Raw - March 31th

Jester252

Back to the regular time.

Well, here we are: The final Raw on The Road to WrestleMania, and on the verge of a twelve-car pile-up in each lane. Daniel Bryan hasn’t been seen since being carried out on a gurney two weeks ago thanks to Triple H. Bray Wyatt is – for all intents and purposes – haunting John Cena. Batista’s at his wits’ end. And The Undertaker’s ghoulish misdirection has Brock Lesnar running scared. Six days before WWE descends upon New Orleans for The Show of Shows, what lies ahead on Raw? WWE.com has five ideas.

• Brock Lesnar fell for the old empty-casket trick last week and for all the bravado of The Beast Incarnate, “Eat-Sleep-Beat-the-Streak” is looking more and more like an impossibility. The Anomaly does have one thing on his side, though: When he gets in the ring with The Undertaker at WrestleMania, he’ll presumably let his fists do all the work for him. All he has to do is survive The Deadman’s “final message” this Monday. What does The Phenom have in store?
  
  
• Another Superstar who’s making excellent use of mind games? Bray Wyatt, who has John Cena unusually shaken heading into their confrontation on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Wyatt hasn’t relied on mysticism a la The Undertaker, but he has seemingly cut to Cena’s core with his weekly sermons, and disgraced the Cenation leader by stringing him up in the ring ropes last week on Raw and slapping a sheep mask on him. Can Cena find his footing and rally, or is Bray Wyatt irreparably in his head?
  
  
• Is Batista losing his cool? The Animal’s rollercoaster return has seen the WWE Universe turn against him in droves. A tough match with Sheamus on SmackDown exposed Batista’s frustration; with Daniel Bryan lurking in the wings and Triple H gaining steam in his own bid to enter the title match, can The Animal maintain his momentum and fulfill his promise to become champion?
  
  
• How the tables have turned for The Hounds of Justice, who are set to face both a key member and longtime associates of The Authority when they battle Kane & The New Age Outlaws at WrestleMania. The Shield has stuck through thick and thin and looks stronger than ever, but The Devil’s Favorite Director of Operations knows them just about better than anyone. Can Ambrose, Rollins & Reigns power their way to their second consecutive WrestleMania victory?
  
  
• Daniel Bryan wasn’t at Raw last week thanks to lingering injuries from Triple H’s brutal attack on his shoulder, but with only a week to go before the biggest match (matches?) of his career, don’t expect the “Yes!” Man to sit out this week’s Raw. The Cerebral Assassin will want Bryan as weak as possible heading into their match, though, so what final hurdle does Triple H have in store for the thorn in his side that is Daniel Bryan? Tune in to Raw this Monday at 8/7 CT on USA Network, and be sure to tune in to WWE Network for the Raw Pre-Show at 7:30 and Backstage Pass immediately following the show!

Africa

31th

GTR63

Africa wrote: »

31th

There are a lot more issues with the show than pointing that out.
You forgot to mention 'How many times has this show been rewritten & will the King of Kings chosen a good script at random?'
Tune in to find out. Same bat time, same bat channel

Lithium93_

Final Raw before Mania, I'm expecting Daniel Bryan to get some kind of retribution against Triple H after THAT attack. The Undertaker has *in best Paul Heyman voice* Barack Lesnar running scared. Also expecting The Shield to get one over on Kane & The New Age Outlaws.

gerrybbadd

I also fully expect a massive tag team match of sorts, to promote the Battle Royal. Que the whole thing Turning into a Ballyhoo with everyone trying to throw each other over the top rope (I hate when they do this).

I expect Lesnar to leave Taker laid out as well, to build heat for their match.

citytillidie

This is usually the go home show for Wrestlemania as Smackdown the past few years has been a promo show.

Don't think i will be watching WM live this year as well the card is just not that inspiring

JP Liz V1

gerrybbadd wrote: »

I also fully expect a massive tag team match of sorts, to promote the Battle Royal. Que the whole thing Turning into a Ballyhoo with everyone trying to throw each other over the top rope (I hate when they do this).

