5 things WWE subtly told us on RAW: New faction formed, Huge 2020 debut confirmed? (August 19th, 2019)

Another episode of Monday Night RAW is in the books and what a show it was! This week, there was a notable on-screen absence of commentator Corey Graves and backstage, Vince McMahon was not present, according to Ryan Satin of Pro Wrestling Sheet.

Make what you will of it, but the show was quite solid from start to finish. We started off with AJ Styles vs Braun Strowman for the United States Championship and it ended with a huge title change at the end.

The pacing of the show in itself was absolutely fantastic as the show went by rather quickly and it didn't feel as though it was dragging on. Moreover, some of the questions we asked last week have been somewhat answered and things are only going to get more exciting as we build towards WWE Clash of Champions 2019.

Without going much further, here is what WWE subtly told us on RAW!

#5. A potential temporary faction

On RAW, we saw WWE continue to tease the alliance between The Revival and The New Day. The SmackDown Tag Team Champions took on The Revival and it ended in a DQ. Randy Orton would interject and the trio would brutally assault The New Day.

Xavier Woods even seemingly got injured and we may be getting a temporary alliance between Randy Orton and The Revival. The only problem is that it really makes little to no sense because Randy Orton is a SmackDown superstar and The Revival are RAW superstars.

While it would be a good faction on paper, it's very likely that the alliance is just temporary. It seems as though The Revival will challenge for the SmackDown Tag titles and Randy Orton will challenge for the WWE title.

Expect this alliance to continue, but dissolve soon after Clash of Champions.

See WWE RAW Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE RAW Results page

#4. WWE has huge plans for Dominick in the future

On RAW, following his defeat to Andrade, Rey Mysterio announced that he wanted to hang up the mask. However, his son Dominick stopped him and reminded his father of his promise - that when Dominick finally debuts, he would partner up with Rey Mysterio.

This pretty much confirms the reports from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE wants Dominick to wrestle soon. With that being said, the report also stated that they feel he isn't ready, but are eager to have him debut in the ring soon - meaning a 2020 debut is likely.

It's an interesting prospect because you would think that he would have to go through the Performance Center grind as other superstars do. While we do hope that they don't rush Dominick's debut, we must admit that it's a very interesting idea.

They clearly see potential in a name like Dominick and we're yet to see how he's progressing in the ring. The only thing we know as of now is that he has been training with Lance Storm in his wrestling academy. Perhaps he'll make a jump to the PC once his debut approaches closer and closer.

#3. Are the champions turning face?

Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross' partnership has worked out a lot better than first anticipated. Their odd pairing parternship has seen Nikki Cross go from a forgotten and neglected superstar to the Women's Tag Team Champion.

Moreover, they have already equalled and surpassed The IIconics in terms of title defences. They have been fighting champions and even though Bliss clearly acts like a heel, she has been wrestling like a babyface.

Do remember that just because she could be a babyface in the future, it doesn't mean that she will go around giving high-fives to fans and hugging babies. She'll still be herself...except she'll be directing her focus on heels.

Either way, commentators have been putting them over as babyfaces and they have been working together really well, much better than many people would have anticipated. It's going to be interesting to see if they take that direction, but as of now, they're being presented as fighting champions who take on all comers.

There's nothing heel-ish about that and it really does look like the champions are going to be turning a new leaf in terms of their characters.

Would you like to see a babyface Bliss & Cross?

#2. The fate of Wyatt and his victims

Bray Wyatt is easily the most exciting thing about WWE television now that isn't the 24/7 Championship. While the latter involves only comedy, Wyatt is anything but that. He's a dark and twisted character and the story itself is exactly that.

Fans wondered why WWE didn't capitalise on Bray Wyatt and his momentum by having him appear on the RAW after SummerSlam, but as far as reports go, the entire idea backstage is that Wyatt should be a special character - so we should have no idea when he comes and we really shouldn't see it coming.

This is the best way to handle a character like his because it's clear that he's stumbled upon something very special. In order to make Bray Wyatt a special attraction, they need to have his appearances far and few in between. For one, he shouldn't be wrestling on free television at all.

With that being said, he found a new victim tonight in yet another WWE legend - Jerry "The King" Lawler. It seems as though Wyatt is going to go after every legend possible and it would be interesting if Edge were the next superstar to fall victim to The Fiend.

#1. AJ Styles is going to be involved in the Universal title feud

That was the moment that AJ Styles knew he messed up

As far as spoilers go, here is the biggest one - in the main event of RAW, Seth Rollins & Braun Strowman teamed up to defeat Gallows & Anderson and become RAW Tag Team Champions.

This is only Strowman's second championship in WWE and it was made clear in the beginning itself that he is next in line for the Universal Championship. It's going to be interesting to see how it works out, but that would be the third different title shot that Strowman will receive in a matter of weeks.

On the latest episode of RAW, Strowman started off by challenging AJ Styles for the United States Championship - only for it to end before it even started thanks to The OC. Since Rollins & Strowman are Tag Team Champions heading into Clash of Champions, they will most likely end up wrestling two matches in one night - first against The OC and then against each other.

However, AJ Styles' constant involvement likely means that he is going to be the third man in the rivalry. The only confusion is as to whether he'll be wrestling two matches as well.