Monday Night Raw preview: The Go Home show gets some star power

This will be the most unusual “go home” Raw in WWE history, and it sets up a WrestleMania 36 that’s also very much in flux. It will air at 8 p.m. ET on USA Network.

SPOILERS HERE: You might have noticed that the branding of “WrestleMania 36” has been changed here to just “WrestleMania” by the company. You might also be following some wrestling websites and dirt sheets that are saying much of the event is already taped and in the can due to a potential lockdown in Orlando by local government officials due to the novel coronavirus.

But for now, we’ll just focus on what we know about tonight’s Raw, and we’ll leave the meta game for later this week.

The Undertaker vs. AJ Styles

We know The Deadman will be there, but what he says and how he interacts with the Phenomenal One will be interesting. They really worked to put over the idea of Taker still having all of his powers by beating up Gallows and Anderson last week, and there’s probably time for at least one more face-off or conflict ahead of this weekend.

This is still scheduled as a Boneyard Match, and we still have no idea what that means, but it’s likely to at least be partially filmed outside the WWE Performance Center. And speaking of match stipulations...

Edge vs. Randy Orton

It is confirmed Edge will be in the building, and the white hot heat these former Rated RKO teammates have generated means anything could happen here. Could we see another appearance from Edge’s wife Beth Phoenix? Will other family members get involved? Will they get in the ring? We just don’t know, but the match at ‘Mania will be a Last Man Standing, which means we do know whoever can’t get up after a 10 count loses and there’s no DQ. It’ll be interesting to see how memorable these two can make their match without a crowd there.

Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Drew McIntyre

The Beast Incarnate will be in attendance, and they actually haven’t been on tv together s since Lesnar got crushed via some Claymore kicks from his WrestleMania challenger. Will there be a face-off? Will Paul Heyman get a microphone (always good television)? We’ll have to wait and see here.

Becky Lynch (C) vs. Shayna Baszler

The Man has been a treat during this build, and took some time last week to cheap shot-chair shot The Queen of Spades to get this fight a bit more hyped. All we know is Becky Balboa shall be there, and will this open the window for Baszler to get some revenge? Maybe soften up the champ a bit? The heat for this one has been excellent, and we can expect more great storytelling tonight as well.

And with the changes we know are happening even if they haven’t been announced by WWE, it’s almost as interesting to see how the corporate side of the company deals with the match alterations everyone knows are coming.