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With just one week before Elimination Chamber, Raw will look to stir up interest in what will be its last brand-specific pay-per-view for the foreseeable future.
I've decided to incorporate the 7-man gauntlet match WWE has already announced and with the majority of the pay-per-view card being booked, there is less wiggle room than usual when plotting out the show.
Once again, I will be taking on WWE's creative team and attempting to book the full three hours of television.
Balor Club vs The Revival
Finn Balor has seen quite the push in recent times following being this year's Ironman in the Royal Rumble match. To build upon this, and to present Balor Club as a main-event calibre faction, I would have the three men kick-off this week's show.
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The trio can talk up Balor's win last week, cast doubt over Rollins inclusion in the Elimination Chamber and question why Gallows & Anderson have not been named number 1 contenders to the tag team titles. General Manager Kurt Angle can then appear, formally announce the gauntlet match as the night's main event and then remind Gallows & Anderson that they lost last week to The Revival.
This leaves The Club and The Revival with one win each and so Angle can create a number 1 contenders match between the club and the revival to begin immediately.
Following an advert break, Cesaro and Sheamus can join the commentary team and scout out their future opponent. The Revival ought to use underhand tactics to take control, taking out the referee in the process. Balor can then make the save on the outside and help The Club get the win and proceed on to a title match at Elimination Chamber.
Winner: Balor Club
Segment and match running time: 40 minutes
Transition segment: Rollins seeking out Balor and the two arguing over who won last week's main event
Drew Gulak vs Tony Nese
Following their outstanding match last week, Gulak and Nese should be given the privilege of representing the cruiserweight on Raw.
To set up the match, Nese can come down to the ring and cut a brief promo, claiming that while Gulak may have knocked him out of the Championship tournament, he is the better man and he is ready to prove it.
Gulak can then head down to the ring and the match can commence.
These two should put on a similar match as on 205 Live, exhibiting their excellent chemistry to a wider audience. While it's a shame to make Nese lose again, Gulak's current momentum cannot be squashed and so he should once again pick up the victory.
Winner: Drew Gulak
Segment and match time: 20 minutes
Transition segment: advert break
Sasha Banks & Bayley vs Mickie James & Alexa Bliss
Two teams with underlying tensions should be the driving force behind this match. Bayley and Sasha have had a budding rivalry in recent weeks and this should be played upon in this bout, with the two trying to one-up each other. In the other corner, James can be trying to send a message to the champion throughout the match.
Tensions can rise slowly between the two teams before boiling over and descending into an all-out brawl. Bliss should be the last women standing at the end of the match, as the women's champion needs to seem a little stronger than she has in recent times if she is to be a credible opponent for Rousey or Asuka, let alone defend her title in the elimination chamber.
This bout gives Bliss some momentum and hints at the mayhem that is to come inside the elimination chamber with each woman vying for the gold.
Winner: No contest
Match running time: 20 minutes
Transition segment: Woken Matt Hardy video segment calling out Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt vs Apollo Crews
Following a Woken Matt Hardy video segment, Wyatt can proceed into one of his cryptic promos. He should speak of Matt Hardy as both a friend and a rival, someone that intrigues him. He should state that his business with Hardy will have to wait until elimination chamber as tonight he has another challenger. Apollo Crews can then head down to the ring, looking to build on the recent momentum he has been gaining.
After weathering an early onslaught from Crews, Wyatt should seize control of the matchup. With the eater of worlds closing in on the win, Hardy's music should hit, distracting Wyatt and allowing Crews to gain the win via roll-up. Hardy can then appear in person and accept Wyatt's challenge for a match at Elimination Chamber. Crews can pick up a win and continue to build on his recent performances.
Winner: Apollo Crews
Segment and match running time: 25 minutes
Transition segment: Advert Break
Asuka vs Absolution
With Asuka having dominated the majority of the women's division since her debut, this provides a different matchup from what we've seen. Absolution can briefly explain pre-match that while no women has proven themselves ready for Asuka, Absolution can take on anyone. This can cause Asuka to head down to the ring and a handicap match being made.
Absolution can gain early control of the match with quick tags and the numbers game working to their advantage. Asuka should then begin to roll, taking out both Deville and Rose and closing in on victory. Nia Jax should then charge down the ramp and attack Asuka, dominating her with a number of power moves before standing tall in the ring.
This might hopefully create some belief that Jax can defeat Asuka which at the moment is severely lacking from their program. Absolution can also elevate themselves with a good performance against a main event competitor in Asuka.
Winner: Asuka, via DQ
Match running time: 15 minutes
Transition segment: advert break
Elias vs John Cena vs The Miz vs Roman Reigns vs Seth Rollins vs Finn Balor vs Braun Strowman in a gauntlet match
Elias should come down to the ring first, perform a brief song calling out the other members of the elimination match before being interrupted by John Cena's entrance. Cena and Elias can open the match with a back-and-forth battle. Cena is the more believable of the two as a challenger to Lesnar's title at the moment and so he should eventually manage to get the better of Elias. Cena should make Elias tap out to the STF as this allows Elias to more reasonably claim he was saving himself for the chamber afterwards.
Without delay, Miz should jump Cena from behind before he's ready to gain the upper hand. Cena can eventually fight back and look close to taking out the Miz before interference by the Miztourage can allow the A-lister to once again gain the advantage and eliminate Cena from the matchup.
Next up is Roman Reigns, who can dominate an already tired Miz. Miz can take a serious beating from Reigns before ultimately deciding the match isn't worth his time and walking backstage, eliminating himself via count-out.
Seth Rollins ought to be next up and join his former Shield brethren in the ring. The two can go at it for a while as Rollins needs to show why he was worthy of a spot in the chamber. Just as it appears Rollins is going to put away the big dog, Reigns should manage to pick up the win with a sudden roll-up. This can build on Reigns' elimination of Rollins at the Royal Rumble with Reigns getting the better of the architect, but only because of a Rollins loss of focus.
Finn Balor can then head out to the ring and square off with Rollins on his way down to the ramp. The commentary team can play up how both men felt they had won last week's main event. After landing some quick offense on Reigns, Balor should turn his attention to Rollins once again and shout down the aisle at him. Balor can then turn into a spear by Reigns before becoming his third elimination of the match.
That leaves just one man, Braun Strowman. Strowman should march down to the ring and decimate a tired Reigns. Reigns can kick out of the first running power slam to show his immense heart following the beating he's taking throughout the match but once Strowman hits his finisher for the second time Reigns should stay down.
This version of proceedings showcases each of the men in the elimination chamber without making any of them look unnecessarily weak. Strowman can be built as the favorite for the matchup as he seems the only viable winner of the chamber match who isn't called Roman Reigns. Reigns still looks strong but not the kind of over the top strong that has been booked for him in the past. Strowman standing tall in the middle of the ring and pointing at the WrestleMania sign would be a powerful message to end the last Raw before Elimination Chamber.
Winner: Brawn Strowman
Segment and match running time: 1 hour
Ad - breaks
1. before the conclusion of Elias vs Cena
2. following Roman Reigns entrance
3. following Braun Strowman entrance
