Monday Night Raw Preview 5/19/14: WWE World Heavyweight Championship situation addressed

The May 19, 2014 edition of WWE's Monday Night Raw will emanate on tape delay from London and will clear up the WWE World Heavyweight Championship situation in the wake of Daniel Bryan's injury and neck surgery.

Bryan went under the knife on Thursday, and the surgery was a major success by all accounts. But ever since the announcement of the surgery, fans have wondered if the company would strip Bryan of the title. The most recent rumors and reports indicate Bryan would be out until the period before SummerSlam, which is at least two months.

It's possible WWE would not want to go without a champion for that length of time, so COO Triple H could easily walk out to the ring tonight and announce that he is stripping Bryan of the title. It's also possible the company could crown an interim champion (perhaps through a tournament) to hold the belts until Bryan returns. Or Triple H could just give the belt to himself, which would be hilarious.

Hulk Hogan is also set to appear on the show, but it's unclear in what capacity he'll be there. The Hulkster will probably cut one of usual promos, but he could possibly get involved in the more important goings on in order to bring more eyeballs to the segment.

John Cena and Bray Wyatt are also set for a rubber match at Payback, and tonight's Raw will likely continue the war between the two men. Wyatt wants to burn down the world and recreate it in his own image, while Cena has pledged to never give up the fight and to keep battling the enigmatic leader of The Wyatt Family. Which side will gain the upper hand tonight with just two weeks to go until Payback?

Finally, The Shield and Evolution continue their war as we head toward the next pay-per-view. The Hounds of Justice managed to fight off 11 men last week and stood tall despite Evolution's plan to pick them apart. The Shield has definitely had the advantage in this feud, but Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista have fired back several times. Will Evolution find a way to leave a mark on The Shield tonight?

As always, check back with MStars immediately after the show for a full recap of all the action. But for now, let us know your thoughts on what you think will happen tonight in the comments below.