Who won and lost the 2018 WWE Superstar Shakeup?
Well, the 2108 Superstar Shakeup is over...and with 36 superstars changing shows I believe it is the largest shakeup/draft (outside of the initial brand splits) in history...so clearly there are going to be some winners and some losers....so here it is, in my opinion, the top 5 of each
Losers
#5 Paige
So in kayfabe terms....Paige looks a bit like a fool in the Shakeup. Consider, she traded the US title to RAW in exchange for....nothing really. She basically gave away one of her shows championships without getting anything equally valuable in exchange. She lucked out in that the championship happened to be won by a superstar she already traded for...but no credit for blind luck.
Now I admit, the whole US title to RAW back to Smackdown thing played real well on TV, and was an awesome swerve of the usual way the titles change shows, but if we pretend the GM's actually worked out these deals...paige looks stupid and there is no way around it.
#4 Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin is about to have a problem....he's kinda a bland big man/powerhouse. Which worked out well enough when he was the only big man around, as he was on Smackdown. Now he's on a roster with Braun Strowman, Kane, Big Show, Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns. Dude is almost redundant 6 times over, if he cant find a way to stand out from the pack, I dont see him having much a role on RAW.
#3 Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder, Mike Kanellis
Truth is, the mens singles divisions didnt really see that many changes during the shakeup....except the RAW midcard division, which said goodbye to Miz and Joe, and picked up Ziggler, McIntyre, Mahal, Roode, Corbin, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. And thats in addition to Ambrose Rollins and Balor. Granted some of those guys might move into the Universal picture, or tag scenes, but thats still a lot of guys in that singles division....and that assumes Hardy or Wyatt dont drift back into it.
And thats all before we get to these 3. I was tempted to include Chad Gable as well...but unlike these 3 he actually got some screen time on Smackdown, and proved he can both talk and wrestle...so I think he'll do better than these 3 (and possibly Corbin as well).
And thats basically the problem....these guys couldnt swim in a small pond...and now they all got chucked into a huge pond...and I cant see them swimming there.
#2 Backlash/Greatest Royal Rumble
Ok, so we already knew Reigns was winning the Universal title at the GRR. Now thanks to the shakeup, we also know Hardy/Wyatt will be the next Raw tag team champions (since the Bar is on smackdown and all).
Furthermore, we also know if either Jeff Hardy or Rollins retains, so will the other. (same with a lose) because both midcard matches are dual brand (RAW's Mahal vs SD's Hardy and RAW's Rollins vs Balor and SD's Joe and Miz)and each show has to leave with a midcard title. So thats 4 of 10 matches that can be called either right now, or as soon as the first midcard match ends.
In that same vein, we also know how both of the announced matches for Backlash HAVE to end...Reigns will beat Joe, and the representative of whatever show the IC title is on after GRR will win the Miz/Rollins match. So yeah with one pinfall at GRR, WWE will let you know the outcome of 6 matches across their next two [what was formally called] PPV's.
Also, note this is probably a bigger problem for RAW than Smackdown, as all 3 of the ones we know for sure already feature RAW belts, and since the US title is likely going to go on before the IC title...by the time that match ends we might know 5 raw brand match outcomes.
#1 Raw Tag Division
So the good news for RAW's tag team division is they gained the Ascension, Ziggler and McIntyre, the Fashion Police, and possibly Zayn and Owens. The bad news for the RAW tag division is they lost The Club and the Bar, bringing the number of active teams that have held the RAW tag team titles to 0 (though in theory either the Shield or Rollins/Jordan could reform in the future). And I really dont think thats a good place for the division. Heck at the moment the only teams on the roster to have held Tag gold of any kind are Slater & Rhyno, AOP Revival and the Ascension....and only one of those held main roster gold.
So basically, at the moment the roster consists of a handful of NXT tag team champions, most who (revival, Ascension) havnt really connected on the main roster or are new to the roster (AOP), jobber teams (Slater/Rhyno, Fashion Police, Ascension (Again), the former Miztourage, Titus Worldwide), and 2 basically brand new teams in Ziggler and McIntyre, and Hardy and Wyatt....and thats basically it. Even if some version of the Shield and American Alpha (again another team who didnt really work out on the main roster so far, despite being NXT and SD tag champs) reform....thats still an incredibly weak roster, and not helped by the fact the belts were just vacated after being won by a 10 year old.
