WWE RAW Preview: Top Champion to suffer big defeat, Debuting star set to win Title at WrestleMania? (March 29th, 2021)

Welcome to the penultimate edition of RAW Preview before WrestleMania 37. The second last episode of RAW on the road to WrestleMania will see big matches, with several storylines quickly wrapping up before the biggest show of the year.

A three-week build between Fastlane and WrestleMania seems short, but a few of the storylines have been delivering. Here is what to expect on RAW this week:

#5. Sheamus takes on Riddle in a grudge match on RAW

Last week on RAW, Sheamus was unsuccessful against Bobby Lashley yet again. Although Sheamus has been on the losing end lately, his opponents have been the two Superstars competing for the WWE Title match at WrestleMania - Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre.

Later on RAW, Sheamus was seen backstage. The United States Champion [Matt] Riddle was circling The Celtic Warrior and annoying him. Sheamus would proceed to take Riddle's scooter and attack him with it, kickstarting a feud.

Given the timing of it, we can only assume that this will be the direction for the United States Title on RAW. However, they will face off before WrestleMania. It was announced by WWE that Riddle would face Sheamus on RAW in a non-title match.

While having a WrestleMania match on free TV might take away some of its value, both Superstars have had a great run in 2021. Sheamus, in particular, has been incredible. He has had a resurgent run while being alongside and then against Drew McIntyre, and he emerged as a legitimate potential WWE Title contender.

If WWE is planning to set up a Riddle vs. Sheamus match at WrestleMania, then we fully expect The Celtic Warrior to emerge victorious. Otherwise, the match on RAW could always end with a non-finish that would be a bit controversial.

#4. Asuka and Rhea Ripley to make their RAW Women's Championship match official

RAW Women's Champion Asuka has her match for WrestleMania 37. Last week, she faced a great challenger in Peyton Royce (in a non-title match) and came out with the win. While it was a good showing for Royce, it also meant that her Road to WrestleMania wouldn't culminate with a RAW Women's Championship match.

For the debuting Rhea Ripley, however, it will. The Australian Superstar finally made her debut as advertised and confronted Asuka post-match to challenge her to a match at WrestleMania.

Just as a refresher, Rhea Ripley won't be making her WrestleMania debut, as that happened last year against Charlotte Flair. However, she was still under the NXT banner. In her official RAW debut, she inserted herself into the Title picture.

This week on RAW, the two women will make it official as they will have a contract signing. We all know how contract signings usually end in WWE. Will Rhea Ripley make her mark on RAW?

She could end up winning the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 37.

#3. What will be the aftermath of the main event on RAW?

Things just got a lot more interesting on this end.

Randy Orton appeared in the final segment on RAW to summon The Fiend Bray Wyatt. Alexa Bliss came out, and The Fiend followed suit as he usually does. While Randy Orton doused The Fiend in gasoline, the three-time World Champion stood there menacingly and took an RKO instead.

Eventually, Randy Orton suffered another mandible claw attack, and the episode of RAW ended with Alexa Bliss pointing to the WrestleMania sign. Without further notice, the match was made official, and the episode was done.

Randy Orton has had to suffer physical and mental attacks week after week on RAW with no sign of comeuppance whatsoever. Will he finally get a measure of revenge on RAW this week? Or will it be the same story as it has been?

All we can hope is that it leads to a good match at WrestleMania. There aren't high expectations for an in-ring classic when Bray Wyatt competes, but it could be very different from their 2017 match.

#2. Will The Strowman Express run through Shane McMahon on RAW?

The moment when Shane McMahon knew he made a big mistake.

Shane McMahon's supposed "injury" was exposed on RAW last week. There was a Fastlane rematch, and Braun Strowman defeated Elias with ease. Post-match, Shane McMahon came in and used his crutch to attack Braun Strowman. Given The Monster Among Men's size, it was the crutch that bent and not Strowman's spine.

Shane McMahon immediately went running, and his injury was revealed to be fake. Braun Strowman asked for a match at WrestleMania, and it's now official.

The entire basis of the rivalry on RAW has been about Shane McMahon calling Braun Strowman stupid. It isn't the most exciting rivalry, but as long as the story on RAW leads to Braun Strowman getting a big win at WrestleMania, then that's all that matters.

What will Shane McMahon do to try and get one over Braun Strowman this week? Or will The Monster Among Men get back at The Prodigal Son? Will Elias continue to have a role in the feud?

#1. Drew McIntyre has a bounty on his head on RAW

Drew McIntyre vs. Bobby Lashley is the main feud on RAW heading into WrestleMania 37. It will headline Night 2 and has been an intense rivalry so far. Last week, Bobby Lashley became the first person in WWE to make Sheamus tap out.

While Lashley was successful, his fellow Hurt Business members Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin proved to be a thorn in his side. They challenged Drew McIntyre to a handicap match, and the former WWE Champion got Adam Pearce to add a stipulation - if he won, Alexander and Benjamin would be barred from ringside at WrestleMania.

That's exactly what will happen, as Drew McIntyre emerged victorious on RAW. Sick and tired, WWE Champion Bobby Lashley told the RAW locker room that there was a price on Drew McIntyre's head. Whoever could take him out would earn a WWE Title shot.

Will we see a big heel turn by a lower card superstar to try and get a WWE title shot? Or will Drew McIntyre escape the danger on RAW?