Winners And Grades As Triple H Unveils New World Heavyweight Title

Triple H unveiled a new WWE World Heavyweight Championship on Raw to be defended “anytime, anyplace and all over the world.” With Roman Reigns holding the WWE and Universal Championships hostage, Triple H debuted a brand-new world heavyweight championship similar to the big gold belt, which also served as the world heavyweight championship from 2002 to 2013.

Triple H ridiculously noted Roman Reigns “negotiated himself into a position” where he doesn’t have to defend the world championships as frequently. He then said WWE deserves more, as do the fans before unveiling a new world championship.

“A few weeks ago, when I talked about the WWE Draft, I said the draft would change WWE at its very core. Because when Roman Reigns gets drafted to whatever brand he gets drafted to, he will take the WWE Universal Championship with him and he will stay there. The other brand will determine a new champion.”

On Saturday, May 27—Night of Champions—WWE will crown a new world heavyweight champion.

Reigns has been WWE Universal champion for close to 1,000 days, however much of his reign has been spent in dormancy with world title defenses few and far between.

WWE Raw advertised a huge announcement from Triple H that would “rock the foundation” of WWE. This comes weeks after Triple H promised a game-changing draft, and the same week that Tony Khan is once again teasing a huge announcement coming off another weak AEW Dynamite rating.

WWE Raw in Chicago advertised the return of Bad Bunny ahead of WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico, where he will serve as host. Bad Bunny is also expected to compete opposite Damian Priest and/or Judgment Day.

WWE Raw made major headlines well before going on the air as CM Punk reportedly paid WWE a visit. Punk met with his former WWE colleagues and also briefly met with Triple H amid rumors of his impending return to AEW. As Punk continues to create controversies outside of the ring, the risk in AEW bringing him back only intensifies.

WWE Raw was also in danger of being another Vince McMahon-influenced broadcast. Though McMahon was not backstage, the Chairman reportedly made changes to the Raw script remotely.

WWE Raw Results on April 24, 2023

• Bloodline def. LWO
• Street Profits def. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander
• Bianca Belair, Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan def. Damage CTRL

WWE Raw Ratings

• April 17, 2023 | 1.815 million
• April 10, 2023 | 1.818 million
• April 3, 2023 | 2.260 million
• March 27, 2023 | 1.843 million
• March 20, 2023 | 1.771 million

• WWE Raw Venue: Allstate Arena (Rosemont, Ill.)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 12,952
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 0

WWE Raw Winners And Grades

Cody Rhodes Opens WWE Raw

In a great promo, Cody Rhodes showed his scar from his famous pec injury, and thanked the Chicago crowd for carrying him through the match. Of course, the sold-out crowd soaked it up.

Finn Balor—who needed seven staples in his head—had a great counter for Cody Rhodes by saying “we all have scars, Cody.”

Cody Rhodes vs. Finn Balor really could be a fun world title program, but sadly Roman Reigns is holding both titles hostage during his sham of a title reign. Hopefully Triple H’s huge announcement changes that.

Cody Rhodes Promo Grade: A

Bloodline def. LWO

It’s very fitting that there is an L in LWO, because all this team does is lose. This week, it was The Bloodline’s turn to be in the winner’s circle.

After their victory, The Usos dedicated their upcoming match to Roman Reigns. This makes it seem like The Usos will not be victorious against Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens, who desperately need the win.

Backstage, Jey Uso and Sami Zayn had a confrontation over Jey dedicating The Usos’ match to Roman Reigns. This Bloodline storyline is starting to feel more and more like Jey and Sami are entering some sort of affair.

Usos vs. Bloodline Grade: B

Street Profits def. Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander

Plans for a Hurt Business reunion seem to be on hold at the very least, and at most kaput, Given how easily Shelton and Cedric were vanquished by the Street Profits. It makes no sense because it’s not like WWE is keeping Bobby Lashley very busy either.

Street Profits vs. Alexander and Benjamin Grade: B-

Triple H Announces New World Heavyweight Title

Fans gave a tepid response to Triple H acknowledging his 1,000-day run because they all know it’s B.S., where Reigns has been on vacation half the time.

Triple H made several subtweets about Roman Reigns not defending the world title all that much.

Triple H misspoke when he stated he defended the WWE Championship against John Cena in Chicago at WrestleMania 22. Cena actually (successfully) defended that title against Triple H in one of the better WrestleMania main events in history.

The new World Heavyweight Championship looks like a blend between the big gold belt and the NXT Championship, and it’s beautiful.

If Cody Rhodes doesn’t win that new WWE World Heavyweight Title, then maybe there is truth to the longstanding conspiracy theory that Triple H still hasn’t forgiven Cody for smashing the throne in AEW.

Triple H Announcement Grade: A

Belair, Rodriguez and Morgan def. Damage CTRL

Bayley took the losing pinfall and Iyo was furious. The Damage CTRL split is the worst-kept secret in wrestling right now.

Though WWE is using the Damage CTRL split to build up Iyo Sky, it would be shocking if she came anywhere close to beating Bianca Belair. Belair is in the Jade Cargill position as a dominant champion who is rarely booked in a storyline that allows her character to develop.

Six-Woman Tag Match Grade: B-

Bobby Lashley and Austin Theory Brawl

Ever since John Cena verbally castrated Austin Theory on Raw, all other promos against Theory just don’t hit the same.

Theory once again took a dig at Lashley’s lack of a WrestleMania match and it drew a loud reaction.

Bronson Reed once again pounced Lashley and squashed him into a post with help from Theory. During a temporary Theory-Reed alliance, Reed then turned his attention to Theory and teased winning the United States Championship.

Bobby Lashley and Austin Theory Grade: B

Mustafa Ali def. Chad Gable

During a backstage segment, Chicago native Mustafa Ali received a nice pop during an appearance with The Alpha Academy. He was even given a hero’s welcome when WWE emphatically announced him from Chicago.

Mustafa Ali getting a win in his hometown means Vince McMahon couldn’t have had too much of an influence on Raw.

Mustafa Ali vs. Chad Gable Grade: B-