Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 24, 2023

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes heads to the ring to start tonight's show. Cody says anything could to happen to him in the WWE Draft and mentions "the unenviable task" he has in beating Brock Lesnar at Backlash and the in-ring betrayal leading up to it. He then removes his watch and tie, throws the tie into the crowd and does the same with his button-down shirt and shows off the scar from his torn pec at Hell In A Cell . After admitting he has not watched that match with Seth Rollins back, he dares Brock Lesnar to pick a spot on him and leave another scar there, as he has not learned from the one from his torn pec. Cody says that when it came to that night, a sold-out arena carried him on their shoulder and took him to the finish line, then says that he and the fans have shared milestones and have more to come before thanking the fans for their support. All of a sudden, Finn Balor shows up and says "We all got scars, mate," then says Cody got screwed at WrestleMania because he had nobody there to have his back. He also says that Cody trusted "the wrong man" when he trusted Lesnar and that he needs to be smarter like him, and that Cody is now in a match that he cannot win on his own. Cody says that he thought there was some mutual respect between them at first, then says that whatever Finn is selling, he is not buying. Finn says the both of them and that the fans know that Cody and The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, Dominik Mysterio) would be unstoppable. Finn brags about Rhea Ripley winning the SmackDown Women's Championship, Damian Priest putting Bad Bunny through a table and Dominik Mysterio proving that he is greater than his father Rey Mysterio ever was, saying it is something Cody should try. Finn tells Cody that he made a mistake at WrestleMania and to not make the same mistake at Backlash, and to let The Judgment Day have his back. Cody declines Finn's offer and extends his hand. Finn says this is a real pity, and tells Cody that he is either with The Judgment Day or against him, and tells him to watch his back as he will slap the bleach out of his head one day. Cody stops Finn, saying that Finn is under the impression that he is not medically cleared to compete, then tells him that he is medically cleared to compete tonight and challenges Finn to a match to send a message to Brock Lesnar.

The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa) beat The Latino World Order (Santos Escobar, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz del Toro) in a six-man tag match after Solo Sikoa and Jey Uso distract the referee so that Solo Sikoa can hit Cruz del Toro with the Samoan Spike before The Usos hit del Toro with the 1D. After the match, Jey Uso says that in one bad night, he and Jimmy Uso lost the tag team titles and let down the Bloodline, then Jimmy Uso says that this week, they will win the tag team titles back and dedicate their match to Roman Reigns.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Bianca Belair. Bianca says Iyo Sky has proven she is a worthy competitor and that she stays ready, then Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky) shows up. Bayley tells Bianca to count down the days that she loses her title, and Iyo Sky interrupts as Bayley talks about how good Iyo Sky is. Dakota Kai then says Iyo Sky wants to face Bianca tonight. Bianca accepts, then Bayley makes it a six-woman tag match. Bianca is also up for a six-woman tag match, and tells Damage CTRL she will see them in the ring.

Backstage, Jey Uso is on the phone, saying that The Bloodline have gotten the win. He suddenly runs into Sami Zayn, who says that he has heard what Jey Uso has had to say and questions why Jey Uso wants to win the tag titles for Roman Reigns and not for himself. He then says that he and Kevin Owens will not lose the tag team titles, then asks Jey what will happens if he loses and reminds him that it may not be good. Jey asks Sami why he even cares, and Sami says he feels bad. Jey tells Sami not to feel bad for him, as The Usos will take the tag team titles back, and tells him not to worry about The Bloodline anymore because he and Sami have both made their choices.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Trish Stratus. Trish says Becky Lynch is not doing so good and that Becky has told her she has had a hard time with the pressure of being a mom and the star of the women's division, then says that she can do the same thing and that she is thriving while Becky is not. She says that she could see the pressure making her crumble and that she put Becky out of her misery, and that Becky should be thanking her.

The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford) beat Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin.

Triple H heads to the ring. He says that as a WWE Superstar, he had the privilege of competing at the highest level and defending the WWE Championship against John Cena at WrestleMania 22, and now he has the privilege of ensuring that WWE is all it can be in the future. Triple H then brings up Roman Reigns coming up at 1,000 days as champion and says that after what Roman has done, he cannot name too many people who can hang with Roman, who he says is "that damn good." He also says that Roman Reigns negotiated himself into a position where he did not have to defend the undisputed WWE Universal Championship as frequently, and while it is great for Roman, it is not great for WWE. Triple H says that WWE - and the fans - deserve more than that, and states his previous announcement that the draft would change WWE to its very core. He says that Roman will stay Universal Champion on the brand he is on, then states that the other brand will decide a new champion. He then announces that the other brand will decide a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion, complete with a new belt design, at Night of Champions on May 27th, and says that this will be a champion that fans can respect, admire and be proud of. He says that this champion will defend the title anywhere, any time, all over the world, and that this champion will earn the fans' acknowledgement and the title of WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Damian Priest and Dominik Mysterio. Damian has no problem with Bad Bunny being here and says he was successful when he had his back, but he has no problem putting him through a table if he gets involved again.

