Chicago Sun-Times: Next 'Raw' may only be the beginning

When "Raw" hits the air from Nassau Coliseum on Monday night, it very well could be the beginning of the most interesting and action- packed month in WWE history.

The Rock made his "Raw" return last week, and he not only cemented himself as the biggest heel in the company, he also laid out the challenge to Stone Cold Steve Austin to make his "Raw" return and go face-to-face with the Rock.

There has been no love lost between these two in the past, but that was before the Rock became the most electrifying man in all of entertainment, and before Austin left the WWE for almost a full year to get his life back in order.

The crowd will be rabid for Stone Cold on Monday night. The Rock may have faced an icon at last year's "WrestleMania," but this time he will look across the ring at the most popular man in wrestling history.

Rocky bad-mouthed the fans in Toronto last week, but he had a reason. Toronto was the site of "WrestleMania 18," where the fans started to turn on him in his match vs. Hulk Hogan. The Great One will have similar motivation this week when he returns to the scene of last year's "SummerSlam." At that show--while facing (and eventually losing his World title to) Brock Lesner--the fans made their turn on Rocky for good, chanting "You sold out" during the entire match and basically booing him off the stage after the event.

It will be classic good vs. evil Monday with the microphone the weapon as the Rock-Austin feud begins.

AROUND THE RING: Already set for "WrestleMania 19" in Seattle are the two title matches--HHH defending vs. Booker T and Brock Lesner getting a shot at Kurt Angle. Still expected to be added to the show: HBK vs. Y2J, Austin vs. Rock, and McMahon vs. Hulk Hogan. ... Bad news for Edge fans as the up-and-coming star will miss the better part of a year due to neck and back injuries. ... Hogan missed "SmackDown" last week to be with his daughter for an audition. ... Tommy Dreamer has been promoted to part of the "Raw" brand creative team. ... D-Lo Brown has been released by the WWE and could debut in the NWA-TNA anytime in March. ... Paul Heyman no longer is the lead writer for "SmackDown" but will remain on the creative team.

HOTLINE: Up-to-the-minute news on Bill Goldberg set to sign with the WWE on the hotline: (900) 990-SLAM ($2 per minute).