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After competing in the 2021 Royal Rumble, Damian Priest had his first match on RAW against The Miz. Priest had eliminated both Miz and John Morrison during the Rumble and has briefly allied himself with music star Bad Bunny.
Priest has become the latest male NXT star to join the RAW roster in WWE. After a brief run as NXT North American Champion - and unsuccessfully challenging for the NXT title on a few occasions - he seemed more than ready to join the Blue brand or the Red brand.
The former NXT North American Champion showed up as the lone star from the Black and Gold brand in the Men's Royal Rumble match. While two or three usually show up for the Rumble, Priest was the lone representative this year. Instead, several veterans from the past - like Carlito, Hurricane and Christian - had spots.
Since Priest participated in the Royal Rumble and had a match the next night on RAW, his appearance was not a one-off situation. Sometimes, NXT stars show up in the Rumble but then go right back to NXT. Priest, on the other hand, is now officially a member of RAW. So who will The Archer of Infamy have in his sights now that he's on the Red brand? Here are five feuds for Damian Priest on RAW.
#5 Feud for Damian Priest on RAW - The Miz and John Morrison
Priest not only eliminated both Miz and Morrison from the 2021 Royal Rumble but he also defeated The A-Lister in his debut match on RAW. The feud has already started and may continue for the foreseeable future. Bad Bunny has been involved as the heels destroyed his DJ equipment after he rebuked an offer to ally with The Miz and Morrison.
It continued on RAW during Miz TV as Bunny stopped Miz from using the Money in the Bank briefcase in the singles contest. Priest picked up the win and started his RAW career off with style.
As is usually the case, heels don't take kindly to losing. When stars get eliminated in the Royal Rumble match, they usually target the person that eliminated them. Miz wanted some revenge after Bunny once again turned down his offers. WWE stars like The A-Lister and Dolph Ziggler are great first feuds for performers new to the main roster. Both are tested veterans with loads of experience. Priest might have already defeated Mr. Money in the Bank but the feud can keep going into the next pay-per-view. Morrison can face Priest in the coming weeks to extend things.
#4 Feud for Damian Priest on RAW - Elias
RAW has a very packed mid-card from top to bottom. It was just a few years ago when it seemed like Elias was an up-and-coming star that WWE wanted to push. But after several start-stop pushes and heel/face turns, he finds himself in relatively the same spot. He's a mid-carder stuck in neutral feuding with Jeff Hardy again.
If that is the pinnacle of Elias in WWE, then he'll likely serve as a gatekeeper type to get newer stars over as well as older stars over when they come back. The Drifter has a defined gimmick and like Miz/Morrison, he has a sidekick that performers could fight through. Jaxson Ryker has been allied with Elias for the last month or so on RAW and could provide an obstacle to Priest.
The feud works on another level as well if Bad Bunny sticks around. Elias and Bunny can battle over the "artist" aspect of their characters. The main difference is that Priest would do the in-ring fighting for Bunny. Instead of merely saying that he's a music star, Elias would have an actual stalwart of the music industry to challenge his claims of superstardom. Feuds can happen for several different reasons and having an actual star from the music industry would make this more distinct than most of Elias' other feuds.
#3 Feud for Damian Priest on RAW - Sheamus
After a brief spell as a face on RAW following the WWE Draft, Sheamus has returned to heel status. He kicked his best friend, WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, in the face on the RAW after Royal Rumble. The two will presumably have a title match prior to WrestleMania 37 where McIntyre will likely retain his belt.
Whenever that happens, it will open up another heel to test The Archer of Infamy. Sheamus is hard-hitting and physical, so Priest can have a main-roster test against the former WWE Champion. Priest has held his own against other hard hitters like Keith Lee and Karrion Kross but he lost to both of those Superstars. This would also be a test of his main-roster mettle and give management a sign of what he can do.
The disconnect between NXT and the main roster often hinders the development of NXT stars but some adapt/are booked well right away. Will Priest be one of those performers to start if off on the right foot? Whatever the case, Sheamus should eventually be an opponent for The Archer of Infamy once Priest has gotten his feet wet with a few other heels on RAW.
#2 Feud for Damian Priest on RAW - Bobby Lashley/Hurt Business
Similar to The Celtic Warrior on RAW, Bobby Lashley presents an immense physical threat for anyone. Since Priest is about six feet, five inches, Lashley wouldn't tower over him. The strength aspect, however, would certainly be in favor of The All-Mighty.
Lashley has held the United States Championship since he won it on August 30, 2020 at the Payback pay-per-view. He's held the title for over five months and has a battle with Riddle currently brewing on the stove. If Lashley pushes back any efforts from The Original Bro, then he'll need other challengers from RAW. That goes double with WrestleMania inching ever closer.
That isn't to say that Priest should challenge Lashley at The Show of Shows but that he should square off with Lashley at some point this year. A star that has been dominant would be a great test for a newer star. If The Hurt Business doesn't implode, it would also force Priest to make some allies. He could ally with anyone from Jeff Hardy to Riddle to Keith Lee to Ricochet. It would give him something to do in a multi-person setting and he and Lee could resume their chemistry from NXT.
#1 Feud for Damian Priest on RAW - AJ Styles
AJ Styles won't be around forever, so the time is now for any stars newer to RAW to get a shot at the future WWE Hall of Famer. Styles might be headed for an angle with Strowman since The Monster Among Men eliminated The Phenomenal One in the Royal Rumble.
After that and during the second half of 2021, however, his dance card is open. Things often reset at The Show of Shows in terms of Champions and those title holders will need new feuds. If Styles is still without a belt following WrestleMania 37, then he'll be fighting in the upper mid-card. Once Damian Priest dispatches of Miz and John Morrison, that is where he should also be.
While Priest isn't exactly Austin Theory in terms of age, Styles is a tested and trusted veteran of the ring. If Priest can get past him, then he could be getting a favorable push up the card. It's still too early to know how far Priest could go, but he did get a rub from both Kane and Edge. Those interactions aren't done lightly. Styles also represents one of the top stars on RAW and all of WWE, so a feud with him is always important.
