‘WWE Raw’ Review (Apr 20th 2026)
Welcome to our review of this past Monday’s episode of WWE Raw, the “Raw after Wrestlemania” that is SO hyped every year, right here on Nerdly! Let’s see what went down on this special show…
Match #1: Rhea Ripley & IYO SKY def. The Kabuki Warriors
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After IYO SKY dove through the ropes to take out Asuka at ringside, new WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley hit Kairi Sane with Riptide. Moments later, The Genius of the Sky landed Over the Moonsault for the three-count.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Ethan Page def. Je’Von Evans
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
As Ethan Page battled Je’Von Evans in his first career match on Raw, Evans got into a ringside conflict with Rusev. This caused a delay that gave Page an opportunity to recover. He seized the moment by knocking his bouncy opponent off the top rope before hitting Twisted Grin for the win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Liv Morgan def. Sol Ruca
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
As new Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan celebrated her WrestleMania victory over Stephanie Vaquer, she was interrupted by the debuting former NXT North American Champion Sol Ruca. In the impromptu non-title matchup that followed, Zaria suddenly attacked her friend-turned-enemy at ringside as the official was tending to Liv inside the ring. Although Sol beat the count back into the ring, she walked right into Oblivion to hand Morgan the victory. After the match, Liv was confronted by Stephanie Vaquer.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Finn Bálor def. JD McDonagh
The following is courtesy of wwe.com:
After Finn Bálor defeated former friend JD McDonagh with the Coup de Grace, Dominik Mysterio attempted a sneak attack on The Prince. However, the attempt backfired, and Mysterio was forced to retreat.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Ethan Page made his Raw debut
- Sol Ruca made her Raw debut
Final Verdict: 3/5
For a show that lives and dies on its reputation, this year’s “Raw after WrestleMania” never quite hit the explosive heights fans have come to expect. Instead, this felt like a steady reset episode – laying foundations rather than delivering must-see moments. In the ring, everything was solid without ever truly breaking out. The opening tag match delivered the goods, with Rhea Ripley and IYO SKY looking every bit like a dominant pairing, while Liv Morgan’s segment furthered her momentum nicely and kept Stephanie Vaquer in the spotlight. Elsewhere, Ethan Page and Sol Ruca’s debuts gave the show a welcome injection of fresh talent, even if neither moment felt as impactful as it perhaps should have on a night like this. The biggest issue? A lack of truly shocking moments or standout segments. This episode ticked a lot of boxes, but rarely went beyond that, and for a “Raw after Mania,” that’s a bit of a letdown. Still, it wasn’t a bad show by any means – just one that played things a little too safe when it should’ve swung for the fences.
