Monday Night Raw TV Report for April 25th, 2016

An “In Memoriam” graphic is shown, remembering Joanie Laurer, a.k.a. Chyna.

Introduction Segment: Video Prom and Welcoming

A recap of last week’s Raw with WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns and A.J. Styles’ build-up to Payback airs. The regular Raw video plays, and the pyro goes off in the arena. We are greeted by Michael Cole in Hartford, Connecticut, and runs down a couple of matches – A.J. Styles meeting Sheamus, and Alberto Del Rio going against WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns.

Segment #2: Arena Promo

Shane McMahon’s music plays, and he is in charge of Raw again. He talks about “fresh faces” and “fresh matchups,” but doesn’t get further as Stephanie McMahon interrupts. She informs Shane that Vince McMahon will decide “once and for all” who is in charge of Raw; that will happen at Payback.

After a bit of bickering, and Shane asking the fans who they would rather be operating Raw, Shane has Steph walked to the back by security. He gets to the first contest, featuring A.J. Styles!

Commercials.

Match #1: Single – A.J. Styles VS. Sheamus

Sheamus uses his power first, but A.J. hits back with a dropkick and takes over with a snapmare. He kicks hard, but Sheamus slugs back with a fist out of a wristlock. He hits an uppercut, but Styles chops back and rams his shoulder into Sheamus’ stomach in the corner. Sheamus double-boots back and tries a pin, but only gets two!

“The Phenomenal One” kicks and forearms back, sending Sheamus tumbling to the floor. He breaks out of a Beats of the Baron attempt, then dropkicks Sheamus off the apron. He goes for a springboard-moonsault, but Sheamus avoids it and throws A.J. into the steps.

Ads.

Sheamus is now in control, giving Styles a couple of Irish Curse backbreakers. He catches a running A.J. into a bearhug, but Styles headbutts out of it. A.J. moves fro the corner then sunset-flip powerbombs him from the second turnbuckle! He follows with forearms, then quick chops, punches, and kicks. A.J. kicks more in the corner and picks Sheamus up; “The Celtic Warrior” drops out and shoves A.J. into the turnbuckles. Sheamus follows with an over-shoulder powerslam for a near-fall!

Sheamus goes for the Cloverleaf, but A.J. gets out if it. He hits a Pele Kick, and both are down! A.J. hits Sheamus in the head with rapid forearms, but his Styles Clash attempt is countered into a clothesline! Sheamus now turns Styles over into the Cloverleaf, but A.J. makes it to the ropes, breaking the hold!

Sheamus Brogue Kicks, but eats the top rope. A.J. slingshots from the top rope into a Phenomenal Forearm and covers for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: A.J. Styles

Post-match, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson walk out to observe A.J.

Segment #3: Locker Room Promo

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns is watching on a T.V. when his cousins walk in. Jimmy and Jey Uso talk to Reigns about what they’re going to do, and they make a pact to watch out for each other.

Tag-Team Champions The New Day make their entrance!

Commercials.

Segment #4: Arena Promo

Tag-Team Champions New Day tout themselves for the Tag-Team Tournament that determines their next challengers; the final match is Big Cass and Enzo Amore taking on The Vaudevillians. Simon Gotch and Aiden English proclaim that they are going “bring back an era gone by,” but Enzo and Cass protest that. They walk out and declare that they will be the ones facing The New Day after Payback. Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E. say that it doesn’t matter who wins, because they will still be the WWE World Tag-Team Champions afterward.

Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows walk out of a locker room, and will go against The Usos up next!

Ads.

Match #2: Tag-Team – The Usos (Jimmy and Jay) VS. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Karl and Jimmy begin, with Uso giving Anderson a couple chops in the corner. He runs off the ropes into a tornado-elbow, then both Twins double-up. Jey is in but quickly overtaken, despite switching with his brother. Gallows and Anderson take over for a while.

Commercials.

Gallows is still governing until Jey double-boots Luke from the corner. Jey manages the hot-tag to Jimmy, as does Gallows to Anderson. Jimmy gives Karl a Samoan Drop, then rear-splashes him in the corner.

Luke boots Jimmy in the ring, then both he and Anderson plant the Uso with the Magic Killer.

Winners via Pinfall: Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Post-match, Luke and Karl continue to beat up on Jey and Jimmy until Roman Reigns charges down to make the save. He puts the new tag-team to the aisle, and they stare at the family trio.

Ads.

Segment #5: Backstage Promo

Rene Young talks to A.J. Styles about his WWE World Heavyweight Championship bout at Payback. He starts in, but Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows interject. They “promise” not to cost him the WWE World Heavyweight Championship; all they want to do is back him up. “This friendship of ours is forever.”

Segment #6: Video Promo

A montage of Kevin Owens’ and Sami Zayn’s history plays.

Sami makes his entrance for his next contest.

Commercials.

