WWE Raw preview (Feb. 20, 2017): Don’t do me like that

WWE sets up shop in the City of Angels, Los Angeles, on the Road to WrestleMania.

The Headliner

Look, WWE.com’s preview is leading off with Big Show vs. Braun Strowman and while I’m as excited about watching seeing the Giant (in the best shape of his life) getting thrown around by the Monster Among Men while wondering when Roman Reigns shows up (and hoping maybe Shaquille O’Neal will, too), I need to get something else right out in the open.

WHY, KO, WHY!?!?!

Well, obviously, we know why. Even if you haven’t followed Universal champion Kevin Owens from his days in Ring of Honor (ROH) and NXT, where he betrayed & destroyed friend in similarly devastating fashion, wrestling tag teams and friendships rarely last forever. In fact, United States titleholder Chris Jericho has his own reputation for turning on his partners.

Plus, they’re rumored to be facing each at WrestleMania, and it would be harder to explain why fifty year old Bill Goldberg (not scheduled to be on the show tonight, FYI) has a chance to beat Owens at Fastlane if Y2J still had his back.

So, the end had to come. And it came it epic fashion, with a very funny “Festival of Friendship” segment last week ending with KO’s cold-blooded assault of his best friend. But it’s all about the follow through... Owens is a monster, sure, can they get us to embrace Jericho fully as a babyface? How much of a role will Triple H - who pulled “Kev” aside before things fell apart - play in the story?

The angle which looks to be the latest to send Jericho off to rock festivals & book tours is off to a great start. They need to keep the heat on in Southern Cali tonight.

The title scene

While you’re recovering from KO callously destroying the Gifts of Jericho, brace yourself for another gut punch... if you’re a fan of new Women’s champ Bayley, that is. WWE is actively playing up the possibility her Sasha Banks-aided victory over Charlotte Flair last Monday as “tainted”, so expect the worst as the Hugster’s “female Daniel Bryan” story continues.

Bayles’ buddies Cesaro & Sheamus might not have the straps any longer, but they fared better than tag titleists Karl Anderson & Luke Gallows last week. The Club lost a two-on-one fight with the Big Dog, whereas the Swiss Superman got a measure of revenge against Enzo Amore & Big Cass for their interjecting themselves into his &the Celtic Warrior’s rematch for the belts.

Both Cruiserweight champion Neville & #1 contender Jack Gallagher picked up impressive wins last week, but it was the Extraordinary Gentleman who chased off the King to close out 205 Live ahead of their Fastlane title match.

Other stuff to keep an eye on:

- He doesn’t have a match at the next pay-per-view (PPV), but Brock Lesnar will be in the house tonight. No one’s promising he’ll be on television, however.

- The Prizefighter wasn’t the only former NXT champ Triple H spoke with last week. Samoa Joe showed up in a limo with The Game, and then declared war on the entire roster. That started with Sami Zayn, who took a blindside beatdown on the stage after a big win over Rusev.

- Now that Bo Dallas ripped up the plans, will we ever get our New Day ice cream!?!?

- The Brian Kendrick is looking to mentor some young Asian men, but Akira Tozawa is not interested in the benefit of his expertise.

- ...Emma?

Two weeks until Fastlane!

What will you be looking for on Raw tonight?