WWE Raw Results – Apr. 30, 2018 – Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor

Apr 30, 2018

WWE RAW Results
April 30, 2018
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Jonathan Coachman
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

In-Ring: Roman Reigns, Jinder Mahal, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens

Roman Reigns’ music hits, and he makes his way to the ring to thunderous boos from the Canadian crowd. The commentary team talks about his loss to Brock Lesnar at the Greatest Royal Rumble event. Reigns speared Lesnar through the wall of the cage. Chad Patton, the referee, issued an apology later since technically Reigns should have won the match. Going back live, Reigns stands in the ring with the boos thundering. The commentary team is trying to make this sound like it’s an unusual happening. Reigns says he won’t make any excuses because there is no need to. They’re looking at the real Universal Champion. A loud “Roman sucks” chant fires up. Reigns says he should be the Universal Champion, but he’s not… yet. A lot of people doubted him and lost faith in him, but he’s a man of his word and kept his word. He beat Lesnar in the Steel Cage. That’s why he’ll never lose faith in himself. He’d say it to Lesnar’s face, but he’s not here.

Reigns turns his attention to another man. Samoa Joe appears on the screen to a loud ovation. Joe says Reigns lost to Lesnar, just like he said he would. This Sunday, he’ll put Reigns’ downward spiral career to sleep.

Jinder Mahal’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring with Sunil Singh. Mahal says he can’t stand people making excuses for their shortcomings. In Mahal’s case, Jeff Hardy cheated, but he’s not complaining. Reigns lost fair and square. At Backlash, he’ll lose to Samoa Joe. Tonight, Reigns will lose to the Modern Day Maharaja. Mahal says Reigns’ career is in the tubes. Now that he’s on RAW, he will eventually raise the Universal Championship. Reigns just stares at him.

Sami Zayn’s music hits, and he comes out to a huge reaction from what is basically his hometown. Zayn says he’s back in Montreal. Zayn excuses himself from the Royal Rumble because of vertigo at the hands of Bobby Lashley. Zayn is better and wants to fight in his hometown. Zayn wants to be the one to take on Roman Reigns. A loud “YES” chant fires up.

Kevin Owens’ music hits, and he comes out to an equally loud pop. Owens plays to the crowd a bit. This is a really lively crowd. The crowd chants for KO. Owens puts the microphone to his lips, and the crowd cheers louder. Owens speaks French to the delight of the crowd. A loud “Oui” chant picks up. Owens says he knows Sami Zayn can beat Roman Reigns, but he thinks what people want to see tonight is him take on Reigns. Another “Oui” chant picks up, which Owens translates as, “Yes.” Owens says they should have a coin flip to determine… but that only has two sides. Owens asks for a popularity contest. Good pop for Zayn. Loud boos for Mahal and a “NO” chant. Loud pop for Owens and another “OUI” chant. Reigns punches Owens, and he’s soon triple-teamed by Zayn, Mahal, and Sunil Singh. Owens joins in and stomps away at Reigns. Bobby Lashley runs down for the save. Lashley is loudly booed as he attacks Zayn and Owens. They soon overwhelm him in the corner. Braun Strowman’s music then hits to a big reception, and he comes down to clear the ring. They all attack Strowman, but he powers out. Strowman, Lashley, and Reigns then clear the ring. Strowman then military presses Singh out of the ring into the heels.

Elias vs. Bobby Roode

Elias is in the ring strumming his guitar. Elias greets the crowd and tells them that they should be considering themselves blessed. Who wants to walk with Elias? Elias knows they must forget how fortunate they are to be able to see him since WWE stands for Walk With Elias. How many of them saw the Greatest Royal Rumble? There was barely a reaction. Elias says he eliminated so many people from the Royal Rumble. Elias is heading toward a new level of fame. Elias tells them to hold the applause and silence their cellphones. They start to cheer, which angers Elias. Elias starts to play a riff in A-minor, ripping on the town. Bobby Roode interrupts this.

We join the match in progress to see Elias applying a chin lock. Elias backs him to the corner and punches away at him. Roode fights back and chops the chest. Elias reverses a whip to the corner, but Roode explodes out with a clothesline. Roode hits an inverted atomic drop followed by a dropkick. Roode puts him in the corner and bounces him off the corner. Roode chops him before having a whip to the corner reversed. Roode boots him back and hits a blockbuster for a near fall. Elias goes outside the ring to recover, but Roode follows and chops him. Roode catches him on the apron, but Elias snaps him off the top rope before hitting a clothesline. Elias stomps him and applies a chin lock, which allows them to play a commercial during the match. Coming back from the mini interruption, Roode fights up, but Elias takes him down for a two count.

