WWE RAW Results: April 25, 2016By Cassidy| April 26, 2016 WWE Raw Previous Page Detailed Results RAW kicks off with Shane McMahon as, for the fifth week in a row, “Shane-O-Mac” was in charge of Monday Night RAW. Shane says that this Sunday’s Payback will be the first event of a “new era”. Shane then says that they are going to keep the action rolling with “new faces” and “new matchups”, saying they are going to “have some fun”. However, Shane’s address is interrupted by his sister as WWE Principal Owner Stephanie McMahon makes her first appearance since WrestleMania, making her way to the ring to confront her brother. Stephanie says that Shane can’t just “pander” to the Hartford crowd, saying Hartford residents are “tough” and they are tired of politicians feeding them “lies” and she knows this because she’s one of them. Stephanie then says that she was born in Hartford Hospital and they are her people. Shane says that Stephanie sure knows how to take the “air” out of the room before saying that he knew that, at some point, Stephanie and her husband would show back up on RAW. Stephanie then says that Hartford wanted to honor her with a “statue” or the “keys to the city”, saying that she’s “not one to gloat” before declaring that tonight is Shane’s last night running RAW. Stephanie then announces that, this Sunday at Payback, their father WWE Chairman Vince McMahon will be on hand as Mr. McMahon will announce who will be running RAW going forward, either Shane McMahon or The Authority! Shane then taunts his sister by polling the crowd on who they want to see run RAW on a regular basis with the fans overwhelmingly supportive of Shane. Stephanie responds by saying that it’s a good thing that the Chairman doesn’t let the fans make the decisions before saying that she has it on “good authority” that things aren’t exactly going to go Shane’s way this Sunday. Shane then asks his sister to leave the ring, but Stephanie refuses before Shane reminds his sister that, regardless of what happens at Payback, he is still in charge of RAW tonight. Shane then calls for security to come out to escort Stephanie out of the arena! Stephanie then reluctantly exits the ring, but not before she has some parting words for her brother. Stephanie then tells security not to touch her, but when one security guard doesn’t comply, Stephanie repeatedly slaps the security guard, prompting a more forceful effort from the security team as Stephanie is kicked out of the arena, kicking and screaming! Six nights before he challenges Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback, AJ Styles was in action on RAW as “The Phenomenal One” would go one-on-one with “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus in the opening match of the night. In a classic battle of speed versus power, it was speed winning out on this occasion as AJ Styles would avoid the Brogue Kick from Sheamus, hanging Sheamus up on the top rope before taking flight with the Phenomenal Forearm to “The Celtic Warrior”, pinning Sheamus to pick up the win. After the match, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson would come out to the stage, applauding their running buddy from New Japan as “The Phenomenal One” glares at Gallows & Anderson, visibly displeased with their appearance. With the new #1 Contenders set to be determined in the Finals of the #1 Contenders’ Tag Team Tournament between The Vaudevillains and Enzo & Cass this Sunday at Payback, the WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day were on RAW. However, it wouldn’t take long for the champions to be interrupted by the potential #1 Contenders for their titles, The Vaudevillains, as Aiden English & Simon Gotch make their way to the ring. Aiden says that, after they become the #1 Contenders, they are going to “party like it’s 1899” because they represent the “values” of a “bygone era”. The Vaudevillains are then interrupted by their Payback opponents, Enzo & Big Cass, who make their way to the ring. After Enzo Amore does the team’s trademark introduction, the enigmatic Enzo says that The Vaudevillains want to become the new #1 Contenders just like he wants to run down the beach into his own arms, but that’s impossible. Big Cass then says that they are going to walk out of Payback as the new #1 Contenders. The New Day then chimes in, saying that, whoever becomes the new #1 Contenders this Sunday, they will still be the WWE Tag Team Champions. With their involvement with AJ Styles still a hot topic of discussion in WWE, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson would compete on RAW for the first time since their surprise emergence a couple of weeks ago as Gallows & Anderson would face the team they ambushed in their debut, The Usos. In a hard-hitting match that saw Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson target the injured shoulder of Jey Uso, Luke Gallows would send Jey Uso over the barricade on the outside before Gallows & Anderson would turn their focus to Jimmy Uso, hitting the Magic Killer with Anderson pinning Jimmy to pick up the win for the roughneck team. After the match, Karl Anderson would retrieve Jey Uso from the outside as Gallows & Anderson would continue to beat down The Usos. This would bring out The Usos’ cousin Roman Reigns as the WWE World Heavyweight Champion makes a beeline for the ring, first taking Karl Anderson out with a big clothesline on the outside before entering the ring, delivering a couple of shots to Luke Gallows before sending Gallows packing from the ring. Reigns then goes for the Superman Punch on Anderson, but Anderson quickly drops from the ring apron as Gallows & Anderson opt to save the fight for another day. Backstage, AJ Styles is confronted by Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson as Anderson says that they didn’t start the fight with Roman Reigns before Gallows says that, with all of Roman’s talk of “one versus all”, they know that Roman and The Usos will do whatever it takes to ensure that Reigns keeps the WWE World Heavyweight Title. Anderson then tells Styles that they’ve got AJ’s back if The Usos get involved, saying that their friendship is “forever”. Before he goes one-on-one with his former friend Kevin Owens at Payback, Sami Zayn would go one-on-one with “The Bulgarian Brute” Rusev, with Lana in his corner. In a back-and-forth match that saw Sami Zayn hold his own against his larger opponent, it looked like Rusev was