John Cena appears live after winning his 17th world championship.
Credit: WWE
WWE Raw After WrestleMania, typically the most anticipated Raw of the year, advertised an appearance from the last real champion John Cena, who has vowed to ruin wrestling. Raw also advertised an appearance from the new world champion Jey Uso.
Raw After Mania is known for its call-ups, debuts and returns. After Joe Hendry answered Randy Orton’s WrestleMania challenge, Rusev remains a candidate to make his WWE return after reportedly signing with the company.
WWE Raw On Netflix Results On April 21, 2025
- Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez Def. Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyria
- Iyo Sky Def. Stephanie Vaquer by DQ
- Dominik Mysterio def. Penta | WWE IC Title
WWE Raw Ticket Sales
- WWE Raw Venue: T-Mobile Arena (Las Vegas, Nev.)
- WWE Raw Tickets Distributed: 16,777
- WWE Raw Tickets Available: 1,054
WWE Raw On Netflix Highlights, Winners And Grades
WWE’s WrestleMania recap featured a quote from yours truly: “Let the Yeet Era begin.”
John Cena walked out with an all-black entrance for the second night in a row. He told ring announcer Mark Nash to reintroduce him as “the greatest of all time. The Never-Seen 17. The last real champion: John Cena!” Fans cheered and chanted “Cena!”
Cena called out fans for being abusive, only to cheer for Heel Cena without apologizing. Cena acknowledged the Raw After Mania crowd was trying to hijack the show. Fans chanted “we are sorry!” Cena agreed, saying they are sorry, and also a bunch of low-lifes. Now they were chanting “asshole!”
Cena flashed a text graphic on the black screen that said “36 dates.” A countdown to his retirement. Cena named nine cities one-by-one and received “what’’ chants. There’s now 27 dates left. Not matches. Dates. When the doomsday clock hits zero, the professional wrestling timeline stops.
Cena brought up Cody Rhodes, who was booed. Cena called fans heartless for booing the man that everybody cheered last year when he finished his story, and said this is why Cena turned his back on them.
The camera went in tight on Cena for a photo op. After Cena said “the last world champion is here,” he took an RKO to a big pop. Orton hoisted the title, and it looks like Cena vs. Orton will headline WWE Backlash in St. Louis.
John Cena Opening Segment Grade: A-
Becky Lynch And Lyra Valkyria Lose Tag Titles, Becky Turns Heel
New WWE ring announcer Mark Nash needed a few attempts to announce Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez. Michael Cole and Pat McAfee joked Nash was still intimidated by John Cena for making him re-introduce him. For what it’s worth, I thought both Nash’s introductions of Cena were very good.
This was far superior to their WrestleMania match. There were several nearfalls and high spots, including a springboard power bomb from the outside of the ring to the inside by Liv Morgan on Becky Lynch. There was also a Raquel Rodriguez super power bomb on Lyra Valkyria.
The finish came when Lyra accidentally bumped Raquel Rodriguez into Becky Lynch, only to turn around and take an Oblivion. Liv and Raquel won the Women’s Tag Titles 24 hours after losing them. They very well may be the best women’s tag team in WWE history (a low bar due to WWE’s inconsistency in the division.) Now if only WWE would let them have a lengthy reign.
After the loss, Lyra Valkyria gave Becky Lynch an apologetic look. Lynch looked disgusted. Becky hugged Lyra, but immediately turned on her and pummeled Valkyria with two Manhandle Slams. The heel crowd chanted “one more time!” and Becky obliged with a third Manhandle Slam.
Women’s Tag Team Title Match Grade: B+
Rusev Returns And Attacks Alpha Academy
The New Day told Las Vegas to bow down to the new tag team champions. They were interrupted by Alpha Academy.
Maxxine Dupri challenged the New Day to a Tag Team Title match on behalf of the Alpha Academy. She called the New Day Minutemen, which inspired a “Minutemen” chant.
Before the match could start, Rusev made a surprise return with new theme music. It was similar to his AEW music, but not as good. The New Day bailed, and Rusev attacked Alpha Academy. For those counting at home, this is a second consecutive heel turn segment and the third segment to feature significant heel heat.
Rusev Return Grade: B
Iyo Sky Def. Stephanie Vaquer By DQ
Stephanie Vaquer interrupted an Iyo Sky victory lap to a huge ovation. The NXT women’s champion said she wanted to battle the best of the best. Iyo challenged Stephanie to a match tonight.
Adam Pearce interrupted to a sea of boos as fans thought he was gonna stop the dream match from happening. Instead, Pearce made it official.