We come back from the break to see Roode trapped in a chin lock. Roode fights up and drives Elias into the corner, but Elias won’t let go. Finally, Roode drives him into the corner and breaks the hold. Elias quickly elbows him in the face and chops him in the corner. Roode sends him to the corner and avoids a slingshot. Roode clotheslines him twice before hitting a corner clothesline. Elias avoids a neckbreaker. Roode misses a blockbuster, but he soon floors Elias with a spinebuster for a two count. Roode tries to go to the top rope, but Elias cuts him off. Elias goes for a superplex, but Roode fights him off. Roode comes off the top rope with a flying clothesline. Roode marches around the ring and does the “GLORIOUS” taunt. Roode goes for a Glorious DDT, but Elias gets out. Elias quickly elbows him and gets a small package for a two count. Roode reverses for a two count of his own. Elias quickly gets him on the apron and viciously elbows him before sending him face-first off the steel of the turnbuckle. Roode clutches his neck at ringside. The referee checks on him and calls for medical personnel to come to the ringside area.

EMTs and referees run down to the ringside area and tend to Roode. Elias gets on the microphone and declares himself the winner. Elias then walks off. The bell never rang. Slow motion replays show Roode’s throat completely missing the turnbuckle, but he is selling the throat anyway.

The Authors of Pain vs. Jean-Paul and Francois

Charly Caruso is backstage with the local talent AOP is going to face. They play to the crowd by speaking French. They then walk out with theme music and all. Rezar quickly floors one of them and throws him across the ring. Jean-Paul tags in and reluctantly comes in against Rezar. Jean-Paul punches him, but Rezar no sells it and kills him. Akam tags in, and they hit the Super Collider. Rezar tags back in, and they hit the Last Chapter for the win.

Winners by Pinfall: The Authors of Pain

Akam and Rezar stand in the ring. Akam says the book of pain remains open. Rezar says there will be a chapter for every team on Monday Night RAW. They shout in their native tongue before leaving the ring.

In-Ring: Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel

Seth Rollins’ music hits, and the WWE Intercontinental Champion makes his way to the ring to a loud ovation. This past Friday, Rollins catapulted onto the ladder and took the title away from Finn Balor, who was fingertips away. This Sunday, Rollins will defend his title against The Miz. The Miz looks to become a 9-time Intercontinental Champion.

The crowd loudly cheers Rollins. Rollins says it’s wild out here. The last month of his career has been wild. Rollins won the title in New Orleans at WrestleMania. Then they flew all the way to South Africa, where he defended the title. Then they went to RAW in St. Louis before going to Saudi Arabia, where he defended the title in a Ladder Match at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Now he’s with the maniacs in Montreal. This gets a huge pop and a “Burn it down” chant. A soccer chant then picks up. Rollins gives props to the crowd and waits for more chants. Rollins is literally standing there just looking at the crowd for a while. They chant themselves out with a “You deserve it” chant. Rollins says he’s no good at this, but “Merci beaucoup.” That gets a loud cheer. Rollins was thinking about what kind of champion he wants to be going further. Rollins doesn’t want to be anything like Brock Lesnar. Lesnar isn’t even the legitimate Universal Champion because Reigns’ feet hit first. Lesnar only shows up when it’s convenient and when the price is right. Rollins wants to be a fighting champion.

Finn Balor’s music hits, and he makes his way to the ring wearing his “For everyone” Balor Club shirt, which he didn’t wear in Saudi Arabia for obvious reasons. Balor says line in French. Balor says the flight back from Saudi Arabia was long, but it was long enough for him to see how close he came to becoming Intercontinental Champion. Hats off to Rollins… he beat him, but not by much. Balor says they have had four singles matches. They’ve both won two. Rollins is talking about being a fighting champion, but he should show everyone he’s a fighting champion by putting the title on the line against him tonight. A loud “OUI” chant picks up. Rollins says he’s got The Miz at Backlash this Sunday for the title, but… (Balor says, “I like that but”) they’re in Montreal. Rollins asks if they want to see him take on Balor, and they do. Rollins agrees to the match. They shake hands.

The Miz’ music hits, and the former Miztourage makes their way to the ring to loud boos. Curtis Axel tells them not to play to the crowd. Bo Dallas says they shouldn’t fight one another. They should be fighting together. They all should. They get in the ring. Axel says they made the mistake of approaching them separately. They should have had a group conversation. They take their jackets off to reveal shirts with all their pictures on them. Dallas tells them to forget about the Balor Club and The Shield. Dallas suggests they reform The Four Horsemen. They hold up four fingers, but Rollins wants to talk it over with Balor. Balor’s eye is missed up from Friday’s ladder match. Rollins says it is a hard no. They try to attack, but Rollins and Balor fight them off. Balor then takes out Rollins with a reverse DDT elbow drop! Balor stands over Rollins and warns him to not take his eyes off him.

