Raw Five-Point Preview: May 6, 2013

Raw Five-Point Preview: May 6, 2013

Ever hear the one about a one-legged man in a butt-kicking contest? Given the events of the past week, that’s looking more and more like the fate of John Cena as Extreme Rules approaches. The Champ fought hurt last Monday night suffered as a result, falling victim to The Shield in the main event of Raw. While the Cenation leader has been mum thus far on the status of his condition, another pair of title contenders has emerged and one former champion looks to exact vicious payback against those who have wronged him. Here are five things to watch out for this Monday on Raw.

Cena's Achilles heel

John Cena & Team Hell No vs. The Shield: Raw, April 29, 2013

WWE Champion John Cena and WWE Tag Team Champions Team Hell No work together to face The Shield in the main event of Raw.

Despite suffering an injury to his Achilles tendon in Europe, Cena competed on Raw last week and paid dearly for it, eating a spear from Roman Reigns to spell defeat for himself and Team Hell No in a Six-Man Tag Team Match against The Shield. Speculation has already begun as to whether The Champ will forfeit his title if he can’t defend it, but thus far, Cena hasn’t said anything. What will the 11-time WWE Champion reveal when he breaks his silence?

Brock's office visit

Raw Five-Point Preview: May 6, 2013

It had been a couple of weeks since we heard from either Triple H or Brock Lesnar as their Steel Cage Match approaches at Extreme Rules, which meant that something big was likely to happen soon. Monday afternoon saw that major development occur when The Anomaly paid an ominous visit to WWE Headquarters in Stamford, Conn. with Paul Heyman in tow, where an "incident" soon occurred. What will Triple H have to say about Lesnar's intrusion onto The Game's home turf?

Full story:  Lesnar sighted at WWE HQ |  The Anomaly arrives in Connecticut 

Render unto Cesaro that which is Cesaro’s

Kofi Kingston vs. Antonio Cesaro - United States Championship Match: WWE Main Event, May 1, 2013

Antonio Cesaro looks to win back the United States Championship from Kofi Kingston.

For a guy who just lost the United States Championship, Antonio Cesaro doesn’t seem to have any intention of lying down and letting himself get steamrolled by the rest of the WWE roster. He nearly bulldozed Alberto Del Rio into oblivion last Monday and mounted a title rematch against new U.S. Champion Kofi Kingston on WWE Main Event that, frankly, needed to be seen to be believed. Kingston may have ultimately retained the title against The Swiss Superman, but only after acting as Cesaro’s personal heavy bag for the better part of a half-hour and only before suffering a bitter post-match humiliation. Why the newfound anger? According to Cesaro himself, he’s tired of having things “taken” from him. Look for him to begin a long, grueling quest to return the favor.

Hell is other people

Kane vs. Dean Ambrose: SmackDown, May 3, 2013

Kane goes one-on-one with Dean Ambrose until the other members of The Shield make their presence felt.

It would appear that a certain group of somebodies have their eyes set on the WWE Tag Team Championships. Unfortunately for eight-month incumbents Team Hell No, those somebodies happen to be The Shield, who had their way with both Kane and Daniel Bryan on SmackDown and seemingly staked their claim to the No. 1 contenders’ spot as the show went to black. If the men in black truly aim to unseat the irascible anger management grads, Team Hell No will have their work cut out for them for a number of reasons, among them the fact that they’ve faced The Shield more times than most and have come up short in each endeavor. Are their days as champions numbered?

Climbing the ladder

Kofi Kingston vs. Dolph Ziggler: Raw, April 29, 2013

In a non-title Champion vs. Champion Match, United States Champion Kofi Kingston and World Champion Dolph Ziggler square off.

The Triple Threat World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match is becoming one of the more interesting contests for Extreme Rules. Not only does the contest boast three Superstars uniquely suited to its rules — Dolph Ziggler, Alberto Del Rio and Jack Swagger are all Money in the Bank winners — but champion and challengers all also triumphed in singles action on Raw last week. There doesn’t seem to be a weak link among the trio as the bout draws closer. Will one of the competitors begin to show signs of weakness, or is the three-way stalemate destined to boil over when the opening bell tolls at Extreme Rules? Tune in Monday at 8/7 CT on USA Network to find out.

Vote:  Who provides the biggest advantage at Extreme Rules?

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