WWE Raw 2/7/2012 Preview: Will Brock Lesnar play the Game?

What: WWE Monday Night Raw Supershow #997

When: July 2, 2012, 9 PM ET / July 3, 2012, 6:30 AM IST

Where: Laredo Energy Arena, Laredo, Texas

It’s July, and we are just 3 weeks away from the historical 1000th episode of Monday Night Raw. But before that there is a PPV, Money in the Bank, to be dealt with. The PPV is on July 15, just under 2 weeks from now. While the WWE Championship match for the event is set, we still do not know who is going to be the contender for world heavyweight champion, Sheamus. This Raw will be pivotal towards the shaping up of matches for the Money in the Bank event. Also, there’s more to look forward to in this week’s Raw.

Brock Lesnar is set to play the Game on Raw

Brock Lesnar responds to The Game:

The watered down feud between Brock Lesnar and Triple H is once again being brought to the forefront with Brock Lesnar expected to make an appearance on Raw to respond to Triple H’s challenge to a match at the 25th annual Summerslam event. Though it is still unclear if Lesnar is indeed returning, one can be certain that his mouthpiece Paul Heyman will be there to reveal Lesnar’s decision. WWE has limited dates of Brock Lesnar which has been the reason for his exile since Extreme Rules in April. It is rumored that Lesnar will be making just two or three appearances in the lead-up to Summerslam, which includes the 1000th episode of Raw. So, it cannot be presumed that Lesnar might indeed be on Raw. However, there is a 90% probability that he will be there. If Lesnar indeed returns, this feud will be given a new lease of life.

Teddy Long is in-charge :

After Mick Foley and Vickie Guerrero, it is Teddy Long’s turn to be the interim General Manager of Raw and Smackdown for a week. With Vickie impressing the board with ‘Vickie power’ last week, it is Teddy’s turn to spice things around this week. However, personal vendetta seems to be on Teddy’s mind as he put his former girlfriend Aksana and her boyfriend Antonio Cesaro in a mixed tag-team match against The Great Khali and Kelly Kelly which will happen at ‘The great American Bash’ Live Smackdown Special on Tuesday. What will Teddy come up with on Raw to better Vickie and Mick?

Big Show – Cena at it again?

Big Show’s brutal assault on John Cena at the end of last week’s Raw might be given reasoning during this week’s Raw. While Big Show had earlier said that he was going to move on after his humiliating loss to John Cena at No Way Out and participate in the Money in the Bank match, he interrupted proceedings during Chris Jericho’s return match against John Cena, and attacked Cena. Since both of them have been announced to take part in the WWE championship money in the bank ladder match, Chris Jericho too might be a part of this feud. He might join forces with Big Show in taking out John Cena, thereby creating a window for a Jericho-Cena feud in the lead-up to Summerslam.

The AJ scenario:

AJ has been selected through an online poll to be the special guest referee for the WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank. This has brought a new dimension to her current relationship with the WWE Champion CM Punk and the contender Daniel Bryan. This angle is getting weirder by the day and doesn’t seem to be ending in the near future.

More WWE Championship Money in the Bank contenders:

With a special clause that allows only former champions can take part in the match, four contenders have been announced for the WWE championship MITB match. John Cena, Big Show, Kane and Chris Jericho were that four. The remaining contenders might be revealed this week on Raw.

Another Legendary trouble for Heath Slater?

As has been the tradition for the last few weeks, we will be entertained by yet another Raw main-eventer/WWE legend this week. It will be interesting to see if the ‘One Man Southern Rock band’ Heath Slater is at the short end of the stick this week as well.