WWE Monday Night Raw Preview: 17 February, 2014

You don’t mess with Authority

In an effort to regain their momentum back following a stale week, the WWE will be putting together the last Raw before the Elimination Chamber commences. It will also be the last Raw before the WWE Network is launched which makes it more historically significant than the previous ones.

The creative will be immersed in an effort to set the standards high for the Elimination Chamber and keep the pay-per-view buy rates high despite the toned down offer that will come along with the WWE Network.

Buildup to the Elimination Chamber match and the Shield- Wyatt Showdown will be used as bait this week for the same purpose with some add-ons from here and there. So let’s take a look at how the creative might set the show in order to make it a memorable one.

Where is the Beast?

Absent Absent Absent repeat

It’s been two weeks since we saw Brock Lesnar and Paul Heyman walk down the aisle to make others’ life miserable.

With six men fighting it out for the WWE title, Batista set with Alberto Del Rio and Undertaker showing no signs of a return, Lesnar literally has no one to aim at even if he makes a return.

Seeing Big Show walk out Betty White last week however is a pleasing sign as the World’s Largest Athlete might be the lucky one to get another from the Beast. Being absent like this is clearly making Lesnar less credible and makes it look like WWE pushed him a bit early into making a return.

Whatever the creative is planning to do with him through the WrestleMania season, they need to make the moves fast if they need time to build up a good looking feud.

Solving the CM Punk situation

Something has to give

Like Brock Lesnar, the situation of CM Punk is another thing that the creative has refused to mention for the past two weeks.

But unlike Lesnar, Punk is someone who produces a lot of emotion among the fans which is powerful enough to knock down the company’s plans. Last week they countered this by bringing out Daniel Bryan twice.

This tactics may be employed again this time around unless they have a much bigger star in the background like the Undertaker. Most importantly, the place would just erupt if Punk makes his return and prove that all this was just part of the kayfabe.

That’s what everyone wants and will the best thing for business.

Revenge of the Monster

Hot but not Title hot

There was a loud roar from the crowd when they found out that Daniel Bryan was going to be in the main event of the Elimination Chamber.

However, seeing him carry that WWE title once more before WrestleMania might be a long shot. Usually, the company uses the buildup to the Elimination Chamber to show that all the challengers want a piece of the Champion or to blow up the friction between the contestants.

As far as Bryan is concerned both of it hasn’t been the case as he is entangled with Kane. Last week Bryan was the one who got the upper hand which leaves Kane tainted for revenge.

The lack of title hopes given Bryan is a saddening sight and will prove to be costly one WrestleMania approaches.

Sheamus out to make Orton’s life a hell

Going in embarrassed ?

As if it wasn’t already in hell. Orton is currently at one of the lowest reaches of his career since none of his promos seems to click and none of his matches end in victory.

Heading into the Elimination Chamber Orton has already lost out to more than half of his opponents with the only win coming against Christian who no one seems as a credible entrant into the Chamber. Sheamus will be looking to add some Celtic salt into the wound when Orton will make his last stop before the Elimination Chamber.

The conflict between Orton and the Authority will be the subplot to follow in this as the friction between the Champion and his employers are rising with every loss that he takes.

The Upper hand

There you go

The clash between Shield and Wyatt Family is a dream come true for every WWE fan, the company has made maximum utilization of this fact by keeping the anticipation levels as high as possible.

Till now, they have also kept special attention to keep both the trios save and give equal momentum for each of them. Shield got many wins against established opponents while the Wyatts has been captivating with their riddles.

With the last chance to give either a momentum before the Chamber, the creative would be faced with a question of whether or not they want to have physical contact between the six men.

A one on one match with representatives from each team would be a good way to end things with a brawl but you never know what could happen.