'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE had an eventful week where not only did the Superstars of WWE RAW, NXT, and SmackDown get a chance to showcase their talent on their own brands, but also got to appear at the Royal Rumble.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre successfully defended his title against Goldberg and managed to break Goldberg's new return streak. Roman Reigns, on the other hand, defeated Kevin Owens after both men put each other through a lot of punishment for the Universal Championship.
Bianca Belair and Edge surprised the world with phenomenal performances during the Royal Rumble matches, and it will be great to watch the two Superstars appear at WrestleMania. WWE NXT Superstars also got a chance to shine during the Rumble matches.
Trending
Who will the two Superstars challenge at The Show of Shows? And was the return of several top names just for one night only, or will a few stick around for some big matches?
Additionally, on NXT, The Undisputed ERA once again gave some backup to NXT Champion Finn Balor. Santos Escobar managed to escape his match against Curt Stallion, but he will defend his NXT Cruiserweight Championship this week.
In this article, let's look at five things that must happen in WWE this week.
#5 WWE RAW must find the next challenger for Asuka
Asuka last defended her WWE RAW Women’s Championship against Lana in November. Over the past two months, WWE has failed to build any new challengers for Asuka’s title and has kept her involved in a partnership with Lana, followed by Charlotte Flair.
While Asuka and Flair’s alliance did not necessarily click, WWE kept Asuka’s RAW Women’s Championship out of the picture for some time. Now that Asuka has lost the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship with Flair, WWE must start building Asuka’s next challenger this week.
Asuka’s current reign as the Champion has been forgettable, and WWE needs to step up the game on WWE RAW on the road to WrestleMania. Bianca Belair won the Women’s Royal Rumble, and fans could watch her appear on RAW to tease a match against The Empress of Tomorrow.
On the other hand, fans could watch an NXT Superstar debut on WWE RAW and challenge Asuka, or an established WWE RAW Superstar could come forward to begin a rivalry with her.
WWE needs to heat up the WWE RAW Women’s title, and the creatives must begin building a rivalry for her starting this week.
#4 Karrion Kross must disrupt the WWE NXT Cruiserweight Championship match this week
Last week on WWE NXT, Curt Stallion was all geared up to compete against Santos Escobar in an NXT Cruiserweight Championship match. However, Stallion was attacked backstage before the match and was unable to compete.
It was suspected that Legado del Fantasma had something to do with the attack on Stallion. Later on, Escobar found a message under his title belt that signaled towards a new challenger for him.
William Regal has set a match between Stallion and Escobar for this week’s NXT with the title on the line. WWE must take this match as a good way to bring Karrion Kross into the picture, to make Escobar pay for the remarks he made a few weeks back.
Escobar had taken shots at NXT Champion Finn Balor and Kross during a promo, and WWE will likely allow Kross to destroy Legado del Fantasma for their actions.
Kross must appear during the match between Stallion and Escobar at a time when Escobar’s accomplices are helping him, and attack all three men to send a message. This will protect Stallion from a loss and give him a chance to fight Escobar once again.
Kross, on the other hand, could leave a mark on NXT by attacking a top Champion.
#3 Io Shirai must challenge Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez to a match on WWE NXT
Io Shirai last defended her WWE NXT Women’s Championship in November 2020. Since then, the Superstar has only competed in one more match at NXT TakeOver: WarGames. Before TakeOver, Ember Moon emerged as a top candidate to challenge Shirai for the title. However, over the past several weeks, Toni Storm and Mercedes Martinez seem to be the top two women who are after The Genius of the Sky.
Last week, Shirai was attacked by both Storm and Martinez, and WWE should use that angle to build Shirai’s next title defense. On this week’s NXT, WWE must give Shirai a chance to come out and challenge both the women to a Triple Threat Match.
Shirai has proven to be a fearless Champion on NXT who has looked forward to competing in matches. If WWE allows her to challenge the two top Superstars, it will make her come across as a bigger babyface and a better Champion.
The NXT Women’s Championship scene needs to heat up soon, and WWE must allow Shirai to take the first step in building towards her next match.
#2 Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest must head to WWE RAW and SmackDown
Sunday’s WWE Royal Rumble event allowed Bianca Belair and Hall of Famer Edge the opportunity of a lifetime. Both Superstars are on their way to a title match at WrestleMania 37. During the Royal Rumble matches, WWE allowed several top Superstars to return and make a surprise appearance.
Some NXT Superstars also got a chance to appear during the Royal Rumble and make an impact. Two Superstars who made the most impact from WWE NXT were undoubtedly Rhea Ripley and Damian Priest. Both the Superstars have been off NXT since New Year’s Evil.
Ripley appeared in the Women’s Royal Rumble and eliminated seven women from the match. Priest, on the other hand, eliminated four men from the Royal Rumble including Kane. Now that they’ve made a mark on the WWE Universe, the company must allow them to move to the main roster this week.
Ripley must be allowed to move to WWE SmackDown where she can have some major rivalries and move up into the SmackDown Women’s Championship picture post-WrestleMania.
Priest, on the other hand, must head to WWE RAW where he can have some major rivalries. WWE must not waste any time in moving these two Superstars to the WWE RAW and SmackDown main rosters after they’ve already made a major impact.
#1 Christian heads over to WWE SmackDown for a rivalry
WWE Royal Rumble allowed fans to get some surprise returns and appearances from many big names. While Victoria, Torrie Wilson, and Carlito may have returned for one night only, Christian’s return was one of the biggest surprises.
Just like Edge, Christian’s career had been cut short due to injury and the Superstar had been away from the ring for several years. His reunion with The Rated-R Superstar was extremely emotional and gave fans a feel-good moment.
Captain Charisma was also one of the last-four Superstar in the men’s Rumble match along with Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, and Edge. Rollins denied Christian a dream opportunity for WWE WrestleMania, and the company could use that spot to build a huge rivalry on SmackDown.
Christian’s return is surely big, and it’s not sure how much longer he will compete in the ring. However, WWE must allow the Superstar to head over to SmackDown this week and address his condition before teasing a potential rivalry against Rollins.
Rollins returned during the Royal Rumble match, and both men must work on a rivalry heading into WrestleMania, where they could have a huge match to light up the event.
