WWE Superstar Shakeup: 4 Trades that need to happen.
So last week on RAW, Vince McMahon announced a superstar shake up. By all accounts this appears to function more like a series of trades between the brands than the previously used draft. So with that in mind, I've decided to lay out some trades that really should happen to improve both brands.
Now some "rules" I put on myself: Champions wont be traded...the Brand Split is too new for titles to jump around. Plus WWE color coded the damn belts, so the red universal title would look kinda dumb on the blue brand. Nor will the entire crusierweight division be switching brands (even though that would make life easier for that entire division..but thats a different issue)
In that same vein, any challenger for a title I also assume wont be traded, unless WWE is dumb enough to basically then give away the results of their next two PPV's title matches (cause again the titles arnt switching brands)
So this means Brock Lesnar (Universal Champion) Roman Reigns (#1 Contender), Kevin Owens (US Champ), The Hardy Boyz (RAW Tag Champs) Sheamus and Cesaro (#1 Contenders) and Bayley (RAW Women's Champ) will not be "eligible" to leave RAW and Randy Orton (WWE Champion) Bray Wyatt (#1 Contender), Dean Ambrose (IC Champion) Barron Corbin (#1 Contender), The Usos (Smackdown Tag Champs) and Naomi (Smackdown Women's Champ) arnt "eligable" to leave Smackdown.
Also anyone who just debuted or returned last week wont be moving either, so The Revival, and Finn Balor stay with RAW, and Tye Dillinger, Shinsuke Nakamura and Erick Rowan are all going to stay on Smackdown.
So with all that out of the way, lets move on the 4 trades that totally need to happen:
Trade#1: Mickie James for Emma
So heres the thing, generally speaking the women on smackdown are more talented than the ones on RAW. Now yes Charlotte and Sasha may be 2 of best women on the roster right now, but once you go beyond that, the truth is the rest of the RAW roster either dont have the skills (Dana) or are just outright not used, possibly because they cant match up well with Charlotte and Sasha.
Mickie James on the other hand can definitely match up with anyone on RAW and would instantly give the division another huge name, and the first one who wasnt one of the Horsewomen. And really, shes not needed on Smackdown, where shes kinda fading into the background. Not to mention there's a feud just waiting to happen, as Charlotte, who claims to be the best woman on either roster cause shes a 4 time champ, matches up with the only woman whose won more titles than her...but a "generation" ago. Who really is the best?
Emma meanwhile could fit in on RAW I suppose....but shes also the case and point for misuse, kept off TV for months to be "repackaged" into Emmalina, only to have that gimmick literally abandoned in seconds after it debuted. At this point the best way to get her momentum back, and get away from the "stank" of Emmalina might just be to kick her over to Smackdown. Especially since as a heel shes tends to play the tough badass role, which Nia Jax currently occupies on RAW, but there really isnt anyone in that role over on Smackdown.
Trade #2: Sami Zayn for Aiden English
This may seem insulting to Sami Zayn....but thats the point.
From a storyline point of view, Stephanie McMahon hates Zayn and thinks he brings nothing to the table....so trading him for a complete nobody makes sense for her, and Smackdown would be dumb not to just at the chance
Meanwhile the truth is, Smackdown is pretty light on midcarders right now....Sami has future IC champ written all over him. And given the main event isnt as densely packed on Smackdown, hes got a much better chance of rising all the way to WWE champion than he does over on RAW.
Aiden English meanwhile finds himself a man without a partner as Simon Gotch was just let go by the company, which also means he may be a man without a gimmick, and roster chances have previously been one of the times its find to completely reinvent your character without needing to be off TV for a while, so it works for him too. And heck I think it would be hilarious for English to take a gimmick where he demands the respect he's due as a member of one of the most famous wrestling families in the world, the Guerrero's (hes married to eddies daughter) and doesnt get why no one will give it to him (similar to say how Curtis Axel was using Axelmaina at one point while claiming he wasnt trying to be Hogan)
Trade #3 John Cena and Nikki Bella for Enzo and Cass, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas
Heres the honest truth, at this point John Cena is a part timer, and he doesnt really do much for Smackdown just by being on the roster if hes never around. RAW meanwhile seems to be the home of part timers so he'd fit in fine there. Nikki would obviously have to come with him...if for no other reason than the amount of attention their engagement got and the ratings that will bring. But at the same time, as said before, overall the Smackdown's Womens division is more talented than the RAW one, and much like Mickie James, would help bring some much needed diversity and talent to the RAW womens brand. Also worth noting this trade could be the big marquee name swap WWE likes to have to make these things feel huge, yet because of Cena's part time status wouldnt actually impact Smackdown that much...so its a nice way to move a name off smackdown without stretching the already thin main event talent even farther.
