Hey there, PCU Maniacs!

It’s time for another of Ben’s 5 thoughts on Raw, this week dealing with the May 18, 2015 edition that aired.

So to begin Ben unfortunately could not bring you his points this week (something about the Matrix bricking his TV) so he asked Mansa Herndon – his co-host on the PCU Declassified podcast “Pay Per View Post-mortem” – to give my 5 points on Raw for this week. Why me you may ask? Well aside from being a total comic book, anime, and Sci-Fi nerd. I have been a huge fan of both Pro-Wrestling and Sports Entertainment for as long as I can remember. I have followed the indy wrestling scene for years mostly focusing on Ring of Honor but these are the stars of the future. My taste isn’t just domestic either, I follow Japan’s NOAH promotion and of course New Japan Pro Wrestling. Lucha Underground made me follow Mexico’s AAA promotion closer. So I have a broad knowledge and understanding of wrestling (or wrasslin’) and its culture, that’s why Ben felt his article was in safe-ish hands. Yet never fear for the master of the 5 points will return next week, so without further ado let’s get started!

1) MAMA HAS COME HOME: That’s right Stephanie McMahon is back with hubby Triple H once again showing a united Authority front. You don’t realize how much you miss someone ’til they are gone, and Steph coming back being her old snarky self was missed. She touched upon Daniel Bryan and the fact he relinquished 2 separate titles. She even took time to mess with her rivals, the Bellas, forcing Nikki to face Naomi w/Tamina alone for her Divas Title. I love having Steph on WWE programming she has absolutely thrived in the role of being gal you love to hate.

2) MILLIONS OF DOLLARS: The Prime Time Players are back! I don’t mean as another vignette back. I mean clearing the ring of all the other teams involved in the Tag Team Elimination Chamber match back!!! I loved seeing the Prime Time Players standing tall and looking like well MILLIONS OF DOLLARS! Breaking them up was a mistake on the part of the WWE but having them return into a pretty stacked tag division makes up for that. Hopefully this will lead to a pretty solid Tag Team Elimination Chamber match.

3) FIGHT OWENS FIGHT: Wow, not only is Kevin Owens facing Sami Zayn on Wednesday at NXT Takeover Unstoppable, but they are now having him face John Cena at Elimination Chamber for the US Title. Now I have been a really long time fan of Kevin Owens and seeing him getting a push is great. But this was a statement, as Owens took out Cena and stood on the US Title belt and holding his NXT belt high as if proclaiming it the more coveted prize. I know the WWE are high on the NXT Superstars but I never thought I would see a moment like that.

4) THE STORY CONTINUES: The Dean Ambrose vs Seth Rollins feud never saw a true ending due to Bray Wyatt’s interference. So having them fight for the WWE title I am soooo okay with that. Dean Ambrose put on one helluva performance at Payback and seeing him and Seth Rollins go at it will be gold. And let’s be honest, I’m just happy to not see Randy and Seth go at it again.

5) THIS WAS LADIES NIGHT: In addition to Steph returning we also saw the return of Paige taking out both Naomi and Nikki Bella making an emphatic statement. Though not announced, I wouldn’t be surprised if the three of them will be involved in a Divas title match at Elimination Chamber. At this point that its the only title not announced to be defended at the show. Also Lana and Rusev finally parted in a story line everyone saw coming  since the first time they appeared together. I am concerned about the future of Rusev without Lana. He needs a mouth piece to help his character, because he doesn’t have much going for him by himself.

THE CHAMBER IS LOOMING: We now have full account on who will be in the Elimination Chamber match for the IC belt: Sheamus, Ryback, R-Truth, Rusev, King Barrett and Dolph Ziggler. So now we see how the WWE  will take only 2 weeks to set up an PPV with most of it happening from one show. Now that Elimination Chamber pretty much set up, I still have a few questions from Payback unanswered like what will happen to Reigns and Orton since they were mysteriously left off the show. Also with Ryback in the Chamber where does that leave Bray Wyatt, and lastly was the Payback Pre-show the last time we will ever see the Mega Powers? I hope the WWE will provide answers to my questions (mostly the last one) in the next 2 weeks.

Finally, June 1st after Raw, we will see the return of Stone Cold’s Podcast with Paul Heyman. I can’t wait to hear what Paul E. has to say to the Rattlesnake.

So here are my 3 Stars of the show.

1 Kevin Owens

2 The Prime Time Players (yes, I know it’s a team but they deserve this spot)

3 Dean Ambrose

Quick note from Ben: Massive thanks to Mansa for covering me: not a lot of time right now but my 3 stars of the show are:

1 Dean Ambrose

2 Lana

3 PTP (what can I say? I think that it’s criminal that they haven’t held those belts.)

So that’s my 5 points on Raw this week, I know my views are a bit different from Ben’s but I hope you enjoyed them. Please feel free to let me know on twitter at @TezukaK19. Also you can find me at wacbb.blogspot.com, so until next time PCU Maniacs!!!

Mansa Herndon