Raw Deal - Raw recap for April 18, 2016

The Social Outcasts (Heath Slater, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel) try to recruit Apollo Crews as their new fourth member after Curtis Axel mentions that Adam Rose is on "a half-baked, transdimensional search for a bunny" (obviously a jab on Adam Rose's second Wellness Policy violation and 60-day suspension). After the three of them come up with potential punny nicknames for Crews, Crews says he'll join...if one of them can beat him tonight. If they can't, they have to leave him alone...forever.

Dean Ambrose starts tonight's show with The Ambrose Asylum. His guest tonight is Shane McMahon, whom Ambrose credits for "giving him his big break in this talk show business." We see the footage of Shane diving off the top of the Cell for an elbow drop at WrestleMania, then Ambrose gives Shane kudos for having the guts to do it. When Ambrose asks what Shane's agenda is, Shane says it's the fans as they deserve better, and that WWE has now evolved and that this is the beginning of a new era. Suddenly, Kevin Owens shows up, and says he's saying the same crap as ever: a McMahon mad with power who has a personal vendetta against him, especially after Shane tossed him out of the building last week for threatening to beat up Sami Zayn. Owens says that Sami Zayn isn't good enough to make it on his own, but Sami Zayn shows up and says he got the call-up before Owens, and that he knows it drives him crazy and caused him to throw their friendship down the drain. He says that Owens wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, and that Owens has now made a name for stabbing his friends in the back. Chris Jericho shows up. Jericho agrees with Owens, saying that Shane is "drunk with power" and that Shane should remember that he is the best at what he does after ending The Highlight Reel. All four men argue, and Dean tells them all to be careful around the potted plant in the ring. Shane then makes some matches: Jericho vs. Ambrose and Owens vs. Zayn, both at Payback. Shane then gets out of the ring, and Ambrose hands him the potted plant. All four men fight, and Zayn tosses out both Jericho and Owens.

Chris Jericho beats Sami Zayn after thumbing Zayn in the eye.

Mauro Ranallo is about to interview AJ Styles when Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, who thank him for getting their foot in the door.

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady have some words for The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) before their match.

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady beat The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley) in their Raw debut to continue to the finals of the #1 Contender's Tag Team Tournament.

Roman Reigns shows up. He says that AJ Styles won't be able to outwrestle him at Payback, and says that this "new era" is "the era of the Roman Empire and we're here to stay." AJ Styles shows up. He tells Roman he's one heck of a champion and that he has it all, but he says that having the match of his life is what he does and that it will make him champion. Roman says he feels everything AJ said, as he had the match of his life at WrestleMania and that it's the reason the WWE Universe likes AJ. Roman says he will still win at Payback, as he'd rather be respected with the title than liked with out. AJ says he'd rather have both happen, as that would make him a phenomenal champion. AJ leaves, then Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson show up and attack Roman from behind.

Backstage, AJ Styles tells Roman Reigns that he did not expect Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to attack him, but Roman doesn't believe him because they attacked The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) last week. AJ says he doesn't need his friends to win the title, but Roman tells him to bring all his friends, as in the end, he doesn't care.

Dolph Ziggler guests on commentary for the next match.

Baron Corbin beats Fandango after throwing him into Dolph Ziggler. After the match, Ziggler attacks Corbin from behind, but Corbin lays Ziggler out before he hits End of Days on him outside of the ring.

It's time for Miz TV. Tonight's guest is Cesaro...who shows up after The Miz and Maryse talk about Prince George before making out. Cesaro says the only royalty Miz is is "a royal pain in the ass." Both men argue about the WWE Intercontinental Championship, then The Miz quotes Taken when he promises he will retain the Intercontinental title at Payback. When he re-does the last part twice, Cesaro shuts Miz up and says he'll be the one taking the title. After Cesaro quotes the quintessential line from "Rowdy" Roddy Piper from They Live, Miz takes that as a challenge, but tells Cesaro he has a match against Rusev, who shows up with Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio. Cesaro says he's talked with Shane McMahon, saying he knew this would happen, and says that this match is now The Miz and The League of Nations (Sheamus, Del Rio and Rusev) vs. himself and The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods).

Cesaro and The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Big E, Xavier Woods) beat The Miz and The League of Nations (Sheamus, Rusev, Alberto Del Rio).

Mauro Ranallo interviews Charlotte and Ric Flair. Charlotte says that Natalya and the rest of the women in the women's division are failures, but Natalya shows up and says that she still made Charlotte tap last week. She's talked to Shane McMahon, and she's gotten her rematch for the Women's Championship at Payback...and Bret "The Hit Man" Hart will be in her corner.

Natalya, Paige, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch beat Charlotte, Naomi, Tamina and Summer Rae after Charlotte taps to the Sharpshooter.

We see another vignette for Primo and Epico.

The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch) beat The Usos (Jimmy and Jey Uso) to continue to the finals of the #1 Contenders' Tag Team Tournament.

We get a special look at Apollo Crews.

Apollo Crews beats Heath Slater.

This Thursday on SmackDown: Miz TV with special guest AJ Styles!

Dean Ambrose beats Kevin Owens. After the match, Ambrose falls victim to a Codebreaker from out of nowhere by Chris Jericho.

Here are the top 10 moments from tonight's show!