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Another week, another action-packed Raw that succeeded in bringing fans to their feet and making The Road to WrestleMania just that much more exciting. This week's edition of Monday Night Raw also set the stage for some pretty interesting matchups and storylines, which only makes the red brand more must-see than it already was.
Interestingly enough, WWE was somehow able to do this with Seth Rollins injured, Becky Lynch suspended and Balor out of the Universal title picture, which all could have caused the red brand's weekly show to come undone. Fortunately for The WWE Universe, the company worked through their problems and delivered another great episode!
With that being said and another edition of Monday Night Raw now in the books, here are five things the company hinted at during the show. As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below and also be sure to tell us what you believe the company was hinting at during the latest edition of Raw!
#5 Elias facing a WWE legend at WrestleMania 35?
Where is WWE going with Elias?
That has to be the question on everyone's mind after he turned heel a few weeks ago and continues to be so as he continues to beat up on Road Dogg and Jeff Jarrett. While some are probably thinking WWE either doesn't know what to do with him or are just using Elias for filler, this could all just be a way to set him up for a star-studded WrestleMania match.
Think about it! If WWE continues this trend of putting Elias against old timers, then logically it would have to lead to him having some kind of big encounter at WrestleMania 35. Maybe WWE could even finally have Elias and The Rock meet face to face for a confrontation, which would certainly be a jaw-dropping segment to watch.
The Rock versus Elias might never be a match, but even as a segment, it would serve a big purpose for both men. Beyond that, its the encounter that The WWE Universe has been waiting a while for, which is just all the more reason to finally make it happen at this year's 'showcase of the immortals'.
#4 Keeping Balor chasing the IC title
It's no secret that The WWE Universe desperately wants to see Finn Balor climb back to the top of the company's mountain, but it seems like the company has other plans for The Demon King. In fact, with the way Bobby Lashley did the bait and switch with The IC title match this week on Raw, it looks like Balor will be chasing The IC title for a while.
Whether that's a good thing or not is up to debate and depends on whether you see Balor as a top guy or not, but its gotta be depressing for Balor fans to see this happen. Beyond that, it almost instantaneously destroys any momentum he had after The Royal Rumble, which is another big problem with how WWE is booking him.
In all honesty, WWE can do whatever they want and it is probably a good idea for the company to keep Balor chasing the title for the foreseeable future, but at what cost? Seriously though! WWE might think they are trying to build up Balor for an eventual run with The IC title, but is it worth it if they undercut him every step along the way?
#3 Ruby Riott versus Ronda Rousey at Elimination Chamber
While Ronda Rousey versus Becky Lynch is the match that everyone wants to see at WrestleMania 35, WWE still has a lot of work to do just to get there. In fact, Ronda Rousey still needs an opponent for the upcoming Elimination Chamber pay-per-view and with not many other options presenting themselves, it seems Ruby Riott will be the one to get the nod.
Of course, WWE could always decide to do this on one of the upcoming episodes of Monday Night Raw, but that would force them to either find yet another opponent for Rousey at the upcoming pay per view or leave her off the show completely.
With that being said and Rousey and Riott having a staredown to end the opening segment of Raw, it feels like WWE will go with the latter.
Think about it! WWE could leave Rousey off the pay per view, but that would kill both her and Lynch's momentum heading into the big show. It would also mean that WWE is giving yet another title match away on free television, which while it is sometimes good for a ratings pop, isn't as special if they keep doing it.
In the end, expect Rousey versus Riott at The Elimination Chamber.
#2 Building up Becky Lynch as an underdog
Ronda Rousey versus Becky Lynch is the match that The WWE Universe has been waiting a long time for and while it's already one of the best built up matches for WrestleMania so far, it still needs a few layers to make it perfect. Apparently, WWE agrees with this idea as they have already taken steps to make Rousey look like the underdog.
Not only was that evident by how Stephanie McMahon and Becky Lynch interacted during the opening segment of Monday Night Raw, but also by the brutal attack Lynch tried to lay on McMahon as well. If nothing else, WWE is scripting this in a very authority versus anti authority kind of way, which is going to be fun to watch as the months go on.
WWE is also really playing up Becky Lynch's knee right now, which is just another way to make her out to be the underdog of the storyline. At the end, who knows where things go from here, especially with Lynch getting suspended for refusing to see a doctor, but it's insanely obvious now that Lynch will be playing the underdog role.
#1 Turning Ronda Rousey heel
Ronda Rousey was in a hell of mood at the start of Raw this week and it might have something to do with the company wanting to turn her heel. At least that's the way it felt after Rousey did everything from getting in Becky Lynch's face over her professionalism to taking out two-thirds of The Riott squad and even calling out the WWE Universe.
If nothing else, it was a very strong sequence of events to kick off Monday Night Raw and really did a lot to paint Rousey as a corporate champion. Interestingly enough, WWE didn't even need to align Rousey with Stephanie McMahon to pull off the start of the turn and are seemingly going to do rely on Rousey turning her back on the fans instead.
In the end, professionalism versus non-professionalism was a very good storyline move by WWE and needs to be applauded.
It also kind of makes Becky Lynch out to be The Stone Cold Steve Austin in the scenario, which is only going to catapult her career further and make their eventual match at WrestleMania 35 must see!
