WWE Raw After WrestleMania Full Recap, Results, Highlights, and Review – April 21, 2025

Catch up on all the results, highlights, and must-see moments in this full recap and review of the Raw after WrestleMania.

WWE Raw After WrestleMania Results

• Women’s Tag Team Championship – Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez def. Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria
• Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer – Ended in a No Contest
• Intercontinental Championship – Dominik Mysterio def. Penta

WWE Raw After WrestleMania Highlights

John Cena Promo

John Cena made his entrance with a snarl, wearing the title belt backward and receiving pyro as the crowd chanted his name. He called up the ring announcer to deliver a sarcastic, self-aggrandising intro and declared himself the “last real champion”.

Cena addressed the crowd with disdain, saying they don’t deserve forgiveness just for cheering him now. He demanded an apology and mocked their attempts, calling them soft, fake, and irrelevant to him.

Cena reminded fans of his limited appearances—down to 27—and said when he’s done, the legacy of real champions ends with him. He claimed the title belongs with legends like Bruno, Austin, and Triple H—pointedly omitting Cody Rhodes—and said Cody was “destroyed” and undeserving. He blamed the fans for turning on Cody and declared no one else in WWE measures up to him.

Just as Cena raised the belt and declared himself “the last real champ”, Randy Orton appeared and dropped him with an RKO out of nowhere, standing tall with the belt in hand.

A clear path is set: Cena vs. Orton at Backlash in St. Louis. A rivalry reignited, and it still feels fresh.

OUTTA NOWHERE! 😏#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/Dw2NqGKfvI

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Becky Lynch & Lyra Valkyria vs. Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez – Women’s Tag Team Championship

The match began with Lynch and Valkyria taking early control, hitting stereo slidekicks at ringside. Valkyria impressed with a tornado DDT and hit her Knight Wing finisher on Raquel, but Liv saved the pin by placing Raquel’s boot on the bottom rope.

After a wild flurry of offense, Raquel powerbombed Liv onto Valkyria, but Valkyria got her knees up. Valkyria went for another Knight Wing, but Liv countered after Raquel knocked Valkyria into Lynch. Liv hit Oblivion on the distracted Valkyria to score the win.

Winners and NEW Champions: Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez

Post-match, Becky helped Valkyria up—then suddenly snapped, shoving her down and attacking her in frustration. She slammed Valkyria’s head into the mat and delivered two Manhandle Slams while fans reacted with a mix of shock and cheers.

THE MAN HAS SNAPPED!#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/Bm8G8SyDzU

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Rusev Return

Just as New Day prepared to defend their titles against Alpha Academy, Rusev Day returned with thunder. The crowd lost it as Rusev annihilated Otis and Tozawa. He locked in The Accolade on Otis before eventually letting go.

RUSEV IS BACK!#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/8EjfEnJup4

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

A great reintroduction. Rusev looks like a monster.

Iyo Sky vs. Stephanie Vaquer

Iyo Sky entered the ring to a warm reception and reflected on her historic WrestleMania victory, calling it the best night of her career.

Fans chanted, “You deserve it!” when Stephanie Vaquer made her entrance. She congratulated Sky and introduced herself as the NXT Champion, prompting a “La Premiera!” chant.

CHAMP meets CHAMP! 👀#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/lpjIMyiffJ

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Vaquer then challenged Sky to a match, which Sky eagerly accepted. Adam Pearce confirmed the match would take place.

The two champions went back and forth in an exciting 14-minute contest, with fans chanting “This is awesome!” midway through. Vaquer showcased her agility with a leap off the barricade onto Sky.

At the 13-minute mark, both were slow to get up, and fans chanted, “Fight forever!” Sky delivered a daring Spanish Fly, but the action was interrupted when Roxanne Perez ran in and attacked Sky.

Match ended in a No Contest

Giulia ed the fray to help Perez, but Rhea Ripley’s music hit, and she charged out to knock Perez out of the ring with a headbutt.

Ripley and Giulia exchanged glares before Giulia exited, and Ripley handed Sky her title. Sky smiled, clutching her championship as Ripley made it clear, “I’m coming for that.” Fans cheered as Sky stood tall.

The match itself was great, and the call-ups suggest massive implications for not just the women’s division on Raw, but also NXT.

We've got company! 👀#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/VmKD0hx3nE

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Jey Uso Promo

Jey Uso entered through the crowd to celebrate his World Title win over Gunther at WrestleMania. Cole noted that Jey was the massive underdog and surprised everyone, especially Gunther, by making him tap.

Fans chanted “One more time!” as Jey soaked in the moment and wore a shirt that read “World Heavy-Yeet Champion.” He told the crowd, “The World Heavyweight Champion is now in your city! Yeet!” and thanked them for their .

Sami Zayn’s music played, and he interrupted Jey’s celebration. Jey seemed frustrated at first but softened as Sami expressed how proud he was of him, calling him his brother and “Uce.” Fans chanted, “You deserve it!”

Sami shared a heartfelt moment, then urged the music to play so they could celebrate together. After a brief tense moment, Jey and Sami hugged, and Jimmy Uso ed them. The three danced together as they headed backstage.

