Brock Lesnar

A "go home" Raw (the last episode before a pay-per-view event) is always watched with extra attention, mostly because critics have the same question -- did this particular show do anything to increase my interest in buying the pay-per-view on Sunday? Lately, many of these critics have answered no. Many people feel that Raw last night was no different -- that it was flat, lacked spark and didn't do very much to push the figurative "buy rate" needle. These, of course, are criticisms that always arise for this particular (mostly monthly)

It truly is WrestleMania season, isn't it? That's especially apparent when the “part timers” come out to play. Just 24 hours after The Rock won the WWE championship from CM Punk at the Royal Rumble, “here comes the pain” as they used to say. Just as Paul Heyman was going to get “fired” (his theme music conveniently hit just after Vince McMahon got out “YYYOOOUUU'RRREEEE....”). Brock Lesnar returned to WWE and circled the ring, much like his initial return the day after WrestleMania 28. Then he jumped into the squared circle, thought about it, then delivered an F5 to Vince McMahon.

Here are my predictions for WWE Extreme Rules:  BROCK LESNAR VS. TRIPLE H: CAGE MATCH I think Brock Lesnar needs the win here, because I see him continuing on for another big match, while I see Triple H returning in the future only if absolutely necessary. Perhaps Paul Heyman's "newest" client (or clients) interferes in this match, helping Lesnar get the win. Because it's a cage match, neither superstar has to be pinned or submitted, one can simply exit through the cage, which means that the loser doesn't look as weak in a loss.

Fan criticism has apparently become the kryptonite to WWE's "Super Cena. " For the past several years, fans have been critical of the creative team's treatment of John Cena. Some fans have misdirected their gripes toward Cena himself, but he wasn't the one making booking decisions. No matter who the decision makers were, the facts were clear: Cena was not losing often, and when he did, it was rarely in clean fashion. But since WrestleMania, something has changed. WWE now seems to be taking Cena's character the opposite direction, pushing him into the corner and not giving him any breaks.

The theme of Wrestlemania 29 might boil down to one word - predictable. The build up was certainly that for many fans. John Cena and The Rock were always destined to face off again at Wrestlemania 29, one year after they had their "Once in a Lifetime" matchup. Brock Lesnar and Triple H were always foreshadowed to clash on April 7, a rematch from Summerslam 2012 with unfinished business. Fantasy bookers early in "Wrestlemania season" were calling for CM Punk vs. The Undertaker, which also happened.

NOW OR NEVER An exhibit at the Japan Information and Culture Center (Embassy of Japan, Lafayette Center III, 1155 21st St. N.W., Washington) marks the 150th anniversary of Commodore Matthew Perry's arrival in Japan and subsequent opening of a cultural exchange between Japan and the United States. Check out 24 Japanese woodblock prints at the exhibit Japan After Perry: Views of Yokohama and Meiji Japan through May 16. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. Free admission. Call 202-238-6949. NEXT WEEK IN LIVE Brock Lesnar leads World Wrestling Entertainment's Smackdown to 1st Mariner Arena ... Hitting the road to visit Charlottesville ... Avril Lavigne brings her ubiquitous tie (how punk!

Ever since the day after WrestleMania, when "Fandangoing" became a thing, we knew that when WWE returned to the United Kingdom just weeks later, that it would all resume. Sure, the Fandango theme singing craze took a dip in between, but it's genesis was truly fans in the United Kingdom who made the trip to WrestleMania. So it comes as no surprise that the singing and dancing was out in full force on WWE Raw. I think WWE did a great job with the trend and weaving it into the show -- from using the theme song as a distraction for Chris Jericho in his match against Dolph Ziggler to having Fandango match up against William Regal (perhaps one of the only guys on the roster who could shift the crowd's attention)

SCENE When 6-foot-4, 295-pound professional wrestler Brock Lesnar asks if you're going to SmackDown! at 1st Mariner Arena on Tuesday, is saying no really an option? The youngest champion in World Wrestling Entertainment history (he's 25) talks about his career's defining moment, which involved landing square on his head. Page 32. FAMILY Flower Mart comes again to Mount Vernon, bringing with it funny hats, peppermint sticks with lemon, crab cakes and a lot of greenery. Page 38. DVDs Its lack of the typical Disney commercial success means Treasure Planet doesn't get the typical Disney two-disc treatment in its DVD release.

SummerSlam has long been one of WWE's top pay-per-views each year, but this year, the stakes are even higher as the event marks its milestone 25th installment. WWE has been slowly building to this event, teasing confrontation between Brock Lesnar and COO Triple H. Other matches have come together well, too, in recent weeks. On Sunday, SummerSlam emanates from its recently perennial home in Los Angeles. Here's a look at the card and predictions from Ring Posts' Arda Ocal and Adam Testa.