What to Expect from Big Show's Return to WWE Programming

Monday's WWE Raw marks the return of a giant.

Expect Big Show to put the hurting on a lesser foe and explain his absence, but more importantly plant the seeds for the match he’ll have at SummerSlam 2013.

The World's Largest Athlete is scheduled to come back to WWE action after sitting out for over a month. WWE has played it up like he's choosing to be off WWE programming, but he was actually recovering from a torn labrum, as reported by PWInsider.com via WrestleZone.com.

With just a few weeks away from SummerSlam, Big Show reenters WWE without a storyline and without a current rival. That should change on Monday night as the big man picks a fight with whoever WWE has him facing on August 18.

On WWE.com, the Raw preview asks the question, "Will the 441-pounder reveal who or what he's after when he returns this Monday on Raw?"

Interpret the fact that the company asked its audience that question as a hint that he'll do exactly that. SummerSlam has exactly one official match and one between CM Punk and Brock Lesnar looking imminent. To add star power and a veteran presence to the card, we should see the beginnings of the feud that leads to Big Show's SummerSlam clash.

After missing out on Money in the Bank and Payback, look for WWE to find a point of entry for Big Show this time around.

The question then becomes if WWE pairs him with an old rival or a new one. Big Show has plenty of reason to go for Randy Orton after losing to him at Extreme Rules. The more interesting option, though, would be for him to challenge someone unexpected.

His opponent will depend on if WWE will have him return as a villain or if he will turn once again. As a face, he could take on someone random like Fandango or challenge Curtis Axel. With Mark Henry siding with The Usos against The Shield, it's more likely WWE looks to keep its other giant a villainous one.

John Cena will be busy defending his WWE title. Dolph Ziggler looks to be going against Big E. Langston. That leaves the choice of either rekindling an old rivalry, like with Orton or Sheamus, or finding a new one for him.

Rob Van Dam has yet to be assigned a bout at SummerSlam, so he's a viable option.

When Henry returned to WWE Raw recently, he donned a salmon suit, faked his retirement and slammed Cena to the ground. Can Big Show possibly match the entertainment value of that return? It will be exciting to see him try.