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Welcome to another edition of the top backstage RAW rumors that could have a major impact. This article is jam-packed with all the latest backstage gossip related to WWE's RAW brand that you need to know!
From Vince McMahon being unhappy with former two-time Champion to a big return that may take place soon. We have a lot of interesting stories for you today. One of the biggest stories being the details about the return of former RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch.
So without further ado, let us jump in and look at the five biggest backstage rumors related to Monday Night RAW:
#5 Next opponent for former RAW Women's Champion Becky Lynch
'The Man' Becky Lynch had to relinquish the RAW Women's Championship and take a sabbatical from WWE following her pregnancy. While there is no word yet on when Lynch may be able to return to the ring, it is almost certain that she is being factored in for a big WrestleMania match.
However, as per WrestlingNews.co, Vince McMahon wants Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey to face each by January or February next year.
"Vince is hoping for Becky to be back in January or February to start the one on one feud with Ronda. Vince wants WrestleMania to be the show that says 'WWE is back. We can't do Becky vs. Ronda in the Thunderdome with no fans. He wants the fans back, and they will be back by the time Mania rolls around."
The Women's division on RAW has suffered a lot of late with the absence of big names like Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, and Ronda Rousey. Hopefully, the return of Becky Lynch would give the division a much-needed boost and a feud with Ronda Rousey could potentially be the WrestleMania main event as well.
#4 Former RAW Women's Champion Ronda Rousey expected to return at WrestleMania 37
The former RAW Women's Champion and UFC Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey was last seen inside a WWE ring at WrestleMania 35, where she lost the RAW Women's title to 'The Man' Becky Lynch.
While there had been a lot of speculation on Rousey's future with WWE, Dave Meltzer of WON has reported that The Baddest Woman on the Planet is expected to return for a match at WrestleMania 37.
“[Ronda] Rousey is still under contract and was expected to do WrestleMania in Los Angeles.”
He also stated that it is very much possible that the former UFC fighter has signed a new contract with WWE. Ronda Rousey has posted pictures showing that she has begun training again, which have further given rise to the speculation that her return may happen soon.
"Everyone presumes that Ronda Rousey’s contract expires at a certain time. I don’t understand why people don’t realize that perhaps, just perhaps, Ronda Rousey’s contract has been extended or she has worked out a new deal and it would not benefit either WWE or Ronda Rousey to go public with that information. But why wouldn’t people understand that it would be kept secret?”
#3 Vince McMahon not impressed with RAW Superstar Andrade
There had been rumors circulating sometime last year that Vince McMahon is very pleased with RAW Superstar Andrade and will be giving him a major push. However, that does not seem to be the case anymore as recent reports suggest that McMahon has lost interest in Andrade.
Dave Meltzer has stated that Vince McMahon was never high on the now undrafted RAW Superstar and it was Paul Heyman who was the man behind Andrade's initial push.
"Vince never got it with him. Whatever he got was just remnants because Heyman saw him in Mexico & Japan and thought he was top talent, and got him as far as he could. There's a reason when Heyman was ousted I told everyone Andrade was dead."
Andrade is one of the two Superstars who were undrafted in the recent WWE draft, the other being Mickie James. It was reported that both will continue to be part of the RAW roster.
It came as a surprise that while Andrade's former tag team partner Angel Garza was picked early in the draft, the former NXT Champion found no takers.
#2 Reason Seth Rollins was moved from RAW to SmackDown
One of the biggest changes that took place in the world of WWE this week was Seth Rollins moving from RAW to SmackDown during the draft. The Monday Night Messiah will have to choose a new monicker for himself as he has been moved to Friday nights.
Dave Meltzer of The Observer has revealed that the main reason for Seth Rollins leaving RAW is for him to fill in for AJ Styles, who has been drafted to RAW. It was expected that AJ Styles would be heading to RAW during the Draft as Styles had an issue with Paul Heyman.
Styles in particular was expected since he publicly complained about missing his son’s high school football games on Friday nights, just months after complaining about wanting to get off RAW because he blamed Heyman, who was in charge at the time, for Karl Anderson & Doc Gallows being fired. Rollins was his replacement and to keep his angle going, that meant the Mysterio family and Murphy had to go to Smackdown with him.
#1 Real Reason why RAW Underground was scrapped
RAW Underground had started off hot and gave the fans a new and exciting concept. Shane McMahon's brainchild received mostly positive reactions from fans as it was something different. However, it looks like the era of Underground fighting has come to an end and we won't be seeing much of it anymore.
Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Newsletter has revealed that the reason why RAW Underground has been nixed is that WWE wants to keep the NXT stars and WWE Superstars away from each other.
One of the biggest RAW Underground matches that took place was former WWE Universal Champion Braun Strowman taking on NXT Superstar Dabba Kato.
Meltzer has reported that WWE want to separate the NXT Superstars who were a part of RAW Underground from the RAW and SmackDown roster as they were worried about another virus outbreak. He also said that following the WWE Draft, which ended this past week on RAW, WWE were skeptical about the RAW Underground segments fitting into the show. (H/T WrestlingInc)