Ruby Riott vs. Sasha Banks

The Riott Squad makes their way to the ring. Charly Caruso is in the gorilla position with Sasha Banks. Banks doesn’t get a great reaction from the crowd. Caruso asks if she attempted to work things out with Bayley. Banks says she doesn’t know what’s going on with Bayley. The division is still run on Boss Time. If Ruby wants a Riott, she can Bank on one.

The bell rings, and they circle the ring before locking up. Riott powers her to the corner and pulls the hair before giving a break. They lock up again, and Banks wrenches the arm. Banks takes her down and talks some trash. Banks sends her into the ropes, but Riott rolls her up for a two count. Riott then kicks her in the back and stands over her. Riott hits the ropes, and Banks chops her. Banks hits a rope climbing arm drag before taking her down. Bayley is seen watching backstage. Riott soon gains control and snaps Banks off the ropes. Riott stomps her in the corner before bouncing her off the turnbuckle. Riott shoulders her in the corner twice before punching her. Riott sends her into the ropes, but Banks comes back with a Thesz Press. Banks puts her in the corner and digs her boot into Riott’s face. Banks hits a snapmare and applies a straightjacket chin lock. Riott quickly fights up and knees her, but Banks soon slams her down and hits a double knee for a two count. Banks then applies an arm bar. Riott fights up and forearms out. Riott drops her on the apron and knocks her to the floor in front of The Riott Squad. Banks ducks a clothesline from Sarah Logan and hits her in front of the referee. Banks then gets in the ring and hits a baseball slide on Riott.

We come back from the break to see Banks trapped in an arm bar. Doing the break, Riott kicked her in the ribs. Riott takes her down for a two count. Riott slams her face off the mat twice before kicking her in the ribs. Riott then applies a chin lock. Banks gets out and rolls her up for a two count. Banks quickly follows up with a cross-body block for another two count. Riott attacks, but Banks boots her back. Banks hits a pair of clotheslines and a dropkick. Banks blocks a kick and kicks her in the face. Banks knees her in the corner, but Riott sidesteps a second one. Riott kicks her down and goes to the middle rope for a crazy cannonball senton splash for a near fall! That looked painful! Riott gets Banks to her feet, but Banks counters into a Bank Statement. The Riott Squad distracts the referee and breaks it up. Riott snaps Banks off the top rope, but Banks comes back with a knee. Banks then takes Liv Morgan out with a meteora off the apron. Riott quickly takes her out on the top rope and hits a Riott Kick for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: Ruby Riott

Segment: Alexa Bliss

Alexa Bliss is back with another “Moment of Bliss.” You never know when a bully will strike. Bliss was visiting Disneyworld with Nia Jax, but Jax spent the entire day joking about her height. At lunch, Jax insisted the server give Bliss a kid menu. Bliss can still see her with a turkey leg in each hand laughing. Jax turned the happiest place on earth into the saddest day ever. Bliss fake cries. At Backlash, no matter how much ridicule she might endure, she will win the RAW Women’s Championship back. She won’t let the bully win. This has been a Moment of Bliss.

Backstage: Titus O’Neil, Baron Corbin

Renee Young is backstage with Titus O’Neil, who gets a big reception. They show replays of his unfortunate trip down the ramp at the Greatest Royal Rumble. Titus O’Neil hopes this situation gets people to not worry about falling, but to get right back up. Baron Corbin walks up and says he doesn’t know why Renee is wasting her time with O’Neil.

Backstage: Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt

“WOKEN” Matt Hardy is seen reading an old book. Hardy says the story has always been told. The vessels known as Bray Wyatt and Matthew Hardy have transcended time and space. They were there at the beginning, at history’s greatest triumphs, but nothing in history can compare to their greatest victory. Their vessels cannot be contained by this planet alone. Bray Wyatt comes into the shot saying they are darkness and light. Their shadow will continue to consume everything. Wyatt says, “Behold the Deleters of Worlds!”

Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn vs. Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, and Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns will start against Jinder Mahal. Mahal quickly tags in Sami Zayn before any action takes place. Zayn comes in to a loud ovation. Zayn then tags in Kevin Owens before approaching Reigns. Owens comes into an even louder ovation. Owens then tags Zayn back in. Reigns quickly floors him with an uppercut to loud boos. Zayn kicks him, but Reigns sends him to the floor. Zayn kicks him coming out of the ring, but Reigns sends him into the barricade. Reigns cuts Owens off and hits him and Zayn with a double Drive-By Dropkick.

We come back from the break to see Reigns punching Zayn. Mahal tags in and punches away at Reigns. Reigns reverses a whip and connects with a back elbow. Reigns tags in Bobby Lashley. Lashley punches him before sending him into the ropes for a back elbow. Lashley body slams Mahal and points at Zayn. Mahal knees Lashley and hits the ropes, but Lashley comes back with a clothesline. Zayn tags in and kicks Lashley down in the corner. Zayn signals for a delayed vertical suplex, but Lashley counters into a neckbreaker. Lashley clotheslines him in the corner and shoulders him. Lashley goes for a delayed vertical suplex, but Owens kicks him in the midsection. Owens tags in and stomps away at Lashley to loud cheers. A loud “OUI” chant picks up. Mahal tags in, and he knees Lashley in the ribs. Mahal then chokes him with his knee. Owens tags in and shoulders Lashley in the corner. Owens hits a snapmare and applies a chin lock. Time for another picture-in-picture commercial, conveniently during a rest hold. As soon as the commercial ends, Lashley fights up, almost on cue. Owens takes him down and hits a senton splash for a two count. Owens quickly knees him and applies another chin lock. Owens holds it on for a bit. Lashley eventually fights up and hits a reverse STO.

Reigns and Zayn are tagged in. Reigns hits a pair of clotheslines before having a whip to the corner reversed. Reigns explodes out with a clothesline. Reigns then starts clubbing him in the corner. Reigns then connects with a big boot. Reigns sets up for a Superman Punch, but Sunil Singh gets on the apron. Reigns pulls him into the ring and throws him out. Owens tags in and DDTs Reigns for a near fall.

We come back from the break to see Zayn applying a loose chin lock to Reigns. Reigns fights up, but Zayn punches him back. Reigns quickly overtakes him with right hands. Zayn grabs the ankle to stop him from making the tag. Owens tags in and attacks Reigns. Owens hits a slingshot elbow drop off the second rope for a near fall. Owens punches away at Reigns and tags Zayn back in. Zayn punches away at Reigns before picking up a near fall. Zayn then applies another chin lock. Reigns fights up and hits a back suplex. Owens tags in, but Reigns boots him. Owens sends him to the ropes, but Reigns hits a Superman Punch. Mahal tags in and punches Lashley off the apron. Reigns then hits a Samoan Drop.

Strowman tags in, and he clotheslines Mahal down. Strowman goes outside and kills Owens with a shoulder at ringside. Strowman gets back in the ring for a clothesline to Mahal. Strowman then goes outside and shoulders Zayn. Owens avoids another shoulder, but Strowman sends him to the barricade. Mahal sidesteps a running shoulder in the ring, and Strowman hits the ring post shoulder-first. Lashley cuts Zayn off trying an attack. Mahal then knocks Lashley out of the ring. Owens tags in and goes to whip Mahal into Strowman, but Reigns spears him instead. Owens superkicks Strowman and goes for a cannonball, but Strowman cuts him off with a Running Powerslam for the win!

Winners by Pinfall: Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, and Roman Reigns

Baron Corbin vs. No Way Jose

Baron Corbin comes out and stops talking because his promo was scripted as if the crowd would be chanting over him, but they’re not making a peep. Corbin runs down the RAW roster. Corbin says this nonsense makes him want to puke. He’s here to win championships and money. Corbin isn’t going to make money making the people laugh. Corbin is putting an end to nonsense. When it’s all said and done, no one will be laughing.

Jose starts off with right hands, but Corbin slides out of the ring and gets back in to clothesline him. Corbin taunts the crowd. Corbin attacks Jose, but Jose fights back and pulls the top rope down to get him out of the ring. Corbin gets back in. Corbin avoids a cross-body block and sends Jose into the ring post shoulder-first. Titus Worldwide comes out and distracts Corbin. Apollo Crews and Dana Brooke go to the foot of the ramp and hold O’Neil from running down the ramp. Crews wipes down the ramp. O’Neil gets to the ringside area without tripping. O’Neil gets on the apron and immediately slips off. Jose then rolls Corbin up for the win.

Winner by Pinfall: No Way Jose

No Way Jose dances up the ramp with his conga line and Titus Worldwide. Corbin is furious.

