WWE Raw preview (Nov. 7, 2016): TENSION

You’ll actually be able to find out exactly what to expect by the time Raw hits USA Network at 8PM Eastern time in the States, since it’s being taped this afternoon in Glasgow, Scotland. While we wait for those results (if spoilers are your thing), here’s what we’re thinking about regarding the red brand as Survivor Series approaches!

The Headliner

A week ago, Raw left us on a cliffhanger of sorts. Roman Reigns defeated Chris Jericho to retain his United States championship, but after the match was officially over, he fell victim to DAT NUMBERS GAME. Universal champ Kevin Owens joined his best friend in beating down the Big Dog, and it looked the first episode after Hell in a Cell would end the way the last one before that pay-per-view (PPV) had - with JeriKO standing over a former Shield-man.

BUT THEN... Seth Rollins ran in to send the Canadians running like proverbial scalded dogs, and giving us a tense staredown between Reigns and the man who ended their brotherhood with a steel chair and helped delay Roman’s first WWE title win when he cashed in the Money in the Bank briefcase at WrestleMania 31.

NOW... with a December Reigns vs. Owens feud already leaked and an open spot on Team Red’s men’s Survivor Series still up for grabs, WWE.com is all but telling us we’re getting a Seth & Romey reunion tonight. Can they co-exist long enough to teach the G.O.A.T. & the Prizefighting champ a lesson? And what will it do to the chemistry of Mick Foley’s irregulars as JeriKO and Reigns try to mesh with Braun Strowman and an as-of-yet unconfirmed final teammate?

The Title Scene

After a week where everybody and their uncle made a big deal out of Charlotte’s undefeated PPV streak, the Women’s titleholder can get back to filling out her own elimination tag team. Last Monday, she had one member, Nia Jax, kick the ass of another, Bayley. Can she start getting everybody on the same page, or will there be even more tension on this team? Perhaps in the form of former champ Sasha Banks?

The New Day have been tag champs for a looong time. Does the fact they’ve beaten everyone else in the division help or hurt their recruitment efforts for their own Survivor Series squad?

Last week’s big news for Raw’s other championship scene was the premiere of a new show on WWE Network, so the question may not be how long Brian Kendrick can keep the Cruiserweight title, but whether he’ll be defending it on Monday nights, or Tuesdays after SmackDown on 205 Live. Either way, TJ Perkins is looking to reclaim the belt and prove he’s a better man than his former mentor, and a smarter one than he appeared to be last Sunday.

And while it’s not a red brand title, Intercontinental champ Dolph Ziggler threw down the gauntlet, offering to defend his strap against anyone on the Raw roster. Rumor has it we won’t learn who is stepping up until Nov. 20, but it’ll be fun to see who hints they might stand up to the Show-Off between now and then.

Other stuff to keep an eye on:

- Reports were all over the place about what Sami Zayn might be doing in Toronto in a couple weeks, but no matter what he ends up doing at Survivor Series, bet he’s not done with Strowman. The Likeable One almost put the big man over the top rope in a battle royal on Halloween... and Sami doesn’t stop at “almost”.

- Both part-timers are off this week, but they’ll both be back next Monday... so expect something to keep Goldberg & Brock Lesnar on our minds. Probably a mention of the Spear which sent Paul Heyman to a Connecticut medical facility.

- Their quest to be taken seriously as ass-kickers hit a holiday-themed snag last week, and both teams are probably gonna be on the ten-person Survivor Series team, but don’t rule out more Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson vs. the Realest Guys in the Room drama.

- Other possibilities for Team Red’s tag team-team include Cesaro & Sheamus (who keep winning despite hating each other’s guts) and Golden Truth (we think they escaped that haunted house last week, right?).

Two weeks to Survivor Series!

What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?