5 things WWE needs to avoid in 2018

The year 2017 was a mixed bag for the WWE. While RAW captured our imagination by delivering one great PPV after another, Smackdown somehow limped its way towards the finish line. Bad booking decisions plagued the blue brand throughout the year. Thus, what could have been a breathtaking year, ended up being a mere blip on the radar.

The WWE is infamous for being stubborn and not learning from its mistake. But the recent revamping of the Survivor Series match card at the last possible moment shows that things might be taking a U-turn for the better. WWE's current roster might very well be one of its finest ever ensembles till date.

So, if the WWE can avoid a repeat of the booking blunders they committed in this year, then 2018 might turn out to be a tremendous year to be a wrestling fan. Here are five things that the WWE should not do in 2018 to make it a phenomenal year

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#1 Utilize big names in the tag team division

Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins must compete in the singles division.

2017 was without any shadow of a doubt the year of the tag team division. While the tag teams of The Hardy Boyz, The Bar and The Shield stole the show on RAW, New Day and The Usos had an epic rivalry on the blue brand as well. Kudos to these tag teams for reviving the stale WWE tag team division and turning it into the mainstay of the company.

But the WWE might have missed a trick or two by restricting superstars like Jeff Hardy, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, Cesaro and Sheamus to the tag team division. These stellar competitors could have produced awe-inspiring bouts in the singles division instead. Drafting these larger than life superstars over to Smackdown could have turned around the fortunes of the blue brand as well. But the WWE had other plans.

With the return of The Revival, and main roster call-ups for Author of pain and Sanity just around the corner, the tag team division of the WWE could do without the services of these superstars. They can be utilized to strengthen the singles division in 2018 instead.

#2 Make Smackdown play second fiddle to RAW

The blue brand needs to regain its lost glory.

2017 wasn’t a half decent year for the blue brand. With names like Randy Orton, AJ Styles, Bobby Roode, Shinsuke Nakamura and Kevin Owens on the roster, one might wonder, how did the WWE mess up so bad. Barring the splendid Hell in a Cell PPV, Smackdown left a lot to be desired.

Putting the WWE Championship on Jinder Mahal was a gamble that did not pay off. WWE received a plethora of flak for pushing the 'Modern Day Maharaja'. As a result, a lot of weary wrestling fans stopped tuning into Smackdown on Tuesday nights. Thus, AJ Styles' second world title win came as a huge sigh of relief for the entire WWE Universe and WWE alike.

But it was too little, too late. The damage was already done. WWE would have never crowned someone like Jinder Mahal as the numero uno guy of RAW, and they shouldn't have done it on Smackdown either. Hopefully, the WWE will not put one of the most prestigious Championship in all of sports entertainment on someone undeserving this time around.

Also, while RAW is loaded with some of the biggest names in the WWE at the moment, Smackdown was always a couple of superstars short. Thus, this imbalance of star power is something that the WWE must keep in check in the year 2018.

If both RAW and Smackdown do well in 2018, then it is the WWE that will gain the most out of it. Treating Smackdown on par with RAW will surely help the WWE keep its loyal fans happy and the cash register ringing.

#3 Establish Roman Reigns as 'the face that runs the place

The Roman Empire must fall.

WWE's intention of establishing Roman Reigns as the next John Cena has been evident for quite some time now. WWE is gung-ho about the big dog, and as a result, the company has failed to notice the plethora of talented in-ring performers on its roster. Vince McMahon's adamancy regarding establishing Roman Reigns as the future face of the company is baffling and defies all logic. Even though Roman Reigns is not a terrible in-ring performer and is decent with the mic, he lacks what it takes to be the face that runs the place.

The members of the WWE Universe have expressed their disregard for Roman Reigns on every possible occasion. While on the other hand, there are several superstars on the WWE roster who deserves the top spot way more than Roman Reigns. Samoa Joe, Braun Strowman, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura and Finn Balor are just a few of the superstars who possess unbelievable in-ring skills and have the approval of the WWE fans as well.

Thus, if the WWE for once does what the fans want and decide to pull the plug on Roman Reigns push, then 2018 might turn out to be the best year ever for the WWE.

#4 Criminally misuse talented superstars

The staggering abundance of talent in WWE right now is astonishing. But what’s even more shocking is the manner in which the WWE is criminally misusing them currently. Rusev, Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, Bray Wyatt, Shinsuke Nakamura and Bobby Roode are merely few of the examples that can be cited for WWE's blatant disregard for talent.

Instead of allowing these superstars to showcase their extraordinary talent to the WWE Universe, these superstars are relegated to mid-card matches and jobbing to undeserving wrestlers like Jinder Mahal, Kane etc. Wrestlers of their calibre deserve a whole lot more.

After a half decent 2017, WWE needs an urgent shot in the arm if it wants to redeem itself in the year 2018 and properly booking these larger than life superstars will go a long way in achieving that. Imagine the dream matches that the WWE Universe will get to witness if WWE pushes the superstars that deserve it for a change.

#5 Let part-timers steal the spotlight

Part-timers should take a backseat in the year 2018.

What do Brock Lesnar, John Cena, Triple H, Kane and Kurt Angle have in common? The answer is that they are all part-time wrestlers, who have been hogging all the limelight as of late. These opportunities and honours should have ideally been accorded to younger, full-time superstars that are going to carry the company in the future.

All these part-timers are future Hall of Famers and possess unparalleled star power. They are some of the biggest crowd pullers in the history of the WWE and bring a certain nostalgic factor to the table which the fans love. But instead of holding on to their past glory and hogging the limelight, they should pass on the torch to the younger guys now.

Instead of living in the shadow of the part-time wrestlers, superstars like Bobby Roode, Finn Balor, Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe should be established as the future of the company. The part-timers should still be around, but the younger lot should be the centre of attention from here on. Then and only then will the future of WWE will be something to look forward to.