'%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,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFAABAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABv/aAAgBAQAAAAA2X//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP/2gAIAQIQAAAAH//EABQBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT/2gAIAQMQAAAAX//EAB8QAAICAQQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQSABETITFhkf/aAAgBAQABPwCaxYEFZKxg43pZhTFiECgk+D2W3P3U1qtBK8Usz8kbFWxpoRuPZfX/xAAYEQADAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgMAEf/aAAgBAgEBPwAXog6rb//EABcRAQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAyH/2gAIAQMBAT8AuBxn/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The latest episode of WWE RAW finally saw Bobby Lashley making a huge impact in the main event picture. After he helped The Miz become the WWE Champion at Elimination Chamber, fans expected some sort of an alliance between Lashley and The A-Lister.
The answers to this and more were revealed on this week's RAW. It must be said that the Road to WrestleMania 37 has become highly unpredictable.
Rhea Ripley will make her debut on RAW soon, as a video package hyping-up her debut aired during this episode. Sheamus continued his winning ways on the Red brand, while the new U.S. Champion had an incredible match with John Morrison.
That said, let's see the major talking points from this week's WWE RAW. Do share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section below.
#5 Bobby Lashley defeats Braun Strowman on WWE RAW, to face The Miz for the WWE Championship next week
In the opening segment of this week's RAW, WWE Champion The Miz came out to celebrate his second world title win with his tag team partner, John Morrison. However, they were interrupted by MVP and Bobby Lashley, and the two finally revealed the reason behind the former U.S. Champion's brutal assault on Drew McIntyre at the Elimination Chamber PPV.
MVP had struck a deal with The Miz, which indicated that Lashley would get a world title shot if he helped The A-Lister to win the WWE Championship. It was time for Miz to honor his end of the deal. But the WWE Champion tried to escape by saying he'll reveal the date of his title defense after giving it a proper thought.
Later in the show, The Miz came out to address his WWE Championship defense, with Bobby Lashley also present in the ring. Soon, Braun Strowman's music hit, and the Monster Among Men said he deserved a title shot more than Lashley. Shane McMahon came out next and said if Strowman could defeat Lashley in the main event of RAW, next week's WWE Championship bout would become a Triple Threat match.
In the main event of the night, Bobby Lashley defeated Braun Strowman, further solidifying WWE's intention of going all out with a monster push for The Almighty One. Post-match, Lashley further brutalized Strowman and also laid out the champion. By the looks of it, Lashley seems on course to squash The Miz on next week's RAW and become the new WWE Champion.
However, outside interference from John Morrison may end the match in a disqualification. This could lead to a possible rematch at Fastlane 2021, where Lashley might win the title. Either way, there's no doubt that The CEO of The Hurt Business is going to become the WWE Champion sooner rather than later, leading up to a marquee match at WrestleMania 37.
#4 Former NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley to make her RAW debut soon
Rhea Ripley is officially coming to WWE RAW. A video package that aired today confirmed her imminent debut on the Red brand. The former NXT Champion had an incredible showing at Royal Rumble 2021, where she finished as the runner-up in the Women's Royal Rumble.
Despite having stars like Asuka, Charlotte Flair, and Shayna Baszler, RAW's women's division has been in dire straits in recent months. The absence of Becky Lynch and the poor booking of the RAW Women's Champion Asuka has made the division devoid of any intriguing rivalries and stories.
The fact that the Empress of Tomorrow got pinned by Naomi recently and by Jax on today's RAW shows how much the company is undermining her talent. Though the pinfall was a result of an accidental kick from Charlotte, it doesn't bode well when the champion of a division gets pinned so often on TV.
However, Ripley can have great rivalries and matches with Asuka and Charlotte, thus giving the division the much-needed star power it needs at the moment. A possible WrestleMania 37 clash with Asuka promises to be nothing less than spectacular, while another one with Charlotte would allow Ripley to take the payback for her loss at WrestleMania 36.
#3 RAW Tag Team Champions Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin are staring at a dearth of challengers
RAW Tag Team Champions Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin once again defeated Lucha House Party on WWE RAW. While it's great to see WWE committed towards a tag team, Lucha House Party has lost so many times now that they shouldn't be near the title picture for the foreseeable future. On the other hand, if not for Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado, there's no other tag team that could enter the title scene.
RETRIBUTION and The New Day are in a non-title rivalry currently, and there's no other full-fledged tag team on WWE RAW right now. The Miz and John Morrison have progressed to singles competition, leaving the division stagnant.
However, Damian Priest and Bad Bunny are the most recent additions to WWE RAW, and it wouldn't come as a surprise if the company decides to give them a title shot.
Yes, Bad Bunny is nowhere close to being ready to compete in the ring, but Priest can do the bulk of the job while the Puerto Rican rapper takes a backseat.
#2 Sheamus defeats Jeff Hardy on RAW, but what about his feud with Drew McIntyre?
Sheamus picked up a victory over Jeff Hardy on WWE RAW in an entertaining bout. The two Superstars were also a part of the Elimination Chamber match but fell short of winning the title. However, the most surprising aspect of that match was the minimal interaction between rivals Sheamus and Drew McIntyre.
In the weeks leading up to the pay-per-view, the two vowed to lay each other down inside the demonic structure. But there was no pay-off at the event as AJ Styles eliminated The Celtic Warrior.
If McIntyre won't be back into the title picture until after Fastlane 2021, then he and Sheamus can finally finish their business at the upcoming pay-per-view.
It doesn't seem like the WWE Championship match at WrestleMania 37 will go ahead without the involvement of The Scottish Warrior. Until then, he needs some other rivalry to keep himself busy on RAW.
The build-up to the bout has already begun after Sheamus said in a post-show interview that he wants McIntyre in a one-on-one match.
#1 United States Champion Riddle defeated John Morrison on RAW in a terrific bout
In the first match of this week's WWE RAW, the newly crowned United States Champion Riddle defeated John Morrison in a terrific non-title bout. Morrison was also part of the Triple Threat match at Elimination Chamber, where The Original Bro won the title.
If today's match was any indication, Riddle is going to be a workhorse during his run with the U.S. title, wrestling a variety of opponents on weekly basis. Despite being in the mid-card scene for months now, Riddle lost on most occasions and never came across as a real threat.
However, this reign promises to reverse all the damage done to Riddle's character by putting his in-ring work on the forefront. As for John Morrison, he seems to be on the course to have a late-career renaissance of sorts after his performances at Elimination Chamber and RAW.
The former Intercontinental Champion is amid his best showing since returning to the company, and things are only expected to get better for him on the Road to WrestleMania 37.