The YEET Era is here!#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/MriKUi3iXU

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Gunther Attacks Commentary Team

Gunther confronted Cole and McAfee at the announce desk, shouting at them, reeling from tapping out at WrestleMania.

Cole stood up, asking why Gunther was upset, and told him, “I’m not the one who tapped out.” Gunther then shoved McAfee and put Cole in a sleeper hold.

McAfee retaliated with a flying forearm, causing Gunther to release Cole and focus on McAfee. Officials tried to break up the confrontation, but Gunther put McAfee in a sleeper as well.

After a tense struggle, Gunther released McAfee and walked off. McAfee was assisted to the back as fans chanted his name.

Cole later returned to ringside (backed by chants of “Michael Cole!”) as he refused to back down to a bully. Tessitore jumping in for Pat was a neat surprise.

Incredible heat for Gunther. He’s a wounded animal now — and more dangerous than ever.

GUNTHER JUST CHOKED OUT PAT MCAFEE! 😲#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/B1LePRliTy

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Dominik Mysterio vs. Penta – Intercontinental Championship

Solid match and noticeably better than the previous Dom/Penta match.

The finish saw Penta hit a Mexican Destroyer, but Dom rolled outside for a breather. As Penta went for a huracanrana on Balor at ringside, a returning JD McDonagh appeared and shoved Penta off the top rope.

Dom capitalised with a 619 and a frog splash to retain the title. McDonagh, Carlito, Liv, and Raquel celebrated up the ramp, while Finn Balor observed, seemingly unaware of McDonagh’s impending return.

Winner: Dominik Mysterio

The Judgment Day strengthens once again!#RawAfterMania pic.twitter.com/8CzK8JdY4e

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Seth Rollins & Paul Heyman Promo Segment

Seth Rollins made his entrance wearing a garish, bright yellow outfit, with a dastardly Paul Heyman by his side.

Chants of “Thank you, Seth!” were quickly drowned out by louder “CM Punk!” chants and even more hostile “F— you, Heyman!” chants — some of which were partially muted.

Seth leaned into it, bragging that he is a visionary and a revolutionary who “stole Punk’s best friend” and a Wiseman from Roman Reigns. He declared himself the winner of the Mania main event, just as Punk’s music hit.

CM Punk stormed the ring, taped fists ready, and unloaded on Rollins, getting the upper hand before turning his attention to Heyman.

The crowd turned molten as Punk cornered Heyman, but Seth saved him with an eye gouge and a stomp. Chants of “We want Roman!” followed. Then — Roman Reigns did come out.

Reigns marched to the ring and delivered a thunderous Spear to Rollins, then nailed Heyman with a Superman Punch. Just as he was about to deliver a Spear to Heyman, Bron Breakker appeared out of nowhere and Speared Reigns.

Breakker also took out Punk, then stood tall with Heyman and Rollins.

Then it got even wilder — Reigns got up and fought back at Breakker at ringside, but Breakker responded with a massive Spear that sent Reigns through the barricade.

Back in the ring, Rollins stomped Punk as Breakker held Reigns in place for another stomp. Heyman stood tall with his new faction: Seth Rollins, and Bron Breakker.

The landscape has changed on Monday Night Raw! pic.twitter.com/eJZ3Iv5p4K

— WWE (@WWE) April 22, 2025

Cole said it best: “Paul Heyman has apparently changed the game again.” And Tessitore added that Breakker is now “the next Paul Heyman guy”.

WWE Raw After WrestleMania Review

Probably the best Raw after Mania in over a decade. While not loaded with actual in-ring action, nearly every segment had purpose, progression, or a payoff. That’s what wrestling TV should be.

The women’s division really stood out. Obviously Iyo/Vaquer was great but the tag match was enjoyable too. Liv Morgan is so much better when she’s not running away and cowering but proving herself as a competent and capable wrestler. The Becky turn is the right decision but the execution has been messy. They shouldn’t have done Bayley so dirty and should’ve had Becky turn up on TV in the build to Mania. That way you could’ve had Bayley and Roxanne continue their own thing separately.

Stephanie Vaquer has future WrestleMania main eventer written all over her, and Iyo Sky may very well be the new in-ring ace of WWE with Cody Rhodes no longer the champion. If WWE plays its cards right, the women could truly define the next era of the company.

Meanwhile, great to see Rusev back. He looked phenomenal, and although the Rusev Day gimmick worked well at the time, he works best as a straight-up unstoppable monster, and WWE would be wise to tap into the Redeemer persona he crafted in AEW.

The Gunther angle was fantastic. Really, really well done.

The real game-changer, however, was the Rollins/Heyman/Breakker stuff. The faction immediately makes Breakker a top-tier player in WWE, and it’s only a matter of time before he’s propelled to main event status (now would be the perfect time to change his name to Bron Steiner).

Heyman’s involvement has historically been a launchpad for superstars, so expect whoever else s this faction to get a massive push.

Ultimately, this Raw after WrestleMania felt like the first real win for WWE in months. After the stagnation between January and April, this felt like a fresh start for the company.

The Bloodline Era has clearly come to an end, and with Paul Heyman and Seth Rollins leading a faction of promising new stars, the future is looking promisingly exciting.

Hopefully WWE can keep this momentum going through to the summer.