WWE Monday Night Raw Preview: August 14, 2017

Who will challenge Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women's Championship at SummerSlam?
Who will challenge Alexa Bliss for the Raw Women's Championship at SummerSlam?

Lesser than a week out from the biggest party of the summer, the Red brand gears up in earnest for an all-action encounter on Sunday.

Samoa Joe was instrumental in helping decide the bruising Last Man Standing match between Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman last week, but did he bite off more than he can chew when he choked out the Big Dog?

As we know only too well by now, Roman Reigns doesn't back down from any antagonist — let alone one who specializes in sneak attacks.

Also, with Revival ruled out of their date with the Hardy Boyz at SummerSlam, who will step up to challenge the legendary tag team this weekend?

The Raw Women's Champion, Alexa Bliss, is another Superstar in limbo as she awaits the clash between Sasha Banks and Nia Jax on Raw to determine who will emerge as the number one contender for her title.

Covering all these points and more, here is our Preview of this week's episode of Monday Night Raw.


The Awakening?

Are the Hardys on the cusp of something special?
Are the Hardys on the cusp of something special?

With the Revival ruled out of their stipulated bout against the legendary Hardy Boyz at SummerSlam, who will pick up where the Top Guys left off?

Rollins and Ambrose seem to have plenty to deal with between themselves, let alone against Sheamus and Cesaro, leaving — realistically — only the Good Brothers to step up to the plate.

Will Gallows and Anderson sense opportunity and spring up to answer the call? For if they do, and somehow manage to knock off the recently dethroned WWE Raw Tag Team Champions, it could mark the beginning of their ascent back to Tag Team gold.

Regardless, the Hardy Boyz seem to be in the middle of their own metamorphosis. Everyone knew that they were Broken not too long ago; but if the sounds coming out of their camp are anything to go by, will SummerSlam play host to their Awakening?

Three's a destructive party

Chaos!
Chaos!

Samoa Joe is not a man that takes lightly to being disrespected, leave alone defeated.

And Roman Reigns did both to him.

First, he refused to acknowledge his Samoan roots, treating him like an outcast and to add salt to the wounds, pinned him clean in the Triple Threat match two weeks ago on Raw.

Insulted and irritated, Samoa Joe did what he does best. He sought revenge, sneaking up on Roman Reigns and putting him to sleep with the Coquina Clutch to allow Braun Strowman to pick up the victory in their Last Man Standing match on Raw last week.

How will these three combustible elements combine one last time before they stand opposite each other, and indeed, the WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam?

Will the intense hatred that they share get out of hand and consume them before the big event, playing right into the hands of the Beast Incarnate?

Fighting fire with fire

Going toe to toe with Bray Wyatt...in every sense
Going toe to toe with Bray Wyatt...in every sense

Finn Balor managed to fight fire with fire, briefly, as he tried to play Bray Wyatt at his own game these past few weeks on Raw.

But the Eater of Worlds thrives under the veil of mystique and even attempting to engage him in his domain comes with a price — something Finn Balor found out real quick.

But underneath Balor, the Demon King lurks, almost waiting to be unleashed. Will Bray Wyatt and his ill-willed schemes be the catalyst that unlocks him?

After all, lest we forget, it was the Demon King and not Finn Balor that became the first ever Universal Champion on Raw.

Finally, after all these years, has Bray Wyatt finally met his match?

A tale of two BFFs

Will the Boss prevail in what promises to be a testing encounter?
Will the Boss prevail in what promises to be a testing encounter?

After the Huggable One was ruled out of her scheduled Raw Women's Title match against Alexa Bliss at SummerSlam, her best friend Sasha Banks stepped up as a possible replacement.

Only, so did Alexa's best friend, Nia Jax.

As Sasha and Nia square off in a Title Eliminator on Raw, Alexa Bliss will be waiting nervously in the wings to see who comes through to challenge her in the biggest show of the summer.

Will the Legit Boss use her experience to engineer another Title opportunity for herself? Or will Alexa and Nia - like the BFFs they are - come together to ensure that the Title stays within friendly territory?

Brothers United?

Will Rollins and Ambrose FINALLY get on the same page?
Will Rollins and Ambrose FINALLY get on the same page?

Mistrust is never a desirable quality, especially when it breeds between two former brothers.

For their part, however much in bits and pieces, both Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose seem to want to dispel the air of uncertainty and misgiving that hangs between them.

First Rollins came forth to help his former Shield brother, only to be spurned by Ambrose. Then Ambrose returned the favour during Rollins' hour of need but was turned away by the Kingslayer.

They may have been revelling as singles competitors for a couple of years now, but the bond that they formed as part of the Shield will never truly disappear.

Will both of them lay aside their petty egos to get on the same page in time to possibly challenge Sheamus and Cesaro for the Tag Titles at WWE SummerSlam?

To find out, tune in to this week's episode of Monday Night Raw.


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