Smark Out Moment

Tonight's episode of WWE Monday Night Raw for April 18, 2016 is coming to you live from the The O2 London in London, England. Follow along here for live, ongoing coverage of the results of the show to find out what happens as things occur and chat with fellow WWE fans in the comments below and in the chat on the sidebar!



Welcome to this international edition of Monday Night Raw with Shane-O-Mac in charge again! Last Monday was a big show for WWE. We saw a number of great matches including a Womens Championship match, Sami Zayn fighting for a shot at the World Heavyweight Championship, Cesaro crowned as the number one contender to Miz's Intercontinental Championship, and the start of a tag team tournament to determine who will face The New Day for the WWE Tag Team titles. With Shane McMahon "calling the shots" for the last few weeks the shows have been much more entertaining. New NXT talent like Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews, and Enzo & Cass getting time on the main shows, and much more entertaining matches like Sami vs. AJ Styles just for an example. We also saw the "debut" of Anderson and Gallows and they came through the crowd to destroy The Usos after their match on Monday! Expect more surprises, and more good matches as the road to Payback continues.

PROMO: The first promo of the night belongs to the Lunatic Fringe, Dean Ambrose, for another version of the "Ambrose Asylum". He said there were reports of a river monster right behind the O2 and follows with the punchline "I didn't even know that Braun Strowman could swim." buh-dum-cha? Then he introduces his guest Shane-O-Mac who is again in charge! After a short chat and letting the crowd chants die out Dean has them play the footage of Shane hopping off the cell at WrestleMania against The Undertaker. Finally, Dean says its time to get down to business. He asks what Shanes goal is while running the show. Shane says its the crowd because we deserve better, and the new era has emerged. He brings up AJ, Sami, and Sasha Banks are getting opportunities because of the crowd demanding to see them. Then, coming out to a huge pop from the crowd is Kevin Owens! Kevin and Shane mixed words last week for a short time then Shane kicked him out of the building. KO says that Shane isn't fooling anyone, its still a McMahon mad with power with a personal vendetta against him. Shane obviously disagrees, and KO questions getting kicked out of the building. KO still says Sami doesn't deserve anywhere near the WWE World Heavyweight Championship because he has been riding his coattails, and then out comes Sami himself. Sami says that he was signed by WWE first and that's what eats KO alive. Deep down KO knows he wouldn't be here if not for Sami, all he does is stab people in the back. Now comes Chris Jericho in ring attire ready to go. Jericho says KO is right when he says Shane is power hungry. I feel a tag team match coming. While telling the crowd to shut up, he reminds everyone that he has the best show in The Highlight Reel. Then everyone starts yelling at each other, and Shane says that at Payback that Jericho will take on Dean, and KO will take on Sami Zayn. Dean then hands his plant to Shane, and takes it right to KO and Jericho and Zayn go at it. Owens and Jericho are tossed out of the ring as Zayn and Ambrose control the ring. Jesus, that was a lot.

*Commercial Break*

MATCH: Chris Jericho vs. Sami Zayn

During the commercial break Shane announced this match and our main event, Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose.

RESULTS: Jericho wins via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: It was a good match. Jericho used a poke to the eye to set up for the Codebreaker. The crowd seems a little dead which is weird for London, but hopefully they perk up.

*Commercial Break*

PROMO: AJ Styles joins Mauro, and then in comes Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson! Four guys who made their name in Japan. Gallows and Anderson thank AJ for getting them this opportunity in WWE and they'll make the most of it just like he will at Payback versus Roman Reigns for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. 

MATCH: Enzo & Cass vs. The Dudley Boyz

This is a semi-final match up for the tag team number one contenders tournament.

RESULT: Enzo & Cass win via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: Yes! I was really hoping they win, and I'm hoping The Vaudevillians beat The Usos so its all NXT baby!

*Commercial Break*

PROMO: Roman Reigns comes out to address the WWE Universe to a loud chorus of boos. He does his "I'm not a good guy, I'm not a bad guy, I'm just the guy." Schmick, and then talks up his opponent, AJ Styles, saying he is world travels and a vastly superior technical wrestler. He says that AJ can try to out wrestle him, but it won't matter because he is bringing the big guns. This has a very heelish feel.. He says it doesn't matter because this is the era of the Roman Empire. Then out comes AJ Styles. AJ says that he thinks Roman has it all, and that he is a great champion. He admits he will have to have the match of his life to beat Roman, but having the match of his life is what he has always done. And at Payback having the match of his life will make him a champion. Roman said he had the match of his life at WrestleMania when he became champion, so he agrees with AJ. And that's why the whole world likes him, but they won't like when he beats him at Payback but they will respect him. He says "I would rather be respected with this, than liked without it." As AJ leaves, Gallows and Anderson come out of nowhere to ambush Reigns as AJ watches on with a displeased look.

*Commercial Break*

PROMO: Mauro stops Reigns and asks him about the attack, but AJ steps in and says he has no idea this was gonna happen. Roman doesn't believe him.

MATCH: Fandango vs. Baron Corbin

Dolph Ziggler, who has recently had run ins with Corbin, is on the announcing team.

After the match Dolph tries to invade Baron, but Corbin quickly turns the table and hits another End Of Days on the floor.

RESULT: Baron Corbin wins via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: This was pretty obvious that Baron would win, but the beat down of Dolph was unexpected. I figured Dolph would at least put up a fight.

*Commercial Break*

MIZ TV: Miz and Maryse talk about how they are better than everyone else at everything, and basically be a disgusting couple or whatever. And then out comes our savior, Cesaro. Cesaro says that the only royalty that Miz would be is a royal pain in the ass. Miz then quotes Liam Neeson from Taken with the "very particular set of skills" line. Then Cesaro quotes the late and great 'Rowdy' Roddy Piper, "I came here to chew bubble gum and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum." Miz teases a fight between the two, but then reminds Cesaro he has a match against Rusev. Then Cesaro says that Shane changed things up. Its now The League of Nations and The Miz vs. Cesaro and The New Day.

*Commercial Break*

MATCH: The New Day & Cesaro vs. The Miz & The League of Nations



RESULT: The New Day & Cesaro win via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: Great match, everyone got their stuff in and the finish was great. Not to mention New Day got the biggest pop of the night.

PROMO: Ric and Charlotte are interviewed by Mauro about Charlottes title defense last week against Natty that ended in DQ. Charlotte says that it was Natalya's job to beat her, not hers to beat Natalya. Natty then comes in and says Shane has gifted her a rematch for Payback, but this time Bret "The Hitman" Hart will be in her corner. The odds have been evened.

*Commercial Break*

MATCH: Natalya, Paige, Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte, Team B.A.D & Summer Rae


RESULT: Natalya, Paige, Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch win via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: Did anyone really care at any point?

*Commercial Break*

MATCH: The Vaudevillians vs. The Usos

This is the other semi-final match for the number one contenders tag team tournament.

RESULT: The Vaudevillians win via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: This match was complete and total crickets from the crowd the entire match. But I'm soooo happy that The Vaudevillians won! I love their style, and Enzo & Cass vs. The Vaudevillians guarantee us someone new in the tag title hunt!

*Commercial Break*

MATCH: Heath Slater (w The Social Outcasts) vs. Apollo Crews



RESULTS: Apollo Crews wins via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: I expected Apollo Crews to steamroll this guy and I was right.

MATCH: Kevin Owens vs. Dean Ambrose



RESULT: Ambrose wins via pin fall.
THOUGHTS: These two always put on a great match, and this was no different.