Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 26, 2021

Before the next match, Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman are at odds with each other after Strowman saved McIntyre, with McIntyre saying he had Mace and T-Bar on his own. Strowman says he will face Mace and T-Bar himself and show McIntyre how it is done. When Strowman enters the ring, he announces that the next match will be a two-on-one handicap match and that he will get the job done.

T-Bar and Mace vs. Braun Strowman ends in a no-contest when T-Bar and Mace refuse to let Strowman out of the corner. After the match, Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. This leads to McIntyre and Strowman teaming up again and clearing out the ring.

T-Bar and Mace beat Braun Strowman and Drew McIntyre by count-out after McIntyre inadvertently clotheslines Strowman on the outside. After the match, Strowman plants McIntyre with a running powerslam in the ring for clotheslining him.

Backstage, Drew McIntyre meets with Adam Pearce and tells him he wants Braun Strowman in a match tonight. Pearce tells him he can do that.

It's time for Miz TV. The Miz and John Morrison are in the ring with Elias and Jaxson Ryker, and Miz says they are here in celebration of Bad Bunny's successful world tour, saying that without his and Morrison's star power, Bad Bunny could not stell out a flea market. He says that to prove the mega-talents that they are, they present their very own concert. Elias says the idea will be incredible, saying Miz and Morrison are musical geniuses on par with him. Elias then dedicates an unplugged performance of "Hey Hey Hop Hop" to Shane McMahon, and even Ryker takes part. Suddenly, the lights go out, and when they come back on, Damian Priest shows up. Priest apologizes for disturbing the performance, saying it moved him to have a surprise of his own in The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), who also show up. Xavier Woods opens up his guitar case, and he, Kofi and Priest throw tomatoes at Miz, Morrison, Elias and Ryker.

The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) and Damian Priest beat The Miz, Elias and Jaxson Ryker with an inside cradle from Woods to Ryker.

Backstage, Sonya Deville opens the back door for a suspended Charlotte Flair.

Sonya Deville is in the ring, where she introduces Charlotte Flair. Referee Eddie Orengo, who was the official for Charlotte Flair's match last week and the target of Charlotte's post-match attack, is also in the ring. Sonya calls Adam Pearce's decision rash and says that Pearce did not hear both sides of the story, and allows Charlotte to speak. Charlotte says she has reflected on the past week and understands the errors of her ways. She apologizes to Eddie Orengo, WWE management and the fans, saying that instinct took over last week and that she wants to right the wrongs that she has committed. Orengo accepts her apology, saying it was his mistake and that he did not see the interference. Sonya then mentions that with Charlotte's $100,000 fine paid in full, Charlotte's suspension is lifted and she will be back in action with Orengo as the referee for her match. Charlotte then demands that Orengo apologize for his mistake, which he does. Backstage, Sonya Deville and Charlotte Flair are confronted by Adam Pearce for not telling him about this. Sonya apologizes, but Adam Pearce says he would accept his apology if he were inclinded to believe it.

Backstage, Adam Pearce is met by Braun Strowman, who reminds Pearce that Drew McIntyre did not pin him to become #1 contender for the WWE Championship. Strowman wants in on the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash, and Pearce says he will be in it if he wins tonight.

Sheamus heads to the ring. He says he is back and better than ever as a fighting champion, and that Humberto Carrillo is the first name of many to try to take the WWE United States Championship from him. He also says that Carrillo does not belong in the ring with him and cannot stand to his level. Sheamus then announces he is issuing another open challenge, but this time, the United States Championship will not be on the line. Carrillo answers the challenge again. Sheamus asks Carrillo if he is out of his mind before hitting him with another cheap shot before the bell can ring. As Sheamus says Carrillo is all bark and no bite, Carrillo fights back. Carrillo eventually hits Sheamus with a tope suicida that sends Sheamus barrelling over the announce table. As Carrillo leaves, Sheamus is absolutely livid.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews MVP and Bobby Lashley. MVP says that Braun Strowman is not in the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash yet, and that he and Lashley have some grievances to air.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Rhea Ripley. Rhea Ripley says that Charlotte Flair's apologies mean nothing and while she enjoyed Charlotte getting fined and suspended, she is glad she is back so their paths can cross. She says she will continue to be WWE Raw Women's Champion while Charlotte continues to "play rugby with the referees."

