Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 4, 2022

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. He says it has been 47 days since the abrupt news that he became a free agent, and that he chose to be silent as rumors buzzed. He says the return to WWE was simple, and after having signed a multi-year agreement, all doubt was eradicated. Rhodes says a man often finds his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it, then shows a picture of his father "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes in Madison Square Garden in 1977, whom he calls his hero. He says that in the photo, Dusty is holding the same title that many other greats would get their hands on and that the photo was on his family's mantle until his father's last day, and while he fought for the title, he did not win the title due to champion's advantage. At eight years old, he asked about that title and vowed to win it for his father, telling him that no one can take it from him now, and while he cannot physically bestow it upon Dusty, he can still put it around his waist. Cody makes it clear that he is ready and that he will give the distinction his family has been denied and do it for for the fans, himself, his family and Dusty. Suddenly, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins shows up. Cody tosses his microphone away and extends his hand to Rollins, who laughs and shakes Cody's hand. Rollins says "Welcome home," then leaves as Cody's entrance theme plays.

Sasha Banks and Naomi beat Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan in a WWE Women's Tag Team Championship Contender's Match. After the match, a disappointed and frustrated Rhea Ripley walks away from Liv Morgan as Kevin Owens heads to the ring.

Kevin Owens is in the ring. Owens says that he may have made a mistake and that when he had "Stone Cold" Steve Austin as a guest on his show, he underestimated Austin. He says Austin is great and that one must be great in order to beat him. Owens says he is one of the greatest to ever step in the ring, and when he trick Austin into one last match, he tricked himself into it as well by going into it with a bad back. He says he hurt his back in the back, and while he could have gone home, he had to deliver. He says he put his health in danger to give everyone a big main event, then says that Austin's win should be stricken from the record books. Suddenly, someone named Ezekiel - who is really a clean-shaven Elias with a different look - shows up. Owens recognizes him, but he says he is not Elias; instead, he is Elias' younger brother, Ezekiel. Owens is unconvinced and says he hates liars, then Ezekiel says Owens must hate himself when he lied to Austin and got stunned. Owens tells Ezekiel that he never liked him and now likes him even less, then tells him he has ten seconds to get out of his ring or else. Owens counts down from ten, but when Ezekiel does not leave, he leaves.

The Miz quickly beats Dominik Mysterio. After the match, Veer Mahaan finally comes to Raw. Miz rolls out of the ring, but Rey and Dominik Mysterio stay. Veer kicks Dominik down, then lays out Rey when Rey fights him before cranking on Dominik's neck and shoulder.

Bianca Belair heads to the ring. Bianca thanks the fans for never giving up on her and believing that she would standing in the ring as Raw Women's Champion. She removes her sunglasses to reveal a black, swollen left eye. Bianca says she stands with one, then thanks Becky Lynch for making her realize how much better she could be. She says she will never take for granted where she is, because it could all be taken away from her, which she says hurt. She says she did not cheat and injure Becky to get back to the top; instead, she worked her way back up, and while Becky tried to poke at her, she caught everything Becky threw at her and fought until the end to become champion. Bianca says she overcame everything to give the fans a better champion than Becky, then says she knows what it is like to both have the title and lose it and will fight every woman in the locker room to keep it. She says she has become different and become better, and says that since Becky no longer has a title to defend, she can take some time to see what kind of champion she can really be.

Bron Breakker beats Dolph Ziggler to become the NXT Champion for a second time.

MVP is in the ring. He says that actions speak louder that words and that Bobby Lashley's action spoke volumes before introducing Lashley to the ring. Lashley says that he could not resist and that he had to see how strong and powerful Omos was, and when he stepped into the ring with him, he had to ask Omos if he really wanted to do this. He says that when he knocked Omos on his ass, he knew it could be done, even without MVP's help, and when he faces Omos at WrestleMania, Omos was powerful and made him feel hopeless, but as soon as Omos made a mistake, which he knew he would do, he had him. Suddenly, Omos shows up and wants a rematch, calling Lashley's victory a fluke. MVP repeats what Omos just said, then strikes Lashley from behind for not needing him before telling Omos to make his statement and destroy Lashley. MVP then hits Lashley with a running boot in the corner before Omos hits Lashley with a choke bomb.

Backstage, Liv Morgan meets with Rhea Ripley, who says that she got with Sonya Deville and Adam Pearce and got them a women's tag team title match next week.

Before the next match, Queen Zelina blames Carmella for costing them the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania by being so pre-occupied with herself and Corey Graves, whom she says is a fool for marrying her. She then says that Corey Graves is a very handsome man, then Carmella takes the microphone and says she is the most beautiful woman in WWE and says Zelina can be her flower girl instead of a bridesmaid if she wants to come to her wedding. Zelina forearms Carmella in the face, and punches her despite Carmella climbing on top of Corey Graves. Corey then calms Carmella down before the two of them make out.

Backstage, Austin Theory is met by The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso), who brag about their WrestleMania win before questioning Austin Theory's worthiness as Vince McMahon's protege. Theory says that he had Pat McAfee beat and that Vince does not make a mistake. He says that tonight, Finn Balor might as well be Pat McAfee.

The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) and Austin Theory beat RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Matt Riddle) and Finn Balor in a six-man tag match.

Edge heads to the ring. Edge says he is an honest man and said that AJ Styles would face his judgment day at WrestleMania, and he did. He admits he did not expect Damian Priest to appear, and he says that for too long, Priest fought his inner self and tried to be a role model just like he did. He then demands that everyone rises for the man who respects his message and become the punishment for the guilty: Damian Priest. Priest heads to the ring and shakes Edge's hand, and Edge asks what it was about his message to take his career back into his own hands, and Priest says it goes without saying what Edge has meant to him for a very long time. He says that for weeks before WrestleMania, he was lost, and he tried to please everyone, but that all changed when he heard his message, and while he was speaking to AJ Styles, he felt like Edge was speaking directly to him. Priest says that this made it easy for him to pledge his loyalty to Edge, and Edge tells Priest it was the best decision of his life. He says that the night he stopped listening to the fans was the same night Priest took his career back. He says that the two of them will pass judgment on whoever opposes their message, and says that while he got the pitbull out of AJ Styles, the only option for him was to fight and to think of his children and family. Suddenly, Styles shows up. Styles fights Priest when Priest charges at him, then goes for the ground-and-pound on Edge and sends him into the ring post. He then brings two chairs into the ring for a Con-Chair-To to Edge, but Priest heads him off at the pass and allows for Edge to hit Styles with a Spear. Priest and Edge prepare the Con-Chair-To to Styles when officials and referees rush in to protect Styles. Priest and Edge leave.

Before the next match, Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) attack The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) before the bell rings. WWE official Adam Pearce shows up and says that if all four men in the ring wanted to fight at the same time, they should have just come to him. He then makes the match a Texas Tornado match.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) in a Texas Tornado tag team match after Montez Ford splashes Chad Gable through a table.

Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman and The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) head to the ring. Heyman lists the recent record-breaking financial accolades of Roman Reigns and The Usos, and Roman says what is good for him is good for WWE, and with him as the head of the table, the billion-dollar deals are coming easily. Roman says that he is "the last needle-mover" because he constantly operations in God Mode, then says he is a man of his word after calling his shot and delivering when he smashed Brock Lesnar. He says other men would hang their hat on this weekend, but he is the tribal chief and he is moving forward, and on SmackDown, everyone will know what the next step is.

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