Last week was the high point of the year for WWE, with the company putting on a much better than expected WrestleMania XXXI and then following it up with an awesome Raw After WrestleMania. Even Smackdown was solid. But WWE cant live in the afterglow of WrestleMania forever. It must turn its collective attention to Extreme Rules, which is three weeks away. While some of the matches on the card are fairly predictable based on recent developments (there should be at least three title matches and a possible grudge match), WWE needs to start building up these angles. The company also has the challenge of trying to keep things riding high after last week and avoid falling back into the doldrums. All of that makes this weeks Raw an important one. Its not enough to just put on a decent show or two really good hours and a crappy third hour. Without trying to sound too hyperbolic, there is the opportunity after a big show and strong follow-up to maintain that energy and keep interest high. Youre not going to retain everyone who watched Mania or the Raw After WrestleMania, but WWE can try to encourage fans to keep tuning in. This depends on WWE not insulting fans. If we see Hornswoggle dressed as the Easter Bunny or worse, the Bunny itself then weve got our answer. But for now, lets see what the big questions heading into this pivotal Raw are.
Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fortunately became a fan in time for WrestleMania III and came back as a fan after a long high school hiatus before WM XIV. Monday nights in the Carlson household are reserved for viewing Raw -- for better or worse.