Iyo and Stephanie had an excellent match, but they did have a couple miscues. One was against the ropes, and another came on the top rope before they recovered with an excellent top-rope arm drag from Vaquer. The issue was likely the language barrier. Referee Jessika Carr seemed to be very involved in communicating spots to both.
Vaquer and Sky received chants of “this is awesome” and “fight forever.”
Vaquer hit the Scissor Stomp to a big reaction and light chants for Booker T, who is in love with this move. Fans chanted “one more time,” but Vaquer instead went for her finisher.
A great match was interrupted by Roxanne Perez. Giulia hit the ring, and of course, turned heel as she aligned with Perez. Rhea Ripley evened the odds. Ripley faced off with Giulia, but instead of a dream match pop, fans told Giulia “you f’d up.”
Giulia left and Ripley returned the Women’s World Title to Iyo. Ripley also issued a warning.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky Grade: B+
Jey Uso Celebrates World Title Win
Jey Uso had another run-it-back moment with his theme music. Sami Zayn came out and congratulated Jey.
Sami admitted it was hard for him to sit on the sidelines, but he wanted to tell Jey Uso he was proud of him.
Zayn called for a third loop of the Yeet celebration. With all the heel turns on this night, it appeared for a moment like Zayn was going to turn on Jey with Jey’s back turned. When Jey turned around, however, the two shared a warm embrace. There was no heel turn.
This was a feel-good moment, and it was made better by Jimmy Uso joining the celebration.
Backstage, Karrion Kross had a heated confrontation with AJ Styles about Allen’s bulletproof moral compass. Kross implied he’d be going after Logan Paul.
Yeet Celebration Grade: B
Gunther Destroys Pat McAfee, Assaults Michael Cole
Coming out of break, an infuriated Gunther was screaming at Michael Cole, who participated in a “You tapped out” chant earlier in the night. Cole also questioned if Gunther could win the big one after losing two WrestleManias in a row.
Gunther put Cole in a rear-naked Choke, and Pat McAfee saved Cole by shoving Gunther. Fans were in a frenzy.
WWE officials got between Gunther and McAfee, but Gunther bulldozed everybody and caught McAfee in a rear-naked choke. The heat was smoldering as Gunther choked out Pat, with fans chanting “F U Gunther.”
McAfee had to be helped to the back and seemed as if he was going to puke. Cole went with him. Joe Tessitore took over announcing duties as Adam Pearce told Cole to take the night off.
Cole claimed he broke his nose and said he wasn’t going to let some bully stop him from doing his job. Fans cheered that line and chanted for Cole (European style) as he made his way back down to the announce desk alongside Tessitore. What an unbelievable show.
Gunther, Pat McAfee and Michael Cole Segment Grade: A+
Dominik Mysterio Def. Penta, JD McDonagh Returns
Earlier in the night, Finn Balor implied that the issues between himself and Mysterio were water under the bridge. “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas,” said Balor.
Penta was in a tough spot as a rising babyface against the babyface buzzsaw that is Dominik Mysterio, especially on Raw After Mania.
Michael Cole reiterated WWE commentators should be able to do their jobs. Cole said he would not detract from the show with his criticism of Gunther, only to continue to talk about Gunther. Cole said LeBron didn’t fight Stephen A. Smith, but instead had a conversation. Cole repeatedly asked for a status update on McAfee.
The finish came with the return of JD McDonagh, who cost Penta the match with a quick loss. The Judgment Day (including Finn Balor) celebrated on the ramp.
Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta Grade: B-
Bron Breakker And Seth Rollins Are Paul Heyman Guys
Seth, dressed like The Mask, waited patiently as the fickle Raw After Mania fans sang his song, chanted for CM Punk, chanted for Roman Reigns and chanted “F U Heyman.”
Before Seth could complete his self-aggrandizing intro, he was interrupted by CM Punk. Punk taped his fist and immediately brawled with Rollins. After getting the better of Seth, Punk turned his attention to Paul Heyman. Due to the distraction, Seth Rollins attacked Punk from behind and hit a Stomp.
Heyman introduced Seth Freakin Rollins as the new top star of WWE. Roman Reigns’ music hit as Rollins dumped Punk out of the ring. Reigns stormed to the ring and hit Rollins with a Spear. Now Roman turned his attention to Paul Heyman. Reigns laid Heyman out with a Superman Punch. Reigns went for a Spear and was intercepted by an even better Spear. From Bron Breakker. Breakker then speared CM Punk. Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker are Paul Heyman guys. Fans chanted “holy s—t.” WWE Season 42 is going to go crazy.
Breakker put Reigns through the barricade. Rollins told Breakker to bring Reigns into the ring, and they laid waste to both to end an all-time Raw.
Paul Heyman Guys Segment Grade: A+