Match #3: Single – Sami Zayn VS. Rusev

Sami ducks around Rusev until the big man hammers away with his huge right arm. Rusev dominates for a bit until Sami hops over him, then pulls down the top rope to dump Rusev to the floor. He follows with a slingshot plancha, but is caught and slammed onto the apron! Sami comes back with a moonsault from the barrier, then slingshots over the top rope into the ring, but gets a spinning-wheel kick back. Rusev places Zayn atop the turnbuckle, but Sami blocks with punches. Rusev kicks him hard, letting Sami fall to the floor.

Ads.

Rusev has Zayn in a front-facelock, then flips him over with a couple of gutwrench suplexes! Sami hits back with a clothesline, then rapid forearms and another clothesline. Sami counters a backdrop into a float-over crossbody for two! He soars off the turnbuckle with a crossbody for a near-fall and goes for the Blue Thunder Bomb! Rusev slugs out of it and fall-away slams Zayn!

Sami runs right into a smacking-superkick! 1 – 2 – Zayn kicks out! “The Bulgarian Brute” signals for The Accolade but Sami reverses into a roll-up to take this!

Winner via Pinfall: Sami Zayn

Post-match, Kevin Owens attacks Sami on the ramp.

Segment #7: Backstage Promo

Apollo Crews is interviewed by Rene Young, but Stardust interrupts. Apollo is actually happy, because he wanted to gives props to Stardust’s Dad, the late-great Dusty Rhodes. They will square off, next!

Commercials.

Match #4: Single – Stardust VS. Apollo Crews

Despite an effort from Stardust, this one is over quick-enough after Crews drops Stardust with the spin-out sit-down powerbomb!

Winner via Pinfall: Apollo Crews

Dean Ambrose will be out after the break!

Ads.

Segment #8: Arena Promo

Dean Ambrose talks about Chris Jericho, who he will be facing Sunday at Payback. “The Lunatic Fringe” says he is not like Chris, who sneaks up and attacks. Dean claims he does it right in front of you. He wants Jericho to join him, which “Y2J” does. They argue back and forth and get into it. Jericho clamps on the Walls of Jericho on the announce table to inflict punishment before Sunday.

Commercials.

Match #5: Single- Natalya VS. Emma

Prior to this starting, Women’s Champion Charlotte, and Ric Flair, strut out to see fro ringside.

An elbow/collar tie-up starts, then they trade holds. Emma rolls to the floor, then yanks Natalya and butterfly-suplexes her on the outside. In the ring, Emma wears Natalya down with a grounding full-nelson. She clothesline Natalya, but Nattie then turns her into The Sharpshooter, forcing Emma to give in!

Winner via Submission: Natalya

Post-match, Natalya jaws at Charlotte until referees send her away.

Segment #9: Video Promo

A retrospective of Chyna – Joanie Laurer’s – career airs, which features many tweets from WWE wrestlers, past and present.

Ads.

Match #6: Damien Sandow VS. Baron Corbin

As Baron is making his entrance, Dolph Ziggler hits him and they brawl before referees separate the two.

Winner: No Contest due to No Official Start

Commercials.

Segment #10: Arena Promo

Maryse puts over her real-life husband, Intercontinental Champion The Miz. He rips the fans for not wanting him to be the I.C. Champ. Maryse and Miz kiss, then Miz tells the crowd that the Intercontinental Championship is “more than a title. This is more than an accomplishment. This is more than legendary.” Miz makes comparisons between “The Cesaro Section” (the fans) and “The Miz Section” (Maryse).

Cesaro joins, and the two argue in movie-line quotes. Cesaro starts to take off his coat, but Miz goes to leave before trying an attack. Cesaro counters into a Pop-Up Uppercut, then tries to Swing

Segment #11: Backstage Promo

WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns is walking through the halls when A.J. Styles approaches; “The Phenomenal One” warns Reigns that he’s winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship at Payback. Reigns quips back then continues on his way.

Ads.

Match #7: Single – WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns VS. League of Nations member Alberto Del Rio (Non-Title)

They lockup and Alberto whips Reigns off the ropes, but Roman hits back with a shoulder-block. Roman throws him into a couple of the turnbuckles, but Alberto comes back with a headbutt and running-enziguri! He jumps off the apron onto the WWE World Heavyweight Champion.

Commercials.

Del Rio is working over Roman with a rear chinlock and continues until Reigns makes a comeback. He gives him multiple-clotheslines in the corner, and signals for the Superman Punch. Del Rio moves to the outside, but Roman follows up with the running front-dropkick.

Alberto capitalizes in the ring with a min-superkick but Roman gets his shoulder up! Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson make their way out, turning Reigns’ attention. Del Rio rolls him up but only gets two! Roman whips Del Rio into the ropes and meets him with a Spear, then covers for the victory!

Winner via Pinfall: WWE World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns

Post-match, Gallows and Anderson attack until A.J. Styles runs out. He gets his friends to back off, but eats a Superman Punch as he turns around. Luke and Karl re-enter and attack again, then A.J. delivers the Phenomenal Forearm. He looks on at laid-out WWE World Heavyweight Champion, as do Gallows and Anderson to close the show.

End of Raw.