WWE Raw preview (May 9, 2016): What your momma gave you

Rivalries heat up in the first Raw of the post-Sandow era, coming our way from Omaha, Nebraska.

The Headliner

A week ago, AJ Styles opted to remain on the path of righteousness when he declined to use a steel chair on Roman Reigns, while his friends Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows held the WWE World Heavyweight champion prone. When he was rewarded for that with a beating from Roman and his cousins, Jimmy & Jey Uso, the Phenomenal One informed the Big Dog he might not make the honorable choice next time.

Things didn't go any better on Thursday night, when a scheduled tag match between the Good Brothers and the Usos ended up being another six-man. This time, the Samoans got the win, but nothing has been resolved between Styles and Reigns.

Will AJ be more open to cutting some of the corners his partners keep encouraging him to cut - especially since the seem like his best shot at the top prize in the business? And what else can WWE do to string along the tension between he and Roman until their Extreme Rules rematch on May 22?

The Title Scene

Trying to get a #1 contender for Miz's Intercontinental title has been, well, a lot like trying to determine one heading into WrestleMania, when the belt belonged to Kevin Owens. Now, KO's match with Cesaro ended in chaos - and that after the Swiss Superman's own opportunity at Payback was distracted by Owens and Sami Zayn. However will Shane & Stephanie McMahon decide what to do?

Rusev is already in place as the next challenger for Kalisto's United States championship. Now we just have to make sure the Bulgarian Brute doesn't eat the champ's heart before the next pay-per-view (PPV).

No hearts will be eaten, but there also won't be any Harts, or more importantly, Flairs, at ringside when Natalya gets another chance to take the Women's belt from Charlotte in a submissions match at Exterme Rules. The Nature Girl needs to prove she can win without the Dirtiest Player in the Game in her corner.

Via a concussion to Enzo Amore, an injury Simon Gotch is happy to credit for, the Vaudevillains are the new #1 contenders to the New Day's tag team titles. While they're prepping for Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods, Gotch & Aiden English better lookout for an angry seven-footer, because Colin Cassady is not taking his friend Zo's absence lightly.

Other stuff to keep an eye on:

- Steph cancelled the Ambrose Asylum, and then Chris Jericho killed poor Mitch the plant when he broke it over Dean's head. The Lunatic Fringe hasn't been seen since. Is he more upset over losing his talk show, or having to say goodbye to his potted pal?

- Since they were allegedly scheduled to feud with Zo & Cass coming out of Payback, the Dudleyz don't currently have dance partners. They're still beefing with the big man... could that battle start while Amore's still on the mend?

- They got the call from NXT... now does anyone on the main roster have something for Baron Corbin & Apollo Crews to do?

- If his hips aren't too sour from all those dance lessons, Goldust & Fandango are supposed to face-off against Tyler Breeze & R-Truth sometime this week.

- After picking up a win via eye poke last Monday, Becky Lynch got one back on Emma via a tag team win on Thursday. Their issues don't look settled... but does Raw have room for more than one women's story?

Only two weeks until Extreme Rules!

What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?