NEW YORK -- WWE Champion John Cena will be surrounded by thousands of our fans -- many of whom will be cheering his name and holding signs of devotion for The Champ --when Raw returns to New York City's Madison Square Garden Monday night. But in a tag team match with unlikely partner -- Intercontinental Champion Umaga -- against Randy Orton & Carlito, he may be the loneliest man in the building.

There's more than a good chance that Cena could find himself with his back up against the wall and possibly facing 3-on-1 odds Monday night. Let's face it: Cena and Umaga are not exactly running buddies. In fact, they're not friends at all. Cena and the Samoan Bulldozer waged some of the most brutal and bloody battles in WWE history earlier this year, as the WWE Champion ended Umaga's undefeated streak at New Year's Revolution, and was able to keep him down in a Last Man Standing Match at Royal Rumble.  Read the full story ...

If anything, this modern day quasi-Felix and Oscar pair are a team this Monday only because new Raw GM William Regal made them partners. Last Monday on Raw, Carlito and Orton, with Regal's blessing, chose Umaga to battle Cena after The Champ's fracas with Raw's bad apple Superstar during Carlito's Cabana. Carlito and Orton -- especially Orton, the No. 1 contender to the WWE Championship and Cena's opponent at SummerSlam on Aug. 26 -- had hoped that the savage Intercontinental Champion would brutalize The Champ, or at least assist them in a 3-on-1 beatdown when they interfered in his match later that night. Still, for reasons that are unclear, Umaga attacked them, prompting Regal to make this Monday's match-up. (WATCH)

Now Carlito and Orton have found themselves facing perhaps one of the unlikeliest pairings in WWE history, in a tag team war at the Garden. Maybe they hope to capitalize on the lack of chemistry -- and trust -- between Umaga and Cena, and use it to their advantage. But is anyone -- tag team partners and opponents alike -- really safe when Umaga is around? Does the Samoan Bulldozer really comprehend loyalty or alliances? One thing is certain: Umaga knows destruction and thrives on wreaking havoc.

Can Cena depend on his primitive partner, or is he in for a virtual 3-on-1 Handicap Match at Madison Square Garden? Or will everyone in the ring feel the Intercontinental Champion's wrath? The only way to find out is to tune in to Raw on Monday night at 9/8 CT on USA Network.

To read a full preview of this Monday's Raw, click HERE.

Check out Cena's Beware of Dog t-shirt...