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  • Top RAW Rumors: Major return plans in trouble; Former Champion could leave for AEW; Brock Lesnar's backstage problem with Superstar; Samoa Joe's future (3rd August)
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Top RAW Rumors: Major return plans in trouble; Former Champion could leave for AEW; Brock Lesnar's backstage problem with Superstar; Samoa Joe's future (3rd August)

Greetings readers to another edition of the top RAW Rumors where we discuss the big backstage rumblings regarding RAW Superstars and how it could impact the programming going forward.

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In today's edition, we will talk about Brock Lesnar's backstage heat with top Superstar, the future of Samoa Joe and the chances of a former US Champion heading to AEW.

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RAW has been trying hard to keep the buzz at a high with SummerSlam right around the corner. Randy Orton will be taking on Drew McIntyre at the show, and if reports are to be believed The Viper will walk out WWE Champion.

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#5 WWE canceled plans for Mark Henry's return on RAW

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Last week, we saw Mark Henry appear on RAW. You would think that a former World Champion coming to RAW during the current environment would have some sort of a meaning attached to it. But all The World's Strongest Man did on RAW was engage in pointless backstage segments where he was seen talking to Superstars.

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As per The Wrestling Observer, Mark Henry was present on RAW because WWE had brought him in to restart the Nation of Domination faction. These plans were canceled last moment considering the current political situation.

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“The deal with Mark Henry was – Mark Henry and Ron Simmons were brought in for these tapings for the Nation of Domination angle that they scrapped. So I guess they just figured since Mark Henry is there, they just put him on TV for no reason.''

Even though a popular Attitude Era faction coming back might have helped with the ratings, it would have done more harm than good if not handled properly. The plans centered around turning MVP's faction into the second coming of the Nation, but for now it looks like The Hurt Business will continue in its current form.

#4 Ricochet could leave WWE RAW and join AEW

Chris Jericho recently revealed that he is interested in bringing Ricochet and Roman Reigns to AEW. This comment has sparked rumors about Ricochet's future in WWE. The RAW Superstar has not been pushed for a long time and his main-roster run has been sub-par at best.

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Ricochet is currently teamed up with Cedric Alexander and the two have been used as The Hurt Business' personal punching bags over the past few weeks. While Ricochet was supposed to be Paul Heyman's blue-eyed boy, his push in threat now that Heyman has been sacked as the RAW creative head.

Chris Jericho said that he wanted to get Ricochet in AEW and would work with him 'in a second'. If AEW has their eye on the One and Only, then I feel it is a matter of time before Ricochet realizes that he will never be a top priority on the main roster and decides to jump ship.

Ricochet might be a former US Champion, but he is nothing but a glorified enhancement talent as of now.

#3 RAW Superstar Brock Lesnar truly hates Matt Riddle

Matt Riddle has become famous for ruffling feathers in WWE. While his in-ring promos continue to be atrocious, he has mastered the art of creating controversy outside the ring. The Original Bro came under the spotlight after his comments on RAW Superstar Brock Lesnar and Goldberg.

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Matt Riddle talked to Corey Graves on the 'After The Bell' podcast and revealed that he believes RAW Superstar Brock Lesnar truly hates him. The former NXT Tag Team Champion admitted that he has nothing personal against Lesnar and just wants to have a piece of his success.

While Matt Riddle may have been playing around, it is reported that Brock Lesnar genuinely dislikes Riddle and has even stated explicitly that he doesn't want to work with the former UFC fighter.

"Brock - guy has it all. I want a piece because he's awesome. I think he's taken my comments as literal disrespect and I think he really hates me, which hey, okay, I get it. I rubbed you the wrong way. And I told everybody, 'Hey, I get it. I'll stay away, I won't call these people out anymore, but I still want it.' I'm not gonna go away, I'm gonna make myself valuable enough until the money's on the table and he's like 'it's worth it.' And I know I can do it."
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#2 Samoa Joe could continue his stint on the commentary table on RAW

Samoa Joe has surprised everyone with how good of an announcer he is on RAW. The Samoan Submission Machine has caught the injury bug and keeps getting shelved from time to time.

While talking about Samoa Joe on PWTorch, Wade Keller discussed how well Joe has been doing as a commentator on RAW. He stated that there is a belief that Joe has fit into the role perfectly as he isn't trying to get himself over and is doing a good job of putting talent over instead.

Most heel commentators often have the habit of going overboard and becoming marks for themselves (*cough* Corey Graves *cough*). However, Joe has been subtle yet funny in his commentary and apparently, WWE is a fan.

Wade Keller also revealed that Mick Foley, who is a former commentator himself, heavily praised Samoa Joe for his commentary on RAW. With Joe still not cleared, it looks like WWE might choose to keep him at the announce table longer than we expected.

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#1 WWE plans to break up Seth Rollins and Murphy's team on RAW

Seth Rollins and Murphy have become the dominant tea on RAW over the past few weeks. The Messiah and his Disciple have held the RAW Tag Team Championships in the past and continue to work in tandem even though all their other peers have been absent.

However, as per Tom Colohue, WWE could be planning to have a feud between Murphy and Seth Rollins soon. He said that the company has this feud as backup plans which is why the seeds of dissent were sown this week.

"There is an emergency backup situation that being Seth Rollins and Buddy Murphy as a potential feud. That's why they teased it this week, but they could very easily just abandon that completely."

Seth Rollins' faction, which has also had AOP and Austin Theory, is now as good as dead. Murphy remains the only one drinking Rollins' kool-aid. So a feud between the two seems likely. However, Murphy is not yet at the level of Rollins so it might be a bit too soon for WWE to pull the trigger.

Meet the man who called CM Punk the softest man alive HERE

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Edited by
Atharva Papnoi
 
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