Raw Five-Point Preview: Oct. 22, 2012

Raw Five-Point Preview: Oct. 22, 2012

It’s official: Ryback’s movable feast will lead him to Hell in a Cell, where the ravenous Superstar will square off against CM Punk for the WWE Championship in one of the most hotly anticipated contests of the year. Until then, though, what will WWE’s fastest-rising star have in store for the embattled champion as their showdown draws nearer? Also, who will emerge as the No. 1 contenders for Team Hell No’s Tag Team Championships, and how will The Miz respond to his historic loss to Intercontinental Champion Kofi Kingston on WWE Main Event? Funny you should ask, because WWE.com has five things to look forward to tonight on Raw.

Dropping the boom

Kofi Kingston vs. The Miz - Intercontinental Championship Match: WWE Main Event, Oct. 17, 2012

Kofi Kingston faces The Miz for the Intercontinental Championship on WWE Main Event.

Kofi Kingston pulled off one of the year’s biggest upsets when he dethroned then–Intercontinental Champion The Miz on WWE Main Event, instigating the first championship change on WWE’s newest show. But Miz is hardly the type of Superstar to take disappointment lying down, and The Awesome One will stop at nothing to reclaim what he believes is his. With Kofi on a tear, though, will Miz be able to bounce back in time for their rematch at Hell in a Cell?

They coulda been (the No 1.) contenders

Primo & Epico vs. Team Rhodes Scholars: Raw, Oct. 15, 2012

Primo & Epico compete against Team Rhodes Scholars in tag team action on Raw.

The final of the Tag Team Tournament was delayed last week due to Rey Mysterio’s illness, but The Master of the 619 will be in the house Monday night to challenge Team Rhodes Scholars with Sin Cara at his side. The resurgent tag team division has been building to an epic cap-off with the final of the Tag Tournament and the unveiling of Team Hell No’s new No. 1 contenders. Expect sparks to fly when the brainy brawlers and masked men collide with all the marbles at stake. Speaking of Team Hell No …

Clash of the titans

Team Hell No vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big Show continues during the break: WWE App Exclusive

Team Hell No vs. Dolph Ziggler & Big Show continues during the break in this WWE App Exclusive.

Lock up the kids and fragile objects, Kane and Big Show are at it again. After numerous tense encounters last week, the two giants will settle their differences in a one-on-one match this Monday on Raw. While Show and Kane are extremely familiar with each other at this point, what will happen with the added wrinkle of Daniel Bryan, who the giant has tried to make an example of as Show’s World Heavyweight Championship Match with Sheamus draws nearer? Kane’s been there to help Bryan out of trouble each time, but will the submission technician find himself in the crossfire again, or will he be the one to rescue The Big Red Monster this time around?

Let there be rock, babaaaay

3MB crashes the stage at Honky Tonk Central in Nashville: Raw, October 15, 2012

3MB crashes the stage at Honky Tonk Central in Nashville.

Who’d have ever thought that Heath Slater, Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal would be making beautiful music together as — no disrespect to 3 Count — the greatest band in the history of sports-entertainment? Don’t be fooled by the peculiar feel of 3MB, either: This trio of air guitar–shredding Superstars are fighting mad, and the grouping of these three is crazy enough to work. Besides, it’s not like a supergroup is a relatively new concept in rock history. These guys could be bigger than Cream, you mark our words.

Playing with your food

Ryback Shell Shocks CM Punk after they sign their Hell in a Cell contract : Raw, Oct. 15, 2012

Ryback makes a major statement against his Hell in a Cell opponent, CM Punk.

It’s not exactly an exaggeration to say that Ryback has gotten into CM Punk’s head as the WWE Championship Match at Hell in a Cell approaches. But where Ryback has gotten by on pure physical prowess during his meteoric rise, might the big man take a page out of The Second City Saint’s book and attempt to gain advantage through mind games and cerebral manipulation? Punk seemed mildly nervous, to put it lightly, after Ryback put pen to paper last week at the official contract signing. If Ryback were to expound upon that, it’d give him an advantage over The Voice of the Voiceless that few Superstars have ever enjoyed. Tune into Raw at 8/7 CT on the USA Network to see what happens next!

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