WWE Raw: 5 Matches That Need to Happen on the 1,000th Episode

The upcoming 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw is shaping up to be a ridiculously stacked show.

The historic episode is expected to be three hours of awesomeness, with a lineup that includes all of the WWE's biggest current stars and a slew of legends from the past, including The Rock and Shawn Michaels.

Given how many big names are slated to appear on Raw 1000, chances are that the vast majority of the show will consist of in-ring segments and backstage skits.

But there's certainly going to be some wrestling, too, and given how big the spotlight on this show is, that wrestling should be of the highest quality.

We've already got a potentially epic WWE Championship match between John Cena and CM Punk lined up, but more great matches are bound to happen.

Here are five big matches that need to take place on the historic 1,000th episode of Monday Night Raw. 

WARNING: The following article contains some SPOILERS from tonight's SmackDown, so STOP READING NOW if you like to be surprised.

5. Sheamus vs. Cody Rhodes

You know who's left with absolutely nothing to do on SmackDown at the moment?

Cody Rhodes.

He didn't win the World Heavyweight Championship Contract at Money in the Bank, he appears to be done with the Intercontinental Championship and Christian, and he doesn't even make an appearance on tonight's SmackDown.

When you consider how talented Rhodes is, and it's a shame to see him get lost in the shuffle when he should be getting the spotlight.

I really hope he's used on Monday's 1,000th episode of Raw, and I hope it's in a high-profile match.

Since Rhodes has nothing else to do, I'm all for putting him in a match against the World Heavyweight Champion, Sheamus.

They've faced each other before, but it happened so long ago that it would be fresh while also likely not ruining a potential feud between the two (I don't see Rhodes stepping up to challenge Sheamus anytime soon).

Plus, Sheamus and Rhodes have worked together enough times to develop some good chemistry and seem destined to put on a great match if given enough time.

After all, Sheamus is going to have to do something on the show, and this match might be the way to go.

4. Intercontinental Championship: Christian (c) vs. Daniel Bryan

On last week's Raw, the fans voted for Christian to defend his Intercontinental Championship on the 1,000th episode.

Chances are that we won't find out who his opponent is until that match actually happens, but I'd love for that opponent to be Daniel Bryan.

I know that Bryan is "getting married" that night. Blah, blah, blah. Whatever.

But the stage will be set for Bryan vs. Christian on this week's SmackDown, when Bryan appears on "The Peep Show" and Christian ends up getting slapped by AJ.

While I realize that this might be considered a step down for Bryan, no one said he has to win, and I'd much rather see Christian face someone he can actually put on a great match with than a former Intercontinental Champion from the past just to keep in line with the throwback theme.

Most of the greatest IC champs of all time have sadly passed away, and the ones that haven't are too old to put on a watchable match.

I'm all for nostalgia, but I don't want to see Christian vs. The Honky Tonk Man, and I'm sure most other wrestling fans don't want to, either.

Instead, I'm hoping that the WWE gives us a match that both makes a sensible storyline and would be fantastic wrestling match.

Come on, you know Christian vs. Bryan is just screaming greatness.

3. Heath Slater vs. Multiple Legends...or Undertaker/Stone Cold

For the past couple of months, Heath Slater has suffered a handful of embarrassing, quick-and-easy losses to some WWE legends from the past, including Vader and Psycho Sid.

The ongoing angle between Slater and the legends has gotten Slater over big-time, but according to F4WOnline.com (via 24Wrestling.com), the storyline is expected to conclude with a big payoff on the 1,000th episode of Raw.

Given how many legends will be in the arena that night, I could easily see Slater being forced to take on five or so of them in perhaps a gauntlet match or battle royal.

I'd be more than OK with this, as I've found Slater to be incredibly entertaining over the last several weeks and wouldn't mind seeing him step in the ring with a number of legends one last time before moving on to something different.

But if we're going to be honest with ourselves here, Slater might make an even bigger splash if he steps into the ring with one of the biggest legends in the business instead.

I'm talking about two men: Either "Stone Cold" Steve Austin or The Undertaker.

Both Austin and Undertaker played such a huge role in the success of Raw that it would be a borderline tragedy if they didn't appear on the show's 1,000th episode for at least a few minutes.

I'm not even saying that they necessarily have to have a match.

Austin would get a massive pop if his music hit and he planted Slater with a Stunner. Ditto for Undertaker if he nailed Slater with a Tombstone.

I can imagine seeing Slater's shocked face, and then seeing him get laid out by one of the biggest stars in wrestling history.

Now, that would be awesome. 

2. The Miz vs. Chris Jericho

Ever since Chris Jericho returned from the infamous Brazilian flag suspension, the fans seem to appreciate him more and have often welcomed him into arenas with the reception that's more typical for baby faces.

In fact, that seems to have led to a face turn for Jericho on last week's Raw.

Ironically enough, another WWE star, The Miz, recently returned to TV as well (from filming a movie), and though he's almost always been a heel, he's getting somewhat of a baby face reception as well.

I'm not sure exactly what's going on right now or exactly where either The Miz or Jericho is headed as a character in the immediate future.

But I like that both guys are sort of tweeners right now and that the fans, regardless of their status, are expressing their respect for them.

So, I say, why not just throw them in a match against one another?

The Miz and Chris Jericho have never faced each other in singles action, and given that Raw 1000 is such a big deal, a "never seen before" match like this is certainly worthy of taking place on the show.

Put Y2J and The Miz against one another, see how the crowd reacts to each guy and then help determine their futures by those reactions.

Both superstars seem to be at a crossroads right now. It's up to the WWE to see which way they turn. 

1. Dolph Ziggler vs. Rey Mysterio

On tonight's SmackDown, we're going to see plenty of interaction between two guys who have a lost of history together, Dolph Ziggler and Rey Mysterio.

They will both appear in the opening segment, and they'll compete against each other in tag team action in the show's main event.

I don't know about you, but I smell a match coming.

Though Mysterio and Ziggler don't appear to be in line for a feud per say, we've seen (especially recently) the WWE build TV feuds for certain stars as sort of mini-storylines to advance their PPV-caliber feuds.

That's what could be going on with Ziggler and Mysterio.

While Ziggler appears to be feuding with Chris Jericho and Mysterio appears to be feuding with Alberto Del Rio, I have no problem with the creative team building up some animosity between Ziggler and Mysterio as a side storyline.

In fact, I welcome it.

Ziggler and Mysterio have some great chemistry stemming from their 2009 feud over the Intercontinental Championship, and I have no doubt whatsoever that they'd tear the house down again in 2012.

If the WWE chooses to keep having Mysterio and Ziggler cross paths, then a match between the two might be one of the featured bouts on the 1,000th episode of Raw.

At least it should be.

Drake Oz is a WWE Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter and ask him any wrestling-related questions on Formspring.