WWE RAW PRIMER 2/26: Reigns face-to-face with Lesnar, Asuka has a decision to make, will Rousey show up, Cena fallout

RAW PREVIEW
FEBRUARY 26, 2018
ANAHEIM, CALIF. AT HONDA CENTER
By Joey Galizia (@RamJam89), PWTorch contributor

ANNOUNCED BY WWE.COM

• Roman Reigns comes face to face with Universal Champion Brock Lesnar ahead of their WrestleMania 34 rematch
• Will Asuka be challenging the Raw or Smackdown women’s champion?
• What will happen if Ronda Rousey shows up on Raw?
• What will John Cena do to get onto the Mania card?

“I’M YOUR DENSITY… I MEAN… YOUR DESTINY”

Agent Smith from The Matrix always said that some things are truly inevitable. For an entire year the rumor was that Roman Reigns would be the challenger to the Beast and Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at the show of shows, and for an entire year that story has carefully unfolded. Brock has been a monster defending his gold against the likes of Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, in Fatal 4-ways (where he pinned Roman) and triple-threats, and a doozy of a battle with WWE Champion A.J. Styles at Survivor Series. Mania will serve as the one-year anniversary since Brock defeated Goldberg to become only the fourth champion in the red-belts history and it is at that stage that the rematch from 31 will take place. On that night, Seth Rollins committed the heist of the century. This time, it’s more likely that we get the ending that was always supposed to happen. As for tonight, the road to that rematch begins with a face-to-face between challenger and champion. I for one…am pretty stoked. Yes there are better liked guys like Strowman or Balor who could really cement their legacies against Brock, but Roman has so vastly improved from those early heavy-push days, and watching him slug it out against the ultimate baddie will certainly feel like a main event caliber affair. Besides, we still get Styles versus Nakamura in the real main event.

“NO ONE IS READY FOR BLISS… UGH”

Over in the women’s division, Raw Champion Alexa Bliss is hot off her successful title defense from the historic first ever women’s elimination chamber. In that match we saw the friendship of Sasha Banks and Bayley take a sour turn, and a very sneaky Bliss squeak her way out of another tough situation. Without complaining too much, I adore Alexa, but if anyone is getting over-pushed in the WWE, it’s her. Alas, this is a preview and not an opinion article. Elsewhere in the division the Empress Asuka remains unbeaten, vanquishing the monster Nia Jax last evening in their best bout yet. Nia would have the last laugh smashing Asuka through the barricade, but even such carnage will not be able to get the Samoan onto the WrestleMania card…well…not yet at least. Asuka still hasn’t officially declared who she will be challenging in New Orleans. If she decides to take the tougher route, she’ll be going up against the Nature Girl Charlotte Flair, which leaves Bliss without an opponent. Perhaps that is where Nia steps in? Expect some clarification on all of this tonight.

“OH BABY YOU, YOU GOT WHAT I NEED”

-The other big story from Las Vegas last night was the signing of “Rowdy” Ronda Rousey. The former UFC star had a FANTASTIC outing ending with her putting Triple-H through a table and setting up what should be a VERY fun gimmick match in six weeks against The Game and Stephanie. (Steph would connect with her signature slap to Ronda’s face.) According to preview WWE is teasing another appearance from the Rowdy one this evening. Most likely not, but with the road to the Mania build in full force for the red-brand; perhaps she does make a cameo in Anaheim after all.

-The Bar retained their tag team titles against Titus WorldWide. Cesaro and Sheamus are simply too good a team to be thwarted by the still freshly partnered Apollo Crews and Titus O’Neil. With Jason Jordan shelved for some time and Seth Rollins re entering the main event scene who will be the next team that challenges the Europeans for the gold? The Revival seem the most likely, but don’t be surprised if the Good Brothers Gallows and Anderson make a claim that they deserve an opportunity as well.

-No action from the cruiserweights on last nights card but we’ve officially entered the second round to crown a new champion! Perhaps we see a preview of 205 Live’s lineup?

-General Manager Kurt Angle transformed back into his old blabbermouth self last night. In fact, one could argue that it was he who instigated all of the controversy that led to Ronda attacking the Authority. Makes sense, Kurt is still probably ticked off about how Survivor Series ended, but would he really go that far to cause trouble? Absolutely, especially if he decides to partner with Rousey at 34.

-What of the other members in the Elimination Chamber? Not many feuds were set up mostly because Braun Strowman did a heavy load of the eliminating? Where does Finn Balor or Seth Rollins go from here? Will Elias remain the in the main event scene? Who will challenge for the Miz’s intercontinental championship? Most importantly: what will John Cena do now? His story since before the Royal Rumble has been getting to WrestleMania by any means necessary. Now that his opportunity of breaking the all-time record is gone, will Cena be ready to take the gloves completely off and do something crazy? Raw will be worth watching alone for this very reason.

Fallout from Elimination Chamber. Six weeks until New Orleans. Let’s do this thing.

NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S REPORT: KELLER’S WWE RAW REPORT 2/19: Final Elimination Chamber hype, Gauntlet Match with Men’s EC competitors