Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 2, 2018

Jonathan Coachman is in the ring to moderate an in-ring face off between the team of WWE CEO Triple H and Raw Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and the team of Raw General Manger Kurt Angle and "Rowdy" Ronda Rousey. Triple H and Stephanie show up first, followed by Kurt Angle and Ronda Rousey. Triple H says it is a shame that everyone is chanting for Ronda Rousey, because the fans want to like her and the deafening roar will become a deafening silence due to Kurt Angle. Triple H says Kurt Angle has intensity and integrity, but he does not "get the intelligence thing" after Angle set her up for what he says is embarrassment on the grandest stage of all. He says this is a whopper even for Kurt, and wants to know why. Rousey intervenes, wanting to know why she was signed with ulterior motives. Stephanie tries to brush it aside, saying Rousey's career will be rebuilt after WrestleMania. When Rousey demands an answer, Stephanie says they signed her because she is what is best for business. She also says that Angle has derailed her career and cost her and WWE millions of dollars, and that both Angle and Rousey work for her. Stephanie asks Ronda who she thinks she is. Angle takes this question, saying she is Ronda Rousey and that she will make Stephanie tap out. Triple H says she knows who Ronda Rousey is, and then says that what Ronda Rousey has made possible in UFC and the Olympics means nothing in the WWE. He also says that WWE is his and Stephanie's entire lives. Triple H says they are confident because they know the rules and Ronda does not, and that they know the rules because they are the ones to make them. He says Ronda losing is a foregone conclusion. Stephanie says it is important for her and Triple H to win, as Angle, Rousey and the entire locker room will learn to respect authority. Angle says that Ronda Rousey is the baddest woman on the planet and that she will prove it by making Stephanie tap out. Stephanie tells Ronda Rousey to remember that she chose this path and it is all on her, and that she will lose at WrestleMania in her very first match in WWE history. She also says the entire world knows how Ronda Rousey handles losses. Rousey asks Stephanie if she is right- or left-handed so Stephanie can still sign her checks when she rips a hand off. The pre-match face-off ends with a photo op, and both teams stare each other down in the center of the ring. Triple H and Angle shake hands, then Stephanie offers her hand to Ronda Rousey before telling her she will lose. Rousey steps up, then stops Stephanie from leaving the ring. Triple H attacks Kurt Angle with a microphone from behind, and Ronda goes after Triple H only for Stephanie to put her through one of the tables.

Bayley beats Sonya Deville with a roll-up. After the match, Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville attack Bayley, and Sasha Banks runs into the ring to fight Mandy and Sonya off. After Sasha and Bayley clean house, Sasha asks Bayley to raise her hand, and Bayley says she didn't need her help. Sasha grabs Bayley by the chin, and this starts a brawl between Sasha and Bayley that Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville take advantage of. Sasha asks Bayley to raise her hand, and Bayley says she didn't need her help. Sasha grabs Bayley by the chin, and this starts a brawl between Sasha and Bayley that Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville take advantage of.

We see a video package chronicling Asuka's undefeated streak.

The Miz guests on commentary for the next match.

Seth Rollins beats Finn Balor in a close match.

It is announced that the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal, the WrestleMania Women's Battle Royal and Cedric Alexander vs. Mustafa Ali for the WWE Cruiserweight Championship will be part of the WrestleMania 34 pre-show.

We look back at Brock Lesnar vs. Goldberg for the WWE Universal Championship at WrestleMania 33, courtesy of Snickers.

We see a video package chronicling Brock Lesnar's 365-day reign as WWE Universal Champion as well as the events leading up to Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania.

Backstage, Paul Heyman is on the phone when General Manager Kurt Angle shows up. Angle tells Heyman that the most important part of WrestleMania is to keep the main event intact. Heyman says he and Brock Lesnar will go out to the ring, say their piece and keep the fighting at WrestleMania. Angle asks Heyman not to say anything that would get Roman Reigns riled up. Heyman laughs at the thought of Angle being concerned about Lesnar's well-being, but Angle says both Roman and Lesnar want to injure each other more than ever. Heyman says he will take it under consideration.