about to lock Sami in the Accolade, but Zayn would counter into a roll-up, securing the three-count and picking up the win. After the match, Sami Zayn would be celebrating his win on the entrance ramp when he is blindsided by his Payback opponent, Kevin Owens, who leaves his former friend lying on the steel. The undefeated new sensation known as Apollo Crews was in action on RAW as Apollo would go one-on-one with Stardust. In the end, it was Apollo Crews hitting his spinning sitout powerbomb, pinning Stardust for the win. Six nights before he squares off against Chris Jericho at Payback, Dean Ambrose was on RAW as “The Lunatic Fringe” would address his Payback opponent. Ambrose says that he’s not in the mood for “fun and games”, saying that Chris Jericho likes to say that he’s the “best in the world” at what he does. Ambrose then says that Jericho demands respect but he comes out there and earns respect, saying that when he’s got a problem, he handles it himself because that’s what he does. “The Lunatic Fringe” then calls Chris Jericho out to see what he is capable of first hand. A puzzled Chris Jericho then makes his way to the ring, calling Ambrose a “disrespectful stupid idiot” before saying that there’s no way he’s going to fight Dean Ambrose in a “dump like this”. Jericho then says that he doesn’t just say he’s the “best in the world” at what he does, he is the best in the world at what he does. Jericho continues, saying that he elevates every opponent he steps into the ring with before saying that he is going to give Ambrose the match of his career because just being in the ring with Jericho puts Ambrose on a “different level”. Jericho then says that he wants Ambrose to “apologize” to him for disrespecting him and “stealing” The Highlight Reel from him before demanding an apology from Ambrose. “The Lunatic Fringe” says that he’s “sorry” that Jericho is an “egomaniac” and he’s “sorry” that he has to beat Jericho at Payback, but he’s not sorry for this. With that, Ambrose attacks Jericho, sending Jericho to the outside before exposing the announce table, but Jericho would trip Ambrose and “The Lunatic Fringe” would land face-first on a television monitor. Jericho then gets on the announce table, locking in the Walls of Jericho on Dean Ambrose. Referees then rush out to break it up, finally getting Jericho to break the hold before referees check on Ambrose as Jericho screams at the fans that he’s the “best in the world” before Jericho walks to the back with a smile on his face. Before she challenges Charlotte for the Women’s Championship with her uncle Bret Hart in her corner this Sunday at Payback, Natalya would go one-on-one with Emma on RAW with Women’s Champion Charlotte a guest on commentary with her father Ric Flair by her side. In a short match, it was Natalya locking in the Sharpshooter on Emma, making the Australian native tap out to pick up the win. After the match, Natalya would look to confront Charlotte, but the Women’s Champion would position herself behind her father, protecting herself from a fight with the #1 Contender. With a one-on-one match against Dolph Ziggler coming up this Sunday at Payback (what else is in store for this Sunday’s Payback?), Baron Corbin was in action on RAW as “The Lone Wolf” would face Damien Sandow. However, before Corbin can even get to the ring, Dolph Ziggler would ambush “The Lone Wolf”, pummeling Baron Corbin near the staging area before referees break up the fight, which gives Corbin the opportunity to escape. Intercontinental Champion The Miz and his wife Maryse would then make an appearance on RAW as The Miz says that he brings “prestige” to the Intercontinental Championship before saying that Maryse is what the “Miz section” looks like and the fans are what the “Cesaro section” looks like. The Miz is then interrupted by his Payback opponent, Cesaro, who makes his way to the ring. Cesaro says that, this Sunday, he is going to make the “credits roll” on the Intercontinental Title reign of The Miz. Just when it looks like a fight is going to break out, The Miz escorts his wife out of the ring before trying to cheap shot Cesaro. However, Cesaro sees The Miz coming and catches the champion with an uppercut before going for the Cesaro Swing, but Maryse would intervene and Cesaro would hold up the Intercontinental Title belt before leaving the ring, having left a lasting impression on The Miz. Then it was time for the main event as, six nights before he defends the WWE World Heavyweight Championship against AJ Styles this Sunday at Payback, WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns would go one-on-one with Alberto Del Rio in a non-title match. During the match, Roman Reigns would go for the Superman Punch, but Alberto Del Rio would be quick to roll out of the ring, but the champion would follow Del Rio to the outside, connecting with a dropkick that sends Del Rio head-first into the steel ring post. However, Del Rio would manage to battle back, going for the double stomp off of the top rope, but Reigns would move out of the way. Roman then scores with the Superman Punch to Del Rio, but just as Reigns sets up for the Spear, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson come out to the stage. The presence of Gallows & Anderson would distract the champion long enough for Del Rio to attempt a roll-up, but Reigns would kick out before Roman blasts Del Rio with the Spear, pinning Del Rio to pick up the win (is WWE hurting Roman Reigns by pushing him so hard against the fans’ wishes?). After the match, however, Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson would rush the ring, attacking the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The two-on-one beatdown is then broken up by AJ Styles as “The Phenomenal One” comes down to the ring, pulling Gallows & Anderson off of the champion. After a brief confrontation between Styles and Gallows & Anderson, Gallows & Anderson leave the ring before Styles turns right around into a Superman Punch from Roman Reigns! This brings Gallows & Anderson back into the ring as the champion knocks Anderson out of the ring before dropping Gallows with the Superman Punch. AJ Styles then takes flight, scoring with the Phenomenal Forearm to Roman Reigns! Styles then pulls himself to his feet as Gallows & Anderson recover on the outside with smiles on their faces. What did you think of this week’s RAW? Post your comments in the box below.
