WWE RAW - 5 surprises that could happen: Popular star to get a big title push, 'The Fiend' to return and attack top Champion? (January 25th, 2021)

It's no secret that RAW has been suffering from inconsistent ratings and even more inconsistent programming. That doesn't mean that the build to Royal Rumble wasn't exciting at all. With the go-home episode of RAW to the Royal Rumble taking place tonight, here are five surprises WWE could have in store for us:

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#5. Does a breakout performance await Riddle on RAW?

For a while now, Riddle has crossed paths with The Hurt Business on RAW. It started with MVP ordering attacks on him, and Riddle even defeated United States Champion Bobby Lashley on RAW - thanks to a bit of luck and trickery.

When Riddle finally got his title shot one week later on RAW, it was the United States Champion Bobby Lashley who played dirty - attacking the former NXT Tag Team Champion beforehand and finishing him quickly to retain his title.

It was clear that their rivalry wasn't done on RAW, and even after losing to Lashley, Riddle challenged MVP to a match. The veteran and Hurt Business leader took up the challenge but was getting beat down - until Lashley saved him by causing a disqualification.

On RAW tonight, Riddle will have to face three members of The Hurt Business in a Gauntlet match to set up a title shot against Bobby Lashley. Getting through Cedric Alexander, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP is no easy task, but WWE usually uses gauntlet matches to have a standout performance.

What would be surprising is if WWE has the Gauntlet match on RAW run for close to an hour - with Riddle eventually running through all three men. Shinsuke Nakamura recently had a standout Gauntlet match performance, and it would be a surprise if WWE had a long showing for Riddle. What realistically could happen, however, is Riddle crumbling by the third opponent thanks to interference from Lashley.

#4. Another twist in the tale in the Alexa Bliss-Asuka saga on RAW

Last week on RAW, Asuka was invited to Alexa Bliss' playground. Things got weird enough there, but it was during their match in the main event of RAW that things took yet another turn.

Alexa Bliss declared herself as an entrant to the Women's Royal Rumble match and teased facing Asuka for the RAW Women's title at WrestleMania 37. In their non-title main event, Alexa Bliss ended up decimating the otherwise-dominant RAW Women's Champion.

It was a bit of an upset, but Alexa Bliss has been a central figure on RAW since post-TLC. She has carried a feud with Randy Orton that should also involve 'The Fiend', but there's no sign of a return yet.

A major twist would be if The Fiend returned and took out Asuka with the Mandible Claw in their RAW Women's title match. Randy Orton would fit into the picture somewhere, likely in an attempt to save Asuka. Admittedly, rescuing someone else isn't in Randy Orton's character, but no Superstar remains the same after an encounter with The Fiend.

#3. AJ Styles is unable to 'block' a Royal Rumble spot on RAW

AJ Styles has been RAW's 'gatekeeper' - but not in a bad way. While he was able to get a free entry to the Men's Royal Rumble match, he prevented two other stars from doing the same on RAW.

Drew Gulak was the first to ask why AJ Styles got a free pass, to which he responded by stating that he's a two-time WWE Champion. Adam Pearce made Drew Gulak face AJ Styles to earn a Royal Rumble entry spot, but he failed to do so. The same happened to Ricochet on RAW last week, and he fell short to AJ Styles in an incredible match.

AJ Styles is one of RAW's top stars, and it would be a surprise to see him lose to a Superstar on a level below. But it would make good sense in a story since AJ Styles currently has no ongoing feuds. The big question is this - who is ready to defeat AJ Styles and qualify for the Men's Royal Rumble match.

#2. A surprising finish to the Charlotte Flair-Shayna Baszler match on RAW

This would normally be a marquee pay-per-view-level match, but we're getting it for free on RAW. One-half of the Women's Tag Team Champions Charlotte Flair takes on Shayna Baszler on RAW.

For Charlotte Flair, it's been a frustrating few weeks. Her focus was taken away when her father Ric Flair helped Lacey Evans defeat her, seemingly even starting a romantic partnership with his daughter's rival.

That didn't distract her on SmackDown, however, as she teamed up with Asuka to defeat The Riott Squad (thanks to a little unintentional assistance from Billie Kay). But back on RAW, it will be different.

Lacey Evans and presumably Ric Flair are expected to come out and stop her, but it would be a pleasant surprise if the two women were actually allowed to have a match with a clean finish. That normally shouldn't count as a surprise, but given the nature of how things play out on RAW, we've learned not to expect a clean finish in such scenarios.

#1. What's in store when Drew McIntyre and Goldberg return to RAW?

Goldberg returned to RAW on the Legends Night to insert himself into yet another World Championship picture. This time, it was for the WWE Championship. A week after their confrontation, it was revealed before RAW that Drew McIntyre tested positive for COVID-19.

Two weeks have passed since, and it appears that Drew McIntyre is ready again. Last week, it was advertised that Drew McIntyre and Goldberg would be returning to RAW, and it's safe to assume that we'll see a confrontation between the two men ahead of their WWE title clash at the 2021 Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

A big surprise would be Goldberg turning heel on RAW for not only this feud - but for WrestleMania season. We're aware that it's unlikely, especially since Goldberg has always emphasized being a 'hero to the kids' and not wanting to turn heel. But given that he's not going to be cheered by fans regardless of which match he's in at WrestleMania, a heel turn for the legend would be both unexpected and refreshing.