Meanwhile Enzo and Cass are kinda flailing on RAW....because they fill the same niche as the New Day and New Day does it better. So getting them away from the New Day makes sense. And Smackdown's Tag Division is in pretty desperate need of a popular team to get the division over. Also, the only woman on Smackdown who really isnt getting over: Carmella, the former manager of the pair and Cass' real life girlfriend. Putting her back with these two as a face again might finally get her over....and hell watching Cass run off James Elisworth (who seems to think hes dating carmella despite her statements otherwise) would be pretty funny
As to the other 3, well Cena is still a big enough name getting him should be "costly"....and none of these 3 guys are doing anything on RAW.....but might help flesh out the midcard over on Smackdown, given that Axel is a former IC champ and Dallas an NXT champ. Not to mention Axel and Dallas have some history with Slater (who's also stalled out over on Smackdown) as the Social Outcasts. And Axel's former tag team partner is SD commentator David Otunga from their Nexus days (which also featured Slater)...And oh yea, Bo Dallas' is the real life brother of Bray Wyatt, who needs to bulk up his family these days. So theirs lots of possibilities for both of these guys, even beyond just fleshing out the midcard.
Trade #4: Rusev for Kalisto
Remember when the brand split first started? specifically the chuck of time there wasnt a universal champion? And remember when Rusev got everyone to kinda treat the US title like a main title....or at least he acted like it was? Point is, while currently injured, he's already proven that when he returns he can handle a top spot...but hes never going to get that chance on RAW given how stacked the top of the card is. Smackdown on the other hand is a whole different animal as they really only have 6 top guys right now. Rusev would add some new blood into the top of the card, and like Zayn could also just around to the midcard division when needed too.
Kalisto on the other hand seemed destined to be a top star at the time of the brand split....until someone made the completely stupid ass idea to put him, the companies then highest profile crusierweight on the show that didnt have the crusierweight title. Moving him to RAW would fix that, and give Kalisto a chance to shine, and give the crusierweight division another major star and some more legitimacy they desperately need. Not to mention in a pinch he could reform the Lucha Dragons with Sin Cara....just in case RAW's already stacked tag division decides they need some new blood.
BONUS: "DRAFT" MATCH
Believe it or not, there is actually one WWE superstar from the pre brand split days who remains undrafted...Tamina Snuka. She was injured at the time of the draft, and was just cleared to return, given that she didnt return last week, theres an opportunity here to make her return a big deal. Hold a single cross brand match up where the winning show gains the services of a returning unnamed superstar, and have Tamina be the "prize" for winning. Now she should go to Smackdown where she wont be overshadowed as a "powerhouse" by Nia and has a ready built feud with former heel partner and family member the now face Smackdown Women's champion Naomi.
So there you have it folks, the 4 trades (and a return) that should absolutely happen. Smackdown gets a mid card, a few guys stuck under the glass ceiling on RAW get their opportunity to shine, Enzo and Cass get out from under the New Day and can be the main focus of a division. RAW on the other hand gets some new talent to bolster their womens division and the crusierweight divisions and trims some of the "fat" in stars that they no longer use or just cant go higher on the brand, clearing out a bit of "clutter" for some of the ones that remain, possibly allowing them to advance. So its a win win overall, neither show really takes a big hit and all the weak points of each show get fixed up just a bit.
Of course, this is WWE, and weve seen how the brand split worked in the past, so they probably arnt going to be much of this. Instead like usual they are probably going to take all the surprisingly successful or popular superstars off of smackdown (like Corbin, Miz, Luke Harper, Alexa Bliss), in the name of making RAW the "A" show, in exchange for some RAW stars that havnt really worked out as well as they hoped (Jinder, O'Neil, Sin Cara, Emma) to be "saved" on the "B"show and a random Crusierweight just cause they liked having a couple "wrong brand" crusierweights last time they had a crusierweights division.
