'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This will be the second episode of RAW in front of fans again and the build to SummerSlam will continue to heat up. The primary feuds on the Red brand for The Biggest Party of the Summer have been teased or set in stone, with only a few weeks more to build towards the pay-per-view.
Things are getting exciting in the men's, women's, and the tag team division, which isn't something that you see every day. This week's edition takes a look at the biggest potential surprises that could happen on RAW:
#5. Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal's feud comes to a head on RAW
Last week on RAW, Jinder Mahal came out with Veer and Shanky. Proud about costing Drew McIntyre his Money in the Bank opportunity the previous night, Mahal had a birthday celebration for himself on the Red brand.
He got Shanky to sing him "Happy Birthday", but things didn't go as planned. Drew McIntyre made his way to the ring on RAW from behind and smacked Jinder Mahal with a steel chair. After clearing the ring, it was Shanky who paid the biggest price for his awful singing, as McIntyre repeatedly slammed the steel chair onto him.
It wasn't a pleasant sight to watch, but it was perhaps the best move WWE could have made to get the RAW crowd behind Drew McIntyre again. When noticing the reaction to McIntyre in the Money in the Bank ladder match, it was clear that fans didn't want to see him win again.
The feud between Drew McIntyre and Jinder Mahal was simply based on stolen heirlooms and broken exhaust pipes, but it's gotten a lot more intense. A big surprise on RAW would be if the match happens on free television and not on SummerSlam.
It would be a bad call, but a surprise nonetheless. A more realistic option would be for McIntyre and Mahal to face off at SummerSlam 2021 instead of RAW.
#4. Bobby Lashley to make a controversial decision on RAW?
Bobby Lashley walked into RAW last week a victorious man. Not only did he beat Kofi Kingston at Money in the Bank, but he squashed and humiliated him. Things were going fine and he held an open challenge, prompting the return of Keith Lee after over five months away.
Lashley defeated Lee, after which he was met with his next big challenge - WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg. The two-time Universal Champion returned to RAW after half a year away to challenge Bobby Lashley to a WWE Championship match at SummerSlam.
Backstage, a furious MVP said that he wouldn't even dignify Goldberg with a response. We're aware that this is obviously the plan for SummerSlam and the match will take place. But it would be a big surprise if Bobby Lashley is quick to shut down Goldberg's challenge, similar to how Roman Reigns shut down John Cena on SmackDown.
But would Goldberg accept it? Or will the WWE Champion simply decide to surprise fans and move on without accepting the Hall of Famer's challenge on RAW?
#3. Will Nikki A.S.H.'s RAW Women's title reign come crashing down before it even begins?
Last week on RAW, the main event was a Money in the Bank rematch between Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley. Only this time, Flair once again found herself on the receiving end of a Money in the Bank cash-in. Nikki A.S.H. took advantage of the post-match beatdown that Ripley put on The Queen, immediately cashing in her MITB briefcase to win her first singles title in WWE.
She is now the face of the RAW Women's division and a big change could be underway. Nikki A.S.H. emerged as an unexpected Women's title contender on the Red brand, but her change in character and Money in the Bank win spearheaded the way for her first title reign.
The only problem is that many fans don't see her as a long-term RAW Women's Champion. It's always possible that she could hold it for a few months, but with the inevitable return of Becky Lynch and overall dominance of Charlotte Flair, her reign on RAW could be cut short sooner rather than later.
A big surprise would be if Nikki A.S.H. has a title match on RAW and drops it immediately back to Charlotte Flair, or even Rhea Ripley, for that matter. It would, however, be a controversial decision.
#2. Sheamus' feud with Damian Priest to keep getting delayed on RAW?
Sheamus' United States title reign on RAW has had a mixed reception. While many feel that he was deserving of the title win at WrestleMania 37, he has been a bit of an "Anti-Champion", which is perhaps what the objective of his current run is.
So far, Sheamus' only significant opponents on RAW have been Humberto Carrillo and Ricochet. At first, his feud with Carrillo seemed to be canceled in favor of the latter, but that suddenly switched again.
Last week on RAW, Sheamus seemed to conclusively put an end to his feud with Humberto Carrillo. In the back was Damian Priest, a keen observer of the match. It was a tease that Priest would be The Celtic Warrior's next United States title challenger, presumably for SummerSlam.
Damian Priest hasn't done much on RAW since concluding his feud with The Miz and John Morrison and it's high time he gets right back into the mix. A big surprise, however, would be if Sheamus simply continues his feud with Carrillo with Priest remaining in the background.
#1. Karrion Kross to flounder on RAW again?
Karrion Kross made his RAW debut last week while still holding the NXT Championship. He faced WWE Legend Jeff Hardy, who brought out the "No More Words" theme song after a decade.
While the assumption was that the dominant, undefeated NXT Champion would defeat the WWE legend, that wasn't the case at all. Kross' dominance went out of the window by a simple pin by Hardy, who cheated to win.
This sent shockwaves throughout the WWE Universe, but to many, it wasn't that surprising. Many interpreted it as a direct shot to NXT and a sign that the WWE higher-ups don't care about the so-called "third brand".
Meanwhile, on NXT, Karrion Kross' feud with Samoa Joe intensified. They're expected to face off soon and it could mark the end of Kross' title reign. But the big worry is if Kross comes to RAW and loses yet again.
One thing is for sure, he won't be facing Jeff Hardy on RAW just yet. The legend reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 so he won't be facing Karrion Kross on RAW immediately.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
