'%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)
Welcome to a special edition of things WWE subtly told us on RAW. The road to WrestleMania has officially finished on the red brand, and WWE delivered a good go-home show.
The expectations for such a show are naturally high, but WWE doesn't always deliver on that front. This was the best go-home episode of RAW before WrestleMania in a few years, and although the main event was average, the rest of the show delivered.
What was odd was the fact that there was no feature of Alexa Bliss, 'The Fiend', nor Randy Orton in a segment. Instead, there was a promo hyping the match but nothing more. Here's what WWE subtly told us on RAW this week!
#6 Rhea Ripley turns heel ahead of her RAW Womens' Title Clash at WrestleMania
There was a big question ahead of RAW. Would Asuka and Rhea Ripley be able to co-exist against Women's Tag Team Champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler?
The answer was a resounding "no".
There hasn't been much of a build to the RAW Women's Championship match, as Rhea Ripley simply debuted, challenged for the title, and got her opportunity. Tensions started to boil over last week at the contract signing, and that's where Rhea Ripley accepted a challenge from the Women's Tag Team Champions on Asuka's behalf.
As it turns out, a well-oiled team is always better than a temporary one. Rhea Ripley intentionally attacked Asuka and cost her team the match with Shayna Baszler pinning the RAW Women's Champion.
While a Tag Team Turmoil match between numerous teams will determine the Tag Team Title opponents this Sunday, the RAW Women's Title picture now has some more heat.
Rhea Ripley being the heel in the feud is a good way to establish her character less than a week before the biggest match of her career.
#5 Is AJ Styles set for Grand Slam glory after losing on RAW?
AJ Styles faced Xavier Woods in a rematch from RAW last week. Omos caused the distraction, and it ended in a disqualification. Things were different this week. While Kofi Kingston tried to distract Omos, the latter calmed down and didn't interfere as expected.
Instead, Xavier Woods beat AJ Styles on RAW with a quick roll-up. It was a fluke victory on RAW, but it also could mean that AJ Styles will win the RAW Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania.
In doing so, AJ Styles will become a Grand Slam Champion within five years in WWE. It's a phenomenal achievement and could happen less than a week from now.
Unfortunately, it also speaks volumes about the state of the RAW Tag Team division.
With The Hurt Business dissolved, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin are no longer in the Title picture.
It didn't even seem like The New Day had any challengers left. The fact that WWE had no plans for AJ Styles made it convenient for them to use him and Omos together.
#4 Braun Strowman gained major momentum on RAW before WrestleMania 37
Braun Strowman was inside a steel cage on RAW cutting a promo trying to intimidate Shane McMahon ahead of their clash at WrestleMania.
It will only be the second steel cage match in the PPV's history, and Strowman vs McMahon means that it will be an explosive one deserving of the stipulation.
Braun Strowman took on the duo of Elias and Jaxson Ryker in a handicap match on RAW. The sole purpose of that was to make him look good before his big bout against Shane McMahon at WrestleMania.
Strowman stood tall on RAW, and we hope it doesn't mean that Shane McMahon is winning. It would be pointless for him to get the victory, especially if he isn't going to continue his run on RAW post-WrestleMania.
What we expect it to be, however, is a fun, physical match-up. It doesn't even need to go on for a long time. An action-packed ten-minute match seems sufficient enough to get the job done.
We can only hope that Braun Strowman gets his comeuppance after getting bullied on RAW by Shane McMahon.
#3 Will Riddle get the better of Sheamus after another victory on RAW?
Riddle lost to Sheamus on RAW last week in a Non-Title match setting up a United States Title clash at WrestleMania. The match seems perfect, especially since Sheamus has been having a good run.
The Celtic Warrior spoke to Riddle's opponent for RAW, Mustafa Ali, telling him that he hoped he would take the United States Champion out. Ali blamed Riddle for RETRIBUTION breaking up and his recent misfortunes.
Mustafa Ali's new theme song is unfortunately as generic as it gets, and there's nothing to remember it by. He lost to Riddle, who got a good showcase in a non-Title match before WrestleMania 37.
Sheamus was ringside as a guest commentator for the match on RAW, and after Riddle won, the two stood across each other to hype their WrestleMania match. It was a good interaction, and the rivalry has been a fairly straightforward one. It's hard to predict who will come out as the United States Champion at WrestleMania.
Both Riddle and Sheamus are deserving of a United States Title reign on RAW going forward.
#2 The dynamic of Bad Bunny's WrestleMania match changed on RAW
Bad Bunny will go down as one of the best celebrity appearances in recent times on RAW and SmackDown. While celebrities are criticized in WWE for taking up big spots, the Grammy Award winner has done more good than harm.
Perhaps the best thing he's done, apart from getting casual fans interested in RAW again, was him helping to elevate Damian Priest.
This week on RAW, The Miz and John Morrison did a paint job on Bad Bunny's $3.6 million Bugatti, and he was furious. The rapper didn't get much of a chance before he was attacked from behind by The Miz and Morrison.
While it seemed like Damian Priest was still injured, that isn't the case, as he challenged to change the match into a Tag Team bout.
The Miz & Morrison accepted before getting driven away in a limo. The outcome seems rather predictable, but we're just glad that WWE decided to go in the Tag Team direction and not a singles match.
#1 The WWE Title picture on RAW
The WWE Title picture was the primary focus on Monday Night RAW before WrestleMania, with Drew McIntyre opening the show. King Corbin came out, and while Drew McIntyre berated the former, both men were set for a battle in the main event.
As it turns out, King Corbin was brought over from SmackDown to be used as a sacrificial lamb to Drew McIntyre before WrestleMania 37. Bobby Lashley even faced a former Hurt Business member in Cedric Alexander and submitted him with The Hurt Lock before doing the same to Shelton Benjamin.
Drew McIntyre tried his best, but the main event of RAW fell flat despite a good attempt. King Corbin on the main event of RAW before WrestleMania isn't a great idea, so we hope that WWE remembers that going forward.
The WWE Title picture was straightforward, and RAW ended with the two men staring off from the ramp and the ring. It should be a good main event, despite not being hyped or advertised like some of the title matches in the past few years. It will be interesting to see how it plays out on Saturday.
Join us this Friday on SmackDown which promises to be an interesting one.