Sheamus and Cesaro show up. Sheamus says Braun Strowman needs to listen up. Cesaro says he and Sheamus do not care who Braun's tag team partner is, as Braun will still lose due to not being a tag team wrestler. Sheamus says Braun and his tag team partner will never be a real team while Cesaro says they will never get the Raw tag team titles. Suddenly, Braun Strowman shows up. He tells Sheamus and Cesaro that they are right in thinking he does not play well with others; nevertheless, he must have a tag team partner, and he has gotten one. He has been talking to that partner in the back, and his partner has a problem with what Sheamus and Cesaro are saying. Cesaro dares his partner to get in the ring if he has a problem. Braun says he will, on the condition that he gets a match with either Sheamus or Cesaro. Sheamus and Cesaro accept the challenge. Braun Strowman then says "Good...I'll go get him." He heads to the back, but warns Sheamus and Cesaro that he is a lot like him, but just a little different. Braun heads to the back, then the mystery tag team partner shows up. It is Braun Strowman in a white sleeveless shirt and a pair of glasses. He then says Braun is his brother and that he is "Brains," and that he is about to knock the brains out of their heads. Sheamus and Cesaro then fight Braun, and Sheamus hits a Brogue Kick. Sheamus and Cesaro then gang up on Braun, who powers out and fights back. Sheamus and Cesaro high-tail it out of the ring.

We hear from Goldust, who quotes a line from Andre The Giant from The Princess Bride before saying that he will lay his hands upon Andre's gold effigy when he wins the Andre The Giant Battle Memorial Battle Royal and HBO will have to make a documentary about him. We then hear from Matt Hardy, who also seeks to win the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal. He says that the ancients have trained him, and that he will render all challengers obsolete before announcing that he and Goldust will square off tonight. That match is next.

Matt Hardy beats Goldust.

We hear from Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, who continue to make fun of Nia Jax prior to her interview.

We are WWE.

John Cena shows up. John Cena says he may be entering WrestleMania as a fan, and says he will not take a spot at a a battle royal from someone who has earned it. He says that he wants a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania, as nobody will be held back from a WrestleMania moment and two legends will duke it out. He talks about his engagement to Nikki Bella at last year's WrestleMania, and says there is a lot of things going on outside the ring for him, but change happens for him everyday. Cena then says this year's WrestleMania is the perfect opportunity for a change. The crowd chants for The Undertaker. Cena then says he hopes The Undertaker hears the crowd, and says he probably doesn't. He then says he is proud to come to WrestleMania as a fan due to what is happening at WrestleMania this year. Cena then apologizes about The Undertaker, saying he did everything he possibly could to summon him, as did the fans. He almost gives up on the Atlanta, Georgia crowd in the process. Cena then tells the Atlanta crowd to give it everything they have to summon The Undertaker. He then tells the crowd to get louder. The crowd then starts chanting for The Undertaker. Once again, nothing happens, and Cena shows disappointment in The Undertaker once again for not doing anything for four weeks straight. He says The Undertaker can ignore him all he wants, but the second he ignores the fans, he is a dead man walking. Cena says it is obvious that he left his hat in the ring and his balls at home. The crowd then chants for Cena.

In the locker room, General Manager Kurt Angle asks Roman Reigns not to ruin his WrestleMania opportunity, and says Paul Heyman has agreed not to say anything that would cause Roman to attack Brock Lesnar. Since he has respect for Angle, he is willing to hear Heyman out. As for Brock Lesnar, he has had it with him, and he tells Angle to take his peace treaty back to the pawn shop where he left his gold medals.

Elias is in the center of the ring. He plays guitar, then says he has the keys to life and if anyone wants to be saved, they must know that WWE stands for "Walk With Elias." He then calls Atlanta, Georgia "a hellhole of a dump" and that if it were up to him, he would bypass the city and go to another one that actually matters. Elias says that at WrestleMania, he has the performance of a lifetime in store for everyone, then plays another song. That song is quickly interrupted by Heath Slater's entrance theme.

