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Welcome to this week's edition of things WWE subtly told us on RAW. While the overall episode wasn't too exciting, it didn't matter, since there was one storyline and match that was the focal point of RAW.
The rest can be ignored, although we wouldn't do that since a lot of what will happen at WrestleMania 37 was made clear on RAW tonight. Let's start this week's edition with the biggest thing that happened on the show - Bobby Lashley achieving his WWE World Championship dream:
#7 The big build to the inevitable on RAW
The central focus of RAW was the WWE Championship match between The Miz and Bobby Lashley. While The A-Lister was always reluctant, it was WWE management, i.e Adam Pearce and Shane McMahon who pushed for Bobby Lashley to get his title shot on RAW.
While it was scheduled to be at the start of the second hour, The Miz faked having cramps, delaying his WWE title match further. Bobby Lashley even came out for his match on RAW, but rushed backstage and vowed to The Miz that he would get his title shot.
It was postponed for an hour later - and while The Miz tried to convince MVP and Lashley to have their match at WrestleMania 37, there was no interest. They wanted the match to happen on RAW, and technically, it did. After the bell rang, The Miz took his title and ran away - getting counted out on purpose.
Shane McMahon was furious backstage on RAW and vowed that if The A-Lister didn't defend the WWE title in the main event, he would be stripped of it, and Lashley would be declared the new Champion.
The Miz was next seen backstage minutes before the main event confronting Shane McMahon, and the tension from 2019 was still there - only played in a bit subtly. Perhaps, it was an incentive for why Shane McMahon was pushing hard against The Miz on RAW.
The time finally came for the main event, and it was revealed that it would be a Lumberjack Match. This prevented The Miz from escaping, and it led to Lashley squashing him to become the WWE Champion.
In a career that has spanned 17 years, Bobby Lashley has finally reached the pinnacle of the professional wrestling/sports entertainment industry. When truly looking back at how bad his run was up until WrestleMania last year, it's incredible to think of how far he has come.
The only negative we have to take from all of this is the fact that Lashley's reign as WWE Champion might just be a transitional one. While neither Brock Lesnar nor Drew McIntyre is confirmed as his WrestleMania title opponent, the chances of him losing it at the Grandest Stage Of Them All are high.
If Brock Lesnar is back, the chances of him retaining are less, and if he faces McIntyre, then WWE might want the Scotsman to get his big victory in front of a live audience for the first time.
Either way, we hope that Lashley enjoys his moment on RAW because he deserves it.
#6 Braun Strowman's WrestleMania direction was made clear on RAW
In 2021, it's Braun Strowman's turn to complain about RAW management. Over the last few years, we've seen a few WWE Superstars take issue with officials on either RAW or SmackDown.
As it turns out, Shane McMahon's quiet return to RAW for these "non-roles" has a purpose. Braun Strowman came out to air his grievances against WWE management, starting from the time a few months ago when he was suspended from RAW by Adam Pearce.
He then slammed Shane McMahon as well, telling everybody the WWE title Elimination Chamber match "sucked" without him, and that he was only excluded because of a technicality.
Shane McMahon came out with Adam Pearce and had a proposal for Braun Strowman - to compete for the RAW Tag Team titles again. His partner? Authority figure Adam Pearce.
While Braun Strowman had all the work done on Shelton Benjamin, Shane McMahon pressured him into tagging in Adam Pearce to get the pin. A frustrated Strowman relented, and Pearce took too much time and got pinned by Benjamin in the process.
The Hurt Business retained their titles, but the big story is about Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon - which appears to be a clear-cut direction heading into WrestleMania 37.
#5 Drew McIntyre could still be in the WWE Title picture after RAW
Drew McIntyre finally returned after being absent from RAW last week. Naturally, he was anything but happy about the way his second WWE title reign ended.
While we thought that Drew McIntyre vs Sheamus was a possible WrestleMania 37 direction, we were wrong. They had their payoff match on free TV to open RAW, and it was a solid half-an-hour bout.
We usually don't get to see singles matches go on as long on RAW that often, so it was nice to see. Drew McIntyre's exclusion from the incidents between The Miz and Bobby Lashley means that he is almost certain to be in the WWE Championship picture at WrestleMania 37.