Mickie James w/ Alexa Bliss vs. Natalya w/ Ronda Rousey

They lock up, and Natalya wrenches the arm. James quickly gets out and leaves the ring to hold her injured arm. A “Ronda Rousey” chant fires up. James gets in the ring and circles around. Natalya clubs the back and wrenches the injured arm again. Natalya hits a snapmare, steps on her, and hits a dropkick for a two count. James quickly snaps her off the middle turnbuckle and slams her down. James kicks her in the chest for a two count. James applies a bode scissor. Natalya fights up, but James takes her down. Natalya quickly elbows her in the face. Natalya floors her with a discus clothesline and goes for a Sharpshooter, but Bliss gets on the apron. James chop blocks the knee. Rousey approaches Bliss, and Bliss quickly runs off. Rousey chases her around the ring. In the ring, Natalya rolls James up for the win. Bliss escapes Rousey.

Winner by Pinfall: Natalya

Ronda Rousey helps Natalya to her feet. Bliss stands on the ramp looking. Nia Jax comes out, and Bliss runs away. Jax gets in the ring and poses with Natalya and Rousey.

The commentators run down the Backlash card. Braun Strowman and Bobby Lashley taking on Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn has been added.

Backstage: Drew McIntyre, Dolph Ziggler

A handheld promo is shown with Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre. McIntyre says when he speaks, it’s real. While the other WWE Superstars are just happy to be there, there are two of them that are positive they deserve to be here. Ziggler says if he weren’t in this group, he’d be afraid. It’s about to get dangerous. They’re not here to steal the show. They’re going to take it.

WWE Intercontinental Championship
Seth Rollins (c) vs. Finn Balor

The bell rings, and they quickly tussle to the corner. Rollins shoves him coming out of the corner. They do some grappling before Rollins hooks a side headlock. Balor hits an arm drag before being sent into the ropes. Rollins elbows him down and sends him out of the ring before hitting a plancha.

We come back from the break to see Rollins applying a chin lock to Balor. During the commercial, Rollins whipped him hard into the corner twice. Balor fights up, and they trade chops. Rollins sends him to the corner, but he runs into boots. Balor takes him down with a few running forearms. Balor chops the chest before having a whip reversed on him. Balor slingshots over him and boots him, but Rollins soon gets away and hits a blockbuster. Rollins hits a running forearm in the corner and a reverse STO into the turnbuckles. Rollins hits a diving clothesline, and Balor rolls out of the ring to recover. Rollins connects with a suicide dive. Rollins tries for a second one, but Balor kicks him in the head. Balor gets on the apron and gets in the ring. Balor punches away at him before connecting with a big DDT for a near fall. Rollins quickly counters a Sling Blade, but Balor dropkicks him. Balor hits a reverse DDT elbow for a two count. Balor chops him a few times in the corner before Rollins comes back with a Sling Blade. Rollins hits a Ripcord Knee for a near fall.

Rollins gets to his feet, and the crowd is getting loud. Rollins kicks him in the midsection and hits the ropes, but Balor forearms him down. Balor takes him down and hits a double stomp to the midsection. They take a few moments before getting up. Balor kicks him down and goes to the top rope, but Rollins cuts him off. Balor fights out of a superplex attempt, but Rollins quickly scales the ropes and hits a superplex. Rollins tries to follow up, but Balor counters into a falcon arrow for a near fall! A “This is awesome” chant picks up. They trade forearms and chops. Rollins knees out of a 1916, but Balor comes back with an overhead kick. Balor then clotheslines him over the top rope. Balor then hits a summersault senton. Balor gets him in the ring and hits a stiff dropkick into the corner. Balor goes to the top rope, but Rollins avoids a Coup de Grace. Rollins kicks him and goes for the Stomp, but Balor moves. They trade roll-ups before Rollins tries another Stomp, but Balor moves. Balor then hits a Sling Blade. Balor goes for another running dropkick, but Rollins superkicks him. Rollins hits a Stomp for the win.

Winner and still WWE Intercontinental Champion: Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins will now go to WWE Backlash in Neweark, NJ to take on The Miz with the Intercontinental Championship on the line.

Quick Match Results

* Elias vs. Bobby Roode went to a No Contest
* The Authors of Pain def. Jean-Paul and Francois
* Ruby Riott def. Sasha Banks
* Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, and Roman Reigns def. Jinder Mahal, Kevin Owens, and Sami Zayn
* No Way Jose def. Baron Corbin
* Natalya def. Mickie James
* Seth Rollins def. Finn Balor to retain the WWE Intercontinental Championship

E-Mail – MikeyT817@gmail.com
Twitter – @MikeTedescoWV