WWE Raw Predictions: Braun Strowman Will Replace Goldberg

2.) Asuka (c) vs. Alexa Bliss [Raw Women’s Championship]

In the main event of last week’s WWE Raw, Alexa Bliss pinned Asuka 2 Belts in a non-title match, turning Monday Night Raw upside down. According to the WWE Rulebook, Alexa Bliss has already earned a Raw Women’s Championship opportunity against Asuka after that non-title victory. If this championship match is not scheduled for the Royal Rumble PPV this Sunday, it could very well happen on this episode instead.

Asuka should retain the Raw Women’s Championship against Bliss. In order to protect Bliss in defeat, a Randy Orton interference spot would make sense. This will probably elicit a non-finish and the return of Bray Wyatt in his new form. It has been rumored that Orton will be pulled from the Royal Rumble match at the last minute in order to have a Firefly Funhouse Match with Wyatt at the Rumble, so this match could be used to set up that transition.

Prediction: Asuka

1.) AJ Styles vs. Braun Strowman [Royal Rumble ShowCase]

For the past few weeks on WWE Raw, AJ Styles has been positioned as the standard for Royal Rumble qualifications. He has decisively defeated Elias, Drew Gulak, and Ricochet, preventing any of them from entering the Royal Rumble. On this episode, the match result will turn out differently for AJ Styles once he goes one on one with the returning Monster Among Men, Braun Strowman, who recently showed off his recent body transformation to tease his return to the ring.

Braun was scheduled to battle Drew McIntyre at TLC for the WWE Championship but he had a leg injury and had to be written off television with a storyline suspension to begin his rehab. He was expected to only be out of action for a month at max, so he will either return as a surprise entrant at the Rumble or defeat AJ Styles in his return match on this go-home episode of WWE Raw to officially qualify for the Men’s Royal Rumble.

Prediction: Braun Strowman

Special Go-Home Angle: Will Goldberg Be Replaced?

Alternatively, Braun Strowman could neglect the Royal Rumble and go straight after the WWE Championship opportunity he never received before he got suspended. Adam Pearce had promised all of the sole survivors from the Team Raw Men’s Team, one of whom was Strowman, that they would get an opportunity to earn a WWE Championship match against McIntyre. Strowman was furious that Pearce mentioned his name last and head-butted him in response.

Strowman can use this suspension to his advantage by staking his claim for the WWE Championship. While it would be preferable to assume Goldberg was just a red herring and could be replaced by Strowman, it is more probable that Strowman will be added to the WWE Championship match between McIntyre and Goldberg to make it a triple threat match. As mentioned earlier, ‘the card is subject to change.’

Strowman defeated Goldberg at WrestleMania 36 to win the Universal Championship, so he has more momentum on his side to solidify his spot in this title match. Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Goldberg vs. Braun Strowman sounds a lot more appealing than Drew McIntyre (c) vs. Goldberg for the WWE Championship match at the Royal Rumble. There would be more monstrous spots in what would be a longer, more fulfilling championship match. Agree or disagree? Stay tuned.