Elias beats Heath Slater.

Backstage, Braun Strowman runs into Curt Hawkins, who is wearing a "Pick Me Braun" tanktop. He wants Braun to pick him as a tag team partner so he can get his big break. Curt gets tossed into a nearby wall.

We see footage from earlier today where Renee Young interviews Nia Jax. Nia Jax says Alexa Bliss' treatment towards her took her back to how it was for her growing up, but she has learned to respect herself. She says that she has been disappointed in herself, and that comments made towards her by Alexa Bliss and Mickie James have chipped at her confidence. However, she has grown to love who she is and what she has accomplishments. Nia goes on to call Alexa Bliss a representation of all the people who want to keep her down, and calls Alexa "an insecure little girl" and "a pathetic fly" before saying she will squash her like a bug.

Dana Brooke and Asuka beat Alexa Bliss and Mickie James. After the match, Alexa and Mickie double team Asuka and Dana, then Nia Jax runs out and gets her hands on Alexa. Mickie attacks Nia from behind to let Asuka get away, and Nia Jax makes Mickie pay by laying her out.

Backstage, General Manager Kurt Angle meets up with Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar. Heyman says he will keep it positive when he talks about Lesnar's Universal Title match with Roman Reigns in the ring.

Tomorrow night on WWE Mixed Match Challenge: Bobby Roode and Charlotte Flair vs. The Miz and Asuka!

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman show up. Suddenly, WWE Superstars show up to form a human wall on the ramp in case Roman Reigns shows up. Heyman tries to speak, but he is preoccupied by the wall of Superstars. He says that is the picture perfect example of General Manager Kurt Angle's overcompensative behavior, and says control really belongs to Brock Lesnar. He then swears and affirms to tell nothing but the truth, and that last time he and Brock Lesnar were in New Orleans, he swore Lesnar would break The Undertaker's undefeated streak, and Lesnar did. He then talks about Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar for the WWE Universal Championship and how everyone thinks it is Roman's destiny to dethrone Lesnar as WWE Universal Champion. He admits that one has to respect Roman, his bloodline and his accomplishments, but this Sunday, Brock Lesnar will F5 Roman Reigns and pin him in the center of the ring to retain the WWE Universal Championship. He says this is not a prediction, but a spoiler as well as the truth. Heyman also says that should Lesnar injure himself, then this is the last time he and Lesnar will be seen on Raw. Heyman then talks about the whole mystique that he has built about Brock Lesnar, and says the image he has created is 100% true. He also says Lesnar feels there is not one person in the locker room who can hold his jock, let alone his title. He then says Roman Reigns' only choice is to accept defeat, and that Lesnar owns Reigns, who will go home to his extended family and tell them he got conquered by Brock Lesnar, because the truth is that Roman Reigns is Lesnar's bitch. To the surprise of nobody, Roman Reigns shows up and meets the wall of Superstars, who keep him from going down the ramp. He asks the full-time Superstars if they are going to protect a part-timer like Brock Lesnar, and tells them to think about it. The wall of Superstars then make a path for Roman Reigns to head straight down the ramp, and Reigns heads to the ring. Roman gets in, then both he and Lesnar circle the inside of the ring. Lesnar then slides out and takes the WWE Universal Championship with him. However, instead of leaving towards the back, he grabs a steel chair and takes it back into the ring with him. Lesnar charges at Roman with the chair, but Roman answers with three Superman Punches. Lesnar stumbles and grabs the chair again, but Roman hits a fourth Superman Punch before waiting for Lesnar to get up. Lesnar gets up, but Roman quickly hits a fifth Superman Punch before focusing on the WWE Universal Championship. Roman holds the WWE Universal Championship in the air in the center of the ring, then looks at the WrestleMania sign. Suddenly, Lesnar gets up, picks Roman up and hits Roman with an F5. Lesnar and Heyman then head to the back to end the show.

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