MVP and Bobby Lashley head to the ring. Lashley said he would walk out of WrestleMania as WWE Champion and did it, and that when he grabbed McIntyre and made him pass out, he held the title in the air and demanded respect, and the crowd response was a dream come true. He compares McIntyre lying in the ring to a crumpled-up dollar bill nobody cares about as well as gum on his shoe before saying he will beat McIntyre again, and is not happy his match at WrestleMania Backlash will potentially be a Triple Threat Match. MVP says he is offended by this and wants to know why Lashley is being treated like this, and says that all business concerning the WWE Championship must be made with their opinion, and Lashley says it would be disrespectful to do otherwise. MVP says that this same type of match is how Lashley lost the WWE United States Championship without being pinned, and says he could lose the WWE Championship the same way. Lashley says that he can beat Drew McIntyre and Braun Strowman at any time and that McIntyre and Strowman know it, and says that he will have to observe his business interests so he can remain champion.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Matt Riddle, who says that he is still on "Cloud Twelve" after beating Randy Orton next week. Suddenly, Orton shows up and says they have nothing in common, and that he underestimated him in the ring. He says that Riddle earned his respect, then entertains the idea of "R-K-Bro," saying it is a catchy tag team name before asking if they can give it a try. Riddle is ecstatic, but Orton asks him to see how it goes first before they have a chat.

Backstage, Nia Jax calls Charlotte Flair a "spoiled brat" who is enabled by the WWE and her fans. "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler says there can be no more distractions, especially in tonight's match. Baszler leaves, then Nia gets some flowers. Angel Garz shows up and says that he delivered them to her because she is beautiful, and wishes her luck in tonight's match. As she and Reginald head to the ring, Nia hits Mandy Rose with the flowers.

Backstage, Braun Strowman is met by MVP regarding Bobby Lashley's dissatisfaction with Strowman trying to get into the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash, but Strowman tells MVP to tell Lashley that when he wins tonight, there will be nothing he can do about him becoming champion.

Randy Orton and Matt Riddle beat Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin.

Nia Jax, "The Queen of Spades" Shayna Baszler and Rhea Ripley beat Asuka, Lana and Naomi in a six-woman tag team match. During the match, Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke show up, and when Shayna Baszler confronts them, Mandy and Dana throw a bucket of water at her. When Nia runs towards them, she slips on the water.

Backstage, Sonya Deville chastises Mandy Rose and Dana Brooke for their actions in the last match, and tells Mandy Rose that she has a match with Charlotte Flair that is coming up next.

It's time for Alexa's Playground. She says that Lilly is more than a friend to her, and that all one has to do to have their own Lilly is to ask nicely. She then tells the fans to concentrate and think dark, twisted thoughts and says "Lilly, Lilly, Lilly." She then tells the fans to picture something peaceful, then carefully inhale and exhale and think about how peaceful it is as we see images of koi fish, lilypads and pine trees. Lilly then shows up on the screen and screams, and it is all revealed to be a prank. Alexa says that Lilly is getting restless hanging out with her, and says it is time to unleash her on the rest of WWE, saying not to blame her for what happens next, as Lilly made her do it.

Charlotte Flair beats Mandy Rose.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says that Braun Strowman may have gotten his way, but he will not make things worse for WrestleMania Backlash and that it will all end with a Claymore Kick.

Braun Strowman beats Drew McIntyre to become part of the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania Backlash. During the match, MVP and Bobby Lashley show up to keep an eye on the match. Later on in the match, Lashley distracts the referee so that MVP can pull Drew McIntyre out of a running powerslam. It works, but Strowman knocks MVP out. McIntyre knocks Strowman out, but T-Bar and Mace show up and distract McIntyre. This allows Strowman to hit the powerslam for the win.

Raw Talk: Sonya Deville defends her decision to reinstate Charlotte Flair.

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