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Welcome to the top RAW Rumors and News, where we try and bring the biggest stories and updates related to the red brand. This week RAW had a good showing and multiple storylines and feuds gained momentum.
In today's edition, we will talk about former RAW Superstar Brock Lesnar's recent return to WWE at SummerSlam and why he chose to target Roman Reigns instead of Bobby Lashley. Apart from that, we will discuss why a former WWE Champion and current RAW Superstar was ready to leave for feeling disrespected.
So without further ado, let us dive in and take a look at some big rumors and news from the world of Monday Night RAW:
#5 Reason why Brock Lesnar did not return to RAW to feud with Bobby Lashley
Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Radio revealed why Brock Lesnar was not brought back on RAW to have a SummerSlam match with WWE Champion Bobby Lashley. He revealed that WWE was protecting Lesnar for his feud with Roman Reigns on SmackDown.
By having him face Lashley and losing to him, Lesnar's aura would have diminished for a feud with The Tribal Chief.
"One of the reasons why they went with Bill (Goldberg) instead of Brock against Lashley is because they didn't want to beat Brock Lesnar. Brock winning the championship when he is not going to be around, hardly at all. You know you can do it, and it has been done before, but you know, I wouldn't have recommended it, as opposed to Lashley," Meltzer stated.
Bobby Lashley faced Goldberg for the WWE Championship at SummerSlam instead. The match was stopped by the referee when Goldberg's leg got injured to the extent that he could not continue the match.
Brock Lesnar made his much-awaited return later in the night and went face-to-face with Roman Reigns after he had defeated John Cena.
#4 Reason why RAW Superstar Kofi Kingston is missing
RAW Superstar Kofi Kingston was not seen at SummerSlam or this week's RAW. The former WWE Champion was initially slated to be part of Miz and Morrison's segment on SummerSlam. However, it was only Xavier Woods who showed up.
PWInsider reported that Kingston was absent because he was not cleared to perform. He wasn't on the road this weekend either. The New Day was initially slated to have a feud with Miz and Morrison as per Dave Meltzer, but WWE pulled the trigger on Miz and Morrison's program this week on RAW.
"PWInsider.com has been told by multiple sources that he is not currently cleared to perform. Kingston was originally slated to be part of the promotional segment pushing the Pure Life Purified Water brand with Xavier, dressed as another member of the NWO, but obviously that did not happen. He was not on the road this weekend."
Kofi Kingston has been an integral part of the RAW roster and his absence at SummerSlam definitely raised some eyebrows.
#3 Reason why RAW Superstar Damian Priest had quit wrestling
Damian Priest became the new US Champion at SummerSlam after beating RAW superstar Sheamus at the biggest party of the summer. Speaking to The Ringer Wrestling Show, the RAW superstar recalled a time when he had given up on wanting to become a WWE superstar and quit wrestling for a year.
''There were a few times that I thought that maybe I should go out and get a job, and I did. I stopped wrestling for almost a year. Something in me said, ‘I wasn’t born for this. I was born for this world. I was born for the WWE world,’' said Priest.
Priest also revealed that the match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels was responsible for him deciding to return to the ring and pursue his dream. He said that after watching the match he thought that as a wrestler it is his responsibility to make people feel the way Michaels and Undertaker made him feel.
Damian Priest made a big name for himself in other companies before finally joining NXT and becoming a top name in WWE.
#2 Eva Marie breaks character and praises RAW Superstar
Eva Marie has had an interesting run since returning to RAW. Following her SummerSlam loss against Alexa Bliss, Marie spoke to Scott Fishman. She talked about her future in WWE and what the storyline between her and her protege Doudrop has in store.
Marie praises Piper Niven aka Doudrop and said that she is absolutely incredible.
''I mean she's such a great athlete, but being able to get paired with her, work together and then our storyline is so different than what you see on RAW, on SmackDown. I love where we're going in the Alexa Bliss storyline too because everything is so unexpected. And that's what makes people want to tune in and watch. I'm excited to where we end up and where we go. Because every single week it's different where the WWE Universe thinks they know, but they have no idea." said Marie
Doudrop embarrassed Marie after she lost to Bliss by stealing her robe and refusing to acknowledge her. It will be interesting to see what route their storyline takes now that Doudrop has started to come into her own on RAW.
#1 RAW Superstar Sheamus on why he wanted to quit WWE
Former WWE Champion and top RAW superstar Sheamus recently revealed on WWE 24 that he was ready to leave WWE in 2016. During the brand split in 2016, The Celtic Warrior was the last pick for RAW at number 30. Sheamus was not happy with his low positioning on the roster and was ready to walk out.
“The draft came and I had just been WWE Champion up until the end of December [2015]. And I was the last pick on the draft. I’m thinking to myself like, ‘How have I gone from ‘The Guy’ to the last pick of the draft?’ I was like, ‘This is a serious fall from grace.’ I was so angry, man, I was ready… I kind of felt like ready to walk [out]. I really did. I felt like, ‘What am I doing? I’m not enjoying this anymore,’” said Sheamus.
After years of not being in the spotlight, the former US Champion saw a resurgence last year as he has featured heavily on RAW for the past year given his feud with a top star like Drew McIntyre and run as the United States Champion.
