This week on Raw was the conclusion of the annual WWE Draft.
It’s WWE Raw from the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri.
Logan Paul, the US Champion, was shown arriving. He was greeted by NFL Super Bowl Champion Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. The Judgment Day welcomed Paul to Raw.
Becky Lynch did a promo to celebrate her Women’s World Title win. Lynch spoke about needing to find a number one contender. Liv Morgan interrupted and made her case to be a title challenger since she took out Rhea Ripley. Lynch pointed out she beat Morgan to win the battle royal. Nia Jax interrupted to brag about being drafted to Smackdown. When Jax got to the apron, Morgan dropkicked her down and Morgan challenged Jax to a match.
WWE Draft Round 1
Stephanie McMahon announced the picks.
Raw – Imperium’s GUNTHER & Ludwig Kaiser. No more Giovanni Vinci with the group.
Smackdown – Jade Cargill
Raw – Damage CTRL’s IYO SKY, Dakota Kai, Asuka & Kairi Sane
Smackdown – Kevin Owens
Match #1: GUNTHER (w/Ludwig Kaiser) defeated Xavier Woods (w/Kofi Kingston) by submission. Woods had his right leg trapped in the ropes, so Gunther worked it over for the second half of the match. Gunther applied a half crab, Woods nearly gave up, Gunther re-applied a modified STF and Woods tapped out.
WWE Draft Round 2
The US Champion Logan Paul announced the Smackdown picks and IShowSpeed announced the Raw picks.
Raw – CM Punk
Smackdown – The Pride’s Bobby Lashley, Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins & B-Fab
Raw – Braun Strowman
Smackdown – Tiffany Stratton
Logan Paul, the US Champion, did an in-ring promo mocking Jey Uso because Jey took a shot at Logan earlier in the night in an interview. Logan said that Jey can’t win a singles title on his own. Jey interrupted to say that he would be World Heavyweight Champion and threatened to beat up Paul. Logan had backup from Finn Balor & JD McDonagh, who beat up Jey. Paul used the Super Bowl rings (likely replicas) of Patrick Mahomes and punched JD because Jey avoided it. Braun Strowman made his injury return after one year away and made the save for Jey. Strowman nailed Balor with a Chokeslam while Paul ran away. Strowman had a staredown with Mahomes and two big teammates, but Jey pulled Strowman back.
Booker T was interviewed by Cathy Kelley backstage since Booker was a draft analyst. Booker mentioned Smackdown picking Jade Cargill while Raw getting CM Punk was huge. Drew McIntyre walked up to Booker saying “tell me you didn’t just say that” which is a Booker line. Drew wasn’t happy about not being picked yet and mentioned Punk being hurt after one match. Drew complained about not being World Champion and Booker argued with him a bit. Drew said that Booker knew what Punk was like, but Booker has changed. Drew left angrily.
Match #2: Sami Zayn defeated Bronson Reed by disqualification in an Intercontinental Title. Zayn hit Reed with a Helluva Kick when Chad Gable showed up to attack Zayn for the DQ. Gable applied an Ankle Lock after the match. Reed hit a Tsunami splash on Zayn. Reed grabbed Gable and gave him a Death Valley Driver. Reed celebrated with the IC Title.
WWE Draft Round 3
The WWE Hall of Famers Ron Simmons & John Bradshaw Layfield (aka the Acolyte Protection Agency) were up next to announce the next draft picks.
Raw – LWO’s Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Zelina Vega & Carlito
Smackdown – Legado Del Fantasma’s Santos Escobar, Angel, Berto & Elektra Lopez
Raw – Drew McIntyre
Smackdown – Shinsuke Nakamura
Drew McIntyre complained about being picked in the third round and not being picked earlier. The fans chanted “CM Punk” at him so Drew ripped on Punk. Drew said that Punk is a corporate ass kisser. Drew said that Punk hurt Drew since Drew had his right elbow in a brace. Drew said that Punk fractured his elbow. Drew said that he tapes it up and he gets on with it because he’s a real man. CM Punk’s music hit and Punk wasn’t by the entrance area. Punk was in a skybox. Punk said that he’s not sitting at home because he’s right here, you little bitch. Drew walked backstage while Punk waved at him. Simmons: “DAMN!”
Bron Breakker, who was drafted to Raw, was interviewed backstage by Cathy Kelley. Bron said he was here to take this place over. Sheamus walked up to him saying he was a big fan. Sheamus said that Bron reminds him of a young, hungry Sheamus having banger after banger…and Drew McIntyre was shown walking behind Sheamus. Bron walked away to end that.
