PREVIEW
► JOHN CENA TAKES ON THE BIG RED MACHINE
After The Undertaker did not respond to John Cena’s challenge to a one-on-one match at WrestleMania, The Cenation Leader labeled The Deadman a “coward,” spurring the resurgence of The Phenom’s brother Kane to defend his brother’s honor — or perhaps make a WrestleMania statement of his own — by Chokeslamming Cena in the center of the ring.
That eerie encounter last Monday on Raw inspired a match between the two longtime rivals this coming Monday night. What would a victory over Kane mean for Cena in his quest to resurrect The Undertaker for one more match on The Grandest Stage of Them All? Moreover, what are The Big Red Machine’s motivations in all of this? Is Kane vying to battle Cena at The Show of Shows in New Orleans, or is he simply stepping up to defend the reputation of his fellow Brother of Destruction?
► WHAT'S "WOKEN" MATT HARDY'S NEXT MOVE?
We all saw it, but whether we understand it is another issue entirely. This past Monday’s Raw played host to The Ultimate Deletion at The Hardy Compound, where “Woken” Matt Hardy ended his Great War with Bray Wyatt by defeating him in combat and throwing the dazed Eater of Worlds into the mystical Lake of Reincarnation. Wyatt hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
Now that The Woken One’s rival has been vanquished, what is Hardy’s path to WrestleMania?
► BRAUN STROWMAN NEEDS A WRESTLEMANIA PARTNER
Per Raw General Manager Kurt Angle, Braun Strowman will challenge Cesaro & Sheamus for the Raw Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania, but only if he can find a partner.
The Monster Among Men doesn’t believe he needs to tag with anyone to take down The Bar, but whether he likes it or not, he’ll need someone in his corner.
When will Strowman choose his partner for The Showcase of the Immortals?
► ARE STEPHANIE MCMAHON & TRIPLE H READY FOR RONDA ROUSEY & KURT ANGLE?
This past Monday night in a WWE.com Exclusive, “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey made short work of Dana Brooke when the Titus Worldwide statistician tried to put The Baddest Woman on the Planet in her place.
As Rousey continues to ramp up her training in preparation for the Mixed Tag Team Match pitting her and Kurt Angle against Stephanie McMahon and Triple H at WrestleMania, is the Raw Commissioner prepared for what awaits at The Show of Shows?
► WILL ROMAN REIGNS BE 100 PERCENT FOR WRESTLEMANIA?
As Roman Reigns was in the process of being taken into custody by U.S. Marshals for violating his suspension this past Monday night, Universal Champion Brock Lesnar brutally attacked the handcuffed Big Dog, who needed to be rushed to a local medical facility in the wake of one of the most callous assaults in WWE history.
Little is known about Reigns’ condition at this time, but one has to imagine that The Beast Incarnate’s actions have changed the landscape of the Universal Championship Match at WrestleMania. After all, most Superstars have difficulty simply standing upright in a match against The Conqueror. What chance does Reigns have if he’s still recovering from Beast-incurred injuries?
► NIA JAX'S PURSUIT OF ALEXA BLISS CONTINUES
The truth hurts, and for Alexa Bliss at WrestleMania, it could prove to be downright excruciating. After the Raw Women’s Champion told the world — first by accident, then intentionally — that she was simply using the formidable Nia Jax to further her own career, The Irresistible Force laid out Little Miss Bliss’ bestie Mickie James this past Monday night before chasing Alexa out of the arena.
Given the champion’s attitude and recent comments toward Nia, Raw General Manager Kurt Angle saw fit to give Jax a championship opportunity against The Goddess at WrestleMania.
Alexa evaded Nia’s wrath in Dallas, but will she have the same fortune in Cleveland, two weeks before The Showcase of the Immortals?
► DOES FINN BALOR OWE SETH ROLLINS A REMATCH?
Last week, Seth Rollins helped Finn Bálor stave off a three-on-one attack from Intercontinental Champion The Miz & the Miztourage. However, it wasn’t simply an act of kindness on The Kingslayer’s part: Bálor, Rollins says, owes him one.
On the March 12 edition of Raw, The Extraordinary Man defeated The Architect in a singles match with a roll-up, and since both men are challenging The Miz in an Intercontinental Title Triple Threat Match at WrestleMania, Rollins is looking to gain some key momentum before The Show of Shows. As such, he wants a rematch against WWE’s first Universal Champion. Will it take place?