I expect Lesnar to leave Taker laid out as well, to build heat for their match.

This has probably the worse build for any Taker mania match imo

beakerjoe

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

This has probably the worse build for any Taker mania match imo

It could easily have been soooo much better. Ball dropped by WWE

Moneymaker

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

This has probably the worse build for any Taker mania match imo

It's been atrocious. They've made Lesnar look completely second rate. Very, very disappointing. It DOES not help that everyone and their sister knows Taker is going over too. That's the problem with the streak, you knew Punk was never winning and it's the same with Lesnar. They haven't even created any doubt that Taker might lose either.

He basically has to murder Taker tonight on RAW. Even then the damage has probably already been done.

beakerjoe

Moneymaker wrote: »

It's been atrocious. They've made Lesnar look completely second rate. Very, very disappointing. It DOES not help that everyone and their sister knows Taker is going over too. That's the problem with the streak, you knew Punk was never winning and it's the same with Lesnar. They haven't even created any doubt that Taker might lose either.

He basically has to murder Taker tonight on RAW. Even then the damage has probably already been done.

I want the streak ended to be honest, after Hunter, Cena is the only one Id believe would take the streak. Never thought Punk would. Brock winning will put him over even more as a monster heel and could build well for a possible D-Bryan feud for the title come Summerslam

Moneymaker

beakerjoe wrote: »

I want the streak ended to be honest, after Hunter, Cena is the only one Id believe would take the streak. Never thought Punk would. Brock winning will put him over even more as a monster heel and could build well for a possible D-Bryan feud for the title come Summerslam

Has to be a young guy they're pushing as the next top star to end the streak imo.

Lesnar winning would be a hell of a swerve though. Not sure how i'd feel about it.

beakerjoe

Moneymaker wrote: »

Has to be a young guy they're pushing as the next top star to end the streak imo.

Lesnar winning would be a hell of a swerve though. Not sure how i'd feel about it.

Next year if its Sting v Taker, ill be thinking "whats the point?" Theres no way Sting would go over Taker in a million years and the match would stink as both guys are past their prime considerably. Had to be Reigns this year if anyones to break the streak. Or Cena if they didnt want to break it.

WWE were in a tight spot to be fair.

the groutch

What they should do is have HHH come down and attack Brock.
"Your winner as the result of a disqualification, Brock Lesnar."
Hunter could claim to have ended the streak, and be getting "Vicky Guerrero heat" for years.

beakerjoe

the groutch wrote: »

What they should do is have HHH come down and attack Brock.
"Your winner as the result of a disqualification, Brock Lesnar."
Hunter could claim to have ended the streak, and be getting "Vicky Guerrero heat" for years.

Thats an interesting take, even have Heyman do it as a last resort during the finale of the match.

Have Heyman come in after a third Piledriver and stand there with a chair over Brocks Body as he stares down the undertaker who thinks the chair is intended for him. Brock gets to his knee and Heyman clobbers him instead. Instant heat though not the ideal way to end it IMO.

the groutch

yeah, the individual doing the deed is interchangeable, could use HBK, Kane, or even Punk.

Moneymaker

That would be awful.

Ending the streak in such a cheap way like that. Something that means so much to the business and the fans, doing it simply for heat would be just silly.

Young guy beats Taker clean in the middle. Taker raises his hand after, career is made. Simple.

Roman Reigns could be the man, a year is probably enough time to tell.

Ape Lincoln

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

This has probably the worse build for any Taker mania match imo

I don't know why they didn't go with the grudge match type of programme. I find it a bit baffling. Anyway, can't see Taker giving Brock the piledriver so I suspect it's going to be a win via tap-out.

cian68

Even though the build has been weak I do think the match could be great. Once they're in the wrestlemania ring together and the bell rings the build won't matter. Probably the wwe's thinking as well but they really should have done better.

Deadlie

Are we back to a 1am start tonight, yeah?

Lord TSC

Sky have started showing ads for Mania.

