WWE Raw Results: Winners, Grades, Reaction and Highlights from April 11

Roman Reigns gained an unlikely ally in Bray Wyatt as the two sworn enemies closed out WWE Raw on April 11.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles hosted a Raw that Shane McMahon controlled and Dr. Phil popped in on. It also marked the arrival of Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson. It was at times a night of high stakes and at times a night of unanswered questions.

A tag team tournament kicked off. Charlotte put her women's title on the line. Cesaro, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn all fought for a chance at a championship.

This is where Raw thrived. Matches had clear meaning and the results impacted the immediate future.

But the show didn't have the benefit of carrots dangling in front of all of its warriors. Monday's Raw fizzled out at points, most noticeably in its main event where nothing felt resolved and the narrative didn't advance enough.

Read on as we dive into those highs and lows, grading and breaking down the night's action.

Shane McMahon Books a Number of Matches

Shane McMahon opened the show by thanking the fans for all their support.

He announced that Natalya would challenge Charlotte for the Women's Championship, and a tag team tournament to decide the No. 1 contender would begin on Raw. Zayn would take on AJ Styles, with a victory awarding Zayn a spot in the upcoming WWE title match.

Owens soon interrupted. He demanded a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship, but McMahon said he had to beat Cesaro to earn that title shot.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

Owens: "I am getting absolutely screwed over here."

Grade

B+

Analysis

McMahon is certainly not as charismatic as his father or sister. As a result, this was more effective than electric.

The segment did well to set up the show and implement high stakes everywhere. Four title chases would be addressed. Every match would mean something.

This revamped feel for Raw is what last week should have been. Shane-O-Mac's presence didn't have nearly the same impact on his first night in control.

Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens

With the right to face The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship on the line, Cesaro and Owens locked horns as the champ and Maryse watched from the back.

Owens attacked Cesaro's injured shoulder. He left The Swiss Superman reeling by smashing and bending that weak point.

Cesaro battled back with his trademark uppercuts, but Owens maintained control for much of the bout. However, The King of Swing managed to counter the Pop-Up Powerbomb and hit the Neutralizer for a three-count.

Result

Cesaro wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Owens: "Headlock master!"
• John "Bradshaw" Layfield to Byron Saxton: "I adjust to your banal commentary every week."
• Owens hits an Eddie Guerrero-like frog splash.
• Cesaro's bad ribs cut a Cesaro Swing short.

Grade

B

Analysis

This bout is a reminder how much stakes elevate a match.

Owens and Cesaro's chemistry wasn't great. They didn't click like they did during the Fatal 4-Way match last week. Both men have delivered far better, but this entertained because the result mattered.

Cesaro in the world title picture would have been preferable, but a run as the IC champ has big-time potential. Fitting a workhorse with what has long been seen as the workhorse title just makes sense.

Having him instead fall to The Miz would be just a baffling move.

The Lucha Dragons vs. The Dudley Boyz (Tag Team Tournament)

The New Day talked about how hot the tag team division has become before hyping the No. 1 contender's tag team tourney. The trio then stepped aside to let the first match of the tournament begin.

The Dudley Boyz kicked things off by bashing Kalisto outside. As the U.S. champ recovered outside, that left Sin Cara to fight off both D-Von and Bubba Ray Dudley.

Sin Cara didn't last long. The Dudley Boyz finished off the one-sided bout with a Dudley Death Drop.

Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady then emerged with mics in hand. They again traded verbal shots with The Dudley Boyz.

Result

The Dudley Boyz win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Xavier Woods on The New Day's potential challengers: "It sure is going to be fun to see them try."
• Cassady: "If you two paved the way, you need to step to the side of the road because me and 'Zo are coming through like jackhammers."

Grade

C+

Analysis

What appears to be a legitimate injury to Kalisto made this an odd, hurried and underwhelming match. If The King of Flight is out of action for any significant time, WWE officials have to be flustered to see yet another wrestler head to the disabled list.

The Dudley Boyz didn't look nearly as dominant as they could have with a longer bout.

The dynamic between them and The Realest Guys in the Room is one of the best things going in the tag team division right now. WWE is doing well to inch their rivalry along. Waiting to have them throw blows will make that moment an explosive one.

The Wyatt Family Works with Roman Reigns

With his WWE world title on his shoulder, Roman Reigns looked ahead to potentially facing both Zayn and AJ Styles at Payback.

The League of Nations soon cut his speech short. The faction stormed into the ring only to have The Wyatt Family materialize and chase it away.

Shane McMahon walked out to announce that Reigns and Bray Wyatt would team up against two members of The League of Nations.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Reigns on Styles and Zayn: "Neither of them have ever won the championship. And my plan is to stay the champ for a really long time."
• Rusev to Reigns: "Yes, I'm better-looking than you, too."

Grade

D

Analysis

There has been no clarity on The Wyatt Family's issues with The League of Nations. The audience needs a taste of the group's motivation to invest in these attacks.

As for Reigns, he essentially repeated his promos from last week. There was no advancement of his character here.

Add the lackluster League of Nations, and this segment failed to engage.

Charlotte vs. Natalya (Women's Championship)

Backstage, Dr. Phil told Charlotte that her relationship with her father is stifling her. The champ and Ric Flair soon left in a huff. Dr. Phil later watched the match from ringside.

Charlotte and Natalya battled on the mat, with momentum swinging back and forth. Natalya looked to gain the advantage with submission holds. Charlotte countered with Nature Boy-esque knees.

The champion weakened Natalya with submission holds, but the babyface kept fighting back. Natalya applied the Sharpshooter, but Flair yanked the referee out of the ring before Charlotte tapped out.

Dr. Phil said he was disappointed in Charlotte's tactics but proud of the women's division.

