Former champion returns after 247 days - 5 big surprises that could happen on WWE RAW this week

WWE RAW is set to air tonight on USA Network live at 8 PM EST. The big show will be taking place from the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, in front of around 9,000 fans.

Only a few things have been announced for the show, but there's plenty of intrigues ahead of WWE Night of Champions this Saturday. A six-man tag team bout and a contract signing with Trish Stratus and Becky Lynch are set to take place, but otherwise, the card is a mystery.

This article will look at five potential surprises that could go down in Hershey. There are several stars who could possibly return to the red brand, plus there could be a surprise appearance by a star who is allegedly not going to appear. What might go down?

Below are five big surprises that could happen on WWE RAW this week.

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#5. Tommaso Ciampa could finally return as part of The Way

The Way is back! The popular NXT faction has officially formed on WWE RAW. While Austin Theory hasn't reunited with the stable, Candice LeRae, Johnny Gargano, Dexter Lumis, and Indi Hartwell are all on the red brand together.

Interestingly, the group has been referencing a mysterious individual in their promos. They regularly mention that "he's coming" without any further details. Many believe the mystery star could be Johnny's former partner Tommaso Ciampa.

The Blackheart has been away from television for 247 days due to surgery. His last match was on September 17th, 2022, at a live event. Given the teases, he could return and reform D.I.Y. as part of The Way. They'd certainly add a lot to the tag team division.

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#4. Raquel Rodriguez could reveal her partner ahead of WWE SmackDown

The WWE Women's Tag Team Titles have hit another roadblock. Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan won the belts, and many fans were excited to see how they'd do as champions, but their reign is already over.

Unfortunately, Liv Morgan suffered an injury of some kind. As a result, it was announced on SmackDown that she and Raquel had to vacate the WWE Women's Tag Team Titles. Rodriguez now has to find a new partner ahead of a bout with Damage CTRL on Friday and a tag team title match on the following Monday.

While most fans are expecting the new partner to be revealed on Friday for Raquel's bout with Bayley and IYO SKY, she could surprise fans and reveal whomever it is on RAW. Could it be the returning Aliyah? A powerhouse like Piper Niven? There are several options.

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#3. Drew McIntyre could be Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens' partner

Drew McIntyre

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will have their work cut out for them on WWE RAW. Ahead of their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship defense at Night of Champions 2023, they're set for a six-man tag team match on the red brand.

Battling Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, and Ludwig Kaiser is intimidating at any point, but it's worrisome when you don't have a third person to help you fight them. For now, Zayn and Owens don't have an announced partner, but there are a few select stars who could help them.

The two most obvious choices are Matt Riddle and Mustafa Ali, as both have had issues with Imperium as of late. Cody Rhodes is also possible, but an exciting surprise could be Drew McIntyre. Given his history with Gunther and his rumored contractual status, The Scottish Warrior could be an exciting partner for the champions.

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#2. Kofi Kingston could return to help Xavier Woods fight off the Judgment Day

The New Day on RAW

Xavier Woods is a man without a country. He's been having issues with Dominik Mysterio and the rest of The Judgment Day on WWE RAW as of late. Given that the group also features Rhea Ripley, Finn Balor, and Damian Priest, that's not an enviable position to be in.

While Natalya could potentially fight off The Eradicator, Woods is still outnumbered. This is unusual, as he's typically had numbers in his favor thanks to The New Day.

Unfortunately, both Kofi Kingston and Big E have been absent due to injuries. While there's no report when Big E could return due to the severity of his neck surgery, Kofi could potentially return to WWE and help his friend fight the dominant stable.

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#1. Seth Rollins could show up despite filming Captain America: Civil War

Seth Rollins is having a big few weeks. He is set to challenge for the new World Heavyweight Championship at Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia, but his big moments go beyond the squared circle.

The Visionary is stepping outside of WWE and joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It was revealed last week that Rollins will be part of Captain America: Civil War, a movie that is part of the MCU's Phase 5 film and series slate.

Set photos have shown Rollins already on location, and it has been suggested that the interviews from last week and this week were done to cover for his absence. Still, there's always a chance that Seth could surprise fans in Hershey and appear, either in a match or in front of the fans in some other manner.