Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 25, 2022

Matt Riddle is in the ring while the rest of the locker room surrounds the ring. Riddle welcomes everyone to the show and to the 20th anniversary celebration of Randy Orton, who debuted on SmackDown in a match against Hardcore Holly twenty years ago tonight. After a video package chronicling Orton's WWE career, Riddle then introduces Orton. Orton says he appreciates the gesture, then mentions that he was born in Knoxville, Tennessee before stating that even through there have been twists and turns, he is not going anywhere. Orton says he has made a lot of killer relationships and had some awesome matches with other great wrestlers in the last twenty years, and credits Mick Foley for him becoming "The Legend Killer." He then says he is having more fun now than he has had throughout his career and credits that to Riddle, then says that he and the fans have both had twists and turns and yet have always come back to him, and thanks them for their support throughout the years. Riddle then says that he has a surprise for him: a second-generation Superstar who says Orton has been like a mentor to him: "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, who shows up. As Cody and Orton hug and shake hands, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins interrupts and tells Orton not to trust Cody, as he is here to steal Orton's spotlight like he stole his at WrestleMania. Rollins tells Cody that not everything is about him, then tells Orton that his best years are behind him and that he is the past, not the present or the future. He also says that Cody is not the future, either, and that future Superstars will be inspired by him. Ezekiel interrupts Rollins, then introduces himself to Orton before talking about how he and his brother Elias watched him as "The Legend Killer." Kevin Owens then shows up from the crowd and says Ezekiel is Elias. Owens asks Orton if he is going to let Ezekiel lie to him, and as Riddle tries to tell Owens to calm down, The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) show up. The Usos also talk about how they saw Orton in the ring growing up and promise that they will enjoy beating RK-Bro to unify the Raw and SmackDown tag titles at WrestleMania Backlash. WWE official Adam Pearce then shows up and makes a match where Seth Rollins tags with Kevin Owens and The Usos against Cody Rhodes, Ezekiel and RK-Bro later tonight. Owens punches Ezekiel, then Orton hits Owens with an RKO. Everyone else on Owens' newly-formed team backs off.

Bianca Belair is seen talking with Knoxville, Tennessee mayor Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane) backstage.

Bianca Belair retains the WWE Raw Women's Championship against Sonya Deville. At first Bianca beats Sonya Deville by count-out, but Sonya uses her powers as an official to restart the match with no count-outs. Not long after, Sonya hits Bianca with a steel chair after Bianca hits her with her ponytail and gets disqualified, then Sonya restarts the match with no count-outs and no disqualifications before bringing out Carmella and Queen Zelina. Despite all this, Bianca is able to fend Carmella and Zelina off and hit Sonya with the K.O.D. for the win.

Backstage, Sonya Deville confronts Carmella and Queen Zelina as they argue and tells them that since they cost her the Raw Women's title, they have lost their women's tag title opportunity. Sonya slaps Zelina, and when Carmella tries to slap her, Sonya catches it and reminds Carmella that she is still her boss. When Carmella blames it all on Zelina, Sonya slaps her anyway.

We hear from Edge and Damian Priest. Edge says that they lok down on everyone from their mountain of omnipotence and that anyone who gets too close will get kicked down the mountain. After stating that Priest will take care of unfinished business tonight, he says that they have yet to show their true potential. Edge says they are better than the fans' favorites, then makes fun of AJ Styles' shoulder injury that they caused last week. Edge says AJ Styles will not have a chance of beating him at WrestleMania Backlash with one good arm, then tells him not to get over his head and to stay at home. Priest then tells Finn Balor his fate has been decided and that judgment day has arrived.

Veer Mahaan quickly beats Sam Smothers with the cervical clutch. After the match, Veer sends Smothers into the ring post, then puts him in the cervical clutch again on the outside. Referees have to get Veer to break the hold, then Veer grabs Smothers and slams him on the announce table. Veer then puts Smothers on the cervical clutch on top of the announce table. (Sam Smothers is independent wrestler "Marvelous" Michael Stevens, who previously performed in WWE under the name "Gary Heck.")

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Bobby Lashley as he shadow boxes backstage. Lashley says that he is stronger than Omos, but if things go wrong, he has to be ready for Omos and MVP.

Omos and MVP are in the ring. MVP says he has waited for the day that Bobby Lashley was destroyed by his own ego that made him "The All Mighty," made him think he could do without him and made him challenge Omos to an arm wrestling match. He says that Omos will crush Lashley's hand and rip it off straight from the wrist, then Lashley shows up. The arm wrestling match then happens, and MVP tries to get in Lashley's head by saying he is nothing without him, but that fires Lashley up. Lashley is able to get the upper hand on Omos and beat him. Omos attacks Lashley after the arm wrestling match and slams him into the table, then lays him out with a short arm clothesline. At the behest of MVP, Omos then grabs the arm wrestling table and slams it into Lashley's chest before burying the table in it, and multiple referees have to tell Omos to stop. Omos then takes the table and throws it out of the ring.

