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Welcome to this week's edition of RAW Preview. It's going to be a huge episode this week considering how things played out in the main event and throughout the show last week.
As WWE gets ready for its trip to Lyon, France in a few weeks for Backlash, fans already have a main event for the show. Not only that, but this will be the final episode where the WWE Universe will see the RAW roster in its current shape as we head for a two-night WWE Draft Special starting on the upcoming episode of SmackDown and ending next Monday on RAW.
So before the landscape of WWE gets shaken up, here is what we need to look forward to tonight on RAW:
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#6. A new Women's World Champion will be crowned via a Battle Royal
Last week on RAW, Rhea Ripley shocked the world when she walked out in a cast and announced that she had to vacate the Women's World Championship, the title she has held for 380 days if one includes her time as SmackDown Women's Champion.
It was a huge shock, and Liv Morgan, who attacked her the previous week and caused the injury (in storyline), didn't shy away from rubbing salt into Ripley's wounds. She reminded everyone that The Nightmare was a hypocrite for denouncing her blind attack because she did exactly the same thing to her before.
Liv Morgan will get a chance to capture the vacant Women's World Title as it will be on the line in a Battle Royal. She faces stiff competition from the Women's roster, with Nia Jax presumably being the other favorite.
Fans are guaranteed to have at least one new champion tonight on RAW.
#5. Awesome Truth defends the new World Tag Team Title against DIY
Last week on RAW, it was revealed that the RAW Tag Team Championship in its current form was being replaced by the World Tag Team Championship. It's similar to the World Heavyweight Title and Women's World Title and certainly has a more prestigious feel to it.
For the first time, they defend the title against none other than DIY, who fell short at WrestleMania 40. If Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano win, it will mark their first tag team title win on the main roster.
If they win the championship, it means that three new champions will have been crowned on tonight's episode. But will it happen?
#4. Gunther is back on RAW
For the first time since losing the Intercontinental Championship, record-breaking superstar Gunther returns to RAW. He took a two-week absence following his stunning defeat to Sami Zayn.
While we'll get to Sami Zayn later, we want to focus on a possibly new direction for Gunther. Sure, it would technically make sense for him to target Sami Zayn for Backlash: France, but considering his potential, a loss of the Intercontinental Title would historically lead to him stepping up to the WWE/World Heavyweight Championship picture.
Although "Main Event" Jey Uso is in that spot against Damian Priest, it would be interesting to see Gunther revealing that he is targeting World Championship gold going forward. It has been two years since Gunther made his main roster debut, and it may be finally time for him to go after the Undisputed WWE Title or the World Heavyweight Title.
#3. Andrade & Ricochet take on Dominik Mysterio & JD McDonagh
Last week on RAW, Andrade put Dominik Mysterio away successfully. However, it was followed up by an all-out assault from The Judgment Day's Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh.
In the aftermath of the match, Ricochet came in to make the save and aligned himself with Andrade. Tonight, the two of them will take on Dominik and JD McDonagh, who they will be expected to defeat with relative ease.
#2. What will Cody Rhodes have to say about AJ Styles?
This past week on SmackDown, AJ Styles timed himself well as he gauged LA Knight in the eye before hitting the Phenomenal Forearm, getting revenge for his loss at WrestleMania 40 and securing the number one contender's spot for the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Although Cody Rhodes and AJ Styles have surprisingly never clashed in a singles match, Styles has faced his father Dusty Rhodes in his earlier days. It's undoubtedly going to be brought up in their feud.
Ahead of the big contract signing, what will The American Nightmare have to say about his first televised Undisputed WWE Title challenger?
#1. The fallout from the shocking end to last week's episode
The main event of RAW last week saw Sami Zayn have a full-circle moment as he successfully defended the Intercontinental Championship against Chad Gable in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
While it may have erased the ghost of February 2023, Sami Zayn's wholesome moment with his wife post-match was cut short by Gable, who suplexed him and turned heel in the process.
It led to a full-fledged assault, with Gable making his intentions loud and clear. It's no more Mr. Nice Guy as he is done mentoring and set to take matters into his own hands.
It's obvious that the Intercontinental Title feud between them is far from over. But what will be the immediate fallout of that assault on RAW?
