WWE 'Monday Night Raw' Preview 8/17/15: Final Show Before SummerSlam 2015

The August 17, 2015 episode of WWE's Monday Night Raw will emanate live from the Target Center in Minneapolis and will be the final show before SummerSlam this Sunday. So without further ado, let's get to our full preview.

WWE has advertised that both Brock Lesnar and The Undertaker will be in the building tonight, which means the powder keg is ready to explode as soon as the show goes on the air. Raw will be in Brock Lesnar's home state, so it will be interesting to see how the crowd reacts to him and Taker now that Lesnar has been working babyface. Would the fans in the Target Center actually boo the Undertaker, one of the most revered and respected men in the history of the business, in favor of The Beast Incarnate?

Also, how does WWE plan to top the memorable pull-apart brawl the two men had last time they were in the same building? Odds are good we'll see a contract signing of some kind just because WWE loves going to that well, but a less-is-more approach would better serve them here. Taker and Lesnar tried to rip each other's throats out last time, so they should save all that pent-up hostility for this Sunday. But we also need something to hook us, so they have to be in the same ring to confront each other. It's a fine line to walk, so let's see what they come up with tonight.

Last week on Tough Enough, United States Champion John Cena appeared and, among other things, announced that he accepted WWE World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins' challenge to a winner-take-all, title vs. title match at SummerSlam. Rollins came out to kick off Thursday Night SmackDown and said that wasn't good enough. Instead, he wants Cena to show his face tonight on Raw and accept his challenge in person. Cena is scheduled to appear tonight, so expect him to do just that.

Many fans might groan about the prospect of Cena winning his 16th world championship, but let's see where the story goes. Rollins has weaseled his way out of tough challenges in the past several months and remained champion, so it's possible we could be headed for a screwy finish at SummerSlam. Or, in an even darker turn, Sheamus could cash in that Money in the Bank briefcase and become the next WWE World Heavyweight Champion, fella.

Kevin Owens and Cesaro are set to clash in a match Sunday that has nothing more on the line than pride. Both men are former independent darlings who are beloved by the more die-hard fans, and this should be a satisfying match. Tonight, they can touch on Owens' plan to win back his NXT Championship from Finn Balor on Saturday at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn and then prove that he is better than Cesaro on Sunday. Of course, we could also see a true physical altercation between both men.

Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose are set to face Bray Wyatt and Luke Harper on Sunday, as Bray seeks to destroy Roman and what he stands for, and he's brought Harper back into the fold to do it. Ambrose refuses to stand by and let his brother in arms fight alone, so together they will face the Eater of Worlds. Is this shaping up for a Dean Ambrose heel turn as the third member of the Wyatt Family? Probably.

The nine main participants in this Divas Revolution will face off in a Triple Threat Elimination match at SummerSlam: Team Bella (Nikki Bella, Brie Bella, Alicia Fox) vs. PCB (Paige, Charlotte, Becky Lynch) vs. Team B.A.D. (Sasha Banks, Naomi, Tamina Snuka). So Nikki will not defend her title on Sunday, but the future of the division is up for grabs. Tonight, let's see these women mix it up in the ring in some combination with time to work, as they've gotten in the last few weeks, but add some stakes this time.

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, opinions, guesses, and predictions for tonight's show in the comments section.