Winners
#5 The Revival
SAY YEAH! Possibly the only RAW tag team to benefit from the shakeup...and its all due to the fact that they had the same gimmick as The Bar and The Good Brothers....and now both those teams are on Smackdown. So now at least, they might be treated like jokes a bit...but at least they arnt triple redundant. And who knows, given how weak the RAW tag division is, there really isnt a reason they cant go straight to the top....well you know once AOP decides they are done up there.
#4 The Singhs
Ok this one might seem a bit odd, but hear me out. The Singhs CAN actually wrestle, in fact they both wrestled in the CrusierWeight Classic. And technically 205 live is still part of the RAW brand...so now they actually have a place to expand out beyond being Jinder's managers...which is probibly good since Jinder wont be near as major a piece of the show on RAW...so being able to go to 205 live to wrestle is good for the Singhs...and Jinder if he accompanies them in a manager role (ALA what titus did with Towzawa). Being able to stick out is going to be key on RAW...and this move helps these guys do that.
#3 Big Cass
Basically the opposite of what I said about Baron Corbin....Big Cass is now the sole big man (at least in the singles division) in the land of the dwarves. So just like that, he stands out and brings something to the table no one else on Smackdown really can....and he looks like a million bucks too which never hurts. And based on his one promo so far, hes been fixing up his mic skills, which was his weakness before, and actually discovering how to be a heel. Of all the people who jumped brands, I think he might have the most potential for improving his spot on the card.
#2 Smackdown Tag division.
By contrast to the RAW tag division the Smackdown Roster is STACKED. Basically since the end of the attitude era, only 3 teams have won more than 3 tag team titles....and they are ALL on smackdown (Bar, Usos, New Day). Lets also consider the rest of Smackdown's tag teams are former RAW tag champs The Good Brothers, the current champions the Bludgeon Brothers, former Unified Tag Team champions the Colons (who admittedly havnt been seen much due to injury), who are about to be joined by former NXT champions Sanity, and possibly the most over tag team at the moment and literally the only team in the division not to hold some form of tag titles, Rusev Day.
There are at least 5 teams there you can build a division around (Bar, New Day, Usos, Rusev Day and the Bludgeons) as well as previously successful that could work better with a second chance (Colon's and Good Brothers) and just a smattering of new and popular teams (Sanity). This is almost the best division of any kind in the company. Also, lets consider the potential for "faction wars" with multiple 3 man groups Sanity, New Day and the Club (assuming AJ rejoins the Good Brothers temporary) all just hanging around, and the division looks even better.
#1 Smackdown Women's division
Remember when I just said the SD Tag division was ALMOST the best? This IS the best. At the cost of only Riott Squad, who were floundering, and Natalya, SD picked up one of the most popular female superstars in Auska, the popular Absolution, which contains in my opinion the female rookie with the most potential in Soyna Deville, and the IIconics. Which is added to a roster that already contained the best female wrestler in the company in Charlotte, and the second best female heel in carmella. Oh and in theory Selina Vega or Maryse could always return to the ring...as could Nikki Bella. (and I havnt even needed to mention Namoi, Becky Lynch, Tamina or Lana yet just as far as depth goes)
Heck, at this point SD's womens roster is so full, you could almost run a tag team division for the women (IIconics, Absolution, Becky and Charlotte(or Namoi), and Lana and Tamina all already exist) which is astounding given where womens wrestling was just a couple short years ago.
So yea, as a final summery...I gotta say Smackdown wins. As far as a head to head for each division, Smackdown won the Women's and Tag division...RAW however probably has a stronger (too strong?) Midcard (SD still doesnt seem to have much of one thats not just top card guys with nothing to do) Topcard again has to go to Smackdown, as RAW's main event scene would seem to be just the Shield, Strowman and possibly Balor and Owens moving forward. Where as Smackdown has Bryan, Styles, Nakamura, Miz, Joe, Rusev, and possibly Cass, Orton, Benjamin or even either member of the Bar.
