Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Other names that have been announced for the special edition of Raw, which will emanate from both the Manhattan Center and the Barclays Center in New York, include Ric Flair, Triple H, the Dudley Boyz, the Bella Twins, Trish Status and many others. According to WrestlingInc's Justin LaBar, the stacked show will air roughly one hour of footage from the Manhattan Center and two hours from the Barclays Center, and while many legends are expected to appear at the Manhattan Center (the site of Raw's first episode), it's expected that some stars will appear in both locations.
The historic event is virtually guaranteed to result in a massive viewership increase for Raw as the show will also serve as the go-home to Royal Rumble episode, which last year attracted nearly 3.3 million viewers without anywhere near the star power that this year's episode boasts. Of course, Raw's 25th anniversary special is more than just a night of excitement and nostalgia and is expected to be pivotal in determining the future direction of many major storylines on the road to WrestleMania 34.
While it's widely expected to be a very fun and entertaining episode, it should also give us a clear indication of what we can or cannot expect to see in the coming weeks and months as WrestleMania approaches. Here are five huge questions WWE must answer on the extravaganza known as Raw 25.
What's In Store For Triple H At WrestleMania 34?
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Although Triple H is advertised to appear alongside Michaels as DX, Raw 25 is still the ideal time and place to give a clear indication of what WrestleMania 34 could have in store for "The Game."
Triple H hasn't been on TV in a couple of months, but his somewhat random involvement in "the battle of the brands" at Survivor Series 2017 did at least serve one purpose in that it teased the possibility of two dream matches for a star who is virtually guaranteed to have a marquee WrestleMania bout. Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Cageside Seats) has speculated that both Kurt Angle and Braun Strowman could be potential WrestleMania opponents for Triple H, who actually has an impressive history of his returns boosting ratings, especially around Royal Rumble time.
WWE showed at Survivor Series 2017 that it has no problem focusing on older, part-time stars, even though that's become a big issue for the company, and if we don't get Angle vs. Jason Jordan at WrestleMania 34, then it's a safe bet that we get Angle vs. Triple H in a match that has long been rumored as a potential WrestleMania bout. But with Triple H's TV appearances becoming less and less frequent and with him not really fitting into the Royal Rumble match this year, Raw 25 is the best opportunity to truly ignite the build to Triple H's next match.
While still unclear if it will be Strowman, Angle or a surprise foe, logic says Triple H will face one of those two aforementioned stars at WrestleMania, and we should find out on perhaps the biggest Raw episode of 2018.
What Does It Mean If Roman Reigns Loses The Intercontinental Championship?
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
The biggest match on Raw 25 is The Miz vs. Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Championship, a bout that will have long-term ramifications for Reigns, Miz and all of WWE.
The long-running expectation has been that Reigns will face and defeat Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at WrestleMania 34 (with a recent report essentially confirming that) and he has consistently positioned as one of the top two or three betting favorites to win the Royal Rumble match to get there. Thus, logic says that Reigns will drop the Intercontinental title to The Miz, probably in cheap fashion, because WWE likely wouldn't have Reigns enter WrestleMania 34 as both Intercontinental Champion and No. 1 contender for the Universal title, especially because The Miz would benefit tremendously from holding the IC belt.
Truth be told, it really doesn't matter what the WrestleMania main event is because interest in WWE peaks come 'Mania regardless, but WWE seems intent on getting to Lesnar vs. Reigns some way or another, and the most obvious scenario is that he drops the IC title as a way to move up the ladder and into contention for the Universal Championship. Therefore, it's safe to assume that if The Miz wins the Intercontinental Championship on Raw 25, it's actually less of a means to elevate The Miz and more of a way to ensure that Reigns faces Lesnar solely with the Universal title on the line.
Even though The Miz has developed into one of WWE's surprisingly good draws and an irreplaceable star, he's still not Reigns, at least in WWE's eyes. Alas, a win on Raw 25 would be a big moment for him but one that gives us a major hint that Reigns vs. Lesnar is virtually set in stone.
">WWE is loading up Raw's 25th anniversary episode with a star studded cast of pro wrestling legends both past and present, including The Undertaker, John Cena, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels.
