Winners, News And Notes On April 18, 2022

WWE Raw advertised Finn Balor vs. Theory for the United States Championship, the “KO Show” with a lie detector test for Ezekiel, Sasha Banks and Naomi vs. Liv Morgan and Rhea Ripley for the Women’s Tag Team
TISI
Championship and dual weddings within the 24/7 division officiated by R-Truth.

WWE Raw last week garnered an average viewership of 1.803 million.

• April 11, 2022 | 1.803 million
• April 4, 2022 | 2.101 million
• March 28, 2022 | 1.979 million
• March 21, 2022 | 1.770 million
• March 14, 2022 | 1.700 million

WWE Raw After WrestleMania Ticket Sales

• WWE Raw Venue: KeyBank Center (Buffalo, N.Y.)
• WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 6,352
• WWE Raw Tickets Available: 372

WWE Raw Total YouTube Viewership Last Monday—10,704,673 (Down from 14,407,983)

• Most-Viewed: MVP Turns on Bobby Lashley (1,425,410 views)
• Least-Viewed: Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy (410,531 views)
• Median Viewership: 623,700 views

WWE Raw Results| Monday, April 18, 2022

Cody Rhodes Confronts Seth Rollins

Jerry Lawler, who shoots from the hip and can’t be bothered with Vince McMahon screaming in his ear, called Cody Rhodes’ suit “bland” compared to Rollins. Byron Saxton quickly came to Rhodes’ defense by saying he was dressed “classy.”

Rhodes and Rollins made veiled references to an incident in Buffalo, and I don’t think anybody knew what they were talking about. They went a little too obscure with that Easter egg, just one day after Easter.

Naomi and Sasha Banks def. Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan

As expected, Rhea Ripley turned heel on Liv Morgan following a loss. And though Ripley joining Edge and Damian Priest sounds good on paper, that stable is slowly beginning to fall off the rails.

Sonya Deville Calls out Bianca Belair

Sonya Deville got massive heat from this crowd, which even began to chant “shut the hell up.” Deville has developed on the mic as an authority figure, and she has a chance to become a complete wrestler if WWE allows her to compete more.

Next week’s Raw is in Bianca Belair’s hometown of Knoxville, Tenn., so there really is no guarantee that Belair retains.

Bianca Belair was fined $1 for putting her hands on Sonya Deville.

Veer def. Jeff Brooks

There was a “Million-Dollar arm” reference to Veer, who is the real-life inspiration for Disney’s Million-Dollar Arm.

Jeff Brooks was stretchered out of the arena, and it could be seen as Kevin Owens was walking to the ring. Brooks’ stretcher job even got some attention coming out of break. WWE is really putting a lot behind Veer, and you love to see it.

Ezekiel’s Lie Detector Test on the KO Show

Chad Gable acted as the moderator for the Lie Detector Test.

Ezekiel’s new opening like is “who wants to hear Zeke speak?” and it got a huge pop.

Of course, Ezekiel passed the lie detector test after acing one question after another, prompting Kevin Owens to tell Gable to “ask it better!”

This Ezekiel gimmick is on track to get over as a campy WWE gimmick. Elias/Ezekiel is emerging as a master of making chicken salad out of chickens—t.

Ezekiel def. Chad Gable by Disqualification

Jerry Lawler was very entertaining on commentary as he continued to trumpet Kevin Owen’s claims that this was, in fact, Ezekiel.

Ezekiel is definitely in the midst of switching his style up from what we were accustomed to with Elias. He wrestles like a much more old-school babyface.

The Street Profits def. RK-Bro

Jimmy Smith continued to talk up the new “edge” of the Street Profits who have had a “change in attitude” of late. Byron Saxton also chimed in by talking about their “added aggression.” You don’t need me to tell you where this is going.

Nobody goes to commercial better than Montez Ford, who hit an impressive splash before Raw had to throw to the break.

Riddle was bested by The Uso’s theme music, which distracted him just long enough to (surprisingly) lose this match. This isn’t how I would build a winner-take-all match to determine the best tag team in WWE.

Edge cut a promo in the dark from a throne following this match, where he even took the obligatory potshot at the Buffalo Bills not being able to win the Super Bowl. It was okay.

Theory def. Finn Balor—WWE United States Championship

This match received the formal ring introductions, since a title was on the line, and two commercials later, Theory captured his first championship in WWE with a clean win. I can’t help but be reminded at how quickly Drew McIntyre won a title when he was “the chosen one.”

Finn Balor did a good job selling his his neck throughout this match, including when he went for the Coup de Grace and missed.

The WWE locker room was sent out to congratulate Theory and lift him on their shoulders, which led to Vince McMahon himself walking out to acknowledge Theory like a proud papa. The two even took a championship selfie.

WWE’s Double Commitment Ceremony

Nikki A.S.H. showed up to this wedding dressed in her superhero costume.

R-Truth said the 24/7 Championship was off limits for this wedding, and Buffalo didn’t seem to mind.

Surprisingly, Sasha Banks and Naomi appeared in this segment as bridesmaids. It was a Team Bad reunion.

R-Truth rolled with the punches as he was “whatted’ throughout his comments. He was great as a host, however. He knew these people would try to take over this segment and he’s handling them like a pro.

This was legitimately funny at points, and it all culminated in a series of pinning combinations and betrayals, starring with Reggie pinning Dana Brooke and ending with Brooke regaining the 24/7 title.

Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens

WWE shrewdly saved Cody Rhodes for its main event match in addition to the reveal of Seth Rollins’ mystery opponent, which turned out to be Kevin Owens.

Kevin Owens and Seth Rollins are still best friends, even after Rollins tried to steal Owens’ spot at WrestleMania a few short weeks ago.

Kevin Owens humorously mocked Rhodes by performing the famed Goldust taunt.

I really like the storytelling that this time it’s Cody Rhodes at a disadvantage against a mystery opponent, which what Seth Rollins was up against at WrestleMania 38.

The crowd was clearly tired fro this main event, but Rhodes an Owens got them into the match by the finish.

At one point, Rollins could be heard yelling at Kevin Owens to get his “fat ass up!” Owens went on to walk out of the match for a deflating end to this match and show.