WWE Raw results, recap, grades: Seth Rollins stomps Drew McIntyre, strong new group forms

McIntyre and Andrade closed the show in a main event, but it was Rollins' moment to strike

Like it or not, WWE returned to live programming -- though still from the empty WWE Performance Center -- for Raw, and they began a strong build to May's Money in the Bank pay-per-view. Rather than go for a slow draw to May 10, the show hosted a trio of women's Money in the Bank qualifying matches while building to three men's qualifying matches next week. Also, WWE champion Drew McIntyre once again was featured, this time against Andrade after a strong night for the United States champion's growing stable.

Andrade was the man responsible for ending McIntyre's reign as NXT champion, injuring the Scot in the process. Zelina Vega helped get the match set up to open the show before Andrade, Austin Theory and Angel Garza took out Theory and Garza's opponents throughout the show. The champion vs. champion match served as the night's main event, but after three hours of build, it wasn't either man but instead Seth Rollins who ended the show standing tall.

Let's take a look at everything that went down during a very strong edition of Raw featuring plenty of meaningful moments and some strong in-ring action.

WWE Raw results, grades

WWE champion Drew McIntyre opened the show in the ring, thanking fans for their support and discussing the surreal situation involving beating Brock Lesnar to win the title at WrestleMania 36 and then having to beat The Big Show 20 minutes later. McIntyre said he set the tone for his title reign and anyone who deserves a shot at the title, will get a shot at the title before being interrupted by Andrade and manager Vega. McIntyre admitted he remembered Andrade beating him for the NXT championship and injuring him in the process. McIntyre said if Andrade wants a champion vs. champion match, he's got it ... tonight.

Asuka vs. Ruby Riott in a women's Money in the Bank qualifying match: This was a strong opening match for the show with two of the best pure wrestlers in the women's locker room. Riott managed to give as good as she got until Riott went for a backward senton from the second rope. Asuka turned the miss into nearly sinking in the Asuka Lock. Riott was able to counter the first attempt into a near fall, but moments later Asuka did lock up the hold for the submission victory, qualifying her for the Money in the Bank ladder match. After the match, Asuka announced, "Money in the Bank, nobody is ready for Asuka." Asuka def. Riott via submission -- Grade: B

MVP announced that next week on Raw, there will be three Money in the Bank qualifying matches. Those matches will be Rey Mysterio vs. Murphy, Aleister Black vs. Austin Theory and Apollo Crews vs. MVP.

Aleister Black vs. Oney Lorcan: Much like last week, Black was put through a tough, lengthy wrestling match. Lorcan and Black didn't go nearly 30 minutes like Black and Apollo Crews last week, but this may have been better for it. Lorcan and Black drilled each other with heavy strikes through the match before Black finally hit Black Mass for the pin. After his victory, Black said his plan for next week's match against Austin Theory was simply "to win." Black def. Lorcan via pinfall -- Grade: B+

Becky Lynch cut an in-ring promo. Lynch addressed beating Shayna Baszler at WrestleMania. Lynch said someone like Baszler, who is a bully, can never beat someone who has been bred to grind her way through anything. The Raw women's champ also dared the winner of the Money in the Bank match, whoever that may be, to think and name a time and place to take her on for the title.

Shayna Baszler vs. Sarah Logan in a women's Money in the Bank qualifying match: Before the match, Baszler was asked about Ronda Rousey's recent comments calling pro wrestling "fake fighting;" she provided no answer. Baszler absolutely brutalized Logan, taking her down before hitting her with a series of strikes and then stomping on the arm of Logan, causing Logan to scream out in pain and the referee to stop the match moments after it began. This did a great job of showing Baszler's ruthlessness and struggle to cope with coming up short against Lynch, even if the match was too short to be worth much beyond that story beat. Baszler def. Logan via stoppage -- Grade: B-

Austin Theory vs. Akira Tozawa: Given Theory's spot in a Money in the Bank qualifier against Aleister Black next week, WWE needed to give Theory a win and make him a threat to advance. The match was given a little time, also serving the purpose of getting over Theory's talent against an established talent. Theory picked up the win with his TKO, which they've named the ATL (Austin Theory Launch). After the match, Andrade and Garza hit the ring to put a little more of a beatdown on Tozawa. Theory def. Tozawa via pinfall -- Grade: B-

Rey Mysterio was interviewed backstage about Money in the Bank. Mysterio said that looking back through his career, 2010 stands out because he had won his second championship when Kane cashed in just two months later to win the title. Mysterio said he understands better than anyone how dangerous that contract can be and this year, he will be Mr. Money in the Bank.

Seth Rollins cut a three sentence promo backstage. "Everyone needs something to have faith in," Rollins said. "I want you to know that I am still here for you. Your messiah has truly risen."

Angel Garza vs. Tehuti Miles: Garza took over from the jump, countering a leapfrog attempt with a big dropkick. It didn't take much longer for Garza to finish off the young NXT talent, hitting the Wing Clipper for the squash win. Again, after the victory, Zelina Vega's boys joined their stablemate to lay a beatdown on the loser. Garza def. Miles via pinfall -- Grade: C+

Kairi Sane and Asuka were interviewed backstage. Asuka said Riott was not ready for her earlier in the night. Sane was asked about her upcoming match with Nia Jax, answered in Japanese and left.

A fired-up Drew McIntyre was interviewed backstage. He discussed being injured by Andrade in NXT, saying he does not forgive and does not forget while admitting how close Andrade was from taking everything he'd worked so hard for.

