5 shocking twists that could happen on RAW after No Mercy 2017

In many ways, the RAW after No Mercy almost feels like a brand new era. Especially after the RAW Talk which indicated that John Cena will work a significantly lighter schedule than usual, and the torch had been passed to Roman Reigns, for the time being.

Undoubtedly, we're far more excited for the aftermath of No Mercy than we were for the actual pay-per-view itself. We sense a sea of changes and are certain that the RAW after No Mercy should deliver in a big way indeed.

Here we speculate about 5 developments on the episode, that could make the show very interesting to watch for the entire WWE Universe. While none of them may happen, each of them may actually transpire and make the show a must-watch affair.

Also, if any of these changes were to occur, the landscape of WWE would be significantly changed.

#5- Samoa Joe returns from injury

This is a return that will shake things up

The injury list for WWE has been growing by the day, really. Big Cass, Jeff Hardy and even Scott Dawson of The Revival are missing from the red brand. Samoa Joe had been injured at a Live Event, not very long ago.

From what we'd gathered, his injuries were not very serious...making us wonder if he could be on his way back to choke the entire locker room out. We sense two distinct possibilities if he were to return to the company, once again.

The first concerns his rivalry with Brock Lesnar. We never get tired of watching Brock Lesnar and Samoa Joe collide with each other inside the ring. From what we understand, Brock Lesnar will be missing time following his big win at No Mercy. Could an attack from Samoa Joe write him off TV for good?

The second could be a dream confrontation that we haven't been privy to, so far. A feud between Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe. Joe is one of the only two men on RAW who Roman Reigns has never beaten in a singles match(the other being Brock Lesnar). Two big monsters locking horns, and in the absence of the heavyweights, giving us a good program for TLC. This could be a very compelling program if booked right by WWE.

#4- Paige returns to challenge Alexa Bliss

This comeback could blow the roof off the building!

As Alexa Bliss indicated on RAW Talk, she beat everyone of consequence in the Fatal 5-Way match at the No Mercy pay-per-view. Asuka is not advertised to return until much later, so we wonder who is next for Bliss?

Who better than Paige, one of sports entertainment's most beloved performers, who has been teasing a return to WWE for quite some time now! While she has been on the shelf with an injury, she seems to have healed up and could have a fantastic program against Alexa Bliss.

Bear in mind that the two women have never really had a solid program before. In the lack of a marquee Universal Championship program, WWE may need a strong women's program in its stead, to keep the show entertaining. Putting the belt on Paige may be a good move from WWE because it will freshen up the roster.

Some rumors indicate that she may be moving to SmackDown Live, but in our estimation, RAW needs her much more.

#3- Sasha Banks turns on Bayley

Could these two women recreate their NXT magic?

One of the angles that would really elevate the women's division, is to have two women's storylines in unison. While Sasha Banks and Bayley will presumably be moved away from the title picture on RAW, it gives them a fantastic chance for character development.

We could see Sasha Banks turn on Bayley, and recreate their magic from NXT Takeover: Brooklyn, a match that many fans remember fondly. This will add a fresh coat of paint to Sasha Banks' character and could see her come back into the title mix, as a very different competitor.

After all, there are far too many babyfaces on RAW right now. Asuka would need a great heel to work with, and who better than Banks?

This move may even help Bayley gain some babyface sympathy. Something her character has been severely lacking, right now.

#2- Matt Hardy 'awakens'

Could the 'woken' persona finally see the light of day?

In the absence of the 'Broken' Hardy gimmick, Matt Hardy has often been teasing a 'woken' gimmick, with several videos on social media. With the injury to Jeff Hardy, that'll keep him on the shelf for a while, Matt Hardy may need this persona to get over in the year 2017, as he's no longer the acrobat he once was.

The Hardyz are the top babyfaces on RAW currently. Keeping Matt Hardy off television in the absence of Jeff, does not make sense considering the kind of reaction he gets.

Matt Hardy can have some amazing programs on RAW. There's Elias Samson, Bray Wyatt, and Apollo Crews among a host of others that he could feud with. A 'woken' persona would certainly change the pace of the show entirely.

#1- A Shield reunion

Could Miz TV bring back the Hounds of Justice, for another run?

Right now, the internet is abuzz with the rumours of a Shield reunion, as the marquee program for TLC. We believe that Miz TV may well be the impetus, that leads to this move.

Roman Reigns is a guest on Miz TV to start off the next episode of RAW, and because Cesaro and Sheamus seem to be out of commission (because to the injury that Cesaro sustained during the pay-per-view), we can certainly imagine a program between The Miztourage and The Shield.

Fans have wanted a Shield reunion for the longest time, and if it were to happen, it would certainly set ratings ablaze, owing to the fan interest. A Shield reunion would do justice to the term- 'best for business'.

Do you think any of these twists could happen on RAW, in a few hours? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Join us in a few hours, for live coverage and up-to-date results!