5 things that need to happen on Raw this week (30 April 2018) 

After the 2018 Superstar Shake-up, Monday Night Raw’s roster is looking unbelievably one dimensional, as major stars such as Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, AJ Styles and Jeff Hardy are critical players on Smackdown Live.

However, the red brand can still manage to produce a strong episode of Raw if the creative team focuses on crucial aspects they usually ignore, as that might stop the broadcast from turning into a repetitive replay of earlier episodes.

From giving underused superstars a push to concluding many storylines in unexpected ways, the go-home episode of Raw can prove to be more than a preview for the poorly built Backlash pay-per-view and more of a catalyst for many more stories that can start to take shape in the months to come.

Therefore, that can only happen if WWE makes these few fundamental decisions on this week’s broadcast.

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#1 Underused stars get the push

WWE needs to give many of their 'jobbers' a chance

The majority of Raw’s roster consists of overlooked talent that has been misused throughout their time in the company, and for what it is worth this might be a perfect time to start rebuilding these characters by giving them a new motivation, new storylines, and secure booking.

WWE has the chance to capitalize on Titus o Neal’s newfound popularity after his well-received botch from the Greatest Royal Rumble match.

Also, they also have the opportunity to set Jinder Mahal on a new path of redemption after losing two title matches in a matter two weeks, and they should continue the Miztourage’s quest of finding a new leader on Raw.

These narratives may seem insignificant, but it could result in a success story for one of these unappreciated athletes shortly.

#2 McIntyre and Ziggler target The Deleter of Worlds

McIntyre and Ziggler are the future of the tag team division

The Raw Tag Team Title match between The Bar and The Deleter of Worlds was mediocre at best, as WWE was not planning on giving these teams any spectacular material to work with leading up to that event.

Now that Wyatt and Hardy are just reeling from the biggest win of their team’s existence, they need a new challenge and some strong opponents.

While many would say that The Authors of Pain are perfect first challengers for Hardy and Wyatt, Akam and Rezar would benefit from building themselves up outside the tag team division as they are relatively new on the main roster.

Hence, the one team that is on a red-hot streak at the moment is Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler. Therefore, WWE should not waste any time in pairing these teams together in a feud.

While Backlash is just a week away and there is no time for a proper build between these teams.

However, WWE can commence a war between these teams this week on Raw. Moreover, this war can be continued through Backlash 2018 and beyond, as this rivalry can incorporate Wyatt’s and Hardy’s wackness with the serious nature of Ziggler and McIntyre to create a genuinely captivating Tag Team Title feud.

#3 WWE gives Bobby Lashley direction

Lashley is a megastar that is shockingly underused at this point

When Bobby Lashley was rumoured to return to the company in this year, wrestling aficionados were already enthusiastic to see the big man go up against the likes of Braun Strowman, Roman Reigns, and even Brock Lesnar.

Therefore, WWE listened to its fanbase and resigned the former ECW World Champion.

However, ever since Lashley appeared on the Raw after WrestleMania, he has done nothing memorable in the company, as beating up Elias, getting lost in tag team action and being eliminated at the Greatest Royal Rumble match is nothing special.

Therefore, this week WWE needs to start building up Lashley as a formidable heel or babyface in the company, and the only way to do that is to give the man a narrative.

Whether that narrative involves him extracting revenge on Strowman for stealing his spotlight in the Greatest Royal Rumble match, standing face to face with Lesnar or targeting Rollins for an IC Title match, WWE needs to give Lashley a narrative and fast.

#4 Bayley and Banks make peace

WWE needs to end in this rivalry unexpectedly

Bayley and Sasha Banks have been feuding for the last few months, and while this feud has had many highlights, it has dragged to the point where a heel turn, a final blow-off match or any swerve would feel mediocre.

These two performers have done their best with the little material they were given, but there is no chance of this feud blossoming into an era-defining rivalry in 2018, as WWE has delayed the conclusion for too long.

Therefore, the only possible solution for Bayley and Banks to progress this narrative is to conclude it, and that can happen this week on Raw.

After months of on and off interactions among Banks and Bayley, WWE could have them bury the hatchet and move on, as the creative team could have better booking options for them on the horizon.

Whether that is teaming together to win the rumoured Women Tag Team Titles, separately feuding with other wrestlers or branching off into other prospects, by WWE wasting two of the best woman wrestlers of this era in a meaningless feud is absurd booking by the company.

#5 Reigns vs. Lesnar concludes

Reigns vs. Lesnar has no more narrative to cover.

WWE knew that Reigns had no chance of being heralded as the WWE Universe's hero by defeating Lesnar at WrestleMania. Thus they delayed his crowning victory at "the showcase of the immortals."

Therefore, many thought the Reigns vs. Lesnar rematch at the Greatest Royal Rumble event meant that WWE would finally be concluding one of the most repetitive championship storylines in the company today.

Moreover, many predicted that it would end with Reigns defeating Lesnar for the Universal Title in front of a more kayfabe inclined crowd.

However, WWE once again shocked fans by having Lesnar win controversially. Whether WWE is building a storyline where Reigns captures the Universal Title at the most opportune time, or they are building this narrative in such a way where wrestling fans would not be able to predict the end Lesnar's reign, this narrative needs to conclude.

Therefore, this week on Raw, either Reigns goes in a new direction, or Lesnar gets a new challenger, WWE needs to separate these two men from each other.

As it is only proving to drag down aw’s main event scene, it is doing nothing for Reigns struggling character, and it is not adding prestige to an already overlooked Universal Title.