5 Weeks until Wrestlemania.
Alright, I’ll admit it. Lengthy polemics have settled as my normal preamble for Monday Night Hayden, but they have run their course. They serve as a pitiful excuse of an introduction. Hopefully this will recompense.
A Quick Recap
- Asuka, Bayley, Sasha Banks def. Alexa Bliss , Nia Jax, and Mickie James
- John Cena calls out the Undertaker - says the match is impossible, announces his self imposed trade to SmackDown!
- Bray Wyatt def. Heath Slater
- Seth Rollins def. Intercontinental Champion The Miz
- Finn Balor def. Intercontinental Champion The Miz
- The Roman Reigns calls Brock Lesnar a bitch, gets cheered, but is booed later in the evening
- RAW Tag Team Champions The Bar def. Titus Worldwide (Apollo & The Real Deal Titus O’Neil)
- Braun Strowman def. Elias
- Ronda Rousey demands apology from RAW Commissioner Stephanie McMahon, gets it, Triple H knocks out Kurt Angle stone cold clean
This Week’s Predictions
On the Women’s end…
Last Sunday, Asuka kept her undefeated streak alive when she defeated the Nia Jax in a convincing manner, knocking her right the hell out with a kick to the skull. Well done, Asuka! For reasons unknown, the Nia Jax has been granted a rematch tonight - with only 5 weeks until the Show of Shows. What implications (if any) will this match have on the Road to Wrestlemania?
On top of this, look for another tag match (whether traditional or 6 woman) between the likes of Absolution, Mickie James, and Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss. Sasha Banks and Bayley, however, may have business to be settled between themselves. It’s a match long rumoured for WrestleMania, and it certainly seems to be heading that way.
The Men
John Cena is gone from RAW; at least for the time being. As an active member of the SmackDown Live! roster, he no longer belongs on Monday Night Hayden. Begone!
His absence doesn’t leave an empty main event scene. The winner of the Elimination Chamber, a certain Roman Reigns, has wasted no time calling out current, reigning, defending, undisputed Universal Champion Brock Lesnar.
Fellow author and sorry excuse for a brother Spencer Love and myself discussed the Universal Title picture at length on the latest edition of Over the Top Rope, so an in-depth discussion will be spared - but whether work or shoot, Roman Reigns made some solid points last week on RAW. Prior to their last WrestleMania main event, the future of Brock Lesnar was up in the air. Rumours flew that he was returning to the UFC when his contract lapsed - and these rumours are flying again, and amplified after he “no-showed” RAW last week. Will he show up this week?
Reigns’ former partner Seth Rollins staked his claim for an Intercontinental Championship match at Wrestlemania last week, following a clean win over current champion The Miz. Forthwith, Finn Balor did the same - putting his foot in the door as well. That seems like some serious injustice to the I.C. Champion. Both men have a claim, and it seems like they’ve piled in to a Pontiac Trans Sport (get it?) - but will anyone else pile in? Elias and BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAUN Strowman have hovered around the same hemisphere as the aforementioned athletes since Survivor Series, but have their own personal rivalry to keep them occupied heading into WrestleMania. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.
As always, Ronda Rousey rounds out the remainder of this article. I mean, I can’t say much - Triple H clean clocked RAW General Manager Kurt Angle last week, and a showdown at the Show of Shows seems a foregone conclusion as of now; but nothing is certain!
That’s it for this article; but what are your thoughts? Let us know. See you next week, and as always, thanks for reading!
WWE: Last Five
- Over the Top Rope: Episode Three
- Fry and the Guy: Episode Four
- NXT Preview: February 28
- NXT Spoilers (February 2nd Taping)
- Smackdown Live Preview: February 27
