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After three plus hours of NXT TakeOver: New York, four hours of the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame awards ceremony, and over seven hours of WrestleMania 35, the New York faithful were jonesing for more wrestling and WWE delivered.
In what has traditionally been the most exciting RAW of the year, the episode after WrestleMania sets the tone for the next 365-day journey to the show of shows and that's exactly what tonight's RAW did.
This particular 2019 incarnation of the super show featured the shocking return of an iconic WWE legend, a historic champion vs champion unification match, the next major challenger to Becky Lynch's championships, a long-anticipated debut and more.
We unpack all of that in 5 Memorable Moments From The RAW After WrestleMania 35.
#5 Lacey Evans Ruins Becky Lynch's Post WrestleMania Celebration
Former NXT Superstar Lacey Evans has been toying with us for quite some time. There has been a Lacey Evans appearance at numerous WWE shows, however, she didn't make it clear what her intentions were on the main roster, let alone get physical on WWE television.
She has looked fantastic working WWE house shows and there have been rumblings that the company has huge plans for the United States Marine, but other than strut a fancy model walk, Evans hasn't done much since being called up to the main roster in December 2018.
All of that changed at tonight's RAW After Mania. A confident Becky Lynch came to the ring to celebrate her dual championship conquest at WrestleMania 35, but after Lynch was finished with her victory speech, Evans made her way down the entrance ramp.
Fans had little reason to suspect that Evans would do anymore than her usual strut routine, but tonight she inserted herself as a major championship player.
Evans delivered a devastating Women's Right to Lynch and the two women engaged in a brawl outside the ring.
Lynch tried everything in her power to put Evans in the Dis-Arm-Her, but Evans was simply too strong to be overpowered by the RAW and SmackDown Women's Champion.
Eventually, the brawl was broken up by WWE officials, but not before Evans asserted herself as a force to reckoned with for the foreseeable future in WWE.
#4 Lars Sullivan Debuts
Wrestling fans have been expecting Lars Sullivan's main roster debut for quite some time now.
Rumors slated the former NXT Superstar as John Cena's WrestleMania 35 opponent, however, severe social anxiety challenges derailed Sullivan's debut and WrestleMania 35 opportunity.
Week after week, fans were left guessing as to when WWE's newest monster big man would make his main roster debut if he would ever even debut at all.
Tonight, Sullivan answered any and all speculation. After Kurt Angle made his way to the ring to silence the braggadocious Baron Corbin with an Angle Slam and an ankle lock, the beastly 6'3", 300-pound behemoth made his way to the ring in terrifying fashion.
Sullivan and the WWE Hall of Famer stood toe to toe in the ring and engaged in a stare down. Like an enraged Kodiak bear, Sullivan inevitably got his hands on Angle and left the retired WWE Superstar incapacitated on the ring floor.
As the New York faithful chastised Sullivan for attacking a living legend, the gargantuan showed no remorse.
Instead, he showed his athletic prowess by climbing to the top rope and delivering a devastating flying head butt onto Angle. Unfazed by his brutality, Sullivan then made his exit, as the fans in attendance stood silenced by the terrifying beast of a man.
#3 Sami Zayn Returns
Wrestling fans have been awaiting Sami Zayn's return since the WWE Superstar took time off last June to address injuries to both of his shoulders.
It was later revealed that Zayn's condition was even worse than initially suspected and both shoulders required surgery that would sideline the WWE Superstar for nearly over nine months.
Finally, Zayn made his RAW return and was eager for a match. He called for an opponent and out came newly crowned Intercontinental Champion Finn Balor, who put his title on the line against Zayn.
Just as they had previously in NXT, the two delivered a stellar match even though Zayn did show some ring rust. In the end, Balor edged out Zayn, but the real beauty came after the bout's conclusion.
Zayn took to the microphone and in true heel fashion admitted to never missing wrestling or the fans. He was brutally honest in his assessment of the smart marks in attendance,
"Your lives seem so empty and so devoid of any meaning....you only get joy and satisfaction out of being critics."
The Canadian born Superstar continued,
"It's the only thing that gives you some sort of importance. You judge everything and everyone except yourselves because none of you have the balls to look inside yourselves because you know the ugliness and the cynicism that's inside you."
Zayn referred to wrestling fans as "evil overlords" and promised to hold them all accountable week after week. He then closed simply with, "See you in hell."
#2 Kofi Kingston Makes A Historic Challenge
RAW got off to an impressive start as newly crowned Universal Champion Seth Rollins made his way to the ring to recount how he vanquished WWE's Beast.
Surprisingly, Rollins was interrupted by The New Day, who made their way to the ring along with newly crowned WWE Champion Kofi Kingston.
The trio reminisced about WrestleMania 35 and recalled Becky Lynch's historic victory in last night's first ever all-female main event match.
Kingston pondered the possibility of a Winner Takes All Match with each of WWE's world championships on the line. He then proceeded to challenge Rollins, who gladly accepted.
The two would later meet in RAW's main event and the match looked to be another classic but was ruined by The Bar, who attacked Kingston mid-match.
While wrestling fans didn't get the conclusion they desired, Seth Rollins promised, "We'll do this again some other time," before he and Kingston teamed up in a successful effort against Sheamus and Cesaro.
#1 The Dead Man Cometh
An Undertaker return will never get old.
Elias bit off more than he could chew when he entered the ring in a misguided attempt to vanquish John Cena with a rap.
WWE's resident musical wonder made an awful mistake when he uttered the line, "The next person to come out will be a dead man."
The Undertaker gladly answered Elias' tired prose. As the bell tolled and the arena darkened, a familiar mist covered WWE's entrance ramp. Then the legendary Deadman began making his way to the ring. The energy that permeated throughout the arena was palpable.
As the legendary WWE Superstar made his way to the center of the ring, Elias was in an obvious battle with his conscience. Should he confront The Undertaker or should he just leave things alone?
Elias answered the devil on his shoulder and paid dearly for it. He approached The Undertaker and received a devastating big boot for his efforts.
This was followed by the customary chokeslam and of course, The Undertaker's trademark Tombstone Piledriver. The crowd roared in approval as The Undertaker returned to stake his claim on familiar territory and to once again prove that WWE is still his yard.
Have a look at the results from this week's RAW (8th April 2019) right here on Sportskeeda!
