WWE Raw: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for April 18

Feuds are set to go from smoldering to blazing as London hosts WWE Raw on April 18.

Chris Jericho's issues with Dean Ambrose promise to escalate. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are poised to collide inside London's O2 Arena. And Emma vs. Becky Lynch is looking like an explosive rivalry in the making.

These bouts aren't yet on the Payback 2016 card, but count on that changing in a hurry. As those narratives continue to progress in London and beyond, they are sure to be a part of the upcoming pay-per-view.

Monday's Raw will feature the ongoing construction of the Payback lineup, the second round of the tourney to crown the tag team title's No. 1 contender and Shane McMahon's battle for control. 

With the U.K. hosting the show, WWE will be airing it on tape delay in the United States. That means that fans can start to read spoilers beginning in the afternoon. For an earlier peek at what to expect on Monday's Raw, read on. Backstage reports, official announcements and the Raw preview on WWE.com help provide a glimpse of what's set to unfold. 

News, Potential Spoilers

The roster for Monday's Raw will be a bit thinner, as a pair of low-rung stars won't be in action. 

WWE announced on its corporate website that the company "has suspended Raymond Leppan (Adam Rose) and Ryan Parmeter (Konnor) each for 60 days effective immediately for a second violation of the company's policy."

Neither Konnor nor Rose have been playing major roles on WWE TV of late, but this will give the tag team division two fewer stepping stones to utilize. The Social Outcasts could still perform without Rose, giving Bo Dallas more of a chance to get some ring time.

Titus O'Neil won't be coming back from his own suspension right away. PWInsider's Mike Johnson reported, "O'Neil is scheduled to return to the road from his 60-day suspension with WWE at the April 25 Raw taping in Hartford, Connecticut."

If Bray Wyatt appears on Monday's Raw, it will likely be in a speaking role only. The Eater of Worlds suffered a calf injury during a live event in Italy last week, according to WWE.com.

It's not yet clear how severe the injury is. With no rivalry heading into Payback, Wyatt may be destined to just slide out of the spotlight for now.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Wrestling Inc), Charlotte and Natalya will be clashing at the next two pay-per-views. WWE reportedly thought of going with Sasha Banks as Charlotte's challenger but decided to hold off that bout until SummerSlam.

It won't be surprising then if Banks plays more of a background role at the moment. 

Payback Build Rolls On

Shane-O-Mac has now run two editions of Raw in a row. That trend may well continue.

The Raw preview teased as much when it asked, "Will we see WWE's Prodigal Son reign once more, or might The Authority put a stop to Shane's tenure as Raw showrunner?"

This storyline has been short on logic, but it seems to be one WWE is intent on advancing. Up to this point, Triple H and Stephanie McMahon haven't been involved. Expect that to change in a hurry.

Jericho vs. Ambrose and Zayn vs. Owens are two undercard rivalries destined to be a part of Payback. Look for each of them to take a step forward on Monday's Raw.

Last Monday, Ambrose invaded Jericho's "Highlight Reel" segment, a moment that ended with The Lunatic Fringe drilling Jericho into the mat. Last week's SmackDown climaxed with Ambrose brawling with Jericho and Zayn trading blows with Owens.

Count on that animosity spilling over into Raw in London.

Emma and Lynch are set for some spotlight on Monday night as well. WWE has been quietly building a rivalry between the two women, each one taking shots at each other in recent interviews. 

The Raw preview suggests that we will see the Irish Lass Kicker make a statement of some kind. It reads, "Viciously defeating Paige on SmackDown, the Australian aggressor aimed to send a pointed message to the fiery fan favorite. How will Becky Lynch respond on Raw?"

London fans will also watch the No. 1 Contender Tag Team Tournament unfold. A pair of second-round matches are on the way: The Usos vs. The Vaudevillains, The Dudley Boyz vs. Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady.

A number of subplots will be at play here. The Dudley Boyz and The Realest Guys in the Room have spent the past two weeks barking at each other. Their meeting in the tourney should have an extra spark to it.

And Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson will be lurking. The former New Japan Pro Wrestling stars ambushed The Usos last Monday, an act that could leave the brothers weakened heading into their bout with The Vaudevillains.

Will Gallows and Anderson floor The Usos once again or sink their fangs into another team? 

WWE certainly has a number of intriguing parts to work with on Monday night, from tournament matches to increasingly personal feuds. Pair that with the always raucous London crowd, and the latest Raw promises to keep the show's recent momentum going.