WWE Monday Night Raw Preview for 07.18.2016: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins for the WWE Title, One Night Before Brand Split 2.0

Previews, Top Story

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WWE has the last Monday Night Raw before the huge draft, live from the DUNKIN DONUTS CENTER in Providence, RI.

The lead story, however, is a gigantic WWE Title match that will happen live on Raw with Dean Ambrose defending in a one-on-one match against Seth Rollins.

WWE.com:
Dean Ambrose defends the WWE Championship against Seth Rollins on a potentially historic Raw just 24 hours before SmackDown Live and the WWE Brand Extension Draft change the landscape of WWE forever. Plus, Raw and SmackDown Commissioners Stephanie McMahon and SmackDown Live Shane McMahon announce who will be their respective brand’s General Managers and much more.

It’s rare to see a singles World Title match on Raw, especially one that could easily be the main event of a PPV. This should be a huge match heading into the three way match with Roman Reigns at the Battleground PPV.

Last week on Raw, Vince McMahon named Shane McMahon as the new Commissioner of SmackDown Live and Stephanie McMahon the new Commissioner of Raw. However, he kicked things up a notch by assigning each to hire a day to day General Manager for the show. Who will each of them choose as GM? That needs to be revealed on Raw heading into Smackdown tomorrow with the draft.

The New Day and the Wyatt Family had a zany skit filmed at the “Wyatt Compound” with shades of the Final Deletion, but somehow shot to be taken more seriously. The two teams are now booked in a 3 on 3 match for Battleground. The next chapter in their feud will unfold on Raw – plus will any of them be drafted away from their team on Smackdown?

The Women’s Division finally has the Boss Sasha Banks as a focal point. She is booked to be against Charlotte and Dana Brooke in a tag match at Battleground. The only problem is that Sasha is alone – she has no partner. Will any of the Women on the WWE roster step up to team with Sasha? Or will she have to take on the champion and her lacky on her own?

Speaking of the Draft, WWE has posted the rules as follows:

  • Raw has the first overall pick
  • Since SmackDown Live is a two-hour show and Raw is three hours, for every two picks SmackDown Live receives, Raw will receive three picks
  • Tag teams count as one pick unless a Commissioner/General Manager specifically only wants one member of the team?
  • Six draft picks will be made off the NXT roster?

Here is the WWE Quick Hits Preview:

  1. Will a new WWE Champion be crowned on Raw? Expect Ambrose and Rollins to stop at nothing in order to walk away with the WWE Championship
  2. Who will be the General Managers of Raw and SmackDown Live? Certainly, there are a slew of past and present competitors capable of capturing the respect of both the locker room and the WWE Universe while helping to bring their brand to a new level of prominence
  3. Who will help Sasha Banks against Charlotte & Dana Brooke at WWE Battleground? Can she secure a partner, or will she be forced to face the titleholder and her powerful protégé all by lonesome?
  4. Wyatts to New Day: Come out, come out wherever you are
  5. Will The Bulgarian Brute crush a Broski?

WWE added two matches to the Battleground card on Smackdown, which airs tonight.

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WWE added a bunch of new matches and segments to the next PPV card on Raw, including a Highlight Reel segment with Randy Orton and Chris Jericho

Here is the latest confirmed card for WWE Battleground 2016 – Sunday July 24, 2016, after the WWE Draft.

WWE World Heavyweight Title
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Roman Reigns

Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens

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John Cena, Enzo Amore, Big Cass vs. AJ Styles, Karl Anderson, Luke Gallows

Becky Lynch vs. Natalya

WWE Intercontinental Title Match
The Miz (c) vs. Darren Young

WWE United States Title Match
Rusev (c) vs. Zack Ryder

The Wyatt Family vs. The New Day

Sasha Banks & ?? vs. Dana Brooke &Charlotte

Highlight Reel with Randy Orton

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Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs