5 Matches that must happen on Raw in 2018

#4 A number one contender's match with stakes

While WWE has started shifting their number one contender's matches on pay-per-view, they may need a change of pace.

When was the last time Raw had a number one contender match that felt truly important to the viewer? As challengers and champions are too easy to predict in WWE's age of playing it safe. The title of being called number one contender for any major title should be an honour second to one as it makes the superstar in that position the best wrestler on the show.

However, Raw in the past has chosen number one contenders in the most foolish way possible, examples such as Nia Jax challenging Ronda Rousey on the NBCUniversal Upfront; Roman Reigns continually being given opportunities against Brock Lesnar and most mid card titles match being spawn from a superstar wanting to avenge an ambush is just lazy writing.

WWE has not produced a valid number, one contender, since Finn Balor beat Reigns back in 2016 to challenge Seth Rollins for the right to be the first ever Universal Champion, and ever since then, championship contenders have been determined via storylines, not engaging matches.

An excellent example of a recent landscape changing number one contender win was Rusev winning the gauntlet match on SmackDown Live to face AJ Styles for the WWE Title at Extreme Rules, which win made SmackDown Live feel important and made the number one contender Rusev feel relevant to be in that favourable position.

While at Extreme Rules Raw would be determining their number one contender for the Universal Championship, and the build-up to that match would most likely include tons of rehashed tag matches, and singles matches fans have seen before.

Therefore, for Raw to break that cycle, the WWE creative team should book number one contender matches that are must see with two opponents that are indeed the best in their division going at it.

As a number one contender match between the likes of Seth Rollins and Finn Balor would be epic beyond proportion as both men have one goal to become Universal Champion, as Balor is out to regain the title he never lost and Rollins goal is to climb the ladder once again.

Alternatively, a match between Sasha Banks and Bayley for the right to challenge for the Women's Title would be epic as WWE have already put years of build into their programmes thus their malicious intent to destroy each other would make for an engaging contest.

Therefore, when its all said and done WWE need to bring more importance to the title of being called number one contender and they can do that by defining both opponents motivations, raise the stakes and book a narrative that ties the entire contest together which would make for a stellar aw classic.