Match #3: Candice LeRae (w/Indi Hartwell) defeated Maxxine Dupri (w/Ivy Nile). Dupri was on offense when Indi threw Nile into the ring post. LeRae stomped on Dupri’s back into the mat called the Wicked Stepmother for the pinfall win after two minutes.
The LWO’s Rey Mysterio, Dragon Lee, Zelina Vega, Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde were interviewed. Rey said they were excited to be on Raw. Rey said they don’t know why Carlito did what he did on Raw. Dominik Mysterio walked up with his left arm in a sling with some mean words for his father Rey. Dom said he runs Raw. Rey pointed out that Dominik hasn’t been drafted yet. Rey mocked Dominik’s mustache and Dominik said that Rey was lucky Dom isn’t cleared. Dom left while Rey laughed with his group.
Drew McIntyre was shown upstairs in the arena looking for what suite that CM Punk was in. When Drew found it, there was no sign of Punk. Instead, there was a signed photo of Punk that Drew found.
CM Punk did an in-ring promo saying Drew is like an ex-girlfriend that Punk can’t get rid of. Punk said he would do this promo faster than Drew’s last World Title reign that lasted 5:46. Punk claimed that it’s good that Drew got hurt. Punk said that Drew has given him purpose. Punk told Drew that it’s simple wrestling economics because Punk is the best in the ring, on the microphone and even on commentary. Punk said that losers hope for things to happen and winners make things happen. Punk said that when he is cleared, he’s going to make Drew’s life a living hell. Pat McAfee said that it was only 2:37 for the promo as Punk’s music was playing.
WWE Draft Round 4
The next picks were announced by WWE Hall of Famers Teddy Long for Raw and Alundra Blayze for Smackdown.
Raw – The Judgment Day’s Finn Balor, Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh. They stay on Raw with World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest.
Smackdown – Naomi
Raw – Ilja Dragunov. They showed NXT boss Shawn Michaels handing Dragunov a Raw hat while the rest of the NXT roster celebrated with Dragunov.
Smackdown – Chelsea Green & Piper Niven
Match #4: Liv Morgan defeated Nia Jax by pinfall. Tiffany Stratton was watching from the crowd, so Naomi attacked her. As Naomi & Stratton fought by the ring, Jax knocked Naomi off the apron. Liv hit Jax with a Codebreaker and Liv hit Oblivion for the pinfall win.
WWE Draft Round 5
The next picks were announced by WWE Hall of Famers Bubba Ray (Raw) & D-Von Dudley (Smackdown) aka The Dudley Boyz. They had a table with them while doing some of their catchphrases.
Raw – The New Day’s Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods
Smackdown – Pretty Deadly’s Elton Prince & Kit Wilson
Raw – Lyra Valkyria. The former NXT Women’s Champion was given a red Raw hat by Shawn Michaels.
Smackdown – Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell
Match #5: Awesome Truth – The Miz & R-Truth defeated Alpha Academy – Otis & Akira Tozawa by pinfall to retain the World Tag Team Titles. Miz and Truth did the Truth Crushing Finale (TCF) combo move on Tozawa for the win.
Liv Morgan was shown walking backstage when she saw Women’s World Champion Becky Lynch, who had the title on her shoulder. Lynch congratulated Liv on her win and Lynch said that Liv would get her title shot. Damage CTRL walked up to Lynch saying they’ll see her on Mondays.
WWE Draft Round 6
The Raw GM Adam Pearce and Smackdown GM Nick Aldis were there to announce their next picks.
Raw – The Final Testament’s Karrion Kross, Scarlett, Akam, Rezar & Paul Ellering
Smackdown – #DIY’s Tommaso Ciampa & Johnny Gargano
Raw – Bronson Reed
Smackdown – Blair Davenport. Shawn Michaels was there to give Blair a blue Smackdown hat.
Match #6: Jey Uso, Andrade & Ricochet defeated The Judgment Day – Damian Priest, Finn Balor & JD McDonagh by pinfall. Jey beat Balor with a Spear followed by an Uso Splash to win.
Damian Priest and Jey Uso had a staredown with Priest holding the World Title in the air. That was the end of the show.
Next Week On WWE Raw
The King and Queen of the Ring qualifying matches will start next week. That’s it in terms of what was announced.
That was all for this week’s show.