RAW Preview: Unique stipulation to determine #1 contender, Returning legend to lose big title match?

Welcome to this week's edition of RAW Preview. It's the penultimate episode before Elimination Chamber, and things are heating up on the red brand.

The WWE title will be defended inside the Elimination Chamber, and that will be the focal point of this week's episode. Even the Women's title match has been decided, all while there has been progress in non-title feuds in the tag team and women's divisions.

Here's what to expect from an action-packed episode of RAW:

---

#5. Seth Rollins vs Riddle on RAW for the first time, along with a unique #1 contender "match"

Riddle is going to have a busy Monday night. Last week, he was without Randy Orton as he took part in the Scooter Race against Chad Gable. This was the second week of challenges, RK-Bro defeated The Alpha Academy in the Academic Challenge during the first.

Riddle had a clear-cut edge in the scooter race and was meters away from victory, but Otis —in his tight suit — barged in out of nowhere to take him down, allowing his tag team partner Chad Gable to pick up the win. The teams are now 1-1.

However, Riddle would still get the last laugh on the night as he faced and defeated Otis to secure his spot inside the Elimination Chamber. Another man who happens to be competing inside the Elimination Chamber match is Seth Rollins, who recently came close to dethroning Roman Reigns at the Royal Rumble.

If you're not aware, it's a first-ever match-up and as recently as 2020, the two men had legitimate issues with each other. Thankfully, that was resolved and the two stars were open to working with each other. While they were on separate brands for most of 2021, Rollins returned to RAW while Riddle was one-half of the tag team champions on the red brand.

However, it won't just be a match against Rollins that Riddle has to deal with. This week, there will be a "Quiz Bowl" and RK-Bro will earn a title shot against the Tag Team Champions Gable and Otis if they emerge victorious.

It's a unique stipulation to determine the number one contenders, but RK-Bro are in a prime position to get another title shot. Will Randy Orton return to help his tag team partner in this fun storyline?

#4. Lita returns to RAW again

Becky Lynch appeared last Monday night having successfully retained the RAW Women's Championship against Doudrop. It was easily her best match since her win over Charlotte Flair at Survivor Series, and one of the best women's title matches in a few months.

However, Lynch found a way to keep hold of the title, ahead of an uphill battle on the road to WrestleMania. Now that it's been confirmed that Ronda Rousey will face Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania, it leaves all the doors open on the red brand.

However, the next big roadblock for Becky Lynch comes in the form of WWE legend and Hall of Famer Lita. The legendary former women's champion, who introduced the RAW Women's title in 2016, will now look to claim it for herself.

She laid out the challenge for Elimination Chamber and it was accepted. In what is going to be the biggest women's title match in a while, Becky Lynch will have to find a way to retain.

Lita's presence is exciting, but it's clear that she will occupy the same role as Goldberg in his upcoming match with Roman Reigns. The returning legend will ultimately lose the title feud, but hopefully, we get a great match out of it at Elimination Chamber.

#3. The race for RAW Women's title contention has been blown open

Now that Ronda Rousey has confirmed that she won't be challenging for the RAW Women's title at WrestleMania, the doors are open for a new challenger. It appeared as though the former UFC star would take on Becky Lynch in one of the two main events for WrestleMania 38, but a new rumor has stated that the two stars will instead clash at WrestleMania 39.

Becky Lynch will have to find a contender on the RAW roster, and the most obvious go-to answer is Bianca Belair. The EST Of WWE was rumored to be Lynch's title opponent for WrestleMania, and her momentum and recent win over champion Carmella have suggested that she might be next in line.

However, there has to be a definitive number one contender's bout, and it doesn't look like there will be an Elimination Chamber match to determine one.

Doudrop, Liv Morgan, and Bianca Belair will be the front runners as usual. The only criticism is that Becky Lynch has already faced and defeated all three women before. However, Belair has the best chance of beating Lynch and getting her second-consecutive WrestleMania moment.

#2. What's next for Damian Priest on RAW?

Damian Priest has lost a bit of momentum on RAW in 2022. While he still has the United States Championship in his hands, he suffered a loss to Kevin Owens, although their feud hasn't carried on.

Now that Kevin Owens lost to Austin Theory and couldn't secure a spot inside the Elimination Chamber, he could be gunning for the United States Championship. WWE could also have Priest defend the title in a string of open challenges until the time for WrestleMania is near and Owens needs a match.

Damian Priest didn't appear in the fallout show after the Royal Rumble, and he had a disappointing performance in this year's Rumble match. It will be interesting to see what WWE has in store for The Archer Of Infamy.

A heel turn seems to have been teased on multiple occasions, and WWE is yet to pull the trigger on it. A year into his run seems to be ample time to finally make that heel turn happen. It will be refreshing for him and his character.

#1. Will Bobby Lashley have an all-mighty focus on RAW ahead of the Elimination Chamber?

Bobby Lashley's momentum on RAW rolled on to 2022, as he picked up a win over Brock Lesnar in a dream match and turned The Beast Incarnate's WWE title reign into the shortest of his career.

Last week, Bobby Lashley entered RAW triumphantly holding the WWE Championship again, but the celebrations didn't last too long. It was already announced that Bobby Lashley would have to defend the WWE title inside the Elimination Chamber, and the next step was to find five competitors to fill those spots.

Brock Lesnar, who had just come off a Royal Rumble win, confronted Lashley and said that he would enter the Elimination Chamber in an attempt to reclaim the WWE Championship. The other spots would soon be filled by Seth Rollins, Austin Theory, AJ Styles, and Riddle.

Bobby Lashley doesn't have a match this week, but he will closely observe the Rollins vs Riddle bout, and potentially a match between any of the other Elimination Chamber contenders. Is Brock Lesnar in Bobby Lashley's head, or will The All Mighty WWE Champion retain his focus and eventually, the title?