But who knows, maybe since HHH and Steph and getting more and more real life power and control, WWE got past the "A" show "B" show mindset and I'll be surprised by trades actually befitting both shows...but I wont hold my breath.
Now some "rules" I put on myself: Champions wont be traded...the Brand Split is too new for titles to jump around. Plus WWE color coded the damn belts, so the red universal title would look kinda dumb on the blue brand. Nor will the entire crusierweight division be switching brands (even though that would make life easier for that entire division..but thats a different issue)
In that same vein, any challenger for a title I also assume wont be traded, unless WWE is dumb enough to basically then give away the results of their next two PPV's title matches (cause again the titles arnt switching brands)
So this means Brock Lesnar (Universal Champion) Roman Reigns (#1 Contender), Kevin Owens (US Champ), The Hardy Boyz (RAW Tag Champs) Sheamus and Cesaro (#1 Contenders) and Bayley (RAW Women's Champ) will not be "eligible" to leave RAW and Randy Orton (WWE Champion) Bray Wyatt (#1 Contender), Dean Ambrose (IC Champion) Barron Corbin (#1 Contender), The Usos (Smackdown Tag Champs) and Naomi (Smackdown Women's Champ) arnt "eligable" to leave Smackdown.
Also anyone who just debuted or returned last week wont be moving either, so The Revival, and Finn Balor stay with RAW, and Tye Dillinger, Shinsuke Nakamura and Erick Rowan are all going to stay on Smackdown.
So with all that out of the way, lets move on the 4 trades that totally need to happen:
Trade#1: Mickie James for Emma
So heres the thing, generally speaking the women on smackdown are more talented than the ones on RAW. Now yes Charlotte and Sasha may be 2 of best women on the roster right now, but once you go beyond that, the truth is the rest of the RAW roster either dont have the skills (Dana) or are just outright not used, possibly because they cant match up well with Charlotte and Sasha.
Mickie James on the other hand can definitely match up with anyone on RAW and would instantly give the division another huge name, and the first one who wasnt one of the Horsewomen. And really, shes not needed on Smackdown, where shes kinda fading into the background. Not to mention there's a feud just waiting to happen, as Charlotte, who claims to be the best woman on either roster cause shes a 4 time champ, matches up with the only woman whose won more titles than her...but a "generation" ago. Who really is the best?
Emma meanwhile could fit in on RAW I suppose....but shes also the case and point for misuse, kept off TV for months to be "repackaged" into Emmalina, only to have that gimmick literally abandoned in seconds after it debuted. At this point the best way to get her momentum back, and get away from the "stank" of Emmalina might just be to kick her over to Smackdown. Especially since as a heel shes tends to play the tough badass role, which Nia Jax currently occupies on RAW, but there really isnt anyone in that role over on Smackdown.
Trade #2: Sami Zayn for Aiden English
This may seem insulting to Sami Zayn....but thats the point.
From a storyline point of view, Stephanie McMahon hates Zayn and thinks he brings nothing to the table....so trading him for a complete nobody makes sense for her, and Smackdown would be dumb not to just at the chance
Meanwhile the truth is, Smackdown is pretty light on midcarders right now....Sami has future IC champ written all over him. And given the main event isnt as densely packed on Smackdown, hes got a much better chance of rising all the way to WWE champion than he does over on RAW.
Aiden English meanwhile finds himself a man without a partner as Simon Gotch was just let go by the company, which also means he may be a man without a gimmick, and roster chances have previously been one of the times its find to completely reinvent your character without needing to be off TV for a while, so it works for him too. And heck I think it would be hilarious for English to take a gimmick where he demands the respect he's due as a member of one of the most famous wrestling families in the world, the Guerrero's (hes married to eddies daughter) and doesnt get why no one will give it to him (similar to say how Curtis Axel was using Axelmaina at one point while claiming he wasnt trying to be Hogan)
Trade #3 John Cena and Nikki Bella for Enzo and Cass, Curtis Axel, and Bo Dallas
Heres the honest truth, at this point John Cena is a part timer, and he doesnt really do much for Smackdown just by being on the roster if hes never around. RAW meanwhile seems to be the home of part timers so he'd fit in fine there. Nikki would obviously have to come with him...if for no other reason than the amount of attention their engagement got and the ratings that will bring. But at the same time, as said before, overall the Smackdown's Womens division is more talented than the RAW one, and much like Mickie James, would help bring some much needed diversity and talent to the RAW womens brand. Also worth noting this trade could be the big marquee name swap WWE likes to have to make these things feel huge, yet because of Cena's part time status wouldnt actually impact Smackdown that much...so its a nice way to move a name off smackdown without stretching the already thin main event talent even farther.
