Raw airs tonight (Mar. 2) with a live show from Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the first episode of Raw during the seven week build to WrestleMania 42, which takes place on April 18 and 19.
WWE has major plans for one of the biggest main events in WrestleMania history
It turns out that Finn Balor didn’t ruin the main event of WrestleMania 42 after all.
Within seconds of Finn’s loss to World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk at Elimination Chamber, the WWE commentators immediately moved on to hyping up Punk vs. Roman Reigns as one of the biggest main events
in the history of WrestleMania.
Is that actually a true statement, or just another case of promotional hyperbole? I guess it depends on how many entries are allowed on the list of biggest main events at WrestleMania. It’s not among the 10 biggest WrestleMania main events of all-time, but the incredible Punk/Reigns promo from last month shows that it’s still one of the most intriguing matches WWE can book right now.
Reigns returns to Raw tonight, and Punk is also scheduled to appear on the show. I assume that means another special promo segment is coming our way. Will Roman and Phil come to blows this time, or is it still far to soon for that with seven weeks to go until WrestleMania?
Given WrestleMania’s sluggish ticket sales and rumors about how chaotic things are backstage while trying to finalize the card, this is the one match that WWE absolutely needs to deliver the goods on. So tune into Raw tonight to see CM and Roman show why they are two of the best in the business today as they continue hyping up their bout as one of the biggest WrestleMania main events of all-time.
The rest of the card
Intercontinental Champion Dominik Mysterio defends the gold tonight against Penta. Unlike Finn Balor, Dirty Dom wants everyone in the Judgment Day to interfere and help him win. Will Balor come through for his stablemate, or is Finn actually headed towards a babyface turn after shaking Punk’s hand at Elimination Chamber?
Dragon Lee tried to get revenge on GUNTHER last week, so now it’s time for a singles match between them tonight. After the Ring General destroys this guy, will someone who actually has a chance to beat GUNTHER at WrestleMania show up to confront him? For example, is WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio ready to have his career killed at the biggest show of the year? Or is there any chance a star of the magnitude of Stone Cold Steve Austin could return for one last match against GUNTHER at WrestleMania?
Seth Rollins revealed himself to be the real mystery masked man over the weekend at Elimination Chamber. At some point during tonight’s show, GM Adam Pearce says he will address Seth’s return and interference in the chamber match. Will Adam decide to punish Seth, just like Nick Aldis is doing to Drew McIntyre for his chamber interference, or does Pearce actually get a kick out of watching someone make The Vision squirm?
AJ Lee is the new women’s Intercontinental champion, and she is scheduled to appear live on Raw. Becky Lynch has threatened to boycott Raw (again) if Pearce doesn’t do something about the corrupt officiating in her loss to Lee at Elimination Chamber. If Lynch doesn’t show up tonight, will a different wrestler on the Raw roster challenge AJ to a title match at WrestleMania? What about Nattie?
Other stuff to keep an eye on
– Now that Seth Rollins is back in WWE while Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed are both on the sidelines, does Paul Heyman need to add a new member to The Vision ASAP, or can he wait until Brock Lesnar’s next date on Raw? How will The Vision’s other enemy LA Knight react to Seth’s surprise return?
– Nia Jax & Lash Legend could theoretically show up on Raw now that they are the new WWE women’s tag team champions. Are the Bella Twins preparing to challenge them to a title match at WrestleMania?
– Elimination Chamber winner Rhea Ripley is on to bigger and better things now that she is no longer a tag team champion, but where does that leave her partner IYO SKY? Does IYO have to plan for some appearances on SmackDown if she wants to pursue United States Champion Giulia?
– Liv Morgan made her WrestleMania decision last week when she laid out Women’s World Champion Stephanie Vaquer. How far will Vaquer go to punish Morgan if she gets her hands on her tonight?
– Danhausen’s Elimination Chamber debut as the mystery crate guy was a disaster, based on the negative reaction of the live crowd. Is he already cursed and buried in WWE, or will Danhausen get a chance to redeem himself tonight with a much funnier introduction to WWE fans?
– Is there any update on Maxxine Dupri’s status after she was launched into the ringpost and knocked out last week?
– Similarly, does WWE have anything to say about Jey Uso’s health after a mystery assailant on SmackDown sent him off to the hospital in an ambulance? Will Jey find some time tonight to run it back from a hospital bed?
– Does El Grande Americano plan to challenge El Grande Americano to a mask versus mask match at WrestleMania so that only one authentic El Grande Americano remains in WWE?
– Will the New Day leave Je’Von Williams Evans alone after he beat Kofi Kingston last week, or are they sore losers who can’t get over it?
– Brock Lesnar has issued an open challenge for WrestleMania. Will Oba Femi drop a hint tonight about possibly answering the call? Does Oba have to whoop Rusev’s ass first?
– Can Chris Jericho get out of his AEW contract in time for a match or appearance at WrestleMania 42?
– Where the f*** is Royce Keys?
What will you be looking for on Raw?
