Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

Night of Champions has come and gone, and the ramifications will surely be severe. WWE has a pair of Tag Team Champions that may or may not still hate each other; a World Heavyweight Champion whose dominance is reaching a fever pitch; and to top it all off, a controversial outcome to the WWE Champion CM Punk–John Cena rivalry that’s sure to keep WWE’s top two competitors at each other’s throats for some time. As the road to Hell in a Cell begins, here are five things to look forward to on tonight’s Raw.

Destiny denied

Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

Alberto Del Rio tried his best to tilt the odds in his favor at Night of Champions, but his efforts to compromise Sheamus proved fruitless when the Brogue Kick was reinstated last-minute by SmackDown General Manager Booker T, allowing The Celtic Warrior to retain his World Heavyweight Championship in emphatic fashion. With The Essence of Excellence’s quest to reclaim World Title gold having been stymied for several months now, how will he respond to this latest defeat? We’re guessing not well.

The magnifique Antonio Cesaro

Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

The United States Champion proved his prowess at Night of Champions when he defeated Zack Ryder, who won a Battle Royal to challenge for the “Swiss Superman’s” United States Title later in the night. The rugby hooligan has now successfully defended the stars and stripes title at a pay-per-view, but remember: The Ultimate Broski had the same championship in his sights around this time last year. Will Ryder make another pass at the Old Glory–emblazoned title?

Getting his baby back?

Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

Cody Rhodes did something unexpected last Monday on Raw: After The Miz came down to the ring to get a cheap shot in at Rey Mysterio, Cody laid out The Awesome One, hoisted the Intercontinental Title above his head and started screaming it was his “baby.” Rhodes was unsuccessful in a Fatal 4-Way at Night of Champions in reclaiming the title he once coveted, but given his obsessive personality, we’re not sure he’s entirely done pursuing the championship just yet.

Embrace the love

Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

Well, we certainly didn’t see that coming. Kane and Daniel Bryan must be making more strides toward resolving their issues than we thought, since they managed to successfully band together and defeat Kofi Kingston & R-Truth for the WWE Tag Team Titles at Night of Champions. Now, with The Devil’s Favorite Demon and the “No!” man officially ensconced as tag champs, who will be the first tag team to try and knock them off their precarious perch? Can they even maintain harmony long enough to defend the twin titles? Only time will tell.

Just getting started

Raw Five-Point Preview: Sept. 17, 2012

At Night of Champions, CM Punk’s WWE Title defense against John Cena ended in a double-pin — an outcome we’re highly doubtful the Cenation leader will accept as proof that The Second City Saint is, indeed, The Best in the World. We’re sure Punk will attempt to deny Cena a rematch for his WWE Title, but certainly we haven’t seen the last of this renewed rivalry just yet. Something also tells us Punk might not be so anxious to face Cena for a second time, but if history has told us anything, it’s that these two are far from done with each other.

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