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This week's episode of RAW will emanate from Cleveland, Ohio. As we count down the hours until RAW, we know that this has to be a show that is filled with surprises galore.
As SmackDown ratings fall, RAW isn't doing too well in terms of viewership either, to be quite honest. Luckily, there's a mad scientist known as Paul Heyman who's in charge of things, and who has a great track record of building new stars, from the ground up, and making them into household names.
This is officially the first RAW after the draft, so it's a new beginning in many ways. So let's have a look at what could potentially happen, during the course of this week's RAW telecast.
I do not claim to have a crystal ball, so bear in mind that these are surprises that I'm suggesting, which are rooted in speculation.
#5 Nia Jax returns to confront Becky Lynch
Nia Jax and Becky Lynch have an untold story that stems from her breaking Becky Lynch's face, and effectively turning her into 'The Man', arguably the most over character in sports entertainment. The story never got to play out in the manner that it should have because Nia Jax was injured, as Becky Lynch would take on opponents like Natalya and Sasha Banks.
But now it may be time for Nia Jax to return and reignite a rivalry that could potentially set the world of sports entertainment on fire once again. If you notice how the rosters stack up, the RAW side is a little weaker when it comes to the women, which is why someone undrafted like Nia Jax would be the perfect fit. Could she be the woman who brings the reign of 'The Man' to an end?
#4 Asuka goes heel, goes after Becky Lynch
Asuka is just one of those Superstars who may be a reigning Champion, but based on the expectations that fans had from her back when she first debuted in NXT, she should be a lot higher up the hierarchy than she currently is. Asuka has adopted the green mist and the groundwork for a feud with Becky Lynch has already been laid out, which is something more than one fan wants to see right now. If Nia Jax does not return from injury, I can absolutely imagine this to be the route that WWE goes down.
A Champion v Champion match may be just what the doctor ordered at this point in time, and it could also build into the tag team title picture with Kairi Sane not knowing if Asuka were going babyface or heel. And it could lead to a heel turn from the Kabuki Warriors that eventually has them facing a brand new team. Heel Asuka has much potential because you generally associate the mist with a Superstar who's a heel.
Plus, we all know that a feud between Lynch and Asuka is going to be straight fire, do we not?
#3 Final member of Team Flair selected
We know that Team Hogan comprises of Roman Reigns, Shorty G, Ali, Ricochet, and Rusev while Team Flair has Randy Orton, King Corbin, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Bobby Lashley. Yes, this means that there's one more member of Team Flair yet to be determined at this stage.
We know that Jinder Mahal was drafted to the Red Brand, so what if he were to make his big return to RAW on this week's show? It could be a brand new start for him because while he was a big deal as the Modern Day Maharaja, he would return as near enhancement talent on RAW.
As a member of Team Flair, Jinder Mahal would get to rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the sports entertainment world, and would be immediately elevated in the eyes of WWE fans, I believe. He would also not have to work an entire match which is great considering that he recently returned from a very serious injury.
James Storm once told me in an interview is that the only difference in being a singles superstar and a tag team one is the number of bumps that you have to take!
#2 The Fiend appears in the ashes of the Firefly Fun House
Seth Rollins was pushed to the edge by The Fiend which resulted in The Firefly Fun House being burned down. It was a cute little segment that went with Seth Rollins' whole gimmick of 'Burn it Down'. Later, we would learn that this was a way to write the Firefly Fun House off FOX if rumors are to be believed.
So, we know that The Fiend and Seth Rollins are yet to clash at Saudi Arabia, which means that Bray Wyatt could yet appear in the ashes of the Firefly Fun House and announce that the good in him had died. He would forever be The Fiend and all aspects of his split personality would be done for good. While this may not really be the best course of action for a character as nuanced as the fiend, it is what it is.
While one has been reluctant to slot The Fiend as either a babyface or a heel, I do believe that his transition into heel territory would be complete with this simple move. There would be a lot more 'hurt' than 'heel' if this were to actually happen.
#1 Rey Mysterio teams up with The Street Profits on RAW
I think that it's very odd indeed that Rey Mysterio and Brock Lesnar have been drafted to two separate brands when there is certainly a story to be told between the two men. Brock Lesnar thrives on stories between David and Goliath and I do honestly think that a feud with Mysterio in time, following the completion of the feud with Velasquez may be just what the doctor ordered.
But then again, Lesnar is the face of SmackDown while Rey Mysterio is now a part of RAW. And the best thing that a veteran like him can do for the business at this time, is to give a bunch of young guns like The Street Profits a big rub.
Also, I do think that if Rey Mysterio, the ultimate babyface, were to square off with AJ Styles, who's a despised heel, it could lay the groundwork for what should be a very interesting feud somewhere down the line. It would certainly be a very big deal for the Street Profits to be allied with such a legend.
Think of all of the flashy moves the three men could potentially perform in unison when they compete.
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