Welcome to another edition of the top RAW rumors that could affect the red brand. One can't say that RAW has been good as of late. While the show has hit the mark quite a few times, there are more misses than hits.
This week on RAW, Drew McIntyre and WWE Champion Bobby Lashley's rivalry heated up ahead of their clash inside Hell in a Cell. McIntyre successfully pinned Lashley during the red brand's latest main event, which means that judging by WWE's usual booking pattern, The Scottish Warrior will lose at Hell in a Cell.
Without further ado, let's dive in and check out some big rumors and stories related to Monday Night RAW:
#5 RAW Superstar Bobby Lashley ready for a match against Brock Lesnar
Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar is undoubtedly a dream match for a lot of WWE fans.
Speaking to Pro Wrestling Illustrated not too long ago, the current WWE Champion claimed that he is ready for a clash against Lesnar and isn't "running away" from him.
"So, if he ever wants the title back, instead of doing whatever he’s doing, the time is now, the math is right. It’s not like I’m running from him,'' said Lashley
But Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has stated that despite Lashley pitching for a match against Lesnar, there are no concrete plans for the same between the two as of now.
''There have been rumors about Bobby Lashley vs. Brock Lesnar but as of one week ago that was not happening, even though Lashley has wanted that match. Lesnar’s name was definitely talked about for the show by some but it was said that it doesn’t look like it will work out,'' noted Dave Meltzer.
#4 Reason why Bray Wyatt has been missing from RAW
Bray Wyatt lost to Randy Orton at WrestleMania 37 because of Alexa Bliss's distraction. He cut a promo on Bliss on the following RAW and vanished into thin air after that. While Bliss is a regular superstar on RAW and is currently feuding with Shayna Bazler, there is no word on when Bray Wyatt will return.
PWInisider noted several days ago that Wyatt has purposely not been used on RAW. The source stated that the rumors of him having heat backstage are not true.
Check out PWInsider's report below:
"We are told Wyatt has purposely been kept off TV. It is not a case of he has heat for anything as he is well liked. The Randy Orton match, we are told, went 100% exactly as planned."
#3 John Cena Sr.'s speculation on why Adnan Virk left RAW
Former lead announcer for RAW, Adnan Virk, left WWE just a few weeks after he started. The parting was said to be mutual as Virk found the travel schedule involved in the job too difficult.
John Cena Sr. recently stated on Boston Wrestling MWF’s Dan Mirade, that if WWE wanted Virk to succeed, he would have been sent to NXT first.
“If they really wanted him to succeed, they would have stuck him down in NXT. They would have had him work with some of the top men in the business, understand the professional wrestling business, and maybe six months or eight months from now put him on TV," said Cena Sr. "But they just took this man and threw him in the pool and said, ‘Swim.'"
Jimmy Smith has since replaced Adnan Virk as the new lead commentator on RAW. Unlike his predecessor, Smith has mostly received positive reviews for his work.
#2 Randy Orton to betray Riddle on RAW?
One of the most entertaining acts on RAW lately has been the newly minted tag team between Randy Orton and Riddle. The two superstars, who are polar opposites of each other, have caught lightning in a bottle and continue to entertain fans each week.
Former WWE writer Vince Russo, however, believes that RK-Bro is not going to last long. Speaking on Sportskeeda's Legion of RAW, Russo expressed that the only reason Orton is teaming up with Riddle on RAW is so he can turn on The Original Bro.
''We are building to Randy Orton giving the kid the RKO and then they are in a feud. That's what all of this is. He's going to do the pose and Orton keeps walking away and walking away, you think he's going to pose in there with the kid and he's going to hit him with the RKO and now they're in a program,'' said Russo.
#1 Piper Niven's possible ring name after Monday Night RAW appearance
NXT UK Superstar Piper Niven made her RAW debut this week. Niven was accompanied by the much-hyped Eva Marie for her match against Naomi. Niven made quick work of the former women's champion in the ring.
Surprisingly, the commentators did not acknowledge her as an existing NXT superstar and acted like she was someone they did not know of. As per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, Piper Niven may be getting the ring name “Doudrop.”
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