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Last week, WWE announced that they had hired Paul Heyman and Eric Bischoff as Executive Directors of Raw and Smackdown. These newly created positions would have them oversee the creative process of their respective shows, while still reporting to Vince McMahon. This news sent the internet wrestling community ablaze, mainly with optimism. With the experience both Heyman and Bischoff have to offer, things could be looking up. It came off as a massive statement of intent from WWE, as they are willing to take such measures to ensure that the product will improve heading into the fall.
Eric Bischoff will take over the primary creative duties of Smackdown, a role he has some experience in. Bischoff was in charge of World Championship Wrestling and took them to great heights in the late 1990s before they ended up losing the Monday Night Wars and capitulating. While his run in TNA was not as successful, Bischoff does look like he has something to offer. He has dug WCW out of a bigger hole than the one WWE is currently in, so hopes will be high for him to succeed.
Bischoff's experience in working with major television networks has also made him a good fit for Smackdown, as they are set to debut on FOX at the start of October. He is more in tune with the entertainment side of things and knows what needs to be done. Bischoff has stated in the past that Raw and Smackdown have to feel completely different for the brand split to succeed. So expect a grittier and more entertainment-based product on Tuesday nights and eventually, Friday nights. Hopefully, this would lead to more creative freedom for him and the talent as well.
Here are four WWE superstars that Eric Bischoff's Smackdown should be built around.
#4 The New Day
In terms of entertainment, no act on the WWE main roster does it better than everybody's favorite babyface trio, the New Day. Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods turned their entire fortunes around in 2015, after a rocky start as a team. Now, these three are still some of the most popular names in WWE today. After numerous tag team title reigns and an extremely compelling WWE Championship program for WrestleMania 35, the New Day are featured as much as anybody on WWE programming at the moment.
There may be a lot of money and story line potential in a New Day breakup angle, but it would be best for the three to stick together. Eric Bischoff knows all about the entertainment value that the New Day brings to the table. The tag team division also needs all the help it can get, so building the division around these three is not a bad idea at all. When Kofi eventually loses the WWE Championship, the 5-time champs should remain a staple on the Blue brand, as they have been. There is even potential for a New Day vs Undisputed Era program, if the latter debut on Friday nights.
#3 Roman Reigns
Smackdown will have to garner an audience of at least 3 million a weekly on FOX, which means they will need some of the biggest stars on the show. In terms of full-time stars, there is none bigger than Roman Reigns. The Big Dog is still WWE's biggest star and, despite his fall in stock during his feud with Shane McMahon,there is nobody much bigger than him in terms of star power. For years, we have been begging to book Roman Reigns properly, like a badass who talks less and fights more. It had gotten tiresome at times, but Reigns still remains a world-class wrestler.
He can put on good matches with most of the roster and, if he is not overly scripted, he can cut one hell of a promo. WWE should honestly be trusting their biggest star to have more creative freedom for his character. Hopefully, Eric Bischoff can get the best out of him and turn him into more of a household name than he already is. And, honestly speaking, the WWE Championship would mean a lot more around the waist of Roman Reigns right now than on Kofi Kingston's shoulder.
#2 Aleister Black
Ever since moving to Smackdown, Aleister Black has not appeared in the ring once. Instead, he has been cuting creepy backstage promos, waiting for somebody to pick a fight with him. Somebody finally has done so, and we will find out who on this week's Smackdown. Hopefully, this is the start of a huge wave of momentum going Black's way. He is extremely talented, both in the ring and with his character, one that he has committed so well to. The larger network gives him an even bigger platform to shine.
The Dutch Destroyer gives out Undertaker-esque vibes but seems distinct enough from the Deadman to own his own gimmick. Black's character is one of the most intriguing at the moment and if it can be kept special, there are many dream matches waiting for him at future WrestleManias and SummerSlams. Eric Bischoff has worked with a similarly dark creature of the night in Sting and if the former NXT Champion goes down a similar path, Smackdown and FOX will reap the rewards.
#1 Daniel Bryan
Ever since Daniel Bryan shockingly turned heel last November, he has been on fire. While his matches were excellent, it's been his character work that has stood out. Bryan cuts excellent heel promos on a regular basis, bashing the crowd about the environment, among other things. It was once unfathomable that Daniel Bryan could ever pull off a heel turn after everything that he went through, but he is the master of everything. Eric Bischoff should build Smackdown around the current tag team champion, simply because he is so good at every aspect of pro wrestling.
Bryan will occasionally put others over, making them seem like much bigger stars in the process. Rowan has possibly never been this over, at least since the Wyatt Family's first year on the main roster. That is all Daniel Bryan's doing. And while the sports style on Raw might be more of his thing, Bryan honestly needs to wrestle less and talk more. The man is a treasure and will improve anything he is involved in. The best part is that Daniel Bryan would be able to pull off the perfect face turn in next to no time if he wanted to.
Who would you pick to build Smackdown on if you were in charge? Share your picks in the comments below!
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