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Welcome to this week's edition of RAW Preview. It's the second-last episode of the red brand for 2021, and the company has announced an absolutely stacked show this week.
It's rare for them to announce so many matches and segments in advance, but this week is different as WWE looks to have RAW end the year with a big bang. This week's edition features the likes of Big E, Bobby Lashley, Edge, The Miz, AJ Styles, Maryse, Damian Priest, The Mysterios, Finn Balor, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Queen Zelina, and more.
What will your favorite superstar be involved in this week? Keep reading to find out!
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#7. Damian Priest takes on Dolph Ziggler in a United States title contender's match on RAW
Damian Priest will be looking to get another big win over The Dirty Dawgs - who he has been feuding with for the last few weeks on RAW for some reason. While Priest has already successfully defended the US Title against Robert Roode, he faces another big challenge tonight.
Last week, he teamed up with Finn Balor to face The Dirty Dawgs, but thanks to a distraction from Austin Theory, the former tag team champions were able to pick up the win via a pin on Balor.
While we will get to the Balor-Theory part later, the focus now is on Damian Priest and the US Title picture. He has been one of the most pushed and protected superstars on the Monday night show, winning virtually every match he has had in 2021.
Priest seems to have been in a slightly inconsistent slip since Survivor Series, where he got disqualified and lost to Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura. His momentum has continued, but The Dirty Dawgs will be looking to put that to a halt.
This week on RAW, Damian Priest isn't putting the US Title on the line against Dolph Ziggler. Instead, it's a championship contender's match for some reason. The only logical outcome of this is that WWE is planning a rematch between the two for the title at Day 1.
This means that Damian Priest could face a stunning upset. It will be interesting to see if his streak of not being pinned continues, or the company simply goes with a disqualification/non-finish to extend the rivalry.
Either way, Priest losing would be the biggest upset of RAW in a while. Will Ziggler be able to pull it off after his recent run of form?
#6. Edge welcomes Maryse to The Cutting Edge on RAW
Following the shocking events of Miz TV on RAW last week, Edge decided that it was time for him to host his own show. It has been a while since we've seen The Cutting Edge, and the special guest is none other than Maryse.
Last week, The A-Lister used his wife as a shield to prevent Edge from attacking him. While he may have gotten the better of The Rated-R Superstar slightly, Maryse was furious over the fact that The Miz used her as a shield. She proceeded to slap him and leave.
Nobody knows what the aftermath of that is, but we could get an idea on RAW. Maryse is unlikely to break up with her husband on-screen, and this seems to have all the makings of another big return.
It was only recently at NXT WarGames that Edge's wife Beth Phoenix ended her duties as the brand's commentator. Following two-and-a-half years on the desk, Phoenix is done with that part of her journey.
She also hasn't wrestled since WrestleMania 35 in 2019, and this could be where she makes her return to the red brand to confront Maryse. What a moment it would be if Edge brings her out.
#5. Bianca Belair takes on Doudrop again on RAW
This feud has been an interesting one on RAW. Top draft pick Bianca Belair already has a victory over Doudrop, but the latter's post-match attack and actions suggest that the rivalry is far from over.
That seems to be the case, as Belair takes on Doudrop once more on RAW. This time, however, we could see Doudrop picking up a big upset win over The EST of WWE.
A win for her would instantly set up a trilogy match between the two at Day 1 - a bout that Bianca Belair can comfortably win to end the feud and prepare for Royal Rumble time.
#4. Finn Balor takes on Austin Theory
Austin Theory has been hanging out with Vince McMahon a lot, and he has attempted to impress the chairman by attacking Finn Balor. The boss isn't impressed yet, and he certainly won't be until Theory can back it up in the ring.
Balor presents elite-level competition for the 24-year-old superstar, and it will be interesting to see how the match plays out. While Austin Theory winning seems to be something that we could see, there is a better option from a storytelling standpoint.
It would be a better story if the veteran The Prince humbled Theory with a win, forcing him to go back to the drawing board. The ultimate objective would be for Austin Theory to get his big win over Finn Balor, but if that victory happens tonight, there will be no feud between the two on RAW.
#3. Rhea Ripley takes on Queen Zelina in a rematch on RAW
Last week on RAW, Queen Zelina made it two-for-two against the former women's tag team champions. Ever since winning the Queen's Crown, Zelina has only picked up big wins - barring the RAW Women's title No.1 contender's match before Survivor Series.
Apart from that, Queen Zelina and Carmella picked up the Women's Tag Team titles, while the former has wins over both Nikki A.S.H. and Rhea Ripley. For some reason, Zelina and Ripley will have a rematch this week on the red brand- one that we fully expect the Queen to win.
#2. AJ Styles and Omos pull double-duty on RAW
While Maryse will be busy with Edge, The Miz will be hosting another edition of Miz TV featuring AJ Styles and his biggest guest yet (literally) - Omos. The former RAW Tag Team Champions will be pulling double-duty tonight as they appear on Miz TV and also have a match against The Mysterios.
Rey and Dominik Mysterio will be waiting patiently for The Street Profits to return so they can finish the RK-Bro-Nament and presumably secure a tag team title match at Day 1.
Styles and Omos, meanwhile, seem to be on good terms again. However, miscommunication and a win for The Mysterios could send them spiraling into dissent again. Who will walk out victorious in the clash of tag teams?
#1. Bobby Lashley to address the fallout of RAW from last week
Is it going to be another All Mighty night on RAW? It certainly was last week when Bobby Lashley went through Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and current WWE Champion Big E to enter the title match at Day 1.
While the pay-per-view was originally going to feature a WWE title match between E and Rollins, the circumstances changed drastically. Owens weasled his way into the title bout using his wit, making it a triple threat match.
Lashley, however, had a different approach - one that works more for him. The strategy was destruction. In what has now been called a herculean feat, he defeated three bonafide world champion superstars to make the WWE title match at Day 1 a fatal-four-way.
The All Mighty now has the bragging rights, and he will address the fallout from last week that led to his addition to the WWE title match. What will Big E, Seth Rollins, and Kevin Owens have to say in response? Follow our live coverage of the red brand to find out!
