WWE Raw this week opened with Logan Paul, IShowSpeed, Pat Mahomes, and The Judgment Day, dapping each other up in the parking lot. Star power was present for another night of the WWE Draft in Kansas City.
HOLD UP!#USChampion @LoganPaul brought @PatrickMahomes of the @Chiefs to the #WWEDraft on #WWERaw RIGHT NOW on @USANetwork! pic.twitter.com/TssyXyj8Yg
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
The first segment from inside featured “The Man” Becky Lynch coming to the ring with her new WWE Women’s Championship. She got to the point, saying she needs the best challenge for her new title. Liv Morgan took this as her moment to make her appearance and present herself as the number one contender. Liv told Becky she owes her for injuring Rhea Ripley, forcing her to vacate the championship. Nia Jax would then decide to make an appearance, despite being drafted to Smackdown. Nia would remind everyone how dominant she was in the championship battle royal last week and how it took both of them to eliminate her. Nia would say this is her last night on Raw and she will be having a match with Liv Morgan on the way out.
Before joining the #SmackDown roster for the very first time, Nia Jax looks to make one final statement TONIGHT on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/0JDJSMYjf3
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Stephanie McMahon would make an appearance to make the next picks in the WWE Draft. Raw would first select Gunther and Kaiser (Imperium). Smackdown would follow up by drafting Jade Cargill. Raw would then choose all of Damage Control to come over to the red brand. Smackdown would wrap up this round of the draft by retaining Kevin Owens on the blue brand.
🚨 BREAKING: First Round picks for Night 2 of this year's #WWEDraft!
IMPERIUM to #WWERaw@Jade_Cargill to #SmackDown
DAMAGE CTRL to #WWERaw@FightOwensFight to #SmackDownCall the shots and create your own draft in #WWE2K24 MyGM @WWEGames pic.twitter.com/GueVEr2Wk2
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
The next match would see Gunther taking on Xavier Woods. Gunther would not disappoint with the chops on this night, Xavier was slapped silly multiple times. They would then work in a knee I jury into the story of the match. Xavier would try to fight back at the end, but the “injury” would be too much, and he would be forced to tap out.
Did @TrueKofi make the right call?#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/CUstAq4mnN
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
In the next segment, Logan Paul and IShowSpeed announced draft picks. They would then have Samantha Irvin announce Patrick Mahomes. Raw then drafted CM Punk (who is still recovering from injury). Smackdown chose all four members of The Pride. IShowSpeed would announce Raw’s next pick, Braun Strowman. Finally, it’s Tiffy Time on Smackdown. Tiffany Stratton would be retained by the blue brand. This segment was extended further by Logan Paul. He would verbally target Jey Uso, claiming he has no shot against Damian Priest and he should have stayed in The Bloodline. “Main Event” Jey Uso would of course make his appearance once he heard this. Once Jey was in the ring, The Judgment Day would appear out of nowhere and surround him. Jey would try to take matters into his own hands, swinging on The Judgement Day, but the numbers were far too much. Logan Paul would then grab 3 Superbowl rings from Patrick Mahomes and swing at Jey. Unlucky for him, he would miss Jey and strike JD McDonagh. Jey would still be outnumbered, and the beatdown continued until Braun Strowman would assert his size and dominance, forcing everyone to skatter. Braun would then face off with Patrick Mahomes until Jey Uso called him off.
A+ assist by @PatrickMahomes for #USChampion @LoganPaul on #WWERaw!#WWEDraft pic.twitter.com/Ayt3kWGMHh
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Bronson Reed would then challenge Sami Zayn for his Intercontinental Championship. Reed would dominate the match early on, forcing Zayn to kick out multiple times after power moves. Chad Gable would force the referee to throw out the match after attacking Sami Zayn in the middle of the match. Bronson Reed did not like the interruption of his title match and would take out both Sami Zayn and Chad Gable.
