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It's the RAW before SummerSlam and things are getting exciting! SummerSlam is set to be the biggest pay-per-view of the WWE calendar year, at least from a crowd attendance standpoint.
It's now been a month since crowds have been back and it certainly makes a difference to the product. On RAW, we will see the company wrapping up feuds and stories as we head into SummerSlam.
Who will walk out with the most momentum on the Red brand? Who will eventually walk out victorious at The Biggest Party of the Summer? We focus on five of the most important feuds on RAW and what to look forward to tonight before SummerSlam 2021:
#5. Goldberg and Bobby Lashley to have an All Mighty face-off on RAW
The marquee or main match from the Red brand this SummerSlam will be Bobby Lashley vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship. On the RAW after Money in the Bank 2021, the latter returned to announce that he's next in line for Lashley.
It took a while for The All Mighty and MVP to accept the challenge, refusing to dignify him with a response at first. However, after MVP seemingly provoked/threatened Goldberg's son Gage, Bobby Lashley finally accepted the challenge.
The only issue is that the Hall of Famer appears every alternate week on RAW. Since this is the final episode before the upcoming pay-per-view, it makes sense for him to appear. The two will face off once more before their blockbuster clash.
We've seen Goldberg spear MVP, but not Bobby Lashley. So far, the WWE Champion has escaped the wrath of the legend, but that will only be until SummerSlam.
Either way, we expect a physical altercation to happen on this week's show, with Goldberg possibly standing tall. This would almost certainly confirm that Lashley will walk out of the pay-per-view with the WWE title intact.
Another possible reason why Bobby Lashley could retain his title is the fact that Goldberg confirmed himself that he is contracted to wrestle twice a year for WWE up until 2023.
Having already faced Drew McIntyre at the 2021 Royal Rumble, The Biggest Party of the Summer might very well be the last time we see him this year.
#4. Randy Orton faces Omos on RAW
RK-Bro was the main story on RAW last week. Randy Orton returned to the brand after one-and-a-half months away but instantly disappointed fans when he told Riddle that RK-Bro was done.
That wasn't what fans wanted to hear and we saw it play out over the course of the episode. The main event of RAW was a WrestleMania 35 rematch between Orton and AJ Styles.
It was a great match with a great finish, as Riddle indirectly assisted The Viper in his win. In the final moments of the show, fans were demanding a reunion and Orton hugged his partner before hitting the RKO.
Despite the RKO, the commentators signaled that the duo is, in fact, back together - which is great news for fans. This week on the Red brand, Orton has a gigantic challenge in the form of Omos.
The latter is one-half of the tag team champions and has easily defeated any opponent put in front of him. With just one exception, it has been Omos winning the matches that have led to him and Styles retaining the RAW Tag Team titles.
We expect the 7'3" superstar to win against 18-time champion Randy Orton, but this will be a prelude to RK-Bro capturing the tag team titles at SummerSlam.
#3. How will the RAW Women's title picture unfold?
Nikki A.S.H. has been the busiest woman in all of WWE lately - not just RAW. No superstar has been on the forefront, wrestling as many weeks consecutively - including SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair.
She has a tall order in her hands as she defends the RAW Women's Championship against Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley at SummerSlam in a Triple Threat match. The story has mainly focused on her rivalry with multi-time women's champion Charlotte Flair, but Nikki A.S.H. faced Rhea Ripley last week as well.
The criticism of the RAW Women's title feud has been that it has centered a bit too much around Flair. Looking back at the build - week one saw Nikki cash in her Money in the Bank briefcase to capture the title from The Queen. The second week saw Charlotte Flair defeat Nikki A.S.H. The following week resulted in the champion getting her win back over Flair.
Last week, Nikki A.S.H. faced Rhea Ripley but it ended without a finish as Charlotte Flair interfered. It's going to be interesting to see who stands tall among the three women as they get ready for SummerSlam 2021.
#2. Drew McIntyre takes on Veer and Shanky in a handicap match on RAW
Drew McIntyre has had a busy past month on RAW. After his WWE title opportunities dried up and he failed to capture the Money in the Bank briefcase, McIntyre began a feud with Jinder Mahal.
The two are officially booked for a match at SummerSlam and that should be an enjoyable one to watch. The entire feud has been quite entertaining, as we've seen the lighter side of Drew McIntyre.
Last week on RAW, Baron Corbin tried his luck by jumping brands for one night. The idea was to beat McIntyre and get out of his financial troubles, although we're not sure how that would have worked.
Either way, it came as no surprise that he was losing the match with relative ease. The Scottish Warrior showed a moment of mercy and asked how much Corbin needed to get out of his financial woes. He said a $100,000, making McIntyre and the entire live crowd laugh.
McIntyre would mercifully end the SmackDown Superstar's brief jump to the Red brand with a Claymore Kick. This week on RAW, the odds are stacked against him as he faces Veer and Shanky in a handicap match.
Will he walk out victorious ahead of his clash against Jinder Mahal at SummerSlam 2021?
#1. The US Title picture to intensify on RAW
Sheamus vs. Damian Priest has been an underrated feud on RAW. Both men have won a lot in 2021 and it's simply the right feud at the right time. Priest has momentum on his side, as does The Celtic Warrior.
Last week on RAW, the US Champion defeated Ricochet while Damian Priest once again defeated John Morrison. We're not sure why The Miz and Morrison are even involved, especially since their feud with Priest concluded post-WrestleMania.
Either way, the US title picture on RAW is poised to intensify on the final episode before SummerSlam 2021. It will be interesting to see who stands tall between Sheamus and Priest.
Since the former has been the reigning US Champion since WrestleMania 37, Damian Priest is considered a big favorite to capture the title from him. He has been on a tear but hasn't seen Championship success just yet. We fully expect that to change at the upcoming pay-per-view.
Sheamus might stand tall on the Red brand, or they may have their own individual matches like they did last week. Either way, it should be fun to watch. This feud has delivered and more.
