"Main Event" Jey Uso heads to the ring. He says that Backlash is in two weeks and he has a lot to prove, and as he says that he to prove himself and beat Damian Priest for the World Heavyweight Championship, Priest shows up and heads to the ring. Priest compliments Jey Uso on his presentation, then brings up the one night that Jey whupped him so bad that he went up to him in the locker room and told him that he earned his respect, and then the two of them went out for drinks. He almost mentions Jey telling him "We next, Uce," and tells him that he was right and that he is proud to stand in the ring with him. He then corrects himself, saying Jay was half-right and that he ended up being next with the World Heavyweight Championship proving it and showing why he is "now." Priest says that Jey is the first person thrown in the machine to make him look good with the World Heavyweight Championship, as well as the first to lead the fans into rising for "Le Campeon." As Priest leaves, Jey tells him to wait, then asks if Priest sees him as "just another tag team guy" before saying Priest is only leader of The Judgment Day because Rhea Ripley got hurt. He also calls Priest "Dominik Mysterio's bitch" before saying Priest did what he did to become World Heavyweight Championship, and that Priest is being fed to him and that he will be the next World Heavyweight Champion. All of a sudden, JD McDonagh tries to attack Jey Uso from behind, but Jey sees him coming and tries to superkick him only to hit Priest.
The Awesome Truth (The Miz and R-Truth) retain the World Tag Team Championships against #DIY (Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa). Tommaso Ciampa refuses to shake hands after the match in the post-match sign of respect.
Backstage, as Damian Priest is irritated with JD McDonagh, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio shows up wearing a sling, stating that he has asked Santos Escobar, who is with him, to take his place in tonight's tag team match. Priest tells Santos to handle his business before Santos leaves, then demands that Dominik and McDonagh do the same.
Shawn Michaels announces that Battleground will take place to UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci) heads to the ring. Gunther says he took some time away to digest what happened at WrestleMania, and states that for 666 days, he elevated the WWE Intercontinental Championship to heights never seen before and became the greatest champion in its history. He says that his name will forever be embedded in the history of the Intercontinental Championship, but that also means that for almost two years, he walked around with a big target on his back while living up to high expectations. Gunther says that weight has been lifted off his shoulders before he thanks Sami Zayn, then says that he is not a target and is going from being the hunted to being the hunter and being able to do whatever he wants. He says that this is a brand new era, and whatever happens, he will embed his name into this new era. As a result, he has declared his participation in the King of the Ring Tournament. Gunther then says that after this, it is up to him to decide which title to take next in WWE, then gives fair warning that the champions of WWE will be hunted and challenged by someone who is able to win titles, but hold them longer than anybody else. He says that he is already general of the ring, and soon to be King of the Ring. Suddenly, The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) shows up, and while Kofi agrees with Gunther that it is a new era, there is nobody better than The New Day to usher it in. Xavier Woods mentions that he is the reigning and defending King of the Ring, which makes Gunther a usurper and pretender to his throne, and that he plans to cement his legacy by becoming two-time King of the Ring. Gunther says that after he wins King of the Ring, he will re-establish the image of the tournament, and Xavier Woods will be remembered for pretending to be a champion as well as a king. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston remind Gunther that he used to be champion and make fun of him for it. Gunther says this is beneath him, and sics Kaiser and Vinci on them. Woods says they have already fought so many times, but if the fans want it, they will gladly beat them. Gunther then watches the next match from ringside.
The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) beat Imperium (Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci). Gunther gets angry and walks off after the match, disappointed in Kaiser and Vinci. Kaiser helps Vinci up and out of the ring, and when both of them are out of the ring, Kaiser shoves Vinci into the LED board of the ring and spits on him before taking out his anger out on him and attacking him further. Officials eventually show up to stop Kaiser from attacking Vinci on the ring steps, and Kaiser is escorted to the back. Kaiser soon turns around, makes a beeline back to Vinci, and drop kicks him. When Kaiser makes his way back to the back, Gunther is waiting for him, and he is pleased with Kaiser's results.
We see a vignette for Andrade. He says to be careful when you hear about somebody, as you may hear it from the problem. He says that he is not somebody's fool, then asks how you can pressure someone when they were not loyal from the beginning. He says The Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Rhea Ripley, "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh) did not want a business partner; they wanted a servant, and nobody tells him what to do. Andrade says that he is now The Judgment Day's biggest problem.
