Las Vegas, April 22, 2025 — The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas erupted Monday night as WWE Raw followed WrestleMania 41 with a night of stunning betrayals, championship changes, and surprise returns. The April 21 episode, streamed live on Netflix, saw Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker align with Paul Heyman to attack Roman Reigns and CM Punk, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez reclaim the WWE Women’s Tag Team Titles, and Rusev’s chaotic return, setting the stage for new rivalries.
The show opened with fallout from WrestleMania, where John Cena defeated Cody Rhodes to claim the Undisputed WWE Championship. Randy Orton wasted no time, delivering an RKO to the new champion, signaling his intent to challenge for the title. “After John Cena won the Undisputed WWE Title from Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, the 17-time World Champion gets taken out by The Viper,” WWE reported.
A pivotal moment came when Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Paul Heyman united to brutalize Reigns and Punk, a move that stunned the WWE Universe. The alliance, formed after weeks of tension, including Reigns shoving Heyman on the April 14 Raw, marked a bold shift in the ongoing feud. “On the Raw after WrestleMania, The Unpredictable Badass aligned with Seth Rollins and Paul Heyman to take out Roman Reigns and CM Punk,”.
The WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship changed hands in a thrilling rematch. Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez defeated Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria, with Morgan hitting the Oblivion to secure the victory. “The two teams put on an awesome showcase for the WWE Universe, with huge powerbombs from the top rope and multiple jaw-dropping counters,” WWE stated. Morgan and Rodriguez became the first four-time Women’s Tag Team Champions. Post-match, Lynch turned heel, assaulting Valkyria, the Women’s Intercontinental Champion, in a shocking betrayal. “Moments after Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez take back the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, The Man assaults Women’s Intercontinental Champion Lyra Valkyria,”.
Rusev’s return added to the chaos, as he obliterated Alpha Academy after they confronted new World Tag Team Champions The New Day. “Moments after Alpha Academy step up to new World Tag Team Champions The New Day, the mighty Rusev makes a shocking return and wipes out the would-be challengers,”. The Bulgarian Brute’s reappearance reignited his presence as a dominant force.
A surprise match saw NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer challenge Women’s World Champion IYO SKY in a non-title bout. The two delivered a high-flying spectacle, with SKY landing a Spanish Fly and Vaquer hitting the Devil’s Kiss. The match ended abruptly when Roxanne Perez and Giulia interfered, only for Rhea Ripley to make the save. “The surprises on the Raw after WrestleMania 41 continued when NXT Women’s Champion Stephanie Vaquer shockingly arrived to challenge Women’s World Champion IYO SKY,”.
Jey Uso, fresh off defeating Gunther to win the World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania, celebrated with the Las Vegas crowd. “The new World Heavyweight Champion Jey Uso makes his triumphant return to Raw after overcoming Gunther on The Grandest Stage of Them All,” WWE said. Uso’s entrance electrified fans, setting up his reign as a fighting champion.
The night wasn’t without controversy. Gunther, furious after losing his title, attacked commentators Michael Cole and Pat McAfee, applying the Gojira Clutch to McAfee. “GUNTHER slaps the headset off [Cole], shoves Pat McAfee, and grabs Cole into the Gojira Clutch,”. Medics attended to McAfee, who left under his own power but visibly shaken.
Raw’s move to Netflix in January 2025, part of a 10-year, $500 million deal, has amplified its global reach. The show, airing live Mondays at 8 p.m. ET, draws millions weekly with its blend of athleticism and drama. Monday’s episode underscored why Raw remains WWE’s flagship, with 19,262 fans packing the T-Mobile Arena.
The fallout from WrestleMania 41 sets up intense storylines. Orton’s attack on Cena hints at a championship clash, while Lynch’s betrayal of Valkyria could spark a feud over the Women’s Intercontinental Title. Rusev’s return and the Rollins-Breakker-Heyman alliance add layers to the volatile landscape, promising more chaos as Raw builds toward Backlash on May 10.
