It wouldn’t be a long shot in calling tomorrow’s Raw the most anticipated episode of the year, even more than the one after WrestleMania 32. The brand split worked its magic on what was expected to be a pedestrian PPV in Battleground.
The WWE had us affixed on one hand while they pulled the hood over our eyes with the other – Bayley showered the Washington crowd in fairy dust before disappearing into the night(she claims), Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn painted the equivalent of a Renaissance masterpiece and who could forget Dean Ambrose – the man who dolloped blood for screaming throngs to get to his palace in the promised land.
But the unforeseen landslide of pleasure will hopefully give way to an avalanche on Raw, with Finn Balor bringing his much-needed and overdue aura to the flagship show. So where will he fit in the master plan? Perhaps one of these?
The Club is under new management
The most logical, hence the last option – The Demon rejoins his old pack and they terrorize the whole roster. It’s good to keep the heel angle going, what with The Club’s current flavour and the fact that almost all the NXT call-ups have been faces. So bland.
Balor can shapeshift as he pleases so playing the bad guys shouldn’t really be a challenge. The end goal is the trick. The New Day have broken the record for single longest title reign and will drown if split up.
Anderson and Gallows have earned a shot at the gold and with the Wyatts on SmackDown, they could easily slip into the big, bad gang’s shoes.
Beat up Finn Balor
That’s right. Balor’s departure from NJPW was prologued by the Young Bucks turning on him after he ordered them not to interfere in his match against former partner Ryusuke Taguchi.
The cultish nature of the Club is the perfect backdrop for the whiplash. They’ve had no problem bringing up Japan till now, so why start? And perhaps Balor could have someone from Erin’s Isle having his back?
Cruiserweight championship
This would need some thinking. With the CWC heating up, the guys who’re being pushed like Ibushi and Sabre can’t be forced to do double duty, at least out of concern for injury.
That being said, there are plenty of other guys who bowed out in the first couple of rounds. Tomorrow’s Raw could be the nascence of the new division. The wrestlers’ contracts are the only other thing that’ll have to be examined.
United States Championship
With no serious contenders in sight and his stature, Balor could easily be inserted into the United States Championship picture. Kevin Owens did it, and look where he is now.
WWE Heavyweight Championship
The WWE Championship’s in SmackDown and it seems incredulous that the main brand won’t have a big prize. If they decide to make the WWE title fair game to both shows, there’s a likeliness that the Shield saga will get worn out.
Take Roman out of the equation. Have him do the redemption storyline so he doesn’t detract from the title picture. A tournament would be the best bet, and Rollins and Balor the last two men standing would be a dream come true.
