Joe Hendry is now officially part of WWE RAW, with his first major segment already confirmed for next week’s show.

The announcement was made during the April 20 WWE RAW following WrestleMania, as commentator Michael Cole revealed that Hendry is now a member of the RAW roster. Corey Graves reacted on commentary with visible disapproval, adding to the moment.

Hendry’s first featured appearance is set for next week’s WWE RAW, where he will host a live concert segment. The show will take place in Laredo.

Hendry had previously been rumored for a main roster call-up earlier in 2026 when SmackDown expanded to three hours, but those plans did not materialize at the time. Instead, he remained in NXT, where he captured the NXT Championship and held it for 60 days.

His title reign came to an end at Stand & Deliver, where he lost the championship in a four-way match to Tony D’Angelo.

Hendry also appeared on SmackDown recently, competing in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, which was won by Royce Keys.

Next week’s WWE RAW is shaping up to feature several key segments. In addition to Hendry’s concert, Becky Lynch is scheduled to appear following her WrestleMania victory over AJ Lee to win the Women’s Intercontinental Championship.

Roman Reigns and Jacob Fatu are also advertised for the show, continuing their developing situation after WrestleMania 42.

With Hendry now officially on WWE RAW and set for a featured segment, his transition from NXT to the main roster is now complete.

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The April 20 episode of WWE RAW took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, continuing the tradition of major moments following WrestleMania 42.

The RAW after WrestleMania is known for surprises, and this year delivered another key return that impacts the tag team division.

During the show, Paul Heyman and The Vision were in the ring for a promo segment when Seth Rollins interrupted and attacked both Bron Breakker and The Vision. The situation escalated quickly, with Rollins gaining the upper hand before the numbers shifted against him.

That’s when The Street Profits made their return.

The duo entered to a strong reaction and immediately evened the odds, stopping the attack and clearing the ring. Their return added momentum to the segment and signaled a fresh direction for the tag team division.

This marked their first major WWE television appearance in months. After failing to defeat The Wyatt Sicks for the WWE Tag Team Titles on the October 10 episode of SmackDown, they were taken off television. During that period, they only competed in limited appearances, including a Main Event match in late October and a small number of NXT house show matches in January.

The absence was reportedly due to a creative reset, with WWE taking time to reposition the team.

The Street Profits have previously held multiple championships across WWE, including the RAW Tag Team Titles, SmackDown Tag Team Titles, and NXT Tag Team Titles. Their return immediately places them back into the mix in a division that continues to evolve after WrestleMania.

With WWE RAW setting the stage for new programs, their return adds depth and experience to the tag team scene moving forward.

Street Profits Return on WWE RAW

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Jacob Fatu made his intentions clear on the April 20 episode of WWE RAW, stepping up to challenge Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at WWE Backlash.

The newly crowned champion appeared in the closing segment of WWE RAW after WrestleMania 42, accompanied by The Usos. He addressed recent tensions involving CM Punk and outside criticism, making it clear that the situation had changed now that he holds the championship.

Fatu then interrupted, coming off his WrestleMania victory over Drew McIntyre in an unsanctioned match. He stated directly that he is not just interested in what Reigns has, but that he needs it, before issuing a challenge for a title match at Backlash.

Reigns did not accept immediately. Instead, he told Fatu to take a week to think about the challenge, questioning whether he is ready for the responsibilities that come with being World Heavyweight Champion. Reigns and The Usos then left the ring, ending the segment without a confirmed match.

This aligns with WrestlingAttitude.com’s report, which indicated that Jacob Fatu was next in line for Roman Reigns, contradicting earlier reports that suggested Oba Femi or GUNTHER would be his immediate challengers.

The confrontation suggests Fatu is now part of WWE RAW moving forward. He had previously been aligned with SmackDown, where he held both the United States Championship and Tag Team Championship. His prior appearances on WWE RAW were limited, including a dark match in 2024.

Fatu and Reigns share history through The Bloodline storyline, but they have not faced each other in a singles match. With Reigns coming off his WrestleMania win over CM Punk, the potential matchup would represent a new chapter in that rivalry.

The segment also clarifies WWE’s immediate direction, indicating that Fatu is the leading challenger for Reigns heading into Backlash, scheduled for May 9 in Tampa.

Jacob Fatu Challenges Roman Reigns for World Title at WWE Backlash

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Sol Ruca made her WWE RAW debut following WrestleMania 42, immediately setting her sights on Liv Morgan and the Women’s World Championship.

Morgan opened the segment celebrating her WrestleMania victory over Stephanie Vaquer alongside Judgment Day when Ruca interrupted. She acknowledged Morgan’s status, stating she realized her level during the Women’s Royal Rumble in January, where they were the final two competitors.

Morgan responded by dismissing Ruca and making it clear she did not view her as a threat. Ruca answered directly.

“I didn’t come out to pick a fight, but I’m not going to back down from one either.”

That led to Adam Pearce making a match on the spot.

The match featured multiple momentum swings. Morgan hit Oblivion early, but Ruca quickly recovered and responded with the Sol Snatcher. Morgan avoided the pinfall by rolling out of the ring. Ruca then followed with a high-risk springboard dive to the outside onto Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez, drawing a strong reaction from the crowd.

The finish came after interference from Zaria, who drove Ruca into the ring post while the referee was distracted. Ruca barely made it back into the ring before the count, but Morgan capitalized by delivering a second Oblivion to secure the win.

Despite the loss, Ruca’s performance established her as a credible presence on WWE RAW.

Ruca is scheduled to face Zaria on WWE NXT in a Last Woman Standing match, which could mark her final appearance before a full-time move to the main roster.

While this was her official RAW debut, Ruca has previously appeared on SmackDown, Main Event, and Saturday Night’s Main Event, where she picked up a win over Bayley.

Sol Ruca Makes WWE RAW Debut, Targets Liv Morgan After WrestleMania 42

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Mark Shapiro has spoken about WWE’s evolving direction, explaining why some fans may not agree with the company’s current approach.

During an appearance at the University of Alabama, Shapiro discussed TKO’s involvement in WWE’s creative and business strategy, including the increased use of celebrity talent and expanded media partnerships.

He pointed to crossover figures such as Logan Paul, Pat McAfee, and NBA players Tyrese Haliburton and Jalen Brunson as examples of WWE focusing on broader mainstream appeal.

Shapiro acknowledged that this strategy comes with trade-offs.

“We’re spending a lot more money to market the brand and market the content,” he said. “And when you do that, you’re gonna win some folks over, but you’re also gonna chase some folks away. They don’t like this or they don’t like that. This is too expensive or, ‘Oh my God, to watch the WWE, I gotta buy Netflix which costs this much, I gotta watch SmackDown on USA, I gotta do that, I gotta have CW so I have to have cable. And now I have to pay for ESPN.’ And you can make some enemies really quickly.”

His comments come after WrestleMania 42 became the first edition of WWE’s flagship show to roll out under a new multi-platform distribution model. In the United States, the event included ESPN Unlimited, with the first hour of each night also simulcast on ESPN and ESPN2.

Shapiro emphasized that this approach reflects a broader trend across sports and entertainment, not just WWE.

“I was just reading something today,” he said. “If you want to watch the Yankees games this year, the full season through the playoffs, you’ll have to watch them across 10 platforms at the cost of a thousand dollars when you add up everything you have to buy to see them. That’s just the way of the world today.”

The comments highlight WWE’s current direction under TKO, focusing on increased visibility, cross-platform distribution, and mainstream partnerships, even as it risks dividing parts of its audience.

TKO President Mark Shapiro Addresses WWE Changing Strategy and Fan Reactions

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