Raw Five-Point Preview: August 19, 2013
The Biggest Party of the Summer is over, and now comes the hangover. Specifically, the one Daniel Bryan suffered from a Triple H Pedigree moments after the submission expert defeated John Cena to become WWE Champion. The Game’s treachery allowed Randy Orton to cash in his Money in the Bank contract and take Bryan’s title for himself, but what his motivation was is anyone’s guess at this point. While the WWE Universe attempts to sort itself out after the events of SummerSlam, here’s a five-point preview for tonight’s Raw.
Who’s the Best?
CM Punk made good on his word to take Brock Lesnar to the limit. Unfortunately for him, his other promise – to harm Paul Heyman at all costs – caused The Second City Saint to take his focus off The Anomaly and lose the match in the process. With Punk having fallen to his monstrous enemy, this particular chapter in their rivalry comes to a close. Given his relentlessness, though, it’s hard to believe the former WWE Champion plans on leaving Heyman and his minions alone for very long.
Just one more
Christian, Christian, at last you are … still in the hunt. Having finally gotten the “One More Match” he has fought for over the past two years, Captain Charisma pulled out all the stops in a classic contest against Alberto Del Rio at SummerSlam. For all the former World Heavyweight Champion’s heart, however, it still wasn’t enough to wrest the gold from The Essence of Excellence. On the wrong end of a heartbreaking defeat, how will Christian rally to make another run at the title?
A feast for buzzards
Kane followed the buzzards straight to his downfall in the inaugural Ring of Fire Match at SummerSlam; Erick Rowan & Luke Harper managed to smother the flames surrounding the ring and get their hands on The Devil’s Favorite Demon right as he was about to send Bray Wyatt to hell. The assault led to Kane’s defeat, though it was an attack by Harper & Rowan with the steel steps that truly seemed to leave the demon broken. With The Wyatt Family having preserved their prophet from a fiery doom, who will the hellish holy man target next in his crusade?
The climb
Daniel Bryan waited 14 years to become WWE Champion, and now the wait begins anew. Much was made of whether or not Bryan could defeat John Cena for the title and now that he has, Bryan’s status as an elite competitor in WWE has been forever cemented. And yet, the submission master has a naked waist to show for his efforts, thanks to the actions of Triple H and Randy Orton. How will Bryan respond, or recover, from this betrayal? Can he even do such a thing?
The next phase
Well, Mr. McMahon got his wish: Neither John Cena nor Daniel Bryan is WWE Champion. Instead, the titleholder is Randy Orton, who happily took advantage of a Pedigree to Daniel Bryan by cashing in his Money in the Bank contract and claiming the title for himself. What lies in store for Orton, and how does The Game play into it? Find out tonight at 8/7 CT, only on USA Network.
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