Drew McIntyre heads to the ring. McIntyre shows irritation with the fans chanting for CM Punk every time he comes out, saying that CM Punk actually hates the fans and hates himself more than he hates them. After making fun of the fans' love lives, he refrains from complaining about what happened at WrestleMania and the Raw afterwards, even though he calls everyone involved "cowards," and says he will come back swinging and become King of the Ring. Before he can say much else, Sheamus shows up and calls McIntyre out for not taking accountability for his own mistakes, saying it makes McIntyre a coward. He says that McIntyre finally got his live WrestleMania moment in front of fans and family only to blow it over some social media spat, and that McIntyre should be standing in the ring as World Champion, but threw it all away over a meme and a spat. Sheamus says they are friends and have been up and down the road together, then tells him the hard truth: a one-armed CM Punk kicked his arse. McIntyre says Sheamus knows better than anybody what CM Punk did to him, but Sheamus tells him that his obsession is destroying his career and he needs to get it out of his head. McIntyre says that before Sheamus got injured, it was banger after banger, but since he has returned, it looks like "burger after burger after burger" in reference to Sheamus' appearance during his return last week. Sheamus laughs and admits McIntyre has been getting good with the one-liners, and says that while he can lose the weight, McIntyre "can't lose stupid." He tells McIntyre to stop blaming everyone else for his mistakes, but McIntyre says it is everybody else and that they were joking about his weight while he stuck up for him as a friend. He says that he is past fighting over a couple of pints and would rather fight over something worthwhile, and that this is not worthwhile. He then says he will watch Sheamus' back in the next match from ringside.
Sheamus beats Shinsuke Nakamura.
Backstage, Cathy Kelley interviews Sami Zayn. Sami says he is angry and hurt, and while he has a lot to say right now, he is holding his tongue, as Chad Gable is showing up to explain his actions from last week. Suddenly, "Big" Bronson Reed shows up behind him and tells him to forget Gable, as he has bigger problems to deal with. Sami says that if he wants a shot at the Intercontinental Championship, he can have it any time and any place. When Sami continues his interview, Bronson Reed blindsides him. Officials back Bronson away from Sami, but Bronson gets the last word by attacking Sami again.
Alpha Academy (Chad Gable, Otis, Maxxine Dupri, Akira Tozawa) heads to the ring. Chad Gable says that after what happened to Sami Zayn backstage, it is safe to say that Sami has had a rough couple of weeks. He also says that what he did to Sami was justified. He says that what happened last week was good enough for him, but not for Sami, and when Sami placed the Intercontinental Championship, he took it on the chin and gave Sami his moment, but it was not enough, and he had to celebrate with his wife. Gable says that Sami knew that should have been his moment and it should have been him celebrating with his daughter at WrestleMania, but he was wasting his time training Sami Zayn and "a bunch of freakin' losers." Gable dares Tozawa to say something if he has a problem, as he has a problem with him doing his dance and racking up losses. He also calls Maxxine "pretty as a princess, but dumb as a box of rocks" as he gave her everything and got nothing in return. He then chews out Otis, saying that he has proven himself beyond a shadow of a doubt to be the biggest disappointment of them all. He then says that they signed up for honest feedback and cannot be upset with him for this. Gable then says that they will all win his Intercontinental Championship and that they will all help him no matter what. Otis says "No matter what" when forced to by Gable, with little conviction.
Backstage, Ricochet is met by "Dirty" Dominik Mysterio, who says that he is lucky that he is not cleared tonight. Ricochet says there is nobody more upset than him not being cleared than him, and that he and Andrade have to settle for Santos Escobar and JD McDonagh. Ricochet then mentions their Speed match this Wednesday where he proves to embarrass him again. Dominik mocks Ricochet as he leaves, then runs into Liv Morgan.
Backstage, we hear from Nia Jax, who says that "thirteen females and one monster" will be in tonight's battle royal, and that she is the monster. She says she will terrorize every single one of them and eliminate them one by one until she is the last woman standing and Women's World Champion.
Ricochet and Andrade beat Santos Escobar and JD McDonagh. After the match, Damian Priest attacks Andrade and Ricochet from behind, with Ricochet getting the Razor's Edge before Andrade gets South of Heaven. Afterwards, Priest gets angry with Dominik and McDonagh, saying they need him, not the other way around.
We hear from Zoey Stark, who says it has been a year since she was drafted to Raw, but instead of staying in the corner and being patient, she beat Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch, came close to winning Money In The Bank and the Women's World Championship. She says that it has been a hell of a year, and that she is just getting started.
Backstage, Jackie Redmond interviews Indi Hartwell and Candice LeRae. Candice says they are not here to defend their victories before a brawl been Nia Jax and Liv Morgan explodes nearby and has to be stopped by officials. Becky Lynch shows up and thanks Jackie for covering things before taking over her job, then gets the fans fired up for the women's battle royal for the World Women's Championship, and stops to tell Maxxine Dupri to prove that her first battle royal will not be her last. She says that when Rhea Ripley is ready, she will be waiting, then says she is here for a fight before heading to the ring.
Becky Lynch last eliminates Liv Morgan in a fourteen-woman over-the-top battle royal to become the Women's World Champion! After the match, Becky celebrates in the crowd to end the show.
This week on Raw Talk: "Big" Bronson Reed! Sheamus! Chad Gable!
Here are the top ten moments from tonight's show!
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