Post Wrestlemania Raw & Smackdown And Looking Forward To The Superstar Shake-Up

After an overall superb Wrestlemania weekend, mainly because NXT Takeover was incredible, the new WWE year for Raw and Smackdown has begun and this means new freshman coming to the main roster.

I wrote an early prediction nearly a month ago and I’m proud to say I got some of them right, check them out here.

However, let’s look back at who’s moved back, predicting what might happen and look forward to next week’s Superstar Shake-up.

Raw

The first superstar to make the move up to Raw was former NXT Women’s champion Ember Moon to team up with the Raw champ Nia Jax.

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Moon picked up the win over Alexa Bliss and showcase the Eclipse to the mainstream WWE audience and being put into a program with Jax, Bliss and Mickie James will be nothing but good things for Moon.

The next call-up was a genuine surprise was No Way Jose and even though he beat an “enhanced talent” his fun, partying gimmick will be a massive hit for kids, it just depends what’ll happen moving forward because he’ll most likely end up in the tag division.

Getting Jeff Hardy is back is great and he can now focus on being a singles competitor with his WOKEN brother Matt teaming up with Bray Wyatt and being put into the Intercontinental picture.

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Another massive surprise was Bobby Lashley and showed what he should be, walk in, kick arse and leave. I can see his return as a build towards and battle with Brock Lesnar at Summerslam and become the new Universal champion.

The Authors of Pain made their debut after two years of dominates in NXT and proved they’ll be in the title picture right away, which is the right choice. Now going forward on their own without Paul Ellering will be interesting but it’s time to see Akam and Rezar without their gatekeeper.

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Having Samoa Joe back is awesome and delivered another superb promo against Roman Reigns and it’ll be interesting what will happen because I think a feud against IC champion Seth Rollins is in the cards.

Finally, after getting the sack from Smackdown, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn battled it out for the only singles spot on the brand and we could see a story about these superstars getting a place at either brand that could conclude at Backlash.

SmackDown

Unlike the previous night’s call-ups and returns, Smackdown was a lot quieter but just as impactful.

Firstly, with Daniel Bryan becoming a full-time wrestler the door was open for a new GM and Shane O-Mac and WWE creative made the right choice and given it to Paige.

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Mainly because we needed a female GM to change things up a bit and Paige will be great with her charisma and give the blue brand some fresh energy especially going to the Superstar Shake-Up and have more presence compared to Bryan who was looking after his kid.

The only call up from NXT was a good one because FINALLY the Iconic Duo Billie Kay and Peyton Royce made their debut interrupting Smackdown Women’s champion Charlotte Flair and delivered a superb promo and will be great heels for Smackdown.

There beat down on The Queen lead to Carmella cashing in her Money In The Bank and after the referee was finishing messing around we now have a new Smackdown Women’s champion.

Superstar Shake-Up

Predicting next week, what will happen with the Superstar Shake-Up. These picks are down to what the superstar has done at their brand and get a refresher.

I don’t see AJ Styles, Brock Lesnar, Carmella, Nia Jax, Seth Rollins, Jinder Mahal and Bludgeon Brothers leaving their brands as their champions and important wrestlers especially AJ with Smackdown and Rollins on Raw with the Monday Night Rollins tees selling.

With all that said there are where I see the Shake-Up happening:

Aiden English – Smackdown to Raw

Andrade “Cien” Almas (with Zelina Vega) – NXT to Smackdown

Asuka – Raw to Smackdown

Baron Carbin – Smackdown to Raw

Becky Lynch – Smackdown to Raw

Big Cass – Returns to Smackdown

Braun Strowman – Raw to Smackdown

Charlotte Flair – Smackdown to Raw

Dolph Ziggler – Smackdown to Raw

Drew McIntyre – NXT to Raw

Finn Balor – Raw to Smackdown

The Usos – Smackdown to Raw

The Club – Raw to Smackdown

Liv Morgan – Smackdown to Raw

Mandy Rose – Raw to Smackdown

Naomi – Smackdown to Raw

Randy Orton – Smackdown to Raw

Ruby Riott – Smackdown to Raw

Rusev – Smackdown to Raw

Sasha Banks – Raw to Smackdown

Sanity (Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain, Nikki Cross) – NXT to Smackdown

Sonya Deville – Raw to Smackdown

Zack Ryder – Smackdown to Raw

I feel with so many women called up and in both rosters there either needs to be a women’s tag belt or a midcard title because you can’t have all these wrestlers competing for one belt in both brands.

Finally, you have the question marks over Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn and I believe they could both come back to Smackdown as they don't have any issues with new GM Paige and she doesn't have issues with them.

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However, it's possible they go to separate brands and got through a battle to get their place with every round getting harder and end at Backlash against main eventers.