WWE Raw returned the night after WrestleMania 41 with a high-energy episode that set the tone for the next chapter in WWE programming. The show aired live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on April 8, 2025, beginning at 8 p.m. ET and drawing significant attention from fans eager to observe the fallout from WrestleMania’s main events and the debut of modern storylines.
The episode opened with a surprise appearance by Cody Rhodes, who had just won the Undisputed WWE Championship at WrestleMania the night before. Rhodes addressed the crowd, reflecting on his victory over Roman Reigns and acknowledging the challenges ahead as the new face of the company. His speech was met with a sustained standing ovation, underscoring the emotional resonance of his win after years of pursuit.
One of the most talked-about moments came during a backstage segment where former WWE Champion Seth Rollins confronted Intercontinental Champion Bron Breakker. Rollins issued an open challenge for Breakker’s title, which was accepted on the spot, leading to a hard-hitting match later in the night. Rollins emerged victorious after hitting Breakker with a Curb Stomp, retaining his momentum as a top contender while elevating Breakker in defeat.
The women’s division also featured significant developments. WWE Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky defended her title in a rematch against Becky Lynch, who had failed to win the championship at WrestleMania. Sky retained after a controversial finish involving interference from Damage CTRL members Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane. Lynch expressed frustration post-match, setting up a potential feud that could extend into the coming weeks.
In tag team action, The Usos successfully defended their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championships against a team of Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa. The veteran duo showcased their chemistry, hitting a double-team maneuver for the win. After the match, Gargano and Ciampa showed mutual respect, hinting at a possible future alliance rather than a breakup.
A notable debut occurred when NXT star Trick Williams made his main roster appearance, attacking former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes during a backstage interview. The confrontation escalated into a brawl that required officials to separate them, signaling the continuation of their rivalry from NXT to the main roster—a move that drew strong reactions on social media.
The main event saw CM Punk face off against Drew McIntyre in a non-title bout. After a hard-fought match filled with near-falls and signature moves, Punk secured the win with a GTS following a failed Claymore Kick by McIntyre. The victory reinforced Punk’s status as a top-tier performer and added fuel to speculation about a future championship opportunity.
Throughout the night, WWE Raw averaged approximately 2.1 million viewers according to Nielsen ratings, with a peak audience of 2.4 million during the Cody Rhodes opening segment—a strong performance for post-WrestleMania programming. The show also generated over 1.2 million interactions on X (formerly Twitter) during its three-hour broadcast, with #WWERaw trending globally.
Looking ahead, WWE has announced that the next episode of Raw will feature a contract signing between Cody Rhodes and a mystery challenger for his Undisputed WWE Championship, with the identity of the opponent to be revealed on the upcoming Friday night SmackDown. A tournament to determine the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship is set to begin next week, featuring entrants like Shinsuke Nakamura, Ludwig Kaiser, and Braun Strowman.
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