaks, it is unlike anybody else today as when he speaks, it is real and people can feel it. He says that as other Superstars are just happy to be in WWE, he and Dolph are ready to prove why they deserve to be here. Dolph says he considered his options, but he and McIntyre are still dangerous. He says that they will not just steal the show, they will take it.

Seth Rollins retains the WWE Intercontinental Championship against Finn Balor.

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!