Losers
#5 Paige
So in kayfabe terms....Paige looks a bit like a fool in the Shakeup. Consider, she traded the US title to RAW in exchange for....nothing really. She basically gave away one of her shows championships without getting anything equally valuable in exchange. She lucked out in that the championship happened to be won by a superstar she already traded for...but no credit for blind luck.
Now I admit, the whole US title to RAW back to Smackdown thing played real well on TV, and was an awesome swerve of the usual way the titles change shows, but if we pretend the GM's actually worked out these deals...paige looks stupid and there is no way around it.
#4 Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin is about to have a problem....he's kinda a bland big man/powerhouse. Which worked out well enough when he was the only big man around, as he was on Smackdown. Now he's on a roster with Braun Strowman, Kane, Big Show, Bobby Lashley and Roman Reigns. Dude is almost redundant 6 times over, if he cant find a way to stand out from the pack, I dont see him having much a role on RAW.
#3 Mojo Rawley, Zack Ryder, Mike Kanellis
Truth is, the mens singles divisions didnt really see that many changes during the shakeup....except the RAW midcard division, which said goodbye to Miz and Joe, and picked up Ziggler, McIntyre, Mahal, Roode, Corbin, Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens. And thats in addition to Ambrose Rollins and Balor. Granted some of those guys might move into the Universal picture, or tag scenes, but thats still a lot of guys in that singles division....and that assumes Hardy or Wyatt dont drift back into it.
And thats all before we get to these 3. I was tempted to include Chad Gable as well...but unlike these 3 he actually got some screen time on Smackdown, and proved he can both talk and wrestle...so I think he'll do better than these 3 (and possibly Corbin as well).
And thats basically the problem....these guys couldnt swim in a small pond...and now they all got chucked into a huge pond...and I cant see them swimming there.
#2 Backlash/Greatest Royal Rumble
Ok, so we already knew Reigns was winning the Universal title at the GRR. Now thanks to the shakeup, we also know Hardy/Wyatt will be the next Raw tag team champions (since the Bar is on smackdown and all).
Furthermore, we also know if either Jeff Hardy or Rollins retains, so will the other. (same with a lose) because both midcard matches are dual brand (RAW's Mahal vs SD's Hardy and RAW's Rollins vs Balor and SD's Joe and Miz)and each show has to leave with a midcard title. So thats 4 of 10 matches that can be called either right now, or as soon as the first midcard match ends.
In that same vein, we also know how both of the announced matches for Backlash HAVE to end...Reigns will beat Joe, and the representative of whatever show the IC title is on after GRR will win the Miz/Rollins match. So yeah with one pinfall at GRR, WWE will let you know the outcome of 6 matches across their next two [what was formally called] PPV's.
Also, note this is probably a bigger problem for RAW than Smackdown, as all 3 of the ones we know for sure already feature RAW belts, and since the US title is likely going to go on before the IC title...by the time that match ends we might know 5 raw brand match outcomes.
#1 Raw Tag Division
So the good news for RAW's tag team division is they gained the Ascension, Ziggler and McIntyre, the Fashion Police, and possibly Zayn and Owens. The bad news for the RAW tag division is they lost The Club and the Bar, bringing the number of active teams that have held the RAW tag team titles to 0 (though in theory either the Shield or Rollins/Jordan could reform in the future). And I really dont think thats a good place for the division. Heck at the moment the only teams on the roster to have held Tag gold of any kind are Slater & Rhyno, AOP Revival and the Ascension....and only one of those held main roster gold.
So basically, at the moment the roster consists of a handful of NXT tag team champions, most who (revival, Ascension) havnt really connected on the main roster or are new to the roster (AOP), jobber teams (Slater/Rhyno, Fashion Police, Ascension (Again), the former Miztourage, Titus Worldwide), and 2 basically brand new teams in Ziggler and McIntyre, and Hardy and Wyatt....and thats basically it. Even if some version of the Shield and American Alpha (again another team who didnt really work out on the main roster so far, despite being NXT and SD tag champs) reform....thats still an incredibly weak roster, and not helped by the fact the belts were just vacated after being won by a 10 year old.