Result

Natalya wins by disqualification, allowing Charlotte to retain the title.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Dr. Phil to Charlotte about her father: "What is the deal with you letting him drag you down?"
• Charlotte locks in the Sharpshooter on Natalya.

Grade

B+

Analysis

Dr. Phil's involvement went better than anyone would have expected. He came off as engaged and didn't overstay his welcome.

This was by no means their best battle against each other, but Charlotte and Natalya always have strong chemistry.

WWE teasing a Natalya win played with the audience's emotions. It's clear that if she did nab the title, the reaction would have been thunderous. The company is better off holding out on that moment and letting Sasha Banks have it down the road.

The Usos vs. Curtis Axel and Heath Slater (Tag Team Tournament)

The Social Outcasts surprisingly dominated in the early going. Curtis Axel grounded Jey Uso, and Heath Slater pounded Jey in the heels' corner.

Axel and Slater celebrated too soon, though. Jimmy Uso tagged in and rolled up Slater for the win.

Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson ran into the ring, smashing The Usos into the canvas.

Result

The Usos win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Bo Dallas leads his teammates in a mid-match victory lap.
• JBL: "Things just changed."
• Anderson: "Nice place you guys got here."

Grade

B+

Analysis

The match itself was flat. The post-bout chaos will be what fans talk about afterward.

Anderson and Gallows' presence further elevates an improving tag team division.

The announcers did well to sell them as destructive forces right away. Their arrival creates a number of options for WWE Creative moving forward, including either Styles or Finn Balor leading the two brutes as they did in New Japan Pro Wrestling.

AJ Styles vs. Sami Zayn

AJ Styles and Sami Zayn faced off backstage during an interview with Renee Young. The two fan favorites shared a mutual respect for each other.

The bout began with both men leaning on mat wrestling. Zayn stayed on top until a dropkick from Styles stunned him.

Animosity picked up as the match went on, with both Styles and Zayn hitting high-impact moves.

The Phenomenal One locked his foe in the Cattle Crusher, but Zayn managed to reach the ropes. It took a Phenomenal One to keep Zayn down and keep the title match at Payback a one-on-one encounter.

Afterward, the two men shook hands and embraced.

Result

Styles wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Zayn: "I didn't come this far to lose."
• Zayn hits a stellar tornado DDT.
• Zayn lands on his head after Styles hits a hurricanrana.

Grade

A

Analysis

The well-paced match felt important from the get-go. Zayn's near-falls were powerful thanks to a victory meaning he would be thrust into the Payback main event. Beyond the stakes involved, both Zayn and Styles simply killed it in the ring.

Styles has continued to live up to all of the lofty expectations. He has delivered on a nightly basis, regardless of opponent.

WWE needs to keep him in the main event picture for the foreseeable future.

Chris Jericho's 'Highlight Reel'

Credit: WWE.com

Chris Jericho served as his own guest on his talk-show segment. He bragged about his greatness, reminiscing about his accomplishments.

Just when he said that no one on the roster could touch him, Dean Ambrose walked out with a potted plant and a sign in hand. Ambrose informed Jericho that Shane McMahon has replaced "The Highlight Reel" with "Ambrose Asylum."

The Lunatic Fringe mockingly interviewed Jericho before the situation broke down. Ambrose floored Y2J with Dirty Deeds.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Jericho: "Well, Chris, I owe my success to myself."
• Jericho: "Tonight I give to you the gift of Jericho. Drink it in."
• Ambrose: "So, you're not going to tell us about the scarf?"

Grade

A-

Analysis

A feud that would have been WrestleMania-worthy is well underway.

The juxtaposition of Ambrose and Jericho's character works really well. This story promises to deliver many moments as fun as this one.

And WWE is smart to start with more of a humorous rivalry and then move into something more brutal.

Apollo Crews vs. Adam Rose

Credit: WWE.com

Apollo Crews had Adam Rose in retreat mode early. Rose then punished the newcomer from NXT with a hard-hitting attack.

Crews made a comeback that even an attempted Bo Dallas distraction couldn't stop. A spinning powerbomb earned the babyface the win.

Result

Crews wins via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

JBL: "What a future this man has."

Grade

C-

Analysis

It's an odd move to have Rose make things so competitive. While Crews is facing folks this low on the food chain, he should be bowling over them and showing off more of his offense.

The announcers mentioned his backstory some, but a vignette has to be on its way. Fans need a better idea of what separates Crews from anybody else.

The League of Nations vs. Bray Wyatt and Roman Reigns

Credit: WWE.com

Wyatt and Reigns continually stared each other down, teasing an implosion, but they actually worked well together.

Sheamus and Alberto Del Rio, though, overwhelmed Wyatt early on. The heels then battered The Big Dog.

Wyatt survived The League of Nations' cheating ways. Erick Rowan and Braun Strowman appeared, taking out Rusev and then chasing Del Rio into the ring.

The Eater of Worlds capped off the action with Sister Abigail. He and Reigns then shared one last intense faceoff.

Result

Wyatt and Reigns win via pinfall.

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Wyatt: "Don't worry, Roman. You can trust me."
• Wyatt clocks Sheamus off the ring apron with a nasty right hand.
• Sheamus flings Reigns into the ring steps.

Grade

C+

Analysis

A sluggish match didn't get going until nearly the end. Wyatt coming in as the babyface on fire was by far the highlight of the action. Before that, a disinterested audience watched on in between booing Reigns.

WWE didn't clarify anything here but kept one curious about what's ahead. Is The Wyatt Family really turning face? Is there going to be a sustained alliance between Reigns and Wyatt?

This ending was far from a cliffhanger, though.

What this is all likely leading to will surely be entertaining. The path there hasn't been stellar so far.