Welcome to this week's edition of RAW Preview. It's the go-home episode of RAW to Fastlane 2021, and we're not sure what to make of the pay-per-view. We expect a few matches to be added to the card, especially since Fastlane seems to be a SmackDown-exclusive pay-per-view so far.
There are some big high-stakes matches to look out for on RAW tonight, and it's going to be an important episode - more so than last week. What does WWE have planned in store for the fourth-last RAW before WrestleMania 37? Let's take a look:
#5. Who will step up as Bobby Lashley's next WWE Title challenger on RAW?
Last week on RAW, Bobby Lashley faced The Miz in a WWE Title rematch. Since The Miz wasn't the one holding the title, there was no option of running away. Bobby Lashley thrashed The Miz on RAW to retain his title with complete ease,
Drew McIntyre was backstage on RAW watching the match closely, and the commentators indicated that he is next in line to challenge for the title. While that might be true, he had another hurdle in the form of Sheamus.
Sheamus, who McIntyre defeated two weeks before, attacked him again, and it set up a No DQ match on RAW. It ended in a No Contest after both men took each other out.
The score is still in favor of Drew McIntyre, but Sheamus' current involvement has meant that the former's WWE Title shot could be delayed. There have been rumors that the feud between McIntyre and Sheamus on RAW is set to culminate at Fastlane in a Last Man Standing Match.
Not just that, but the match could determine Bobby Lashley's WWE Title opponent at WrestleMania 37. Given that this is the fourth-last RAW on the Road to WrestleMania, we doubt Bobby Lashley will have an opponent at Fastlane.
Instead, he will likely wait it out on the sidelines while seeing which of the two will emerge as his WrestleMania opponent. While Sheamus might be in the mix, he isn't expected to win.
#4. Riddle defends the United States Championship against Mustafa Ali on RAW
[Matt] Riddle has a big task on RAW, not only because he has to defend the United States Championship against Mustafa Ali, but also because RETRIBUTION will be in the corner helping the latter.
The last time the two men faced off on RAW, the circumstances were entirely favorable to Ali. Riddle had already wrestled a match and was worn out. Besides, RETRIBUTION helped Ali with the distractions, giving him a non-title win over the United States Champion on RAW.
If RETRIBUTION is to get elevated to the next level on RAW, then a major win is needed. Mustafa Ali holding the United States Championship would be a powerful statement, and it would also mean the end of Riddle's title reign at just 21 days.
Naturally, most fans will hope that Riddle retains the US Title on RAW. It would be a big step down for him to lose the title less than a month before WrestleMania - especially since he is just starting to pick up some steam.
#3. Will Randy Orton continue to suffer on RAW?
Few Superstars are having a worse time on RAW than Randy Orton. Ever since he set The Fiend Bray Wyatt on fire at TLC 2020, Alexa Bliss has tormented him.
With physical and mental assaults week-after-week, it appears as though Randy Orton is reaching his breaking point. Last week on RAW, he had a backstage confrontation with AJ Styles, who he faced in the main event of RAW.
The match was going well, but as predicted, Alexa Bliss appeared on the screen to distract him. She blew the fire off a matchstick, and it triggered an explosive flame in three out of the four ring posts on RAW.
Randy Orton was distracted, and the black liquid started to emerge from his mouth again. AJ Styles took advantage of the situation and hit him with the Phenomenal Forearm to pick up another big victory.
Will Bray Wyatt finally emerge from the shadows? Or is he simply taking another form?
#2. The New Day challenges The Hurt Business for the RAW Tag Team Titles
Although it was rumored to be a WrestleMania match, it's happening on RAW. Last week, Xavier Woods defeated Shelton Benjamin in a singles match, and that was enough to earn The New Day an opportunity at the RAW Tag Team Championship.
It will be an interesting and fun match to watch. Both teams are at the highest level, and The Hurt Business, in particular, has been one of the highlights of RAW this past year.
Logic would state that Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin should retain the titles. But we know that logic won't be the primary decider here. The Hurt Business would greatly benefit from having three of the four active members walking into WrestleMania as Champions.
Bobby Lashley being the WWE Champion at WrestleMania seems certain, but that isn't the case for the other two members of The Hurt Business. The RAW Tag Team titles could change hands, but will Benjamin and Alexander step up their game ahead of WrestleMania?
#1. What does Shane McMahon have in store for Braun Strowman on RAW?
Last week on RAW, the tension between Braun Strowman and Shane McMahon kept increasing. Strowman took issue with Shane McMahon and his ludacris decision-making that prevented The Monster Among Men and Adam Pearce from becoming the RAW Tag Team Champions.
The feud seems to revolve around Shane McMahon thinking that Braun Strowman is stupid. We're not sure what to make of it, but they are two big names that are seemingly set for a major WrestleMania match on RAW.
We imagine that Shane McMahon will try to outsmart Braun Strowman again, and he will possibly succeed in doing so. As long as the match's payoff is Braun Strowman decimating Shane McMahon at WrestleMania, then it's fine.
Shane McMahon has been the heel of the feud on RAW and has quietly turned in the past couple of weeks. It will be interesting to see how it plays out this week. Will Braun Strowman get one over the authority figure?