RAW Discussion 01/05/17

WWE Raw preview, May 1, 2017: Strowman redefines brutality
Roman Reigns brought the fight to Braun Strowman at WWE Payback, but not even The Big Dog could stop the rampaging Monster Among Men. What havoc will Strowman unleash tonight on Raw, and how will Raw General Manager Kurt Angle respond to what transpired during last night’s brutal main event?

Braun Strowman rules Team Red
Roman Reigns was seemingly the only person who could end Braun Strowman’s onslaught, but The Big Dog was utterly demolished last night at WWE Payback. After The Monster Among Men pinned Reigns, the unsatisfied behemoth used the steel steps to horrifically assault The Big Dog.

Reigns went into the bout with cracked ribs, a separated shoulder and internal injuries, but the post-match carnage certainly increased that damage. Even though The Big Dog fended off Strowman when the juggernaut attempted to continue the brutality on Raw Talk — tearing off an ambulance door in the process — there will be no stopping The Monster Among Men when he strikes next. How will Raw General Manager Kurt Angle respond to what transpired during and after last night’s main event, and what does the future hold for the injured Reigns?

Cesaro & Sheamus reach their boiling point
Cesaro & Sheamus seemed gracious enough after their loss to The Hardy Boyz last night at WWE Payback, but there was no grace in what transpired shortly afterward. As the victorious brothers celebrated with the titles they so valiantly defended — risking life, limb and even teeth in the process — the unsuccessful and clearly frustrated challengers snapped, laying out Matt & Jeff and holding up the Raw Tag Team Titles they failed to earn.

The aggressive duo seemed very proud of what they did to The Hardy Boyz when they appeared on WWE Network’s Raw Talk, with The Celtic Warrior taking particular pride in knocking out one of Jeff’s teeth during the bout. How will The Hardy Boyz respond on Raw?

There’s no room for “The A-Lister” in The Bálor Club
After The Miz called Finn Bálor a “failure” during “Miz TV” on the WWE Payback Kickoff, the charismatic Irishman proved he is nothing of the sort when he nailed the arrogant A-Lister with a Sling Blade before dropkicking him into the corner. We’d like to believe this will teach Miz to keep his mouth shut, but we know better.

Last night, Bálor made it clear that he’s focused on reclaiming the Universal Championship, which he was forced to relinquish one night after winning it at SummerSlam last year. And yet, before the mysterious Superstar sets out to slay The Beast Incarnate, it seems like he might have some unfinished business with The Miz. Might we see a “sequel” encounter between Bálor and The A-Lister tonight?

Bliss celebrates a history-making win
In Bayley’s hometown of San Jose, Calif., Alexa Bliss captured The Huggable One’s Raw Women’s Championship at WWE Payback to become the first competitor to win both the Raw and SmackDown Women’s Titles, having already held the Team Blue title on two occasions. Last night’s win is one The Wicked Witch of WWE won’t soon forget, and she’ll set out to make sure the WWE Universe doesn’t forget it anytime soon, either.

The “small but fierce” Bliss brings her newly won championship to Raw. How will she kick off her reign?

Hobbled Kingslayer stuns Samoa Joe
Despite absorbing a brutal assault on his right knee throughout his match against Samoa Joe last night at WWE Payback, Seth Rollins persevered and — despite the insurmountable odds — managed to pin The Samoan Submission Machine and limp away from WWE Payback with a victory.

Now, having attained retribution against Triple H and Samoa Joe — the two men who threatened The Architect’s livelihood in the lead-up to WrestleMania — what’s next for the triumphant Rollins? We’ll find out tonight.

We're building to the next RAW PPV, Extreme Rules, on June 4. Will we perhaps see Broken Hardyz tonight? Any news on the Universal Title (which has essentially been ignored the past month)?