WWE Rumors: Monday Night Raw Gets Fans Hyped for John Cena vs. Brock Lesnar at SummerSlam

WWE aired its go-home show for the SummerSlam pay-per-view on Monday night with the latest edition of Monday Night Raw. The episode was meant to get fans excited for the event on Sunday and, as far as this fan is concerned, it worked.

The highlights of the show were the three segments featuring Brock Lesnar, Paul Heyman and the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, John Cena. The Beast and his manager came out to open the show, and Heyman proved once again why he is magic on the microphone. He literally stated "I'm going to sell you the Cena-Lesnar match at SummerSlam" and then proceeded to sell us the Cena-Lesnar match as SummerSlam and we ate up every word. It's like a magician telling you how he was about to do his next trick and then still amazed you with it anyway and left you wondering how he did it.

But Heyman elevated the promo further when he unleashed a rap/poem hybrid about the former Doctor of Thuganomics and referred to himself as "Brock's advocating Jew." This was enough to get me amped for the match on Sunday, and Cena hadn't even shown up yet.

Of course, the champ eventually did arrive to respond to Lesnar and Heyman. This is where it could have all went wrong. Cena could have been too jokey and underplayed the severity of what's facing him on Sunday. He could have forced it and tried to be too serious, which always comes off as artificial.

But Cena proved that he can deliver not just a great promo, but a fantastic promo when he needs to do so. Brock Lesnar is in his way and is threatening to beat the life out of him, take the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and by extension threaten the integrity of the company that Cena loves so dearly. This is no time for cheesy Photoshop jobs or cracks about Lesnar or Heyman's appearance. It's time to get serious.

We've seen this promo from Cena in the past. He gets intense and then the next week he's back to laughing and smiling like nothing is wrong. But this somehow felt different. Maybe it's because Cena directly addressed the criticisms against him. That he never fully makes the turn away from Superman into more heel-ish territory. That he's a walking billboard for wristbands and sneakers and T-shirts. That he never "unleashes hell."

Well, this is it. This Sunday is when that transformation occurs. Cena knows it, but he's not happy about it or proud of it and even seems a little scared to let it happen. For the first time in a long time, John Cena is vulnerable. That's how dangerous Brock Lensar is. Cena is willing to reach down to a new place within himself to stop this monster, something he didn't feel he needed to do against Bray Wyatt months ago.

Lesnar crashed the final segment with Hulk Hogan's birthday party because Hogan was in "Brock's house." Lesnar's delivery of "party's over, grandpa" was fantastic, as was his stare down with each of the men in the ring. Scott Hall hid behind Mean Gene Okerlund and Jimmy Hart. "Rowdy" Roddy Piper gave Lesnar the crazy eyes but knew the Beast would swat him like a fly. Kevin Nash was ready to throw down but also looked defeated. Ric Flair met Lesnar's stare and smiled like a lunatic. And the Hulkster stayed right in Lesnar's face but even he knew if it came to blows, Lesnar would demolish him.

Cena then hit the ring to save everyone, as expected, but it still worked extremely well. Brock was ready to fight, but Heyman did what he does and advised him that it was not the right time. They, and we, have to wait until Sunday.

Of course, it's very possible Lesnar destroys the champion and leaves him in a puddle at SummerSlam. Cena could put up his best effort and still fall at the feet of The Beast. When WWE announced this match, I and many others wanted Lesnar to win the belt. Now, I find myself buying into the story and rooting for Cena to conquer the conqueror. Good work, WWE.

What did you think of last night's Raw? Are you excited for the Lesnar-Cena match? Let us know in the comments below.