10 Booking Steps For WWE Raw (15 August)
Paul Heyman and his client can afford to be cocky on this week's Raw...
This coming Monday's episode of Raw is the last one before WWE present SummerSlam on 21 August. The promotion booked themselves into a corner by announcing Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Orton before the WWE Draft, then confused everybody by placing each man on a different brand. That has stifled the build slightly, but not entirely.
Scan Twitter, and it's not difficult to find negative comments regarding the invasion of Raw by Orton or a similar interruption on SmackDown by Lesnar. Some believe this cross-pollination does little to help each show establish individuality, but it was really the only choice the writing team had once the Draft decision had been made.
Otherwise, Brock and Randy would be going into SummerSlam completely cold. On this week's show, WWE don't need to book a physical fight between the pair, but instead have one side act entirely cocky.
Other feuds, such as Roman Reigns vs. Rusev and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks require a little more attention before the pay-per-view. In addition, WWE can't forget about guys like Cesaro or Braun Strowman.
Let's look at what WWE could realistically have in store come Raw...
10. Randy Orton Repeatedly Tries To Invade Raw
It's been several weeks since Randy Orton invaded Monday Night Raw and dropped Brock Lesnar with an RKO 'out of nowhere'. On last week's program, Lesnar was shown in a pre-taped interview brushing off the assault. It therefore wouldn't make sense to change that direction before SummerSlam.
Come Raw, Mick Foley and Stephanie McMahon could be in a panic upon receiving word that Randy Orton plans to invade the show once again. By having Randy play mind games, not only with Lesnar but also with Paul Heyman and the entire Raw brand, he looks like he has the edge over his pay-per-view opponent.
Peppered throughout the evening, Orton's repeated threat of interference would shake things up. Naturally, this wouldn't appease those who believe SmackDown performers should not be appearing on Raw (and vice versa), but it at least gives an air of danger to the Orton vs. Lesnar rivalry.
The upcoming match stands separate to everything else in WWE, and that must be put across time and time again to the audience.