5 things that could happen on RAW next week

A lot happened on RAW last week, and while not quite as much happened this week, the show was chock full of fantastic professional wrestling, making it easily one of the best episodes of Monday Night RAW of the entire year. Looking back at last week, I made five predictions for what would happen this week:

- Matt Hardy Challenges Roman Reigns - I was wrong. Instead, we saw WOKEN Matt Hardy Rise!

- No Follow-Up On Elias’ Big Match - I was right on this one. He played a quick concert like always, and then his competition for the week was Braun Strowman. Strowman made him look like just another loser, and then he was completely forgotten when Kane appeared on the screen. I’m not at all surprised that the Elias match was a one-off just because they needed to fill time last week and give Roman a first opponent as a fighting champion.

- Samoa Joe Gets Punished But Attacks Reigns Again - I was half right on this, as it appeared that Kurt Angle was about to award Samoa Joe the Intercontinental Championship match that he wanted before Jason Jordan interrupted. However, Joe did indeed attack Reigns again. Not only that, but he also cost Reigns’ teammates, Ambrose and Rollins, their shot at the tag titles.

- Jason Jordan Calls Out Finn Balor - Wrong on this one. Jordan called someone out, but it was Roman Reigns. He actually called out Samoa Joe as well. The match with Roman was absolutely fantastic, and Jordan definitely has a bright future if they don’t screw it up. Sadly for Balor, although he got a victory, it was over Bo Dallas in a bad match and nobody cared.

- The Authors of Pain interfere in The Tag Title match - I was wrong, but for a moment there I thought it was going to happen. The interference actually came from Samoa Joe, and I thought maybe the AOP would come out as his backup, but alas that wasn’t the case. It would have been pretty great as Joe and the Authors vs. The Shield could be devastatingly awesome and even though they continue having really good matches, I’m getting tired of The Bar vs. The Shield.

- Overall - I went 1.5 out of 5. Not a great start, but they’re only predictions. I enjoyed RAW so I have no qualms. So how about what’s to come next week? Here’s what I think:

---

#5 The Riott Squad invade RAW, help Absolution take down Asuka

Absolution surrounds Asuka and Alicia Fox

The storylines on RAW and SmackDown Live are just too similar to not be connected. Ruby, Sara, and Liv have to have the same goals as Paige, Sonya, and Mandy and I think it’s going to be revealed next Monday night on RAW. For two weeks now, Absolution have surrounded the ring with Asuka inside, only to let her walk away. They are playing mind games, sure, but it’s also Asuka we’re talking about here, and they don’t want to risk the possibility of being made to look foolish if she is able to survive a beating or, even worse, gain the upper hand.

Next week we will see Asuka defeat another woman in quick fashion and Absolution will again surround the ring. This time, however, the Riott Squad will come running in from the crowd and attack "The Empress of Tomorrow", and all six women will leave her laying. Not only does it tie together the storyline that I am convinced is connected, but it also makes Asuka look very strong, as it took six women to take her down.

#4 Jason Jordan challenges Samoa Joe but a match never happens

Jason Jordan came very close to winning the Intercontinental Championship

Based on the events of this week, Jason Jordan and Samoa Joe clearly have a score to settle with one another. Jordan wanted a match with Joe on this week’s RAW but ended up getting taken out backstage right in front of his father. Next week will see JJ call out Joe again, and the match will be made official by GM Kurt Angle, but there will be too much chaos going on.

The match will start and may even go for a few minutes, but Roman Reigns will get involved, The Bar will run in, and Ambrose & Rollins will soon follow. Some people are speculating that next week will see The Shield vs. Samoa Joe & The Bar next week, but I expect them to wait at least one more week before going with that one.

#3 Rich Swann becomes No. 1 contender for the Cruiserweight Title

Rich Swann will earn an opportunity to be a 2-time Cruiserweight Champ

This one might seem obvious, but they could throw a curveball at us and actually give the win to Drew Gulak to play up tension in the ‘Zo Train. Gulak is so goofy and entertaining that he could actually get over as a good guy and get the crowd behind him. That won’t actually happen, and it probably shouldn’t, but it’s a possible route to take.

I do believe that next week will see Rich Swann win an opportunity to become a 2-time Cruiserweight Champion. Enzo Amore, Tony Nese, and Noam Dar will do everything they can to help Gulak win, but Cedric Alexander, Mustafa Ali and Akira Tozawa will even the playing field, allowing Swann to get the victory. I certainly would like to see Swann win the title whenever they decide to do that match, but I don’t think it will happen quite yet. Enzo will definitely lose the belt before WrestleMania, however. I feel safe stating that as a guarantee.

#2 Vanguard 1 makes its WWE debut

Matt Hardy's Vanguard 1 Drone

Next week on RAW, WWE will surely continue to escalate the feud between Matt Hardy and Bray Wyatt. They intercut promos this week, seemingly dueling each other from different dimensions. It’s actually great because the slow burn wasn’t necessary for this storyline. If you can use Broken (or Woken), Matt, then use him. Don’t spend three weeks getting there. Indeed they did not. He lost to Bray last week and lost it, spent the whole week on social media prophesying insanity, and this week he was full-on in his insane character.

That makes me think that it is certainly possible that they will pull the trigger early on the debut of Matt Hardy’s trusted drone, Vanguard 1. It will eventually make an appearance, and why not next week? Bray Wyatt is in the ring either cutting a promo or having a match and suddenly a drone descends upon him. Of course, they can’t use special effects to have Matt appear as a hologram, but it can distract Bray and get his attention so Hardy can appear on the video screen.

I really hope we see Senor Benjamin soon. Any chance he can be a surprise Royal Rumble entrant? That match is a pretty 'Great War', I would say.

#1 Strowman defeats Kane, but Kane has a theatrical recovery

Kane and Braun Strowman will do battle next week

This rivalry will not end next Monday. I can feel that and say that I am almost positive that it will continue. No stipulation has been announced (I was expecting Kane to challenge Braun to a cage match, but Braun has had 100 of them recently so I’m glad it didn’t happen) and this feud will not end without some kind of gimmick match.

That said, Braun will end up beating Kane via pinfall with a decisive victory after a hard-fought match. I don’t expect it to be a very good match, but it will be okay. The important part is what happens afterwards. I expect that this will be the main event next week, allowing WWE to get creative with special effects. Kane will lose, but they will linger a little bit too long after Braun celebrates his victory. The lights will go down and when they return, Kane will be gone but a symbol will be left in his place. I would love to see them put a hole in the middle of the ring and have it set on fire like they did at the end of the Undertaker vs. Edge Hell in a Cell match, but I don’t know if they would do that based on the lacking pyrotechnics budget.

Whatever it is, there will be some sort of theatrical display that will lead to a final payoff match with some sort of stipulation or gimmick attached to it, which finally ends the feud.