WWE RAW Results – 4/23/18 (Brock Lesnar returns, Hype for Greatest Royal Rumble event)

WWE RAW Results
April 16, 2018
St. Louis, Missouri
Commentary: Michael Cole, Corey Graves and Jonathan Coachman
Results by: Mike Tedesco of Wrestleview.com

“Then. Now. Forever.” The WWE video leads us into the show.

In memory of Bruno Sammartino: 1935-2018. We go into the arena to hear loud “Bruno” chants. The WWE superstars are all on the stage with Vince McMahon. They are all wearing Bruno Sammartino shirts. To honor the life of WWE Hall of Famer Bruno Sammartino, they have a 10-bell salute. They then play an unbelievable video showcasing the life and times of Bruno Sammartino.

Brock Lesnar’s music hits, and the WWE Universal Champion makes his way to the ring alongside Paul Heyman. Lesnar comes out to a big reaction. This is RAW episode 1,300. Lesnar holds up the title, taunting the crowd, which is now booing him. We’ll hear from Lesnar and Heyman, next.

-Commercial Break-

Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman address the Cage Match

Brock Lesnar is mugging for the camera when we return from the commercial break. The crowd is loudly booing. Paul Heyman clears his voice on the microphone. Heyman says, “Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Paul Heyman, and I am the advocate for – and here’s how it goes – and STILL reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion, Brock Lesnar.” The crowd loudly boos, and Heyman just cackles into the microphone. Heyman says they’re bestowing them with their anger because they think he’s going to come out here tonight and gloat. They think Heyman and Lesnar are here to say they told us so and talk about how they conquered Roman Reigns, John Cena, and The Undertaker’s undefeated streak. When it comes to Brock Lesnar this is real. Any member of the locker room stands as much of a chance as the wannabes in the crowd. Heyman doesn’t give predictions. He gives spoilers. Brock Lesnar does not gloat. Brock Lesnar conquers. Paul Heyman gloats all night long over the fact that Brock Lesnar used very non-PG era elbows to scar up Roman Reigns’ face. Heyman gloats over Lesnar taking Reigns to Suplex City and multiple F5s. Lesnar left Reigns in a heap like Samoan trash at the biggest WrestleMania of all time. None of this means anything to Brock Lesnar. Lesnar does not dwell in the past, even when the past was only two weeks ago at WrestleMania. Lesnar looks forward to the future, especially when the future is this Friday in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Greatest Royal Rumble event. Brock Lesnar, who so craves to be in a UFC fight, will get on a private jet and fly across the world to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the mere opportunity to be locked inside of a cage with Roman Reigns.

A “Roman” chant lightly picks up. Heyman says being in a cage wasn’t Reigns’ idea. Lesnar pinned Reigns. WWE had no choice, so they had to give Lesnar a big, fat, beautiful contract with a substantial raise that was earned. The WWE told Lesnar they need the title defended in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Lesnar said if Reigns is still breathing, he wants Reigns in a fight for the title inside a steel cage. The odds are stacked against Reigns even more so than at WrestleMania. That is not a prediction. It’s a spoiler. Reigns is stepping into the cage against the greatest cage fighter in the Brock-tagon. This Friday in Saudi Arabia, Lesnar will shred Reigns and send him back to the United States in multiple boxes as a former WWE superstar and a victim of Brock Lesnar.

Roman Reigns’ music hits, and he comes out to boos from the crowd. Reigns gets in the ring and stares at Lesnar. Heyman watches with a maniacal look on his face from the apron. Lesnar laughs at Reigns and talks some trash. Reigns says Lesnar is right. He doesn’t know how he’ll get back, but he does know one thing. Reigns is coming home iwth the title. That gets a mixed reaction. Reigns says, “And you can believe that.” Lesnar lets out a sarcastic, “Oooh.” Reigns leaves the ring without any action taking place.