We hear from Bronson Reed, who says that nobody in WWE can compete with him because they do not have his strength, speed and power, and even if they did, they just want to be popular while he just wants to win. He tells everyone to be popular, because nobody can measure up to him.

Backstage, Jey Uso is lost in thought, and Jimmy Uso is able to tell. Jey asks Jimmy if he has ever thought about what would happen if they do not win on Friday. When Jey mentions running into Sami Zayn earlier, Jimmy gets angry. Solo calms him down, and Jimmy tells him not to talk to Sami and that they will do what they always do and win the tag team titles back for the family.

Bianca Belair, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez beat Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky) in a six-woman tag match.

Austin Theory heads to the ring. Austin Theory says that Bronson Reed and Bobby Lashley want "the Austin Theory experience," as he is the greatest United States Champion of all time. He then asks where his respect his, as he did not choose his opponents for his match. He the notices and addresses the new WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the pedestal and says it should be around his waist, as he is the man who has earned it. Theory then mentions that he does not have to be pinned to lose the United States Championship at Backlash, then counters the "You Suck" chant by reminding the fans that he beat John Cena at WrestleMania. The crowd chants "You tapped out!," which leads to Theory saying that the fans tapped out because they are in their seats watching the greatest. Bobby Lashley then heads to the ring. Lashley says the only problem he has with Theory is that Theory is holding his title and running his mouth about being the greatest United States Champion of all time before asking him when he will step up and face all comers. He says that he has been in the ring with Theory and that he knows how tough Theory is, and that Theory does not know how good he is, then asks Theory if he is lazy and doesn't want to work or if he is scared. Lashley says Theory should welcome every opportunity to fight for the title, because he would, and admits that he requested the Triple Threat Match for the United States title. Theory then asks Lashley where his WrestleMania match was. Lashley tells Theory he should knock his teeth down his throat for saying that, and Theory says he should before going for a cheap shot. This leads to a brawl between both men, and Bronson Reed shows up in the middle of it. Theory and Bronson gang up on Lashley and attack him at the ring post, and Theory hits Lashley with the A-Town Down in the middle of the ring. Bronson then attacks Theory and hits him with the Tsunami. Bronson then holds up the WWE United States Championship.

In backstage footage from earlier today, Elias, Rick Boogs and Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) talk about the WWE Draft and how it has broken teams up, and that he has ensured Alpha Academy stays together. Maxxine Dupri shows up and says she she has ensured that she and Otis stay on the same brand. Mustafa Ali shows up and says Chad Gable is worried about losing Otis, but he could reach his true potential and become the new World Heavyweight Champion, assuming this doesn't end Gable's life as he knows it and turns him into a loser. This leads to a match between Gable and Ali.

Mustafa Ali beats Chad Gable after reversing a deadlift German suplex into an Oklahoma roll.

Backstage, Jimmy Uso confronts Sami Zayn for "playing mind games," and tells Sami that he and Jey Uso will take back what is theirs. He also tells Sami that Kevin Owens used him to get the tag team titles and will turn on him when they lose. He then tells Sami to worry about himself, not Jey.

"The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes beats Finn Balor.

Seth "Freakin'" Rollins heads to the ring. Rollins looks at the WWE World Heavyweight Championship on the pedestal at ringside and mentions that the title is an opportunity for everyone to fight and push the industry forward. He says that if a new World Heavyweight Champion is to be crowned at Night of Champions, he is the one to put money on. Suddenly, Omos and MVP show up. MVP says that he respects Rollins immediately and calls him one of the most aggressive Superstars to grace a WWE ring, and says he has accomplished everything that can be accomplished, and aside from his fashion choices, he is brilliant. He then says it is his responsibility to give Omos "giant matches," and proclaims that a win over Rollins would be huge, then cautions Rollins about predicting his future when he might not have much of one after Backlash. Rollins tells MVP that he has undersold Omos, as Omos is the largest man he has ever seen in his entire life and is "once in a generation" because he was born that way while he is once in a generation while he made himself that way. He says that he is not afraid of Omos and that he will make him famous at Backlash when his head bounces off the mat.

Backstage, Matt Riddle talks with Kevin Owens about the annexation of Puerto Rico and how they could use it to beat The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso). Sami Zayn shows up and admits that he ended up talking to both of The Usos. Owens tells Sami it is too late for The Usos and that they deserve whatever happens to them. Riddle is more sympathetic, saying he knows what Sami is going through after everyone warned him that Orton would turn on him and that everything will be cool between Sami and Owens.

Rey Mysterio beats Damian Priest by disqualification. During the match, Bad Bunny arrives at the arena. Priest grabs Bad Bunny by the neck, but Bad Bunny escapes and hits Priest in the back of the legs before Priest retreats. Bad Bunny then grabs a microphone and tells Damian Priest that he is not hosting Backlash anymore because he is coming to Puerto Rico to kick his ass in a street fight.

This week on Raw Talk: Omos and MVP! Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) and Maxxine Dupri! The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)!

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