Lana’s write-off is leading to Charlotte Flair’s return, isn’t it?

Admit it. That was one of your first thoughts when WWE announced that, despite the months-long story of her underdog journey to be taken seriously as a wrestler, Lana will not team with Asuka to challenge Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler for the Women’s Tag titles at TLC.

Charlotte Flair is coming back to Raw.

Now, to be clear, there are no reports that Flair’s return will be the payoff at the Sun., Dec. 20 PPV. The closest we’ve got is PWInsider saying that people backstage thought it might be setting up Charlotte’s comeback, but that none of their sources can confirm that’s the plan.

I don’t think I’ll ever understand the decision to pay-off the Lana angle with a weird pin and beatdown (if that is what they’re doing... part of me hopes this a swerve for the Ravishing One to heroically run in and make the save at TLC, if just to make the last three months mean something). WWE is at least trying to convince us that one of the ladies Asuka calls the Sexy Muscle Friends, Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke, will be her partner this weekend.

But they can’t shake me of the notion that it’s the return of the Queen we’ll be getting instead.

Charlotte seems to be playing into that anticipation/fear, too:

Certainly looks like the 12 time champ wants us to think she’s preparing to walk through the curtain for the first time in more than six months, doesn’t it?

While I’m not as convinced as my boss that Flair’s return is going to make Raw better, it certainly could. She definitely brings star power - as with everything, it all depends on how she’s used. Let’s just say if she’s Charlotte Two Belts by Royal Rumble, I won’t be thrilled. Other than that, I’m interested to see what her return would mean.

We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, let us know what you think is going to happen on Sunday.