The WWE is at it again with their latest roster shakeup, starting Friday’s episode of SmackDown and ending on Monday’s episode of RAW. The big question is who will go where, people want to see fresh faces on all three brands. My biggest question is, what is the game plan for all three shows? Is SmackDown the biggest show in WWE now? If so you can bet the most attractive names will be there. What is their game plan with NXT? When the draft ends does that mean the end of surprise quests on NXT?
Last but not least, what is the WWE doing with their once flagship show? I don’t really care who goes where I care about how are you structuring each show.
SmackDown
If Smackdown is the new flagship, you are more than likely going to see the most marketable names. Brock is there, but who else will follow. Becky Lynch or Charlotte has to be there, my choice would be Charlotte, she’s just as marketable and a more diverse character. Who do you bring to challenge Brock? Roman, I hope not but once again he’s a big story and little kid favorite. Does Fox want the Fiend, clearly the most over male and arguably overall character on any show? One guy I would love to see on SmackDown is Bobby Lashley. Lashley needs out of this ridiculous storyline and into a strong feud with Lesnar, somewhere down the line. Another guy I would love to see on SmackDown is Drew McIntyre. You need bruisers on SmackDown to battle Lesnar, so this is an easy choice. It’s hard to make predictions because we don’t know how the show will be structured but those two guys would fit. One more guy who I would love to see opposite of Brock Lesnar is Kevin Owens, Owens and Paul Heyman would bring in money. They are so good on the microphone, they could sell any story to the fans.
NXT
NXT is hard to judge because I’m not sure if they will be involved. I do not want to see surprise guests every week. WWE should just count them as part of the draft seeing they are main competition to AEW on Wednesday night. AEW is telling great stories on Wednesday night so NXT should have a few studs on their roster. I also hope WWE quits bringing up NXT talent too early. Bobby Roode, Sanity, and ECIII are some of many people called up too early.
If NXT is a show and not a farm system for the other two shows, you have to bring back Aleister Black, and Andrade. They are being wasted on the main roster and the Wednesday night wars need them. If Finn Balor is back for good look at that potential. NXT could lose Johnny Gargano, Tomaso Ciampa or Adam Cole so getting a few studs is essential. I also believe NXT should be the leader of the Tag Team division. AEW has very good tag teams , so taking the division seriously would be very wise. Watching the Viking Raiders back on NXT is making me smile just thinking about it. What about bring back The Ascension also. They were incredible during their run and they are too talented to waste. My NXT would carry great story tellers and several solid tag teams.
RAW
Wow how the times change. I think this will be the first draft where the megastars are sent somewhere else. RAW does not look like the little darling anymore. So what do you do? Seth Rollins needs challengers, so does RAW get the Fiend? Makes sense to be because that feud better be far from over. If not then who, A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe? What type of show does Vince want RAW to be, a challenger to Monday Night Football or holdover until Monday?
Only the high end officials know how they want to shape each show, so unless you know their plan your guess is as good as anyone. I just hope the days of early NXT call ups and wrestlers showing up on other shows are over for awhile. Draft the rosters and let the writers do their jobs, don’t change again, just because ratings are low. Have faith in the talent and give everyone a chance to shine. Build a roster that is diverse, making more interesting mid card matches. Names don’t carry ratings week after week, storylines do.
