WWE Raw: Kofi Kingston pins Bobby Lashley in main event

WWE WrestleMania Backlash was a night ago, and wrestling fans were pleasantly surprised with the majority of the evening. There were several great matches to look back to and a ridiculous experience with zombies. Yes, zombies. Nonetheless, WWE Raw followed one night later and after a major WWE Network special the stories with the top stars on the promotion were headed for another turn.

The night started out with Bobby Lashley looking to celebrate his victory with an open challenge against a new contender, but Drew McIntyre made his way down to the ring. The faceoff ended with Lashley and McIntyre getting physical once again, throwing questions around who is next for the champion.

The first match of the night featured one-half of the tag team champions, with AJ Styles competed against Elias in a singles match.

Elias got off to a quick start, attacking Styles right at the bell but Styles did not need much time to rebound and take over. The two men exchanged shifts in momentum early in the match. But when the match ended up outside the ring, Elias remained in control while keeping a close eye on Omos.

Back in the ring they continued to exchange strikes until Elias tossed Styles with a back body drop and a spinebuster. Elias slowed the match down, using a chin lock to keep Styles on the mat. Styles, picked up, turning the tables with a Pele Kick and then a back breaker. Elias countered with a pump knee into the Drift Away, but Styles kicked out of the pinfall. The match would end when Ryker pulled Styles off the top rope as he went for the Phenomenal Forearm, causing a distraction.

AJ Styles defeated Elias via disqualification.

Angel Garza was out next for singles action of his own against Drew Gulak.

Gulak got off to an early start but he could not stop much of Garza’s offense. It was not long before Gulak was hit with the Wing Clipper, ending the one-sided battle, and giving Gulak another victory.

Angela Garza defeated Drew Gulak via pinfall.

Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton have years of beef between them, and they faced off once again on Monday Night Raw.

Kingston got off to take the advantage first but made the mistake of following Orton outside the ring. His quickness helped once the action returned inside the ring, who had Orton off balance. It was an underhanded tactic that allowed Orton to turn things around, landing some nasty uppercuts on the former WWE champion.

Kingston continued to fight back but Orton stayed on top of him, finally getting some space after a dropkick. His momentum grew until Orton hit his powerslam. Orton was looking to finish off Kingston, but Xavier Woods started playing his trombone, allowing Kingston to roll up Orton to pick up the victory.

Kofi Kingston defeated Randy Orton via pinfall.

The women’s tag team titles were up in a rematch as Natalya and Tamina defended their titles against Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax.

Jax started out the match running right through Natalya, quacking tagging out to Baszler to keep the damage going. Baszler grounded Natalya and slowed the match down with brutal grappling. The former champions kept exchanging tags, keeping Natalya isolated on their side of the ring.

Tamina was finally tagged in and she was able to fight back against both women briefly. However, Alexa Bliss made another appearance, this time shooting flames from the ring post that impacted Reginald as he was about to interfere. That distraction did enough to allow Tamina and Natalya to hit the Hart Attack for the victory.

Natalya and Tamina defeated Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax via pinfall.

There was yet another rematch up next, as Sheamus was out to face Ricochet once again, after defeating him last night at WrestleMania Backlash.

Ricochet got under Sheamus’s skin and used that to his advantage until Sheamus plastered him with a clothesline. The beating would ensue as Sheamus had his way with the smaller man. Ricochet used a chin breaker to get a bit of space, even knocking Sheamus from the ring with a kick to the head. Diving over the top rope did not help him however, as Sheamus caught him, slamming his back into the turnbuckle then throwing him into the timekeeper’s area.

Ricochet eventually landed several right hands to drop Sheamus down to his knees. Just as it looked like he was gaining momentum, he would run right into the Irish Curse backbreaker. Ricochet landed a big Spanish Fly from the top rope, but Sheamus kept battling back. Ricochet landed a standing shooting star press but Sheamus kicked out again. Ricochet made the mistake of going for a springboard moonsault but Sheamus countered.

Ricochet was close to winning the match after another big dive onto Sheamus outside the ring. Sheamus nearly won after a nasty counter kick but Ricochet survived long enough to eat a Brogue Kick to the face. Sheamus wins via pin.

Sheamus defeated Ricochet via pinfall.

Women’s singles action was up next with a rematch between Charlotte Flair and Asuka.

Asuka and Flair started off the match making it clear that that are remarkably familiar with each other, going for counter after counter. Asuka had the early advantage after landing a hip attack to Flair’s head while she was on the apron. It did not take long before Rhea Ripley came down to ringside to watch.

Flair took over, grounding Asuka for a moment before hitting a fallaway slam. Flair was in firm control, stomping away on Asuka before landing a basement dropkick. Asuka rallied back, landing her own strikes into a clothesline. The women would exchange pin attempts with neither being able to get the fall. Flair tied Asuka up with a figure four around her head, keeping the champion on the mat. Asuka landed a kick to Flair’s head, that left both women stunned.

Flair went for the Natural Selection but Asuka countered. Then Asuka countered on the top rope, stopping Flair from hitting the Spanish Fly, using that opportunity to score a dropkick. Asuka even used a Scissor Sweep entry into the Kneebar, but Flair fought out just to be wrapped up into a triangle. Flair switched up her focus by attacking Asuka’s legs. But even with that focus she found herself wrapped up in a pinning combination after Flair accidentally hit Ripley. Asuka used that distraction to counter the Figure Eight, rolling into the victory combination.

Asuka defeated Charlotte Flair via pinfall.

Another lumberjack match was featured at Monday Night Raw as Damian Priest and John Morrison faced off in a match.

Morrison tried to match strength with Priest at the start of the match, but that did not play out in his favor. Priest was knocked outside the ring and some of the lumberjacks attacked him, softening him up for Morrison’s striking. Morrison ended up outside the ring as well and used his acrobatic abilities to avoid the lumberjacks, but still ate a chokeslam for his trouble when he got back into the ring.

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Morrison found his own offense, hitting a springboard kick and following it up with a knee as Priest returned to the ring. Priest continued to dominate this match, nearly pinning Morrison again until he was tossed outside the ring again. Priest would even hit a Superplex onto Morrison outside the ring, landing in a pile of lumberjacks.

Damian Priest defeated John Morrison via pinfall.

Bobby Lashley made it a point to find a new challenger and his open challenge went answered by Kofi Kingston. MVP said that it was not for the title however, causing Kingston to jump Lashley before the bell. Kingston went to his quickness to catch Lashley off balance, knocking the champion outside of the ring.

Back in the ring, Kingston continued the offensive, but it was not long until Lashley took over with a nasty elbow. Lashley even hit a delayed vertical suplex, but Kingston continued to kick out. Lashley’s power was on full display, but Kingston continued to fight back.

Woods once again helped his partner by playing the trombone, giving Kingston an opening. But unlike earlier in the evening, Lashley immediately took over, ramming Kingston into the steel post. However, Woods interfered again and was sent to the back, allowing MVP to attempt to get involved. McIntyre came out to support Kingston and the distraction was enough to allow Kingston to roll up Lashley, picking up the win.

Kofi Kingston defeated Bobby Lashley via pinfall.