As exciting a spectacle as Wrestlemania is, it is the closure to a year of storylines and developments. Fans are equally as excited for the Raw after Wrestlemania.
This is, essentially, because these two shows will begin new storylines, developments, and angles (no pun intended) that will dominate our television screens over the following months.
As we witnessed in the recent WWE Network Special, last year saw the debut of Enzo and Big Cass, and Apollo Crews and the return of Maryse and Cesaro after a long hiatus. What surprises could the Raw after WrestleMania 33 have for us?
Read on. Find out.
Honorable Mention: The Broken Hardyz confront The Meekmahans
WWE fans have been using the 'Delete’ chant long before the tag team even returned. Now, the Broken Hardyz are officially the Raw Tag Team champions, it allows them to use terms from the Broken Universe to entertain the crowds that have been following their TNA runs. It will be hilarious if they actually meet The Meekmahans- Vince or Stephanie. The pop would be massive!
#5 Mick Foley's Olympic medal winning replacement General Manager
It is no surprise that fans prefer SmackDown to Raw, not merely because of its comparatively shorter length.
The two authority figures on SmackDown are far more likeable. In comparison, Stephanie McMahon has been on television so often, playing the same character over such a long duration of time, that she generates what is known as ‘channel changing heat’, or heel heat so strong that people are compelled to switch to another show.
Raw desperately needs someone to fill Mick Foley’s void and who better than the most universally liked Superstar in WWE history- Kurt Angle.
Kurt Angle entered the WWE Hall of Fame not very long ago and has become one of the few active wrestlers to do so. We’re certain that a GM role could eventually lead to a match as well, maybe against his old rival- Brock Lesnar.
We think it’s likely that Angle will play a character on WWE TV for months. Oh, it’s true, it's damn true.
#4 The return of the King
The last time we saw Balor, he was at the UK Tournament as a non-competing star, spurring the athletes on as they chased success. We know that he has been rehabilitating after the injury that put him on the shelf for many months, and is due to return very soon.
Also read: Finn Balor explains why he hasn't been on WWE television
What better time to bring him back and put him into the thick of things than at the Raw after WrestleMania 33?
With Chris Jericho going on hiatus shortly after WrestleMania to focus on his band, Raw desperately needs a top babyface to carry the brand to the next level over the following months. Finn Balor is an amazing character with impeccable wrestling skills and is already a hit with fans.
The first Universal Champion’s return can usher in new storylines and brand new feuds too. With rumours of AJ Styles coming to Raw, could we see a dream match between the two?
#3 Emma finally makes her debut
It is no surprise that the women's division on Raw is severely limited. By the looks of it, Sasha Banks won’t be turning on her best friend Bayley anytime soon either. This is the right time to bring Emma Back, and have her feud with Bayley for the Raw Women’s Championship.
We know that Emma can work and that she's a really good heel as well, from her time in NXT. Sadly, as is the case with so many others, her booking has made her a joke in the main roster.
One can only hope that she returns in whatever avatar suits her best, and enters a long program with Bayley for the top prize in the women's division.
#2 New Evolution rules the roost on Raw
Based on their mutual alliance with Triple H, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens seem to have formed quite an alliance of their own. It is rumoured that with a fourth mystery man in tow, The New Evolution will take over Raw.
This heel stable could be the perfect foil for a dominant Champion like Brock Lesnar, who’s been booked too strongly to be beaten by any one of these wrestlers.
However, as a team, they could tip the scales in their favour even against the Beast Incarnate. Who’ll the fourth man be? We speculate on the next page.
#1 Roman Reigns turns heel
Roman Reigns and The Undertaker headlined WrestleMania and the Big Dog retired The Undertaker, once and for all. There is no way Roman Reigns gets cheered as a babyface, based on the fact that he is already booed by one and all.
Will WWE finally listen to the fans and turn him into a bad guy? If so, he could very well be the fourth member of the New Evolution stable and herald a new set of storylines for the company.
This decision, truth be told, would really be ‘best for business’. If Roman has to turn, now is the time to do it Else, it would just be a lost opportunity for the company.
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