Full WWE Superstar Shake-Up Recap

IMAGE VIA WWE

This week in the WWE, Raw and Smackdown Live had a bit of a superstar shake-up with top level/mid-card talent and champions switch brands and you can say one brand has got a better roster than the other.

My biggest worry was Raw was just going to take all the superstars that has made SmackDown Live a better and more interesting show from week to week. After seeing who joined Raw this Monday, it seemed my worries were confirmed.

In all 11 superstars made the move to the Raw roster.

IMAGE VIA WWE

It was obvious Apollo Crews and Kalisto would come to team red as they also be showing up on 205 Live. Nether talent were doing anything on SD Live, so a change to the purple show will be a benefit to both Crews and Kalisto and the show itself as an Apollo Crews and Neville feud could be brilliant.

Meanwhile, Curt Hawkins will be doing the same jobbing role as he was previously doing and Heath Slater and Rhyno won’t be doing a hell of a lot on Raw, similar to their position recently on Smackdown.

My worries started to begin when The Miz and Maryse showed up as their John Cena and Nikki Bella gimmick. I was a bit disappointed The Miz did switch shows as he and Maryse were superb on Tuesday nights and they were one of a few superstars to benefit from the brand spilt last year.

He was the top heel on SD Live and involved in the WWE Champion picture and looked to being a feud with Shinsuke Nakamura.

Hopefully, he’ll be involved in the Universal title picture as soon as possible.

It wasn’t a huge surprise Dean Ambrose showed up on the Red brand, but I was surprised the Intercontinental Championship with him as it helped both the title and the blue brand being on SmackDown Live. I did think he should’ve dropped the title on Wrestlemania or on the next SD pay-per-view.

The most surprising move was Bray Wyatt moving to Monday’s as he was the WWE champion and the top guy on SmackDown going into Wrestlemania, but I guess losing to Randy Orton is basically the return to the mid-card. So hopefully his new feud with Finn Balor will be something awesome as it has the potential.

IMAGE VIA WWE

The final two superstars to make the move were Alexia Bliss and Mickie James. I was sad to see Bliss to move to team red, but it was so heavily rumoured and the fact she has done everything on team blue does make sense to move.

However, I do worry she will get left behind Bayley, Sasha Banks and Nia Jax in the Raw Women’s title race and I guess that same worry can go to Emma as well, but Bliss’ move does slowdown the future heel turn from Banks.

IMAGE VIA WWE

After Raw went off air, it was announced David Otunga will joining the commentary team on Monday night’s with Bryan Saxton taking Otunga’s place on SmackDown Live.

It was going to be interesting to see who was going to show up on SmackDown Live last night and all together, the blue brand gained 13 new superstars.

Once you think about it the two added talent joining SmackDown makes sense with Cena and Bella away from WWE for a while and to be honest their replacements will make fans happier.

IMAGE VIA WWE

SD Live's newest addition made his present felt right from the off as United States Champion Kevin Owens showed up in a suit with his beard gone and a new gimmick and at the moment I dig it.

Shortly afterwards, Sami Zayn finally made the move to Tuesday nights after his previous feelings felt and to be honest he wasn’t doing much on Raw, so this move could benefit Zayn moving up the card and be World champion sooner than later.

Elsewhere, Jinder Mahal, The Shining Stars and Sin Cara on SmackDown Live.

Apart from Owens and Zayn, it was the announcement of the handsome Bulgarian Rusev will be coming to the blue brand. This is brilliant news as he can now push on and become the brands monster heel and much like Zayn (and KO) be holding the World title once he returns.

As well as The Shining Stars, the SmackDown Live tag team division got a major boost with The New Day coming soon. It’s not just the tag division, but also the SD Live women’s roster just got a huge boost with Charlotte Flair and Tamina joining.

IMAGE VIA WWE

In the case of Flair and New Day it’s understandable they moved as they done everything on Monday night’s and the change will help everyone.

Finally, the women’s picture can now add Lana joining the roster as a wrestler.

Overall, it has to be said SmackDown were the winners of this superstar shake-up as they have the more potential with some incredible matches, AJ Styles vs Kevin Owens, AJ vs Sami Zayn, all thee in the triple threat for the WWE title is going to be amazing! Add Rusev in the mix too!

Also you can have a Charlotte/Tamina feud right from last night’s reactions. Have Tamina pissed off with Charlotte that she got a bigger pop than herself and she’s jealous and believe’s to be as good as or even better second generation superstar than the 4 time Women’s champ.