When:
United States: LIVE, Monday Night, February 16th, at 8/7c on the USA Network
United Kingdom: Tuesday Morning, February 17th, at 1AM on SkySportsHD3
Where:
Amway Center
Orlando, FL
RAW Five-Point Preview: Feb. 16, 2015
As SmackDown drew to a close Thursday night, the “Yes!” Movement was in full effect, a celebratory moment that could very well be a sign of things to come at WWE Fastlane if Daniel Bryan overcomes Roman Reigns and punches his ticket to the main event of WrestleMania. However, even though The Big Dog and The Beard were seemingly on the same page when they stood triumphant after Tag Team Turmoil on SmackDown, Reigns isn’t about to just hand over the opportunity he earned by winning the 2015 Royal Rumble Match.
As WWE Fastlane approaches, both Superstars will be looking to gain important momentum in anticipation of their high-stakes battle, live on WWE Network. How are these ring warriors preparing for battle, and what does The Authority have in store for them on Raw? WWE.com has some ideas.
1. How will The Authority deal with Daniel Bryan, Roman Reigns … and Big Show?
Against all odds, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns stood victorious at the end of Thursday’s SmackDown, running the gauntlet and defeating six tandems in a Tag Team Turmoil Match. Moreover, Bryan and Reigns weren’t tearing each other apart when the dust had settled! The final moments of SmackDown were surreal to those who witnessed Reigns’ thunderous Spear to The “Yes!” Man last Monday night on Raw, and were likely even more unbelievable to The Authority.
But that was Thursday. With just six nights before WWE Fastlane, where a WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania hangs in the balance, emotions will undoubtedly be running high. For Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, driving a wedge between these potential WrestleMania main-eventers on Raw is clearly what’s “best for business.”
Speaking of SmackDown, Big Show — in a fit of frustration — hit Kane with a big KO Punch that cost the Authority allies a Tag Team Turmoil victory. Will Triple H and Stephanie also have plans to punish the giant?
Against all odds, Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns stood victorious at the end of Thursday’s SmackDown, running the gauntlet and defeating six tandems in a Tag Team Turmoil Match. Moreover, Bryan and Reigns weren’t tearing each other apart when the dust had settled! The final moments of SmackDown were surreal to those who witnessed Reigns’ thunderous Spear to The “Yes!” Man last Monday night on Raw, and were likely even more unbelievable to The Authority.
But that was Thursday. With just six nights before WWE Fastlane, where a WWE World Heavyweight Championship Match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania hangs in the balance, emotions will undoubtedly be running high. For Triple H and Stephanie McMahon, driving a wedge between these potential WrestleMania main-eventers on Raw is clearly what’s “best for business.”
Speaking of SmackDown, Big Show — in a fit of frustration — hit Kane with a big KO Punch that cost the Authority allies a Tag Team Turmoil victory. Will Triple H and Stephanie also have plans to punish the giant?
2. Will Dusty Rhodes be able to get his sons through “hard times”?
As we learned Tuesday night on Twitter, WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes will appear live on Raw to help fix the increasingly strained partnership between his sons, Goldust and Stardust. With Stardust seemingly becoming lost in his intergalactic persona, and his older brother seemingly unable to get through to his spacey sibling, The American Dream is the only person who can bring this family back together.
What will Dusty say to bring Stardust — once a proud member of the Rhodes family — back down to Earth? What will happen if the WWE Hall of Famer fails in his mission to unite his offspring?
3. How will Dean Ambrose strike back against Bad News Barrett?
For such a dominant competitor, Bad News Barrett sure seems like he’s afraid to defend his Intercontinental Championship against Dean Ambrose. Once again, Barrett had some “breaking news” for The Lunatic Fringe last week on Raw, courtesy of BNZ: Ambrose still isn’t getting an Intercontinental Title opportunity.
This rivalry is turning into a twisted reimagining of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.” Barrett would not like Ambrose in the ring, he would not, could not, in the spring! Yet, after being consistently denied the championship opportunity he’s earned, Ambrose might have another children’s story in mind for the smarmy titleholder on Raw: “Where the Wild Things Are.”
4. Will Cena retaliate against Rusev?
Sometimes when you poke a bear, the bear pokes back.
Last week on Raw, John Cena incited a brawl with United States Champion Rusev, and as a result he was jabbed in his already injured eye by The Super Athlete and thrown into the LED board on the stage. We later learned that the attack exacerbated Cena’s eye ailments, including a scratched cornea and a ruptured blood vessel.
Get the latest on Cena’s condition
We’ve seen the 15-time World Champion rebound from injury time and time again, but one has to imagine that last Monday’s brawl changed Cena’s strategy in dealing with his WWE Fastlane opponent.
Will Cena get some retribution on The Hero of the Russian Federation, or will Rusev continue to assert his dominance over the Cenation leader?
5. What is Triple H’s mindset after Sting’s bizarre response?
As they say, be careful what you wish for — you just might get it.
For such a dominant competitor, Bad News Barrett sure seems like he’s afraid to defend his Intercontinental Championship against Dean Ambrose. Once again, Barrett had some “breaking news” for The Lunatic Fringe last week on Raw, courtesy of BNZ: Ambrose still isn’t getting an Intercontinental Title opportunity.
This rivalry is turning into a twisted reimagining of Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham.” Barrett would not like Ambrose in the ring, he would not, could not, in the spring! Yet, after being consistently denied the championship opportunity he’s earned, Ambrose might have another children’s story in mind for the smarmy titleholder on Raw: “Where the Wild Things Are.”
4. Will Cena retaliate against Rusev?
Sometimes when you poke a bear, the bear pokes back.
Last week on Raw, John Cena incited a brawl with United States Champion Rusev, and as a result he was jabbed in his already injured eye by The Super Athlete and thrown into the LED board on the stage. We later learned that the attack exacerbated Cena’s eye ailments, including a scratched cornea and a ruptured blood vessel.
Get the latest on Cena’s condition
We’ve seen the 15-time World Champion rebound from injury time and time again, but one has to imagine that last Monday’s brawl changed Cena’s strategy in dealing with his WWE Fastlane opponent.
Will Cena get some retribution on The Hero of the Russian Federation, or will Rusev continue to assert his dominance over the Cenation leader?
5. What is Triple H’s mindset after Sting’s bizarre response?
As they say, be careful what you wish for — you just might get it.
Last Monday night on Raw, Triple H demanded that Sting respond to his challenge to meet face to face at WWE Fastlane, and the vigilante finally replied to The Game in bewildering, near-supernatural fashion.
Amid the theatrics, a visibly startled Triple H actually fell to the ground before the words “I accept” appeared on the TitanTron. Even though The Cerebral Assassin has one of the most cunning minds in the history of sports-entertainment, one has to imagine that he’s having trouble sleeping since Monday night. Is Triple H having regrets about challenging Sting to meet at WWE Fastlane? Also, how is Triple H preparing psychologically for what’s sure to be a tense encounter?
Don’t miss Raw this Monday night at 8/7 C on USA Network, and be sure to tune in to Raw Pre-Show at 7:30 ET, exclusively on WWE Network.
