RAW PRIMER: Superstar Shake-up is here, who will be first to move? Plus Braun-Lesnar, Hardy Boyz, Sami, Owens

RAW PREVIEW
APRIL 10, 2017
UNIONDALE, N.Y. AT NASSAU COLISEUM
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTorch contributor

“SHAKE IT OUT….SHAKE IT OUT.”

It’s no surprise that Vince McMahon wants to keep the WWE Universe on their feet with this Superstar Shake-up. For months, fans and the talent themselves have expressed interest in altering the roster in order to create fresh matchups and original storylines. That is slightly unfortunate for new Raw General Manager Kurt Angle who barely got time to learn what he had to work with. However, I do expect him and Daniel Bryan to come up with a viable solution for their respective brand. Tonight on Raw we will get phase-one, but who from SD will we see?

PREDICTION: Alexa Bliss will bring her attitude to Monday nights.

“DORMANT BEAST. PRESENT MONSTER.”

Braun Strowman refused to be forgotten after his unimpressive performance at WrestleMania. Last week during Universal Champion Brock Lesnar’s promo segment (yes, it was Paul Heyman doing the talking again) big McBeefy strutted to the ring with the confidence of a serial killer. “Once I’m done with Roman, I’m coming for you.” Whether you are a fan of hoss fights or not, this is one that is going to happen, and trust me, it’ll be worth it. Strowman’s continued improvement as a monster heel will clash beautifully with Lesnar’s rebuilt self-confidence and tweener personality. The question, though, is this: Can the sausage king of Chicago (Braun) defeat the newly acquired owner of THEY YARD? I don’t see how he can, especially after Roman is on cloud nine after murdering the Undertaker and decimating the Smarkamania crowd with the best promo he’s ever cut. (AND IT WAS ONLY FIVE WORDS.) Early reports say that these two will headline Payback. TAKE MY $$$.

“WHAT THE HUG IS HAPPENING?”

Despite a lackluster build to it, the Raw women did deliver an entertaining bout yet again at the show of shows. No time to dwell on that, though, for the story must go on and there is no better angle being built right now than the Sasha and Bayley friendship getting ready to turn UGLY. That is… if no one gets traded. Early rumors were that the Boss might be headed to the blue brand since she was one of the early advocates for getting traded. New rumors speculate that it could be Queen Charlotte who gets traded, and now possibly the newly returned Emma. At the end of the day, it’s all a positive because the fluidity and strength of the women’s division is incendiary. If I were Bayley, though, I would keep my fingers crossed that Nia Jax gets traded.

“WE ARE ALL BROKEN. WE ARE ALL WORMS.”

-Matt and Jeff had no time to celebrate their WrestleMania triumph. Last week they had to defend against the Club and now they have new challengers in Sheamus and Cesaro. (Lalalalala… Sheamus and Cesaro! Thanks Euro fans.) Besides some WWE exclusives, we haven’t really heard too much talking from the Hardys. Perhaps until a certain lawsuit is cleared up, we won’t be.

-The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived has won yet another opportunity at King Neville’s Cruiserweight Championship. Austin Aries accomplished that feat by winning a Fatal Four-Way classic on 205 Live pinning T.J. Perkins for the W. At ‘Mania, Neville had to resort to orbital eye socket gouging to defeat A.A. I don’t think that’ll work for round two.

-Kevin Owens is still not done with Chris Jericho. The two are scheduled to have their U.S. Title rematch at Payback, but that hasn’t stopped KO from Pearl Harboring his former bestie on multiple occasions. Last week he put Y2J through a table before the main event tag match. That brought back Finn Balor, who look poised and ready to retake his throne. He even seems to be getting along with Seth Rollins… for now.

-My biggest wonder for tonight’s show is the slew of Superstars who are in WWE limbo. What will come of Sami Zayn? Dolph Ziggler? Carmella? Jinder Mahal? Will these wrestlers stay on their current roster, or be shifted in an effort to get them more involved? Personally, whatever show Kevin Owens is on Sami Zayn needs to be on the opposite. I will happily watch those two wrestle until the end of time, but I need to want to see it again, which means it’s time for a break.

Two weeks gone from Mania and there is still so much to look forward to. I’ll certainly be watching. Will you?

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S ARTICLE: RAW PRIMER: The post-WrestleMania Raw is upon us, and besides the Hardys, a lot will spark the new season for the Red BrandWrestleMania