As part of their ongoing European tour leg, the WWE’s flagship show comes to us from the famous O2 Arena in London this week. As always, egged on by the usually lit English crowd, there is a good reason to be optimistic heading into Monday.
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After last week’s show blew hot and cold, the WWE should be looking to put on a stronger showing this time around...and the storylines have shaped up tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that. tantalisingly thus far in order for them to do just that.
Just how much will being crowned the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship play into the Miz’s already bloated ego? And how will Seth Rollins and Finn Balor respond to their respective nemeses after they cost them a chance at Dean Ambrose’s gold last week?being crowned the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship play into the Miz’s already bloated ego? And how will Seth Rollins and Finn Balor respond to their respective nemeses after they cost them a chance at Dean Ambrose’s gold last week?being crowned the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship play into the Miz’s already bloated ego? And how will Seth Rollins and Finn Balor respond to their respective nemeses after they cost them a chance at Dean Ambrose’s gold last week?being crowned the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship play into the Miz’s already bloated ego? And how will Seth Rollins and Finn Balor respond to their respective nemeses after they cost them a chance at Dean Ambrose’s gold last week?
The record breaker Alexa Bliss may be small in stature, but her opinion of herself has only ballooned after two consecutive pinfall victories over the former Raw Women’s Champion Bayley. So much so that she accosted her competition last week while standing on a pedestal, but you know what they say – the higher you climb, the harder you fall.
And what does Raw General Manager Kurt Angle intend to do about the bruising rivalry between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman?
With all those answers and more, here is our preview to this upcoming week’s Monday Night Raw!
#5 A crafty operator
Despite always ending up on the wrong side of a beatdown to close out every episode of Miz TV, being made to eat humble pie by John Cena in front of 70-odd thousand fans at WrestleMania and hiding perennially behind Maryse to escape from his opponents, the Miz is somehow closing in on the 7th time that he would be able to wrap the most prestigious belt in WWE - the Intercontinental Title - around his waist.
Yes, you read that right.
But in all fairness, what a year the Miz has been having. And how admirable of the WWE to make him the number one contender for Ambrose's Title as a result.
The two are almost antitheses of each other and their interaction on Raw should definitely be worth watching.
#4 Revenge is sweet
Although it’s been a week since Payback, the air of revenge, it would seem, is still lingering rather heavily over the locker room.
After both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor made public overtures towards Brock Lesnar’s WWE Universal Title in the past few weeks, they have each fell afoul of Raw’s resident bullies. While Samoa Joe seems to be in no mood to allow Rollins to traipse away after his victory at Payback, Bray Wyatt has zeroed in on Finn Balor as his next victim.
Having cost both the babyfaces a shot at the Intercontinental Championship in last week’s Title eliminator, are the ominous Samoan and the sinister Eater of Worlds due a spot of revenge this time around? due a spot of revenge this time around?
Both Rollins and Balor would be, no doubt, cracking their knuckles at the very thought.
#3 Tag Team Turmoil
Ever since the Hardy Boyz returned to a surreal reception at WrestleMania 33 and plucked the Raw Tag Team Titles from right underneath the noses of the usual suspects, the whole division has been in a state of flux.
Everyone seems to want to test their mettle against the legendary team, and who can blame them? For the longest time, the Hardyz were considered the gold standard in tag team wrestling and now that they’re back, everyone wants to make a name off them.
The Tag Team Turmoil match to be held on Raw will provide one duo with an opportunity to do just that, as five teams take to the mat to vie for the number one contendership for the Titles that the Hardyz hold.
Will Sheamus and Cesaro – armed with new-found vigour and edge – earn another shot at gold and settle the scores with the Hardyz? Or will one tandem from the quartet comprising the Club, Enzo & Cass, Heath Slater & Rhyno and Golden Truth emerge as the new leaders of the wolf pack?
We’re as excited as you are, to find out.
#2 A babyface comeback
The money in an underdog babyface like Bayley is, honestly, in the chase.
Booking her as a dominant champion like Charlotte Flair was just doesn’t make sense in the long term and the WWE picked up on that pretty quickly, having her lose the belt to Alexa Bliss at Payback.
Alexa’s burgeoning reputation, on the other hand, enjoyed another boost when she became the first woman to hold both the red and blue versions of the Women’s Title in the WWE. But as nefarious and cunning as the Five Feet of Fury is, did she bite off more than she can chew when she brazenly goaded Bailey and co. last week on Raw?
As good-natured as Bayley is, she would surely be itching to knock the Champion down a peg or two.
#1 A stamp of authority?
If left to their own violent devices, Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman would no doubt have destroyed all of the vehicles in the backstage parking area and then some. Neither alpha male is in the business of backing down from a fight and it certainly doesn’t help that these two are firmly in each other’s crosshairs already.
But being the General Manager comes with certain responsibilities...like for instance, preventing the irresistible force from colliding with the immovable object. If not for their sakes, then at least for the general well-being of everyone around them.
It is that thankless task that Kurt Angle will attempt to undertaker on Raw. How successful he is, however, would depend on whether either man’s bloodlust can be satiated in the first place. Personally, I wouldn’t bet on it.
And especially if a scenario plays out that either man is lurking in London, brimming with malicious intent, all bets are well and truly off.
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