What to Expect from the Nov. 18 Edition of Raw

After the WWE's European tour came to an end last week, Raw returns to America for the final taping of the show before Survivor Series this coming Sunday.

With "The Authority" likely to return from its "vacation" after its absence on the TV tapings in the UK last week, it will likely be a fiery edition of Raw as the final feuds and promos are put into place ahead of one of the most anticipated pay-per-view shows of the year.

With WrestleMania season fast approaching too, expect some long-term rivalries to begin to develop too on what will be another solid Raw show.

Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at what we can expect from the taping on Monday night—including a bizarre theme which will no doubt involve some time-filling matches.

Raw Goes Country

Photo courtesy WWE.com

Sigh. Yes, tonight Raw goes country, as for some bizarre reason, because the show is in Tennessee, the need to integrate a theme to the company's flagship show was too much to resist.

What does this mean? Well, it likely means we will see 3MB sporting a country theme themselves—just as they performed as the Union Jacks on the Raw taping from England last week.

It also means we will probably see a Divas match with the likes of the Bella Twins in country outfits.

There will be a token appearance from Santino Marella too. All in all it is just an unwanted distraction for what should be a solid Raw show.

There may well be plenty of cringe-worthy moments ahead on tonight's show.

The Boss Is Back

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Now I've got the horrific choice of theme out of the way, we can focus on the real action.

After Triple H and Stephanie McMahon were away from TV tapings last week, the likes of Brad Maddox, Vickie Guerrero and Kane all tried to run Raw at several different points last week.

What that likely means is that a backlash from Triple H is guaranteed tonight. After the Big Show got the upper hand on Randy Orton before hot-tailing it out of the arena last Monday, combined with The Shield being chased out of the ring at the end of the show, the boss will be looking for answers.

Triple H as a heel has always been fantastic to watch—he cuts some excellent promos and is a real menacing character—and he will not be in the best of moods as the WWE looks to build hype for Survivor Series.

The Wyatt Family Lottery to Continue

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What is fantastic about the Wyatt Family is that you just don't know who its next target will be.

Unlike the early days of The Shield—when they seemed to attack the same people over and over again—Bray Wyatt and company are completely random in their choice of who to attack.

Take Raw last week for example. It was one of the most exciting angles on the show for a long time—as for a brief moment it looked like the Wyatts and The Shield were going to go at it in the ring. That would have been fascinating, but they did turn their attentions to CM Punk and Daniel Bryan.

Then on SmackDown, they turned their attention to Ryback and Curtis Axel—another set of heels. It seems there is nobody who is safe from Bray and his family, and expect more bizarre madness on Raw this week.

More Ridiculous World Heavyweight Championship Antics

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How to promote a title that has been consigned to the back of everyone's memories for the past six months?

There are many ways to do it—but having an arm-wrestling match is not one of them. Yet again, the booking for the World Heavyweight Championship has been pitiful at best, and it continues to be a title that nobody is really concerned about.

Cena's in-ring matches have actually been steadily improving over the past few weeks. He seems to be introducing new moves to his skill set and is becoming actually quite watchable.

Maybe the problem is Del Rio. It just doesn't really feel like he belongs in this feud—perhaps creative would have been better served going down a fresher route: Damien Sandow.

What Next for The Shield?

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At the end of Raw last week, it seemed certain that The Shield were going to be part of a traditional Survivor Series match at the pay-per-view.

WWE had gone with a straight tag team match for the event with Erick Rowan and Luke Harper facing CM Punk and Daniel Bryan, however, leaving The Shield's participation up in the air.

Of course, on the go-home edition of Raw, things could change. But if they don't, The Shield are up in limbo for Survivor Series. They simply cannot be left out of the pay-per-view. They are one of WWE's hottest properties right now, and it would be madness to have them off the show.

Will we see some developments with the supposed split that is coming the way of The Shield? Or will we see them unite again to help Triple H?

Right now, the next move of The Shield is one of the most exciting storylines in the company.