WWE MONDAY NIGHT RAW - February 27th, 2017

PREVIEW

THE HEADLINER
Seth Rollins will be on Raw this week for the first time since the night after Royal Rumble, when calling out Triple H got him a debuting Samoa Joe instead. A couple days later, we learned that show-closing segment earned Rollins a trip to Dr. Andrews clinic in Alabama. Now, despite some positive sounding news on the rumor mill, WWE continues to insist the Architect is on the verge of missing his second straight Showcase of the Immortals.
When news Seth had suffered another ligament injury in his surgically repaired right knee hit the web, most folks labeled him a long shot for WrestleMania 33. Then Wrestling Observer reported it was a MCL tear, something which can be rehabbed in 6 - 8 weeks. Now, whether or not it’s the most prudent course of action, we’ve heard he and WWE have decided to go forward with his match against Triple H at Mania.
And, even setting aside that no one wants to miss the biggest show of the year, two years in a row, you can see why all involved would want to make this happen. The angle with Seth’s old mentor has been going on since last August. It was the impetus for his face turn. Hunter doesn’t really have anything else lined up.
WWE doesn’t want to miss a chance to continue or possibly even end that story on the Grandest Stage of Them All. They certainly don’t want to have either of those talents on the shelf when trying to sell tickets and subscriptions for Mania.
We should learn whether or not Triple H needs a “Plan B” tonight.


THE TITLE SCENE

► Goldberg is in the rare position of having his next two pay-per-view (PPV) matches booked. He’s facing Brock Lesnar in Orlando on April 2 no matter the result of his Fastlane showdown with Universal champion Kevin Owens. So, from one perspective, it doesn’t matter what happens this Sunday. But it definitely matters to KO, who vowed to retain by outsmarting the WCW legend. And it matters to Brock, who said (via his advocate Paul Heyman) that he’s planning on taking the belt from the man who’s had his number since Survivor Series. Tonight, we’ll find out if Bill can handle his business on the microphone better than he handles it on Twitter.

► Since commissioner Stephanie McMahon was unable to shame Bayley into giving up her Women’s title, the Hugster will try to keep her belt and break Charlotte Flair’s PPV streak in Milwaukee this Sunday. After being beaten by her nemesis, and Bayles’ bestie, Sasha Banks last week, Flair will be looking to make a statement in Wisconson well before the weekend.

► United States champ Chris Jericho made his return to WWE while Raw was in Germany last week... followed not long after by a return to the trainer’s room when his former best friend Owens beat him down again.

► They’ve never been champs at any level, but Enzo Amore & Big Cass will look to change that when they face “Big Gal & Andy”, aka tag team titleholders Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson at Fastlane.

► The contract for their title match is signed, but the game of oneupmanship between cruiserweight champion Neville and #1 contender & fellow countrymen Jack Gallagher.


OTHER STUFF TO KEEP AN EYE ON:

► With hip surgery calling his name, General Manager Mick Foley has remembered that Stephanie McMahon might not be the sweet little girl he remembers from the 1990s.

► There’s some doubt about what Big Show will be doing at Mania, but last week he and Braun Strowman both looked like a million bucks. Actually, the Monster Among Men looked like a few dollars more, since he won and then stood tall over his Fastlane opponent Roman Reigns, who earlier in the night had dispatched both Gallows & Anderson for the second week running.

► After learning they’d host the company’s biggest show of the year, New Day saved their ice cream plans from a Russian hacker. Named Lana.

► Her path to the Women’s title isn’t clear, but Nia Jax is going to keep wrecking people until she gets her shot.

► Since Rollins’ injury definitely rules him out for this weekend’s PPV, Samoa Joe has dedicating himself to making sure Sami Zayn’s world is pain.

► Emma?

RED VAGINA