On one, they go on that Taker is death personified, but even death grows old. That with each match, he has gotten weaker, come closer to the loss. That even the legendary Taker can't keep going at the level he is forever. And now he faces the Beast, the younger, stronger, powerful Brock Lesner.

That one ad builds the match better than WWE have in a month. Shame it's an ad for a story that isn't being told. Should check it out.

Machismo Fan

They began telling that story a few years ago with the first match vs. HHH but dropped it, and if they followed through with it in the last couple of years it'd help Undertaker's WM matches a lot. Introduces an element of vulnerability.

Ape Lincoln

Deadlie wrote: »

Are we back to a 1am start tonight, yeah?

Yup. Pre-show is half past midnight, Raw live at 1am.

rovert

Apparently they are taping everything tonight. There's no tapings tomorrow. Expect lots more Raw Rebounds on their other shows.

Ape Lincoln

rovert wrote: »

Apparently they are taping everything tonight. There's no tapings tomorrow. Expect lots more Raw Rebounds on their other shows.

Smackdown continues to mean less and less. I suppose this means no live Main Event.

Loughc

Ape Lincoln wrote: »

Smackdown continues to mean less and less. I suppose this means no live Main Event.

They do it every year for WM week what with access and everything they're too busy for a full smackdown.

Ape Lincoln

Loughc wrote: »

They do it every year for WM week what with access and everything they're too busy for a full smackdown.

Aye, I suppose there's the press conference tomorrow as well. Smackdown is still completely skippable though.

Deadlie

Ape Lincoln wrote: »

Smackdown continues to mean less and less. I suppose this means no live Main Event.

They're taping Main Event, Smackdown and then going to Raw according to Reddit.

Tuesday: Main Event - 8PM EST: This will NOT be airing live this week as they are taping everything (including Smackdown) before RAW tonight.

RickyBobby93

Think Raw has actually been good the last few weeks, some of the best of the PG era. Think this could turn into a Daniel Bryan love fest though, just like Mania will be

Mokuba

Still fail to understand what the point in Lesnar killing Henry and Show was - if this is the way they are booking it.

Undertaker needed to be destroyed in the build up.

Agent Coulson

Orton vs Bootista tonight on RAW WTF.

Ape Lincoln

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Orton vs Bootista tonight on RAW WTF.

And this was going to be the Mania main event

Moneymaker

Ape Lincoln wrote: »

And this was going to be the Mania main event

Least they'll get to see just how brutal it would have been.

Mokuba

21 men have stepped up? Eh?

Jester252

Might want to re-check your maths. You haven't beaten 21 men at Wrestlemaina

dirkmeister

Lesnar is a legit badass and they are making him look like a chump, so disappointing.

I hope he batters Taker tonight.

dirkmeister

Jester252 wrote: »

Might want to re-check your maths. You haven't beaten 21 men at Wrestlemaina

I make it 19 if you include Lesnar.

Professional Griefer

Punk chants? Piss off

Moneymaker

Oh shut the **** up you muppets.

dirkmeister

Come on Brroooooock, go get the old codger.

Vinz Mesrine

Yep, 19 men including Brock.

Jester252

Nice chant from someone in the crowd. "Get in the ring Brock, you were in the UFC not the KFC"

Mokuba

That was so drawn out.

Super-Rush

Its a bit late doing this now.

Ape Lincoln

JBL: "I'm convinced now more than ever"

What, after one poxy F5? Taker will probably kick out of about four F5s on Sunday :rolleyes:

Agent Coulson

Call that a beat down do they.

Damm a proper beat down was needed.

B.A._Baracus

Meh...
Dont mean to come off as a dick.... but lensar gets heat on taker. Taker beats him at mania. Its not exactly must see tv. My opinion I know. But.... meh.

Moneymaker

No one is buying it Bradshaw.

D.Q

I'm still really looking forward to it. It'll be a great spectacle

Jester252

As the Popeyes women says; Boring

Andersonisgod

Wow Brock looked really strong out there and his F5 and bulging muscles and athletic frame are impressive, I think he might beat the 49 year old Undertaker.

Taker Lesnar does nothing for me.