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Not long ago, WWE announced that Vince McMahon would make it back in time for RAW, immediately following TLC. Vince McMahon was obviously one of the central characters of the Attitude Era, playing a despised heel. Lately, his appearances have grown sporadic and whenever he does show up, it's a big deal. The last time he was seen on TV was at SmackDown 1000.
Why then is he returning to RAW next week? I don't have the answers but I can make a few educated guesses in this very article. If you believe that you know why then be sure to leave a comment and let me know as well.
What we do know is that every time McMahon comes back, something big is always about to go down. The RAW landscape is guaranteed to change following his special appearance next week.
Here are 5 possibilities with regard to his appearance.
#5 Returning to appoint Baron Corbin's replacement
It is not known whether Braun Strowman will be cleared in time for TLC. But even if a replacement steps in and competes against Corbin, chances are that Corbin's reign ends at TLC. WWE tried their best with Corbin but his General Manager stint hasn't really panned out the way it honestly should have.
In my opinion, Vince McMahon may be coming back to ease the next General Manager into his role. Whether it is 'Woken' Matt Hardy as he has been petitioning online, or even a WWE legend like Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon may be returning to give his seal of approval to him/her. It will certainly be interesting to see who succeeds Corbin.
I commend WWE for trying their best with Corbin as GM. It was just not meant to be.
#4 To end Kurt Angle's exile from RAW
Kurt Angle was in the thick of things on RAW when Stephanie McMahon sent him away on vacation. While he has competed in the ring since then, Angle has not returned as an Authority Figure. The show was always a lot smoother when Angle was the General Manager. It's but natural that a babyface GM books a better show than a heel GM does.
I can imagine Vince McMahon coming back to reinstate Kurt Angle. He's the only person in the roster who can overrule Stephanie's decision to send him away. Angle's return should be a big deal for the WWE Universe.
Many lapsed fans may tune in again if Angle returns because every show wouldn't be set up with Corbin and his lackeys standing tall. The shows may actually become much more interesting again.
#3 To boost RAW ratings
RAW actually put on a pretty good show last week, but the ratings did not reflect this. It almost felt like a reset where Rollins took charge of the brand. Rollins and Corbin went to war in the main event. And at the end of it all, RAW scored the poorest ratings in the brand's illustrious history.
There is a spike in ratings every time Vince McMahon shows up. He could be returning to work an angle with one of the current superstars in the roster, to give him/her the rub, going forward. Remember how the Kevin Owens headbutt got everyone talking?
All said and done, Vince McMahon is still in great shape. He could certainly take a bump or two if the situation demands it.
Whatever he does, the world will be buzzing about it, all at once.
#2 To launch a new title on RAW
The RAW Women's Tag Team titles have been teased time and again on RAW, but have never materialised. Sasha Banks and Bayley have always seemed like the obvious contenders for the Championship, and the absence of the titles has hurt them grievously. Could Vince McMahon be returning to finally make these titles official?
Let's assume that Nia Jax is unable to defeat Ronda Rousey at TLC. Nia Jax and Tamina are then a Tag Team without a purpose on the red brand. The same could be said for The Riott Squad as well.
Bringing the Tag Team titles into the picture would give a sense of purpose to many women in the RAW Women's Division. Let's hope that Vince McMahon's arrival has something to do with these much sought after championship titles.
#1 To fire Baron Corbin and send him over to SmackDown Live
The sight of Vince McMahon firing Corbin may make for some good TV. It will put an end to the months of weak programming we'd associated with Corbin's regime on RAW. It would mean that things would be different on RAW, going forward. Ultimately, it could give SmackDown Live some much-needed firepower.
As poor as the RAW viewership has been, SmackDown has suffered from even lower numbers recently. Having someone like Corbin on SmackDown would shake things up significantly. SmackDown Live also stands the possibility of becoming a by-the-numbers show ahead of their FOX deal.
With Corbin on the brand, there could potentially be a lot more feuds and programs for him down the line. Who knows...he could also result in turning a heel babyface.
I can't wait for Vince McMahon to show up on RAW this week!
