WWE Raw: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for May 11

By the end of WWE Raw on May 11, Payback will be far more of a finished product.

With less than a week until the pay-per-view, there are only two matches on the bill. That means WWE will be finding a home on the event for Bad News Barrett, Naomi and others when it visits U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A short build between big shows wraps up. It's already final-stretch time.

A wealth of matches need to be added to the lineup, and WWE will do its best to increase interest in the clashes already on tap.

Seth Rollins is poised to go up against his trio of challengers again. John Cena and Rusev look to sell their "I Quit" bout. Meanwhile, midcarders and champions get ready to see who they will be dueling with at Payback.

Foreshadowing from WWE, backstage reports and James Wortman's five-point preview on WWE.com give fans insight aplenty into what to look for on Monday's go-home edition of Raw. 

News, Potential Spoilers

Monday's Raw is set to welcome back some familiar faces.

After weeks of allowing Kane to run the show in their absence, The Authority's leaders will be back in control, iron fists at the ready. PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reports, "Triple H and Stephanie McMahon are currently slated to 'return' to Raw this Monday in Cincinnati."

Credit: WWE.com

They will have plenty of issues to deal with immediately, especially with Kane and Seth Rollins' tension building so much as of late.

Cincinnati fans will also get the pleasure of being the first crowd to chant along with Daniel Bryan in weeks. James Caldwell of Pro Wrestling Torch notes that Bryan is advertised to appear on Monday's show. Johnson also adds on PWInsider.com, "Daniel Bryan is slated for tonight's Raw taping in Cincinnati, Ohio, PWInsider.com has confirmed."

Mike Mooneyham of The Post and Courier tweets the same info:

In addition, Johnson notes that the plan is for Bryan to compete at Payback. That could either pull Bad News Barrett away from his rivalry with Neville, or WWE could seek out another contender for the Intercontinental Championship.

Last week, Stardust defeated R-Truth with the help of some toy spiders.

That's an image we may see again before long. In what may be a sign that Stardust and R-Truth will continue to feud, the two clashed at a house show over the weekend in Charleston, West Virginia, as noted by F4WOnline.com.

Payback Preparations 

Bet on The Bella Twins figuring into WWE's plans for the pay-per-view. 

Naomi has been entangled with both sisters for weeks now. Her belief that she's been passed by for title opportunities has been her fuel. She now has an enforcer to aid her as she seeks out the Divas title and to whip both Nikki and Brie Bella.

Tamina Snuka returned to action last week, joining Naomi in a beatdown of the Bellas.

It makes sense, then, that WWE would build on this. Fans should look for more of an explanation as to why these women have aligned. And whether it's a singles or tag team match, it's highly likely this leads to the Divas clashing at Payback. 

Dolph Ziggler, Sheamus, Bad News Barrett and Neville figure to find their way onto the card as well. There is certainly ample animosity between the four men. 

On last week's SmackDown, Neville and Ziggler defeated the heels in tag action. Raw may be Barrett's shot at retribution. Wortman writes that Barrett "has surely been plotting a way to get back at The Showoff—who pinned Barrett in that match—and The New Sensation, Neville."

SmackDown also featured WWE teasing that Luke Harper and Erick Rowan may reunite. Rowan came out to the ring after Harper beat Fandango and proceeded to assault the ballroom dancer.

The five-point preview provided more foreshadowing. Wortman writes, "Anticipate more from this eerie tandem on Raw."

Monday's Raw will most certainly showcase Payback's two top bouts. That means that we'll see more acrimony between John Cena and Rusev.

After weeks of each man making speeches, the rivals are about to be in striking distance of each other. Wortman writes that Cena and Rusev are "expected to meet in the ring." He also hints at Lana playing a key role in the segment when he asks, "How will Lana play into this confrontation, given the recent adoration she's received from the WWE Universe?"

It's likely too early to give away the expected babyface turn from Lana. That's the kind of big moment usually reserved for a pay-per-view itself. 

And to hype the Fatal 4-Way for the WWE title, the Creative team is going to have to get, well...creative. It already did the standard contract-signing segment between Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose, Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.

After a night sure to provide a better idea of what to expect at Payback, there's going to need to be some mayhem between these four gentlemen to get fans further pumped about the marquee match.  

Luckily, mayhem is Ambrose's specialty.