Who got the LAST LAUGH?#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/yR7DcF3HWc
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
APA would be the guests to announce the next draft picks. Raw would choose all six members of the LWO. Smackdown would follow up by drafting their own faction, drafting all four members of Legado del Fantasma. Next for Raw, none other than Drew McIntyre. Final pick of the third round sends Shinsuke Nakamura to Smackdown. Following the theme of a draft pick coming out in the following segment, Drew McIntyre came out with a microphone upset that he didn’t get drafted earlier. CM Punk would interrupt his segment from up high in a suite. McIntyre would take off angry and we will have to wait to see what is next for these two Raw draft picks.
Hey, it's @CMPunk!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/gITMhn98IP
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Candice LeRae versus Maxxine Dupri was next. LeRae would take advantage of a distraction from Indi Hartwell on the outside. This match was only about a minute or two long.
— Johnny Gargano (@JohnnyGargano) April 30, 2024
Drew McIntyre would be looking for Punk on the next segment. He would find his suite but would only find Punk’s autograph. As he found the signed picture, Punk’s music would hit, and he would appear in the ring. Punk would explain he is the best in the world and that is why he was drafted ahead of him. He would close by saying he will make Drew’s life a living hell.
Vintage @CMPunk delivers on the 🎤 tonight on #WWERaw, unfortunately for @DMcIntyreWWE! pic.twitter.com/PzUdLf6SZg
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Alundra Blaze and Teddy Long would be the guests to present the next draft pick. Raw opened up taking Dominik Mysterio, Finn Balor, and JD McDonagh. Smackdown takes Namoi, Raw takes Ilja Dragunov, and SmackDown takes the tag team of Chelsea Green and Piper Niven.
🚨 BREAKING: Fourth Round picks for this year's #WWEDraft!
The Judgment Day to #WWERaw
Naomi to #SmackDown @UNBESIEGBAR_ZAR to #WWERaw @PiperNivenWWE & @ImChelseaGreen to #SmackDownCall the shots and create your own draft in #WWE2K24 MyGM@WWEGames pic.twitter.com/dhLVDAG2U7
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Liv Morgan and Nia Jax was the next contest. This was a subpar match. Nothing seemed believable at all. Namoi would end up fighting Tiffany Stratton in the crowd during the match, which spilled into the ring. The chaos would lead to Liv Morgan taking advantage of the distraction to defeat Nia Jax.
WATCH HER.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/lvyrkJFiI1
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
The Dudley Boys announced the next draft picks:
1) The New Day to Raw
2) Pretty Deadly to Smackdown
3) Lyra Valkyria to Raw (from NXT)
4) Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell to Smackdown
🚨 BREAKING: Fifth Round picks for this year's #WWEDraft!
The New Day to #WWERaw
Pretty Deadly to #SmackDown @Real_Valkyria to #WWERaw @CandiceLeRae & @indi_hartwell to #SmackDownCall the shots and create your own draft in #WWE2K24 MyGM@WWEGames pic.twitter.com/UUReMjwyPA
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
The Awesome Truth would defend the WWE World Tag Team Championships against Tizawa and Otis. This was a very short title match barely worth mentioning. Awesome Truth retains.
when @WWEGable ruins your night#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/uqXXFz6qjF
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis would announce the next draft picks:
1) The Final Testament to Raw
2) DIY to Smackdown
3) Bronson Reed to Raw
4) Blair Davenport to Smackdown (from NXT)
🚨 BREAKING: Sixth Round picks for this year's #WWEDraft!
The Final Testament to #WWERaw#DIY to #SmackDown @BRONSONISHERE to #WWERaw @BDavenportWWE to #SmackDown
Call the shots and create your own draft in #WWE2K24 MyGM@WWEGames pic.twitter.com/VZ5Kt8eZmn
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
Jey Uso would team up with Ricochet and Andrade to take on The Judgment Day in 6-man tag action. A miscommunication between JD McDonagh and Damian Priest gave Jey Uso the opportunity to reverse the match’s momentum and secure the victory.
The World Heavyweight Champion is getting REAL annoyed right now…#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/hxzPh7diU3
— WWE (@WWE) April 30, 2024
That wraps up WWE Raw for this week. Stay tuned to Greenville Sports Media for more of my regular wrestling articles.
Howe Fresh (of The Wrasslin Corner on The Real Fresh Channel)
for Greenville Sports Media
and check out my weekly opinionated podcast “The Wrasslin Corner”