For the last few years, Raw the night after WrestleMania has been just as big as the show itself. From amazing returns, title changes, unexpected and exciting turns, and long awaited debuts, the show has served as the true final event of WrestleMania week.
With this years show expected to be less than stellar, Raw might actually be that much more important to bring the event to a full close. With that said, here are 10 things I could/would like to see for the biggest Raw of the year.
10) Ric Flair Starts Managing a Male Superstar
Flair has been great in his role of being a complimentary piece to Charlotte. His involvement with her has not been about him, which is important to make the relationship work. He could definitely do that for someone in need of a character tweak. It could also work for a debuting NXT talent.
9) Sting Appears
I’m not sure if he gets involved at WrestleMania or not, but the newest WWE Hall of Fame inductee should appear on the show in some form. It could either be to follow up on possible WrestleMania involvement or it could even just be to cut a promo, similar to The Ultimate Warrior in 2014.
Either way, The Icon needs a Raw appearance.
8) The Announced Return of an Injured Star
The WWE’s injury list reads like an all star team. Cesaro is announced for appearances during the international tour. Recent reports have stated Randy Orton will be back next month. Hyping the return of one if not both of them will be huge for a depleted roster.
7) Clean Up the Tag Division
With New Day’s apparent face turn, the division needs some definition.
The Dudleys have recently gone heel, The Uso’s are stale, and The League of Nations are beyond a non factor. The division needs some new definition and direction, this show needs to start it.
6) Focus on the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal Winner
Cesaro was the first winner and he was hot for about a month. Big Show didn’t even make it out of Raw the night after hot off his win.
Make the battle royal win seem important. A segment with an official trophy presentation, followed by either the set up, or a match between the winner and runner up is simple enough to work here. It can help the winner start to build momentum off the win.
5) Establish AJ Styles’ Next Feud
His match with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania should officially end their feud. Now AJ should move on to something else.
Whoever or whatever that is, needs to be established on this show. AJ is a big deal in WWE, so his storylines need to feel just as big. If Ryback were to become US Champion, maybe AJ sets his sights on his first championship in WWE.
4) Debuts
The last two years have been especially strong with new talent debuting from NXT. In 2014 we got promos for Bo Dallas, Adam Rose & Paige debuted and won the Divas title that night as well.
Last year we got Kalisto & Neville debuts on the show. This year it appears there could be a wide variety of options of who could debut. Reports a few months ago had Samoa Joe as a strong candidate to debut.
Enzo & Cass have been main roster rumored for the past 6 months so they are possible as well. If she drops the NXT Women’s title at Takeover, I could see Bayley as an outside candidate to debut as well.
3) The Wyatts Must Destroy Brock Lesnar AND Paul Heyman
It’s becoming a post WrestleMania tradition, “Big post WrestleMania plans are in place for The Wyatts”, yet nothing ever comes of it. This year it must. There’s actually an easy way to do it. The Wyatts and Brock Lesnar have danced around each other since early January, and the time has come for them to collide.
Brock will be taking his annual post WrestleMania leave so this is just way too easy. Paul Heyman and Brock come out for their usual promo time when they are interrupted by Bray and the family. Eventually 3 on 1 becomes too much for a beaten Lesnar (who will be vulnerable from his match the night before with Ambrose) and Lesnar is laid to waste. Just when you think the beating is over, and the Wyatts are going to leave, they grab Paul Heyman and Heyman is hit with Sister Abigail. Heyman and Lesnar are destroyed by the Wyatts, the Wyatts finally have the heat behind them they need, and the countdown to Bray/Brock at Summerslam is on.
2) Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens Must Begin
The match a lot of people were expecting at Wrestlemania, must begin its real story on this night. If booked right Owens & Zayn could be a feud that has passion, is personal, and fans would truly be invested in. This could be the type of feud that WWE has not had in a long long time. The series of matches would be nothing short of amazing. Add in the potential prize of the intercontinental title, and the intensity of this feud goes up times 100. This feud could easily carry through the spring and early summer and no one would complain about it at all.
1) Embrace the Hate Roman
I don’t think anyone is going to have a tougher weekend than Roman Reigns. While I fully expect him to capture the title at ‘Mania, 95% of the people there or at Raw will be none to happy about it. I’m not calling for him to turn heel yet, but I do believe he needs to start acknowledging the reality of the fans. He’s been more intense since his return and that needs to continue.
Him not coming through the crowd anymore needs to be addressed and a promo from him should do just that. A late 95/early 96 Diesel character (“If you cheer me I’m with you, if you boo me then screw you.” Diesel cut a promo more or less saying this so that’s why it worked.) for Roman would work perfectly for him until he needs to go full heel once Seth Rollins returns.
That character should be born on this night.
Thoughts?
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