In backstage footage from earlier today, R-Truth plays group couple counselor for Dana Brooke, Reggie, Tamina and Akira Tozawa, then says that he will tear them apart to keep them together before announcing he has set up a mixed tag team match. He states that WWE 24/7 Championship rules are suspended during the match and that he will be special guest referee.

Akira Tozawa and Tamina beat Dana Brooke and Reggie in a mixed tag team match with R-Truth as special guest referee. After the match, Tamina attacks Dana so that Tozawa can pin her, but Truth pulls Tozawa off. R-Truth then tries to pin Dana Brooke for the WWE 24/7 Championship, but Dana Brooke is able to get away.

Becky Lynch heads to the ring. Becky says it has been three years since she has walked out to the ring without a championship and that nobody ahs beaten her in that time, then says she does not know who she is without a championship. She says that she has rock bottom, but there is nowhere else to go but up. Becky calls this the beginning of her comeback and that nobody can do a comeback like her, and that she cannot be down with "the shlubs of the Earth." She says that people will be inspired to her rise back to the top and championship gold, and that she will be champion forever and nobody wills top her. Suddenly, Asuka shows up for the first time in months. Asuka says to Becky "I will stop you, because nobody is ready for Asuka!" Becky punches at Asuka after Asuka flicks at her nose, but Asuka punches back and Becky retreats.

We hear from The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford), who recap the night so far before hyping up tonight's eight-man tag match and making it known that they want tag team gold.

Damian Priest beats Finn Balor.

It's time for Miz TV. Tonight's guest is Theory. Miz reminisces on being United States Champion back in 2010, and Theory talks about how he grew up watching The Miz overcome the odds and succeed in WWE, then says he will uphold The Miz's standards and prove why he is the best investment Vince McMahon ever made. Theory also says that he will take the United States Championship to new heights, and that while he is the youngest to hold the title, he plans to be the best to ever hold it. Miz tells Theory that when one has a title, everyone becomes jealous, and says everyone should earn a shot at the United States Championship. Suddenly, Mustafa Ali shows up for the first time in months. Miz asks Ali if he still works here, and Theory asks Ali if he the guy who took his ball and went home. Miz then calls Ali "Mufasa, Mustafa Ali's younger brother," but Ali says that if he needs a laugh, all he needs to do is watch him wrestle. Ali then says he was discussing matters with WWE official Adam Pearce and that he is here for a United States title shot tonight. Theory says "no," but Ali questions Theory's courage and accuses him of running away from a fight like The Miz. Theory defends The Miz's accomplishment and says The Miz would not run away, and The Miz says Ali is using his name to get notoriety. He says he does not have a magic wand to make a match, but Theory texts Vince and makes the match between Miz and Ali official. Miz - who did not expect to get a match - tells Ali that after he is done with him, he will wish he got his walking papers, which earns him a smack in the face from Ali.

Randy Orton is seen talking with Knoxville, Tennessee mayor Glenn Jacobs (aka Kane) backstage.

Mustafa Ali beats The Miz after countering the Figure Four Leg Lock into a roll-up. After the match, Ali is suddenly attacked on the stage by Tommaso Ciampa.

Backstage, Sarah Schreiber interviews Rhea Ripley, who says she attacked Liv Morgan last week because she finally opened up her eyes. She says that when she first showed up, she became champion on her own, and since then, she has been in the tag division where everyone has dragged her down to their level. As Rhea says she is done, she is attacked by Liv Morgan. Officials rush in to break up the brawl.

Backstage, Kevin Owens wants Chad Gable to give him results that prove that Ezekiel is Elias, then Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows up. After Alpha Academy (Gable and Otis) leaves and Owens refuses to pay Gable, Owens confronts Rollins for his words and actions last week. The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) then show up and says that everyone needs to be on the same page, and that they need to win. As Rollins laugh and says this is his and Owens' show, Owens takes Rollins' arm off from around his shoulder.

Backstage, Kevin Patrick interviews MVP and Omos. MVP says that tonight's arm wrestling match was about brains, not brawn, and that Bobby Lashley could not see that. He also says that Lashley is nothing without him. MVP then announces that Omos has challenged Lashley to a match at WrestleMania Baclash, and Omos says that after he is done with Lashley, there will not be much left of him.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, Ezekiel and RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Matt Riddle) beat Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, Kevin Owens and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) in an eight-man tag match.

This week on Raw Talk: Asuka! Mustafa Ali! Sonya Deville!

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