5 Burning Issues For WWE Raw Tonight (Oct 9)
Will Paige be Sister Abigail?
Affording SmackDown Live! a rare night of glory, WWE delivered a turn, a title change and two terrifying tumbles in their caged Hell In A Cell pay-per-view bookends. The stipulation has taken a kicking since the structure became the subject (and often albatross) of its own supercard. However, with contests that actually warranted the scorched earth ending only the 'Devil's Playground' can afford, the show offered powerful conclusions to stories ahead of a bleak midwinter on the blue brand.
Before the bloated bigger brother gets too antsy though, attention must now return back to Monday Night Raw. In Tables, Ladders and Chairs, the red brand has a stuntshow of its own to promote and with two weeks away, a reunion with implications just as seismic as those between Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens seems almost nailed on.
Last week's episode went off the air not with Enzo Amoré's world class desecration of the Cruiserweight Division but a silent locker room reconciliation of Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. Having taken separate beatings from The Miz and The Bar on the show, the three brought to an end weeks of speculative teases with knowing glances about their shared plight. Will this be the week they make it official?
Elsewhere, we're due to see a family member in the form of an infamous sister. But will Bray Wyatt's latest manifestation take the form of a former Women's Champion? Turn the Paige...
5. TV Stars
The Miz and The Bar will talk it up real horror show this week, promising a gloating sermon on 'Miz TV' in the wake of their admittedly impressive beatdown of Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose on last week's edition of the show.
Sheamus and Cesaro taking the spots of Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel may have seemed unduly harsh on a rapidly improving Miztourage, but it was a necessary step in making the planned TLC six-man remotely credible. For a change, Roman Reigns' sneer the other week was actually well placed - the three really would stand no chance against the 'Hounds Of Justice' triumvirate.
Furthermore, the very fabric of The Bar's feud with Sheamus and Cesaro can be re-used. The villains have come together through mutual respect and shared disdain of the former Shield members, whilst Reigns, Rollins and Ambrose will have to park a host of personal problems if they want to stand a chance against their cohesive rivals. Expect much posturing to this end before it all actually kicks off on next week's go-home show.