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This was the RAW before Elimination Chamber 2021, and WWE delivered in a big way. There were shocking moments and an impressive gauntlet match to end the night on the red brand. The night was centered around the Gauntlet Match, but a lot happened in the episode of RAW:
#6 Kofi Kingston replaces The Miz on RAW, but is KofiMania 2 in order?
The Miz made a shocking announcement at the start of RAW revealing that he would be forfeiting his spot at the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match. Due to his status as Mr. Money in the Bank, he wanted to throw in an element of unpredictability.
The Miz vouched for his tag team partner John Morrison to get his spot, but Kofi Kingston argued that The Guru Of Greatness isn't a former WWE Champion. The Miz said that he is a former ECW World Champion, and the bickering made Adam Pearce shut both parties up.
He set up a match on RAW between The Miz and Kofi Kingston. If The A-Lister won, Morrison would get the final spot in the Elimination Chamber, and if Kofi Kingston emerged on top, he book his place in the WWE Championship match.
Kingston won on RAW, and he was the second entrant in the Gauntlet Match along with AJ Styles. Unfortunately, we didn't see a repeat of his magical gauntlet performance from SmackDown two years ago.
Kofi Kingston (just like Seth Rollins the year before him) used the gauntlet match to elevate himself, but 2021 won't be his year. The New Day member was the first Superstar to get eliminated in the RAW Gauntlet Match, indicating that KofiMania part two won't be happening in 2021.
On a side note, we find it a bit surprising that WWE decided not to add Braun Strowman to the Elimination Chamber match - even if he is a former Universal Champion and not WWE Champion.
It seemed like a bit of a mistake, but what was a clear indication from RAW is that Kofi Kingston won't be getting a singles push in 2021 and that will be going to his fellow New Day member Big E over on SmackDown
#5 Is The Fiend's RAW return getting closer?
Alexa Bliss has been doing all the heavy lifting for 'The Fiend' Bray Wyatt on RAW post-TLC. After The Fiend was burned, it was Alexa who began to haunt Randy Orton, costing him week after week on RAW.
This week on RAW, she wasn't involved with Randy Orton until the main event, but she had a creepy segment resembling a horror movie. In the segment, she vowed that The Fiend will be reborn. It was in the Gauntlet Match where she cost The Viper, with him getting counted out after a distraction.
It's going to be interesting when The Fiend finally does return. Since Edge vs Randy Orton happened on RAW post-Royal Rumble 2021, it seems like that feud is over. Instead, The Fiend vs Randy Orton could be the direction for WrestleMania, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the three-time World Champion return at Elimination Chamber to cost Randy Orton.
Post-Elimination Chamber on RAW would be the perfect time to re-ignite the rivalry, and Alexa Bliss has been saying for two months now that The Fiend will return stronger than ever.
Will The Fiend's return to RAW live up to the hype? Or are we due for another underwhelming Orton-Wyatt match at WrestleMania 37?
#4 Lacey Evans' pregnancy announcement on RAW was more than a storyline
It looks like Charlotte Flair and Lacey Evans' feud on RAW won't be getting an actual payoff. Last week on RAW, Charlotte Flair got a bit too emotional in her match with Evans, and the referee was forced to DQ The Queen.
As a result, Lacey Evans earned a RAW Women's title shot against Asuka at the Elimination Chamber PPV. While we're not sure how it will work out now, the story certainly took a bit of a twist.
In a Tag Team match featuring RAW Women's Champion Asuka and Charlotte Flair against Peyton Royce and Lacey Evans, the latter said that she is now pregnant. That isn't just a storyline. As per WrestlingInc, Lacey Evans' pregnancy is legitimate.
Of course, WWE wouldn't waste the opportunity for it to pour onto a storyline, and Ric Flair celebrated and said "Call me Daddy". There are a couple of possible outcomes before Lacey Evans proceeds to take the coming year off WWE TV.
Ric Flair could be written off RAW as well, and it's unlikely that we will see a payoff match of any sort.
#3 Riddle gains momentum on RAW, but where was Keith Lee?
[Matt] Riddle teamed up with The Lucha House Party on RAW to take on the trio of The Hurt Business - MVP and the RAW Tag Team Champions Shelton Benjamin and Cedric Alexander.
Riddle once again continued to get the better of MVP, but his backstage promo on RAW before the match didn't give him a good look - especially as a babyface. Keith Lee was briefly mentioned on RAW, and his status for Elimination Chamber seems to be in question.
We hope that Keith Lee can make it on time, but Riddle gained momentum on RAW instead. We felt that Keith Lee is a legitimate favorite to win the United States title match, and if he shows up, then the likeliness of Bobby Lashley getting dethroned (without even getting pinned or submitted) will be high.
It seems to be a good time for a title change, despite the momentum that Bobby Lashley has had. Either that could happen, or Lashley could continue to dominate as the US Champion on RAW, with a big WrestleMania match potentially looming.
#2 What will be the outcome of the Women's Tag Team title match after RAW?
Lana took on Shayna Baszler in a singles match on RAW. Although Naomi and Lana have earned the right to challenge for the Women's Tag Team Championship, the match hasn't officially been announced for Elimination Chamber.
There are one or two ways this could play out. It could either be in the Elimination Chamber Kickoff Show, with the champions retaining, or on the main card, with Lana winning her first piece of gold in WWE.
Lana has been doing great on RAW, and she had a solid match with Shayna Baszler, who naturally did the heavy lifting. The Queen of Spades ultimately ended up submitting Lana, but it could be a prelude to a shocking title change.
It will be fun to see, and if it doesn't happen at Elimination Chamber, then the match will take place on RAW. Sometimes, WWE likes keeping certain feuds strictly for television, and it's not hard to see why. Will we see a big upset title change soon?
#1 Sheamus reigns supreme on RAW ahead of the Elimination Chamber
Drew McIntyre was the one who spent the longest in the Gauntlet Match on RAW. Entering after Kofi Kingston was eliminated, the Scottish Warrior ran through AJ Styles, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, but fell short to the final entrant - Sheamus.
Sheamus and Drew McIntyre have been teasing a feud for a while, and after the Scotsman was worn down in the RAW Gauntlet Match match, Sheamus attacked him from behind and had to take a little longer than expected to put away the WWE Champion.
That's exactly what happened on RAW, and Sheamus hit the Brogue Kick to secure his spot as the final entrant into the Elimination Chamber match this Sunday.
Sheamus is gunning for his fifth World Championship, and it was pointed out on RAW that it has been well over five years since his last WWE title reign. Sheamus is itching to get back on top, and this is the best version of him we've seen in years - even better than his last reign as WWE Champion.
Will Sheamus be able to displace Drew McIntyre at Elimination Chamber the same way he did on RAW? We doubt it, but it should spin off into an interesting match.