Nia Jax vs. Kairi Sane in a women's Money in the Bank qualifying match: For the second straight week, Jax was dominant in the ring. Sane tried an early hit and run strategy, but was overtaken by the power of Jax before the powerhouse hit the Annihilator for the win, advancing to the Money in the Bank. Jax def. Sane via pinfall -- Grade: C

Charlotte Flair cut an in-ring promo, giving "history lessons." Flair explained how current history started with her winning the Royal Rumble and her choice of whose title to challenge for. She said she'd already dealt with Becky Lynch and Bayley several times and they didn't bother to make a challenge, but Rhea Ripley made the "ballsy" move to throw down the challenge, ultimately becoming NXT champion by beating her at WrestleMania. Flair said Ripley called her out because she wants to be like "The Queen," but she lacked humility and an understanding that "there are levels to this."  Flair said she will teach a lesson to Io Shirai, starting with lesson one: "Everyone bows to The Queen." Grade: B

Bobby Lashley vs. No Way Jose: Lashley was in firm control of the match when he was distracted by Lana at ringside, telling her to shut her mouth. That distraction almost allowed No Way Jose to score a schoolboy pinfall victory. Instead, Lashley kicked out and hit a spear to score the win, reluctantly having his hand raised by Lana. Lashley def. No Way Jose via pinfall -- Grade: C+

Seth Rollins again cut a brief promo backstage, saying, "To all the non-believers, you have left me no alternative. Tonight, I stomp out all doubt."

The Viking Raiders vs. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet: The Raiders were returning to action for the first time in weeks against the new hot tag team in Ricochet and Alexander, who were wearing matching black and yellow ring gear. Some hot offense by Ricochet and Alexander was cut off when Ricochet was thrown from the ring onto Alexander. The match continued to go back and forth with a ton of action by all four men. Eventually, the Raiders were able to hit The Viking Experience to finish off the match and score the big win in a really top-notch tag match, though it could be considered a little early to have the new tag team take a clean loss. Viking Raiders def. Alexander & Ricochet via pinfall -- Grade: B+

The Street Profits introduced Bianca Belair during a backstage interview. The moment was Belair's "official" welcome to the Raw roster. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins said they have respect for both The Viking Raiders and all Vikings, pointing out several fact including introducing "egg" and "happy" to the English language. Belair told the boys to stop playing games and "get that smoke" because they've not had success against the Raiders in the past.

Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Andrade (c) in a non-title match: Andrade was accompanied to the ring by Vega, Garza and Theory. Andrade opened the match with a huge chop that had no effect other than drawing out a headbutt from the WWE champ. McIntyre brutalized the chest of the challenger with a series of huge chops before distraction allowed Andrade to take the match over by ramming the Scot's shoulder into the ringpost. Andrade focused on the same arm McIntyre injured in their NXT TakeOver meeting three years prior. McIntyre tossed Andrade over the top rope onto Theory and Garza on the outside before Vega interfered again. McIntyre avoided the hammerlock DDT and hit a Claymore Kick to score the win and retain his championship. McIntyre def. Andrade via pinfall. Seth Rollins ran in after the win, attacking McIntyre. A Garza chop block allowed Rollins to hit a superkick and drop the champion. Rollins finished things off with not one, but two stomps as the show went off the air, ending a strong edition of Raw on a very intriguing note. Grade: B+

[Apr 13, 2020 at 11:00 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Seth Rollins ran in after the win, attacking McIntyre. A Garza chop block allowed Rollins to hit a superkick and drop the champion. Rollins finished things off with not one, but two stomps as the show went off the air, ending a strong edition of Raw on a very intriguing note. Grade: B+

[Apr 13, 2020 at 10:59 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

WWE Championship -- Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Andrade: Andrade was accompanied to the ring by Zelina Vega, Angel Garza and Austin Theory. Andrade opened the match with a huge chop that had no effect other than drawing out a headbutt from the WWE champ. McIntyre brutalized the chest of the challenger with a series of huge chops before distraction allowed Andrade to take the match over by ramming the Scot's shoulder into the ringpost. Adrade focused on the same arm McIntyre injured in their NXT TakeOver meeting three years prior. McIntyre tossed Andrade over the top rope onto Theory and Garza on the outside before Vega interfered again. McIntyre avoided the hammerlock DDT and hit a Claymore Kick to score the win and retain his championship. Drew McIntyre def. Andrade to retain the champioship. Grade: B

[Apr 13, 2020 at 10:50 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

The Street Profits introduced Bianca Belair during a backstage interview. The moment was Belair's "official" welcome to the Raw roster. Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins said they have respect for both The Viking Raiders and all Vikings, pointing out several fact including introducing "egg" and "happy" to the English language. Belair told the boys to stop playing games and "get that smoke" because they've not had success against the Raiders in the past.

[Apr 13, 2020 at 10:45 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

The Viking Raiders vs. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet: The Raiders were returning to action for the first time in weeks against the new hot tag team in Ricochet and Alexander, who were wearing matching black and yellow ring gear. Some hot offense by Ricochet and Alexander was cut off when Ricochet was thrown from the ring onto Alexander. The match continued to go back and forth with a ton of action by all four men. Eventually, the Raiders were able to hit The Viking Experience to finish off the match and score the big win in a really top-notch tag match, though it could be considered a little early to have the new tag team take a clean loss. Viking Raiders def. Cedric Alexander & Ricochet via pinfall. Grade: B+

[Apr 13, 2020 at 10:25 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Seth Rollins again cut a brief promo backstage, saying, "To all the non-believers, you have left me no alternative. Tonight, I stomp out all doubt."

[Apr 13, 2020 at 10:24 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Bobby Lashley vs. No Way Jose: Lashley was in firm control of the match when he was distracted by Lana at ringside, telling her to shut her mouth. That distraction almost allowed No Way Jose to score a schoolboy pinfall victory. Instead, Lashley kicked out and hit a spear to score the win, reluctantly having his hand raised by Lana. Bobby Lashley def. No Way Jose via pinfall. Grade: C+