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Other names that have been announced for the special edition of Raw, which will emanate from both the Manhattan Center and the Barclays Center in New York, include Ric Flair, Triple H, the Dudley Boyz, the Bella Twins, Trish Status and many others. According to WrestlingInc's Justin LaBar, the stacked show will air roughly one hour of footage from the Manhattan Center and two hours from the Barclays Center, and while many legends are expected to appear at the Manhattan Center (the site of Raw's first episode), it's expected that some stars will appear in both locations.
The historic event is virtually guaranteed to result in a massive viewership increase for Raw as the show will also serve as the go-home to Royal Rumble episode, which last year attracted nearly 3.3 million viewers without anywhere near the star power that this year's episode boasts. Of course, Raw's 25th anniversary special is more than just a night of excitement and nostalgia and is expected to be pivotal in determining the future direction of many major storylines on the road to WrestleMania 34.
While it's widely expected to be a very fun and entertaining episode, it should also give us a clear indication of what we can or cannot expect to see in the coming weeks and months as WrestleMania approaches. Here are five huge questions WWE must answer on the extravaganza known as Raw 25.
What's In Store For Triple H At WrestleMania 34?
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Although Triple H is advertised to appear alongside Michaels as DX, Raw 25 is still the ideal time and place to give a clear indication of what WrestleMania 34 could have in store for "The Game."
Triple H hasn't been on TV in a couple of months, but his somewhat random involvement in "the battle of the brands" at Survivor Series 2017 did at least serve one purpose in that it teased the possibility of two dream matches for a star who is virtually guaranteed to have a marquee WrestleMania bout. Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Cageside Seats) has speculated that both Kurt Angle and Braun Strowman could be potential WrestleMania opponents for Triple H, who actually has an impressive history of his returns boosting ratings, especially around Royal Rumble time.
WWE showed at Survivor Series 2017 that it has no problem focusing on older, part-time stars, even though that's become a big issue for the company, and if we don't get Angle vs. Jason Jordan at WrestleMania 34, then it's a safe bet that we get Angle vs. Triple H in a match that has long been rumored as a potential WrestleMania bout. But with Triple H's TV appearances becoming less and less frequent and with him not really fitting into the Royal Rumble match this year, Raw 25 is the best opportunity to truly ignite the build to Triple H's next match.
While still unclear if it will be Strowman, Angle or a surprise foe, logic says Triple H will face one of those two aforementioned stars at WrestleMania, and we should find out on perhaps the biggest Raw episode of 2018.
What Does It Mean If Roman Reigns Loses The Intercontinental Championship?
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
The biggest match on Raw 25 is The Miz vs. Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Championship, a bout that will have long-term ramifications for Reigns, Miz and all of WWE.
The long-running expectation has been that Reigns will face and defeat Brock Lesnar for the Universal title at WrestleMania 34 (with a recent report essentially confirming that) and he has consistently positioned as one of the top two or three betting favorites to win the Royal Rumble match to get there. Thus, logic says that Reigns will drop the Intercontinental title to The Miz, probably in cheap fashion, because WWE likely wouldn't have Reigns enter WrestleMania 34 as both Intercontinental Champion and No. 1 contender for the Universal title, especially because The Miz would benefit tremendously from holding the IC belt.
Truth be told, it really doesn't matter what the WrestleMania main event is because interest in WWE peaks come 'Mania regardless, but WWE seems intent on getting to Lesnar vs. Reigns some way or another, and the most obvious scenario is that he drops the IC title as a way to move up the ladder and into contention for the Universal Championship. Therefore, it's safe to assume that if The Miz wins the Intercontinental Championship on Raw 25, it's actually less of a means to elevate The Miz and more of a way to ensure that Reigns faces Lesnar solely with the Universal title on the line.
Even though The Miz has developed into one of WWE's surprisingly good draws and an irreplaceable star, he's still not Reigns, at least in WWE's eyes. Alas, a win on Raw 25 would be a big moment for him but one that gives us a major hint that Reigns vs. Lesnar is virtually set in stone.
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