Does this possibly mean that Brock Lesnar isn't returning on time for the show of shows this year? Has he been approached yet? Brock Lesnar isn't on WWE contract (that we know of, anyway). Is Drew McIntyre going to get another coronation at WrestleMania 37?
#4 The rumors about Damian Priest on RAW are true
Damian Priest couldn't have asked for a better start to his life on RAW. The fact that his debut coincided with Bad Bunny's early appearances allowed him to get paired with the Puerto Rican Celebrity singer.
This week on RAW, Damian Priest and Bad Bunny crossed paths with Jaxson Ryker and Elias. The latter wanted to collaborate with the singer, but he was denied.
It led to a match between Elias and Damian Priest on RAW, where the latter won convincingly. It seems to confirm the rumor by WON that WWE is planning to protect Damian Priest until WrestleMania 37:
Dave Meltzer confirmed that WWE officials “like him” and that “he’s gonna be protected for sure until WrestleMania and probably after.” Meltzer did add the usual caveat about Vince McMahon changing his mind and giving up on Priest, “but for right now, he’s in a good spot and he’s doing well.”
This wasn't an important part of RAW by any means, but it seems to be setting up the eventual Damian Priest & Bad Bunny vs The Miz & John Morrison match at WrestleMania 37.
#3 The Randy Orton story on RAW just keeps getting more bizarre
There's a new twist in the tale on RAW with Randy Orton and Alexa Bliss. As you may know, last week, The Viper cut a promo on RAW backstage, and it abruptly ended with the 14-time World Champion coughing out a black liquid which was the work of Alexa Bliss again.
Randy Orton was in a similar position on RAW this week, and when he was talking about the consequences that Alexa Bliss could face if she didn't leave him alone, the former Women's Champion appeared behind him on the TV screen.
Alexa Bliss started laughing, and as Randy Orton was coughing, we were all shocked to see him appearing...on the TV screen which was showing the former Women's Champion? It appears to be a story where The Fiend is now in Randy Orton's body - but where did this second Randy Orton come from?
Things are only going to get more bizarre, and with a few more episodes of RAW left until WrestleMania 37, we wonder how this is going to play out.
#2 Charlotte Flair to get the RAW Women's title opportunity at WrestleMania 37
Charlotte Flair came out on RAW and cut one of the most authentic babyface promos she has in a while. While acknowledging that the RAW Women's locker room probably doesn't want her there, she said she was present regardless.
She didn't try to come off as a big babyface and made her intentions clear - she wants to face Asuka for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37. Reminding us that Royal Rumble winner Bianca Belair already made her decision, it was more of an incentive for her to stake her claim.
As you know, Asuka had her tooth knocked out by Shayna Baszler last week, and the Queen Of Spades was the obstacle that Charlotte Flair had to overcome on RAW.
Flair defeated Baszler on RAW with the Natural Selection, and her intentions have been made clear. We assume that RAW Women's Champion Asuka will return next week. But does this match mean that we won't get a title defense from Asuka at Fastlane? We certainly hope not.
#1 RETRIBUTION flounders on RAW, but Mustafa Ali makes a surprising statement
RETRIBUTION has turned out to be one of the worst-booked factions in RAW history (and perhaps even WWE history). It feels like they're hardly given a chance. When they do get an opportunity, the faction ends up losing.
This week's RAW was no different, as RETRIBUTION lost to The Lucha House Party and United States Champion [Matt] Riddle. After the defeat, a furious Mustafa Ali laid the verbal smackdown on his members before vowing to show them how it was done.
He challenged Riddle to a singles match, and although the Champion was a bit fatigued, he accepted it anyway. Thanks to some assistance from his fellow-RETRIBUTION members, Mustafa Ali picked up the win - using a new and odd finisher.
Either way, it establishes Ali as the next title contender for Riddle on RAW, and we expect them to face off at Fastlane 2021. If Ali can capture the title, then RETRIBUTION may not be disbanding after all. Otherwise, it seems pointless to keep them around on RAW.
