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Fresh of a rather underwhelming ‘Greatest’ Royal Rumble event, WWE needs to present an episode of Monday Night Raw that could stun, shock and most importantly surprise fans.
Coincidently this week’s episode of the flagship show is the go home episode before the 2018 Backlash pay-per-view, and with most of the narratives, WWE built up for this show has proven to be disappointing.
That is why this week on Raw WWE need to pull the proverbial rug from under their fanbases feet by producing a show that doesn’t follow the consequential norm of the usual generic format.
This week WWE can put the finishing touches on their build to Backlash while laying the foundation for future storylines, and that can all be achieved if they base this episode on one theme, the element of surprise.
#1 Balor turns heel
There is no denying that Finn Balor is one the most significant wrestlers to ever emerge in the modern era of professional wrestling.
The former World Champion has achieved every accolade in almost every wrestling promotion around the world. Therefore, his rise to the pinnacle of the WWE was a welcomed sight.
However, ever since the creator of the Bullet Club returned from injury his once badass rockstar power has been stifled by lousy booking, terrible storylines and an overall sense of apathy from the man himself.
From badass ass-kicker to a superstar that can't stop smiling even in defeat, Balor is one superstar, above the rest, who needs a genuinely earth-shattering heel turn.
Moreover, after months of building frustration, Balor can finally implode in Raw this week. Whether it is destroying Seth Rollins or proclaiming he is doing things his way, WWE can produce a crucial moment in this week’s episode of Raw.
#2 Ronda Rousey makes on Raw debut
Ever since Ronda Rousey exploded on the wrestling scene at Wrestlemania in an outstanding performance, the WWE Universe has been eager to witness her next narrative in the company.
Therefore, WWE delivered that last week when Rousey came to the aid of her best friend, Natalya and saved her from a vicious assault by Mickie James.
James vs. Rousey is a match that has been rumoured for the 2018 Backlash pay-per-view, and that is a right decision by the company, as it can further expose the former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion to the inner workings of been able to craft a perfect singles match.
Therefore, WWE could announce this marquee matchup this week on Raw. However, while this match may be pencilled in for Backlash, WWE may have a generic confrontation booked for this showdown between James and Rousey, but could the company surprise most of its ardent critics this week on Raw?
Therefore, WWE could quickly do this by having Raw general manager Kurt Angle book Rousey and Nia Jax against their Backlash opponents James and Alexa Bliss in tag team action.
While this might be an overdone match type at this point, having the Jax-Bliss feud get its finishing touches and witnessing Rousey in action on Raw will only further endear her to the WWE Universe as a star that is in the same position as every other woman wrestler in the company.
#3 Jason Jordan returns to reform American Alpha
When WWE drafted many of Smackdown Live’s mid-carders to the flagship show, the majority of the WWE Universe were surprised to see how WWE can take these underutilized stars and turn them into necessary players on the red brand.
However, when looking at the list of those former blue brand mid-carders, it is hard to see WWE pushing most of these stars this year.
If there is one star WWE has the opportunity to push to the pinnacle and succeed at doing so, that superstar is Chad Gable.
Gable as a singles competitor is a promising prospect, but the creative team has proven themselves to be incompetent when booking that scenario.
Therefore, Gable being booked in a team is a more approachable idea, as Gable produces his best work when having a partner to tag with, and what better to make a star out of the Olympic gold medalist than to reunite him with Jason Jordan.
While Kurt Angle stated last week on Raw that American Alpha will not reunite and Gable was drafted to Raw to be a singles star, nothing is stopping these two young blue chip prospects from joining and ruling the tag team division.
With Gable and Jordan reuniting WWE can pit them against superstars from the tag team division or main event scene, and that could all happen if WWE surprises fand this week on Raw.
#4 Another star is added to the IC Title match at Backlash
At the Greatest Royal Rumble event WWE had every men's title on the main roster defended at the show, and out of those seven title matches, the one that stood higher than the rest on the totem pole of quality was the IC Championship fatal four ladder match.
WWE did a splendid job in booking that match, and the outcome was the right one as Seth Rollins retained his IC Title in a gruelling match against Balor, Miz, and Samoa Joe.
At the 2018 Backlash pay-per-view, Rollins will once again defend his IC Title against Smackdown Live's very own, The Miz.
While it is highly unlikely Miz will capture the title and Rollins can lose it after such a short reign, WWE might want to keep the result ambiguous of who can walk out of the event the IC Champion.
Therefore, what better way to achieve that than have another Raw superstar added to the mix, as fans expect the IC Title to return to Raw but with which Raw superstar?
From a hungry Jinder Mahal looking to proclaim his lost glory to Baron Corbin searching for championship gold on the flagship show, WWE can boost the career's of any one of their mid-card stars by making the surprising decision of adding them to this match.
#4 Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar IV
Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 31 was fantastic, but the one at Wrestlemania 34 was disappointing, and the match at the Greatest Royal Rumble was redundant.
WWE has taken one of the more violent fueds of the last few years and drove fans away with all the terrible decisions made.
From an unlikable protagonist in Reigns to an unconvincing heel in Lesnar, this rivalry has taken the turn into ‘boring’ territory, as there is no more plot left to explore.
Therefore, this week on Raw WWE should do the unthinkable and have Lesnar finally drop the title to Reigns.
While many would argue that Lesnar would never compete on Raw and WWE might not have the title change hands on an episode of Raw, this is a decision that could save Reigns babyface character.
As Reigns feud with Lesnar has blurred his motivations, portrayed him as an over-privileged star with many free opportunities and it has left his overall persona undefined.
Therefore, instead of another PPV match between these behemoths, WWE should give Raw one of the most significant main events of the last decade and have Reigns finally conquer the Beast Incarnate.
