After Samoa Joe made an audacious statement of intent to the Beast Incarnate by choking out Paul Heyman last week, Brock Lesnar has no choice but to show up this week’s to reassert his dominance over the WWE.
As they say, when the cat goes away the mice come out to play.
Talking about taking time off, though, the Hardyz were conspicuously absent from Raw last week, presumably recovering from the punishing Cage match at Extreme Rules. But newly crowned Raw Tag Team Champions Sheamus and Cesaro will have to reckon with them this week when they return with revenge on their minds.
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WWE Raw Results June 12th, 2017, Live Updates
And what of Alexa Bliss? The Five Feet of Fury successfully defended her Title against Bayley at Extreme Rules, but Nia Jax was owed a shot at it, and the most dangerous woman in the Raw roster doesn’t appear to be someone who would let promises made to her pass unfulfilled.
Meanwhile, a one-off sneak attack on Enzo Amore a few weeks ago has snowballed into a mysterious saga that is unravelling new angles at each turn. What new startling revelation with spring forth this week?
For a rundown of all these points and more, here is our preview of this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw.
#1 Enzo’s mystery attacker to be revealed?
First Enzo was attacked, and when everyone was busy speculating who his mystery attacker could be, Big Cass was taken out as well.
Is the Revival involved? Or is it someone closer to home, a nefarious trickster pretending to be a friend, like the Big Show?
Or is there an almighty double turn to be had as whispers are beginning to emanate that it could actually be one of the Certified Gs who is responsible, cleverly playing the other one while he orchestrates these attacks from a position beyond reproach – as they say, closer to danger, farther from harm.
Kurt Angle has yet another head-scratching week up ahead, but we may finally get the answers we’re looking forward to this time around.
#2 Not like most girls, at all
Nia Jax is a woman on a mission.
Missing out on claiming the Raw Women’s Championship from Alexa Bliss last week would only have sharpened her focus, and she would be inclined to make amends this time around.
Apart from being a powerhouse, Jax has also proven that she is as intelligent as they come. The Hybrid Athlete helped Alexa Bliss to retain her Title against Bayley to ensure that she gets the first option on it after Extreme Rules.
Unfortunately for Little Miss.Bliss, Extreme Rules is over, and she is still the champion, meaning that she’s probably bitten off more than she can chew by making a deal with the devil herself. And if last week is any indication to go by, her life as Champion is about to become a living hell.
#3 A Hardy comeback
For the longest time, the Hardy Boyz were wiping the floor with Sheamus and Cesaro.
The self-proclaimed Bar in the Raw Tag Team roster huffed and puffed but couldn’t even obtain a modicum of success against the legendary tag team. They faltered in the Title matches and they fumbled in singles competition.
But then, at Extreme Rules, they struck gold.
In a stipulation of the Hardyz’ choosing – the Cage Match – Sheamus and Cesaro finally pipped the former Champions and reclaimed the Raw Tag Team Titles. It may have been only by a matter of inches, but that makes a world of difference in big matches.
After resting up for a week, though, the Hardyz are itching to set right their one misstep in the lengthy feud against the Bar. Will they be able to when they activate their rematch clause on this week’s episode of Raw?
Or did Extreme Rules signify a permanent changing of the guard?
Also read: 5 things the Hardy Boyz need to change in WWE
#4 Shoe on the other foot
When Dean Ambrose was the Intercontinental Champion, the Miz hounded him until he got a Title match at Extreme Rules and basically engineered a stipulation which was heavily stacked against the incumbent.
And kudos to him, he got the job done.
But now that he is the Intercontinental Champion and the target is on his back, one gets the feeling that things are going to get a lot more sticky for the Miz.
As last week clearly proved, when Dean Ambrose has singular purpose, nothing can hold him back. The Miz may have flummoxed him and tied his hands behind his back to win the Title from him, but as a challenger, Dean Ambrose is unstoppable.
The wits and guile of the Hollywood A-Lister may have prevailed in the first leg of this riveting rivalry, but how will he fare now that the doors of the Ambrose Asylum have been well and truly kicked open?
Also read: 5 steps that can turn Dean Ambrose into Stone Cold Steve Austin
#5 Brock is back
“Thou shall not intentionally provoke the Beast,” Paul Heyman would have said...had he still been conscious to do so.
When Samoa Joe choked out Brock Lesnar’s advocate and mouthpiece last week on Raw, he didn’t just ‘provoke the Beast’, he poked it straight in the eye.
Logic usually dictates that Brock Lesnar’s opponents should be wary of him and tread carefully, lest they be checked into Suplex City. Samoa Joe, however, seems to have booked himself a one-way ticket straight to its heart.
It may not be a bad approach, as the last man to stand up to Brock Lesnar and refuse to be intimidated was Goldberg – who stunned him with his shock and awe tactics at Survivor Series. However, I don’t have to remind you how it ended for him at WrestleMania 33.
Samoa Joe seems to have taken a leaf out of the legend’s book, striking early and striking hard by going after Paul Heyman. But when Brock Lesnar returns to Raw, it’s the Beast’s turn to retaliate.
And the million dollar question is how will Samoa Joe react? Will he still stand toe-to-toe and back up the bravado that he showed against his advocate last week? Or will he, like countless others before him, fold before the phenomenon that is Brock Lesnar?
Find out on this week’s episode of Monday Night Raw!
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