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With less than a week to go before the Road to WrestleMania officially kicks off, WWE sets up shop in Columbus, Ohio!
The Headliner
After a Monday night full of pretty-much-but-not-exactly being officially declared as a 2016 Royal Rumbler, Brock Lesnar did what his Advocate and The Authority couldn't quite do. And he did it in the most Lesnar way possible when he suplexed everyone in his way at the end of Raw...including the WWE champion, Roman Reigns.
In taking Romey (and Big E, and Kevin Owens, and Alberto Del Rio, and...) to Suplex City, there was no doubt that Lesnar is coming for the belt he carried into their showdown at WrestleMania 31. After angling for his client to defend the title at Mania against the Rumble winner instead of competing against 29 other me to win the championship, what will Paul Heyman have to say?
We'll find out when he and Brock join Chris Jericho for the Highlight Reel. It will be Y2J's first segment with someone other than The New Day since his return. Guess he'll have to find a new hook to getting "Rooty Tooty Booty" trending
The Title Scene
Reigns faces a challenge no other titleist has ever faced. His championship will be on the line in the signature match at this Sunday's pay-per-view (PPV). Until one of those 29 men put him over the top rope in Orlando, he's still WWE champ.
He hasn't been able to decisively finish off the previous Intercontinental champ in weeks, but Dean Ambrose is still the one being chased by Kevin Owens. A tag match on SmackDown ended in another disqualification, an ending that's impossible for their title bout at Royal Rumble - since it's a Last Man Standing match.
Becky Lynch is fired up, and she wants former friend and current Divas champ Charlotte's title ... and her arm. The Nature Girl hasn't responded officially, and after seeing the Lasskicker take Brie Bella apart last Thursday, she and the Dirtiest Father/Manager in the Game will probably try to put that off as long as possible.
It was a crazy week for the United States title. The red, white and blue belt changed hands twice on television. Kalisto followed up his upset win on the first SmackDown on USA Network but becoming champion last Monday, but with the help of his League of Nations' ally King Barrett, Alberto Del Rio took it back a few days later.
Big E, Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods are still the top tag team, but their focus has been more on humbling Jericho than defending their straps. Don't expect a new title program to start tonight, either, with The New Day focusing their efforts for now on the Rumble match.
Other stuff to keep an eye on:
- Social Outcasts don't seem to be on the same page - except in the ring. Curtis Axel, Bo Dallas, Adam Rose & Heath Slater earned a win on SmackDown, and the stood tall over the Wyatts last Monday due to an assist from The Ryback. What's next for the underdog stable?
- Stardust and Titus O'Neil are doing stuff. It might even mean something one day.
-.Neville and The Usos carry Slammy Awards around with them, which irks some old-timers because they're babyfaces.
Last show before Royal Rumble 2016!
What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?