Winners
#5 The Revival
SAY YEAH! Possibly the only RAW tag team to benefit from the shakeup...and its all due to the fact that they had the same gimmick as The Bar and The Good Brothers....and now both those teams are on Smackdown. So now at least, they might be treated like jokes a bit...but at least they arnt triple redundant. And who knows, given how weak the RAW tag division is, there really isnt a reason they cant go straight to the top....well you know once AOP decides they are done up there.
#4 The Singhs
Ok this one might seem a bit odd, but hear me out. The Singhs CAN actually wrestle, in fact they both wrestled in the CrusierWeight Classic. And technically 205 live is still part of the RAW brand...so now they actually have a place to expand out beyond being Jinder's managers...which is probibly good since Jinder wont be near as major a piece of the show on RAW...so being able to go to 205 live to wrestle is good for the Singhs...and Jinder if he accompanies them in a manager role (ALA what titus did with Towzawa). Being able to stick out is going to be key on RAW...and this move helps these guys do that.
#3 Big Cass
Basically the opposite of what I said about Baron Corbin....Big Cass is now the sole big man (at least in the singles division) in the land of the dwarves. So just like that, he stands out and brings something to the table no one else on Smackdown really can....and he looks like a million bucks too which never hurts. And based on his one promo so far, hes been fixing up his mic skills, which was his weakness before, and actually discovering how to be a heel. Of all the people who jumped brands, I think he might have the most potential for improving his spot on the card.
#2 Smackdown Tag division.
By contrast to the RAW tag division the Smackdown Roster is STACKED. Basically since the end of the attitude era, only 3 teams have won more than 3 tag team titles....and they are ALL on smackdown (Bar, Usos, New Day). Lets also consider the rest of Smackdown's tag teams are former RAW tag champs The Good Brothers, the current champions the Bludgeon Brothers, former Unified Tag Team champions the Colons (who admittedly havnt been seen much due to injury), who are about to be joined by former NXT champions Sanity, and possibly the most over tag team at the moment and literally the only team in the division not to hold some form of tag titles, Rusev Day.
There are at least 5 teams there you can build a division around (Bar, New Day, Usos, Rusev Day and the Bludgeons) as well as previously successful that could work better with a second chance (Colon's and Good Brothers) and just a smattering of new and popular teams (Sanity). This is almost the best division of any kind in the company. Also, lets consider the potential for "faction wars" with multiple 3 man groups Sanity, New Day and the Club (assuming AJ rejoins the Good Brothers temporary) all just hanging around, and the division looks even better.
#1 Smackdown Women's division
Remember when I just said the SD Tag division was ALMOST the best? This IS the best. At the cost of only Riott Squad, who were floundering, and Natalya, SD picked up one of the most popular female superstars in Auska, the popular Absolution, which contains in my opinion the female rookie with the most potential in Soyna Deville, and the IIconics. Which is added to a roster that already contained the best female wrestler in the company in Charlotte, and the second best female heel in carmella. Oh and in theory Selina Vega or Maryse could always return to the ring...as could Nikki Bella. (and I havnt even needed to mention Namoi, Becky Lynch, Tamina or Lana yet just as far as depth goes)
Heck, at this point SD's womens roster is so full, you could almost run a tag team division for the women (IIconics, Absolution, Becky and Charlotte(or Namoi), and Lana and Tamina all already exist) which is astounding given where womens wrestling was just a couple short years ago.
So yea, as a final summery...I gotta say Smackdown wins. As far as a head to head for each division, Smackdown won the Women's and Tag division...RAW however probably has a stronger (too strong?) Midcard (SD still doesnt seem to have much of one thats not just top card guys with nothing to do) Topcard again has to go to Smackdown, as RAW's main event scene would seem to be just the Shield, Strowman and possibly Balor and Owens moving forward. Where as Smackdown has Bryan, Styles, Nakamura, Miz, Joe, Rusev, and possibly Cass, Orton, Benjamin or even either member of the Bar.
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