The April 11, 2016 edition of WWE RAW aired live on the USA Network from the Staples Center in Las Angeles, California. For the second week in a row, Shane McMahon will be on-air to run the show.
– Shane McMahon comes out to the ring to open up RAW. Shane says tonight there are going to be more new stars and new match ups. He books Natalya vs. Charlotte, AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn, and a tag team tournament for #1 contendership for the titles. Kevin Owens interrupts and says Sami Zayn doesn’t deserve the opportunity, he does. Shane books Owens in a match against Cesaro for #1 contendership for the Intercontinental Title, and it’s up next.
– Cesaro def. Kevin Owens: The winner will face The Miz later tonight for the IC Title. Cesaro controls the opening moments, until Owens starts working on the injured shoulder of Cesaro. Cesaro comes back with a series of uppercuts and a dropkick for a 2 count. Owens gets Cesaro in a crossface crippler but Cesaro gets out and puts Owens in a Sharpshooter. Owens hits a superkick and goes up top and hits a frogsplash for a 2 count. Cesaro springboards off the middle rope for a spinning uppercut and swings Owens a few times before his shoulder gives out. Cesaro hits the Neutralizer for the 3-count.
– Ric Flair and Charlotte are talking backstage when Dr. Phil interrupts. Phil says Flair is corrupting his daughter by getting her to cheat all the time, which leads to Flair and Phil having a woo-off.
– The Dudley Boyz def. The Lucha Dragons: Before the match, The New Day comes out and cuts a promo saying no one in the tag team tournament can beat them. The Dudleys throw Kalisto to the outside early on and he sells a shoulder injury on the floor. Sin Cara gets some offense in on D-Von back in the ring, including a springboard moonsault for a 2 count. Eventually Bubba gets the tag and they hit the 3D for the win. After the match, Enzo and Cass come out and cut a promo on the Dudleys.
– Roman Reigns comes out and cuts a promo about how he’s going to beat AJ Styles at Payback. The League of Nations interrupts and hits the ring. The Wyatt Family comes out to even the numbers and they clear out the members of the League. Shane McMahon comes out and says Reigns and the Wyatts will team up later tonight against the League.
– Natalya def. Charlotte via DQ: Dr. Phil is out to ringside for this one. Charlotte and Natalya go back and forth until an armbar forces Charlotte to roll to the outside to regroup. Charlotte comes back with a neckbreaker and some knee drops. Charlotte gets Natalya in both the Figure 4 and the Sharpshooter, but Natalya gets out of them. Natalya comes back with a German suplex and a clothesline. Charlotte misses a moonsault and Natalya puts her in the Sharpshooter. Ric Flair pulls the ref out of the ring, which gets Natalya the win by disqualification, and lets Charlotte keep the Women’s Championship. After the match, Dr. Phil cuts a promo about Charlotte not being a good role model.
– The Usos def. Curtis Axel and Heath Slater: Bo Dallas and Adam Rose are at ringside. Heath slater gets some offense on Jey and the Outcasts start prematurely celebrating. This leads to Jimmy getting the tag and rolling up Slater for the quick 1-2-3. After the match, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson hit the ring and jump the Usos.
– In The Miz’s locker room, Maryse is freaking out about there being blue M&M’s in a bowl and the wrong bottled water. The Miz talks about how he is Cesaro’s kryptonite. Cesaro interrupts and says he just wanted to take a look at the guy he’s going to beat at WWE Payback.
– AJ Styles def. Sami Zayn: They go back and forth with arm locks and arm grabs in the opening minutes until AJ hits a dropkick to take control of the match. AJ elbows Zayn to the outside, then knees him in the face from the apron. Back in the ring, Zayn sends Styles to the outside and follows up with a suicide dive over the top. Back in the ring, AJ hits a series of big strikes and a pumphandle slam for a 2 count. Zayn hits a cross body splash off the top and a tornado DDT, both for 2 counts. Styles hits the Pele kick, but Zayn gets up and hits the spinning powerbomb for a 2 count. After what looked like a botched sunset flip spot off the top rope, AJ hits the Phenomenal Forearm for the win.
– Chris Jericho is out for the Highlight Reel, and his guest is himself. Jericho says no one of the WWE roster can touch him right now, which brings out Dean Ambrose. Ambrose informs Jericho that the Highlight Reel has been cancelled by Shane McMahon and replaced with Dean Ambrose’s Ambrose Asylum. Jericho hits the mic out of Ambrose’s hand, so Ambrose hits the Dirty Deeds on him before heading to the back.
– R-Truth and Goldust are arguing in the back when Dr. Phil walks in. Dr. Phil looks at them and decides he’s not even going to bother and walks off.
– Apollo Crews def. Adam Rose: Rose tries to keep Crews grounded, but he mounts a comeback after a vertical suplex. Crews hits a standing enzuigiri and a spinning sit out powerbomb for the 3 count.
– Roman Reigns & Bray Wyatt def . Sheamus & Alberto Del Rio: Bray and Reigns take turns tagging each other in as they beat down on Sheamus. Eventually Sheamus hits a backbreaker on Bray, which Del Rio follows up on with a double foot stop off the top. Reigns takes 11 clubs to the chest from Sheamus and a kick to the head from Del Rio for a 2 count. Sheamus gets some more offense in on Reigns, but Reigns eventually hits a Samoan drop and tags in Bray. Bray hits a Rock Bottom and a senton drop on Del Rio then sets him up for the Sister Abigail. Del Rio gets out and Rusev kicks Bray in the head when the ref isn’t looking for a 2 count. The Wyatt Family comes out and lay out Rusev. Bray hits the Sister Abigail on Del Rio for the 1-2-3 while Reigns spears Sheamus. Wyatt and Reigns stare each other down as RAW goes off the air.
