5 things you need to know before tonight's WWE Monday Night RAW (December 17, 2018)

We are just hours away from the first RAW after WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, and the men and women of Monday Nights have a lot to prove.

Whilst the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar may be AWOL, once again, the RAW roster is still standing tall with new champions being crowned at the final pay per view of 2018.

But now with TLC in the history books, the Raw Superstars will be hoping to build a wave of momentum as the road to WrestleMania begins, with the journey to the 2019 Royal Rumble.

It has been a shocking year for WWE, one filled with ups and downs, but tonight the Superstars of Monday Night RAW need to survive, with plenty of huge things already being promised.

Here are five things you absolutely need to know before the December 17th, 2018 episode of WWE Monday Night RAW.

5: The Demon battles the ShowOff

The Demon will hope to get revenge on Ziggler tonight.

At TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, Finn Balor was able to defeat Drew McIntyre, albeit with a big assist by Dolph Ziggler.

Interfering when the ref's back was turned, Ziggler took it to his former partner, levelling the Scottish Terminator with a Superkick.

But in a post-match interview, it was Balor's turn to be ambushed, being levelled by the former World Champion, who is clearly planning on going it alone from here on out.

Tonight though, Balor will get his chance for revenge when he battles Ziggler on RAW, in what is sure to be a highly emotional, and entertaining match.

And whilst these two compete, it'd be foolish to think that Drew McIntyre won't be watching, and could even make his presence known, during the match.

4: The Road to the Royal Rumble begins

Shinsuke Nakamura, after winning last year's men's Royal Rumble match.

With WWE TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs now in the rear-view mirror, everyone across both RAW and SmackDown Live are looking to January, and the annual Royal Rumble event.

But whilst we have our number 30 spots taken, these are by SmackDown's R-Truth and Carmella, who defeated RAW's Alicia Fox and Jinder Mahal at TLC in the finals of the Mixed Match Challenge.

The Rumble matches are a huge deal, having seen shock returns, stunning betrayals and the most unlikely of Superstars win.

Who knows, perhaps tonight we will see the first Superstars from RAW announce their intentions to compete in the match.

Or maybe even qualifying matches will take place for a coveted spot in the prestigious Rumble.

Either way, we are all on the path to WrestleMania 35.

3: General Manager-Elect, no more

Not only did Corbin lose his position as acting General Manager, but Strowman will face Lesnar at the Rumble.

WWE TLC did not exactly go the way that Baron Corbin planned.

Despite his job being on the line, Corbin oozed confidence as he entered, believing he would win via forfeit in his TLC encounter with the injured Braun Strowman.

Instead, Strowman emerged, leading a locker-room, with Finn Balor, Apollo Crews, Heath Slater, Chad Gable, Bobby Roode and even Kurt Angle, making sure the era of Corbin was over.

The Constable no more, it will be interesting to see how the former US Champion will respond to this fall from grace.

And as for the Monster Among Men, he now needs to work on rehabbing from his injury, as he prepares to face Universal Champion Brock Lesnar, once again, this time, at the 2019 Royal Rumble.

2: What's next for 'Rowdy' Ronda Rousey?

Rousey's interference in the main event helped Asuka become WWE SmackDown Live Women's Champion.

WWE TLC was a busy night for Ronda Rousey.

In a hard-fought match, Rousey started her evening by defeating the #FaceBreaker Nia Jax, to retain her title.

But Rousey didn't stop there, appearing in the main event Triple Threat match, attacking Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, a big assist to the eventual winner and new SmackDown Women's Champion, Asuka.

This attack by the Hot Rod was clearly retribution, as Flair destroyed her with a Kendo Stick at Survivor Series, and Lynch berated the UFC Hall of Famer on Twitter.

Tonight, the Baddest Woman on the Planet has a chance to explain her actions, as well as prove herself in the ring yet again.

Still yet to be pinned since her WrestleMania 34 debut, who is next on Rousey's list?

1: The Boss is back!

What does Vince McMahon have in store for RAW tonight?

We all know who's in charge, but it is still a rare sight to see Vince McMahon on WWE TV.

But tonight, the Chairman of the board will appear live on RAW, and if that isn't big enough, he is promising a huge announcement that will shake-up the entire WWE.

Of course, this has led to a lot of speculation, with many expecting McMahon to announce a draft, which fans hope will turn around the company's slumping viewing figures.

However, this may be the long-anticipated Women's Tag Team Championships finally making their way to the WWE, which would certainly change women's wrestling for years to come.

Or perhaps he is back to discuss the Baron Corbin debacle, with RAW now without a captain.

Whatever happens, expect the Boss to be in top form tonight on RAW.