WWE Raw: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for May 23

With little time to heal after crashing through tables and being punctured by thumbtacks at Extreme Rules, AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose are set to create more chaos on WWE Raw.

The road from one pay-per-view to another begins with Seth Rollins back in the mix. The former WWE champ returned at Extreme Rules, making it immediately clear that he intends to take aim at Roman Reigns.

Fans in Baltimore may also see a number of other Superstars step back into the spotlight. But just as Enzo Amore looks to be healthy enough to compete again, injury may have one of the women's division's top talents sitting on the sidelines.

Questions about the roster buzz as the first Raw after Extreme Rules nears. There is also uncertainty about Styles' direction after losing to Reigns again and which challengers will step up to the champions old and new.

Backstage reports, Twitter and the Raw preview on WWE.com erase some of the confusion ahead of Monday's Raw.

News, Potential Spoilers

Cody Rhodes won't be at Raw—not as Stardust, not as himself. The former intercontinental champion asked for his release from the company over the weekend:

Rhodes tweeted a lengthy explanation of why he chose to leave (warning: NSFW language):

The roster for Raw may not have The Boss either. Sasha Banks has reportedly been dealing with an injury. 

Dave Meltzer wrote for F4WOnline.com, "Reports within the industry were that Banks suffered a concussion, which would mean an undetermined length of time before she could return—any day or a few weeks."

With her not involved in a storyline at the moment, there won't be any rush to get her back into the ring. That's especially true knowing that Naomi could be back in action.

The Team B.A.D. member tweeted:

Baltimore fans could also be treated to an Amore return. After suffering a severe concussion at Payback, he is apparently traveling with the roster again. PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson reported, "Enzo Amore was backstage at the Extreme Rules PPV and is on the road for WWE TV this week."

Extreme Rules Fallout

Ambrose outlasted Chris Jericho in the first-ever Asylum match. The bout had to leave both men in search of ice packs and aspirin afterward, as they battered each other with everything from a mop handle to thumbtacks strewn on the mat.

The win for Ambrose seemed to signal the end of that feud. If so, The Lunatic Fringe is currently without a storyline. Perhaps he will earn his way into the Money in the Bank ladder match coming in June.

Rusev demolished Kalisto at Extreme Rules, not only dethroning the U.S. champ but leaving him writhing on the mat afterward.

That likely means at least a night off for The King of Flight to help sell the intensity of that beating. As for Rusev, WWE is clearly trying to recapture the momentum he had when he was last champ. He has looked more like that beastly version of himself.

And the Raw preview on WWE.com hinted at him being dominant on Monday night. It asked, "Will The Bulgarian Brute reassert himself as the most fearsome Superstar in WWE?"

The New Day's win wasn't nearly as one-sided. At Extreme Rules, The Vaudevillains put on a good showing against the champs, losing in a close match. It's not clear now whether that will end their rivalry with The New Day.

The Raw preview reads, "The victory reasserts The New Day's position atop the tag team division with at least three tandems that can challenge them." It then listed The Vaudevillains, The Shining Stars, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson as potential challengers.

Credit: WWE.com

It sounds like the tag team title picture is set to get quite crowded, especially if Amore and Colin Cassady are reunited on Monday night.

As for the hunt for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship, it will clearly feature Rollins after his surprise return at Extreme Rules. Rollins lifted up the title to admire it after blasting Reigns, a not-so-subtle sign that those two are set to feud.

What of Styles then? Does he remain in contention or is there another rivalry ahead for him? The Raw preview wasn't much help in regard to those questions.

It stated, "Whether AJ Styles is willing to step aside is another matter entirely, but it's safe to say The Architect will have plenty to say when his rebuilding project begins in earnest."

By the time Extreme Rules closed, WWE created a good balance of mystery and foreshadowing. Fans know that Rollins will be seeking to regain his title and Rusev is in the midst of tear, but they don't know where Styles, The New Day and others are heading.

With five weeks between PPVs this time around rather than three, WWE can take its time in crafting and building the Money in the Bank card.