WWE Raw: Potential Spoilers, Rumors, News and Preview for December 22

When the Dec. 22 edition of WWE Raw isn't delving into holiday ridiculousness, the former members of The Shield will get ample spotlight.

Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose are set to play a big part in the last Raw before Christmas. Reigns looks to continue the momentum he earned from his return to in-ring action last week. Meanwhile, Rollins and Ambrose have angry rivals to contend with.

Minneapolis' Target Center will play host to all of that as well as a Santa with 20-inch pythons.

Hulk Hogan will appear on Monday's Raw. And judging by the video announcing his arrival, his work is going to be heavily Christmas-oriented.

As for what else to expect on the show, backstage reports, Twitter and James Wortman's five-point preview on WWE.com provide plenty of insight.

News, Potential Spoilers

Monday's Raw may be welcoming some special guests in addition to Hogan.

NXT women's champ Charlotte is reportedly going to make her second appearance on the show. PWInsider.com's Mike Johnson writes, "Charlotte is booked for the 12/22 Raw taping in Minneapolis." 

Last time out, she lost to Natalya in just over two minutes.

On Monday night, she could have her Hall of Fame father in her corner. Ric Flair is not confirmed for Raw, but he did work a live event over the weekend. As Al Lawrence noted for PWInsider.com, Flair served as the guest referee in Saturday's house show in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

It's possible, then, that The Nature Boy traveled with WWE from there and could accompany his daughter in Minneapolis, as he did at NXT Takeover.

The fans inside Target Center could also get a chance to welcome Darren Young back. After recovering from a torn ACL, he got back to action over the weekend. 

F4WOnline reported on Saturday that "Young returned after knee surgery tonight at the WWE's house show in Winnipeg." 

Young tweeted a photo of himself squaring off against Justin Gabriel: 

WWE may wish to save Young's onscreen return for the Royal Rumble, as it would be more dramatic, but with the talent pool so thinned by injury and departures, the company is likely to call upon Mr. No Days Off sooner.  

As for the world heavyweight champion, it doesn't appear that he will be headed to Minneapolis despite hailing from right next door (South Dakota) and being a University of Minnesota alum. As James Caldwell of Pro Wrestling Torch notes, Brock Lesnar is not advertised to appear on Monday's Raw.

The Superstars listed for the show are John Cena, Reigns, Kane, Rollins, Ambrose and Bray Wyatt. 

Early Royal Rumble Build

WWE made it clear last week whom Rusev would be banging heads with next. He slunk away from Ryback on Raw and blindsided The Big Guy on SmackDown.

Of the situation, Wortman writes in his five-point preview, "The ravenous goliath is no doubt hungry for retribution against The Hero of the Russian Federation."

That certainly points to an eventual collision between them. It makes more sense to save the official matchup for the Royal Rumble, so Raw is likely to just serve as a means to ramp up the tension between the two powerhouses.

Reigns, meanwhile, doesn't have a clear foe in his path. After trouncing Fandango in his first match back, Wortman hints that Reigns will steamroll over someone else. He writes, "Who will be unfortunate enough to get in 'The Big Dog's' way this week?"

WWE may be going the tried and true method of building up a star by having them defeat a series of tomato cans. With the ballroom dancer out of the way, the roster's other low-level heel options include Curtis Axel and Titus O'Neil.

There is far less uncertainty about who Reigns' former partners will target or be targeted by.

Ambrose and Wyatt's feud has stretched on for weeks now. After two pay-per-view bouts, the two met in a Boot Camp match at the Tribute to the Troops event. 

Wortman signals that The Eater of Worlds will follow up that loss with an act of violence when he writes, "How will Wyatt seek vengeance this week?"

Rollins has options when it comes to whom he tangles with. He's been feuding with both Cena and Dolph Ziggler. The latter finally got a win over Mr. Money in the Bank on Tuesday's live SmackDown.

Does WWE give Rollins a chance to respond to that? Or does Ziggler focus his attention on a new No. 1 contender for the Intercontinental Championship?

As for Cena, it looks as if that rivalry is set to continue, at least for now. Wortman asks in his WWE.com preview, "How will Rollins continue to make Cena's life miserable in the weeks leading up to the 15-time World Champion's ultimate clash with The Beast Incarnate?"

While Lesnar sits out this edition of Raw, Rollins will be there to antagonize his Royal Rumble opponent.  

Monday's Raw is sure to be a celebration of the men who once fought together in The Shield as well as an exercise in silliness. WWE routinely fills holiday episodes with comedy segments and gimmick matches. 

How the company balances its serious and goofy fare will go a long way in deciding the show's success rate.