WWE RAW: 5 Backstage rumors that could have a major impact - Controversial angle scrapped, Major plans for 5-time IC Champion's return  (9th March)

With the last stop before WrestleMania 36 - Elimination Chamber - done, WWE will look to build towards the grand show with even more zest on this week's RAW. While multiple matches have been made official for the show, there are still lots of matches that have not been confirmed by the company.

Edge will be making his return to RAW this week to address the situation with Randy Orton. What does the Edge vs Randy Orton storyline have in store? Read on to find out along with other interesting rumors that may affect RAW:

#5 Reason for Lana/Rusev/Lashley angle being scrapped

One of the hottest angles to have taken place in WWE is the controversial feud featuring Rusev, Lana and Bobby Lashley. It was being reported that McMahon was himself a fan of the feud and it came as a surprise when the angle was scrapped all of a sudden.

It had been reported by WON that the reason for stalling the Rusev/Lashley feud was because WWE wants Rusev to re-sign with them first.

There should be a Rusev-Lashley blow-off after all that build, but Rusev has been taken off TV so it looks like he never gets his revenge at the end unless his contract situation works out.

Now, PWInsider has reported that the reason Lana was absent from RAW last week was that she was shooting a movie. They also stated that WWE is done with the angle involving Liv Morgan and we will not be seeing any more on that front even if the Rusev/Bobby Lashley program restarts.

Liv Morgan had returned to RAW on the episode that featured Lana's wedding with Lashley, and revealed that Lana and she had been intimate. She also stated that Lana had betrayed her trust and that she was out for revenge.

Liv Morgan was part of the Elimination Chamber match and will likely continue feuding with her former Riott Squad teammates.

#4 Paul Heyman is involved in top WrestleMania 36 storyline

One of the biggest stories heading into WrestleMania 36 is Edge taking on Randy Orton. After a brutal attack by Randy Orton on Edge after his return on RAW, the Rated-R Superstar had to be stretchered out of the arena.

Orton did not stop just there; in subsequent weeks he brutally attacked Edge's friend Matt Hardy as well as his wife Beth Phoenix. There is no denying that this is building up to be a highly personal rivalry with a lot at stake. As per WrestlingNews.co, Paul Heyman has taken the lead in writing this story even though both Edge and Orton are involved.

“A lot of what is playing out on TV is coming from Paul Heyman but I am told that Randy Orton and Edge have been giving a lot of their input on this storyline.”

5-time IC Champion Edge will be returning this RAW and it will likely be for him to say that he will be facing Randy Orton at WrestleMania 36 even though he is not medically cleared.

“The story idea going into the match is that Edge will be wrestling against doctor’s orders and he is risking paralysis if he steps into the ring with Orton.”

#3 Bad news for Ricochet's push

Although once touted as the next breakout star on RAW, Ricochet has been reduced to an enhancement talent, or in simpler terms - a jobber - of late.

The former US Champion got destroyed by Brock Lesnar in his WWE Championship match at Super ShowDown. However, the biggest blow came when Ricochet lost clean to 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss on RAW last week.

As per reports, the original plans were to have R-Truth face Riddick Moss but Vince McMahon later changed them and sent Ricochet to be the scapegoat instead. While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer stated that Vince is not high on Ricochet as of now and that he may be 'done' with the Superstar.

Ricochet is done. Yeah. It's Vince! You know, he may change his mind next week, but yeah, this week he's done. He's so done. This was a burial, without a doubt, like who knows, he gets these things in his head. With Cedric Alexander, he was supposed to get a big push and Vince just buried the guy, and now he's burying another guy.

#2 Brock Lesnar wants to put over Drew McIntyre

In Kayfabe terms, Drew McIntyre is the first challenger in a long time to have truly put The Beast Brock Lesnar on notice. The Scottish Psychopath has continuously managed to get one up on the WWE Champion - from eliminating him from the Royal Rumble to decimating him on RAW last week.

As per Sportskeeda's Tom Colohue, there is a great deal of respect between the two men and Lesnar wants to make the angle with McIntyre perfect. The Beast Incarnate is putting in all the effort to put over McIntyre and it is certain that McIntyre's strong build will continue on RAW this week too.

Here is what Tom Colohue and Korey Gruntz discussed:

In addition to that, when you hear the crowd chanting one more time, Brock Lesnar heard it, Lesnar got up. He showed for it. Lesnar is doing everything he can to put Drew McIntyre over and he's been doing that since the Royal Rumble match. Brock is really invested in this and it's great to see. It really shows the amount of respect between the two men and it really shows how good a match we're going to get.

#1 Vince McMahon doesn't want AJ Styles to lose clean

AJ Styles is one of those veterans who can pull off any role given to him by the company. Maybe that is why Vince McMahon is so fond of Styles even though the former 2-time WWE Champion doesn't exactly fit the stereotype of wrestlers McMahon usually takes to.

AJ Styles will be facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania 36, but he had the task of battling Aleister Black at Elimination Chamber first. Styles lost his match thanks to interference by The Undertaker, who helped Black pick up the victory.

However, it is quite possible that Styles will get his revenge on Black on RAW this week as his match against The Undertaker draws closer. Vince McMahon is high on Styles and didn't want him losing clean in order to protect him, as per Dave Meltzer of WON:

Vince isn't going to let Aleister Black, I don't think Vince will let Aleister Black beat AJ clean right now. If he was wrestling someone other than The Undertaker, maybe, you know what's funny?

It seems like almost every babyface because it was the case with Ricochet, with Cedric, with Humberto, it's like they are put in a position, and AJ is the guy who is going to be the big win to set them up to be the star and every case AJ ends up not losing to them.