Meanwhile Enzo and Cass are kinda flailing on RAW....because they fill the same niche as the New Day and New Day does it better. So getting them away from the New Day makes sense. And Smackdown's Tag Division is in pretty desperate need of a popular team to get the division over. Also, the only woman on Smackdown who really isnt getting over: Carmella, the former manager of the pair and Cass' real life girlfriend. Putting her back with these two as a face again might finally get her over....and hell watching Cass run off James Elisworth (who seems to think hes dating carmella despite her statements otherwise) would be pretty funny
As to the other 3, well Cena is still a big enough name getting him should be "costly"....and none of these 3 guys are doing anything on RAW.....but might help flesh out the midcard over on Smackdown, given that Axel is a former IC champ and Dallas an NXT champ. Not to mention Axel and Dallas have some history with Slater (who's also stalled out over on Smackdown) as the Social Outcasts. And Axel's former tag team partner is SD commentator David Otunga from their Nexus days (which also featured Slater)...And oh yea, Bo Dallas' is the real life brother of Bray Wyatt, who needs to bulk up his family these days. So theirs lots of possibilities for both of these guys, even beyond just fleshing out the midcard.
Trade #4: Rusev for Kalisto
Remember when the brand split first started? specifically the chuck of time there wasnt a universal champion? And remember when Rusev got everyone to kinda treat the US title like a main title....or at least he acted like it was? Point is, while currently injured, he's already proven that when he returns he can handle a top spot...but hes never going to get that chance on RAW given how stacked the top of the card is. Smackdown on the other hand is a whole different animal as they really only have 6 top guys right now. Rusev would add some new blood into the top of the card, and like Zayn could also just around to the midcard division when needed too.
Kalisto on the other hand seemed destined to be a top star at the time of the brand split....until someone made the completely stupid ass idea to put him, the companies then highest profile crusierweight on the show that didnt have the crusierweight title. Moving him to RAW would fix that, and give Kalisto a chance to shine, and give the crusierweight division another major star and some more legitimacy they desperately need. Not to mention in a pinch he could reform the Lucha Dragons with Sin Cara....just in case RAW's already stacked tag division decides they need some new blood.
BONUS: "DRAFT" MATCH
Believe it or not, there is actually one WWE superstar from the pre brand split days who remains undrafted...Tamina Snuka. She was injured at the time of the draft, and was just cleared to return, given that she didnt return last week, theres an opportunity here to make her return a big deal. Hold a single cross brand match up where the winning show gains the services of a returning unnamed superstar, and have Tamina be the "prize" for winning. Now she should go to Smackdown where she wont be overshadowed as a "powerhouse" by Nia and has a ready built feud with former heel partner and family member the now face Smackdown Women's champion Naomi.
So there you have it folks, the 4 trades (and a return) that should absolutely happen. Smackdown gets a mid card, a few guys stuck under the glass ceiling on RAW get their opportunity to shine, Enzo and Cass get out from under the New Day and can be the main focus of a division. RAW on the other hand gets some new talent to bolster their womens division and the crusierweight divisions and trims some of the "fat" in stars that they no longer use or just cant go higher on the brand, clearing out a bit of "clutter" for some of the ones that remain, possibly allowing them to advance. So its a win win overall, neither show really takes a big hit and all the weak points of each show get fixed up just a bit.
Of course, this is WWE, and weve seen how the brand split worked in the past, so they probably arnt going to be much of this. Instead like usual they are probably going to take all the surprisingly successful or popular superstars off of smackdown (like Corbin, Miz, Luke Harper, Alexa Bliss), in the name of making RAW the "A" show, in exchange for some RAW stars that havnt really worked out as well as they hoped (Jinder, O'Neil, Sin Cara, Emma) to be "saved" on the "B"show and a random Crusierweight just cause they liked having a couple "wrong brand" crusierweights last time they had a crusierweights division.
But who knows, maybe since HHH and Steph and getting more and more real life power and control, WWE got past the "A" show "B" show mindset and I'll be surprised by trades actually befitting both shows...but I wont hold my breath.
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