What will happen once WWE decides to hold its “Draft” and begin the brand split we all have anticipated? Can the company that lacks competition create its own warfare and entertain the fans with what is believed to be two title belts and new titles to fight over?
Does this mean there will be an over-saturation of sports entertainment while fans are already begging for something new and different? Don’t let the idea of the brand split fool you – it may have been done more out of desperation than anything else.
It’s a great concept if it is used properly and wrestlers are booked based on their strengths, rather than throwing them to different opponents in the ring and hoping it just works.
Because of the changes forthcoming and Money in the Bank being merely days away, this is an important time in WWE.
Every event in WWE is important because of the ebb and flow of the fan base. But if done properly, and stars change from one brand to the next seamlessly, there shouldn’t be a problem with the creation of brand-based champions and storylines.
The question then becomes who stays on Monday night and who takes a ride over to the Tuesday night live show? Here are a few wrestlers who might be asked to move their seat to new programming.
#1 John Cena
If WWE wants to be serious about the brand split, continue to make Cena the focal point of the show on Tuesday and bring AJ Styles and The Club for a while. Cena is still the company’s biggest draw and could make the “second” show must see television.
The feud with Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson gives the company ammunition to put Roman Reigns’ title run on the back burner. The brand split will take some getting used to and should have star power from the start. What WWE does with Cena for the rest of the year is up in the air.
This would make Tuesday nights about Cena, much like The Rock helping to establish Smackdown.
#2 Chris Jericho
When are we going to sit back and realize just how great Jericho is in the ring and in promos?
There are better wrestlers and better performers, but Jericho is an underrated superstar. He deserves one more push at the WWE World Title. He is great as a heel, putting over younger talent and is still performing at a high level.
I would love to see him in a program with Sami Zayn or even a run at Roman Reigns. He would ultimately help put Reigns over – if that can still be done.
At some point, Jericho will leave WWE once again, so putting him on Smackdown makes sense to take advantage of his ability and to give the Tuesday night show more credibility.
#3 Randy Orton
Where does “The Viper” fit in WWE’s future plans?
The one guy (other than Jericho) they used to call upon in a pinch to cause a stir with its top stars, is in a bit of purgatory upon his return. Will the 12-time WWE champion return as a babyface and take on the likes of Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt and possibly Kevin Owens?
Or, will he be called upon to help put over other rising stars?
Another run with Roman Reigns would be good for both wrestlers, but fans might get tired of that kind of program. In effect, Orton is the true definition of a man without a place in this promotion.
Smackdown would give him a chance to build back up as a main event star, and continue to please the fans with his unpredictable behavior.
#4 Titus O’Neil
Regardless of the suspension that has kept him off camera for the past two months, do you get the feeling this is about to be a huge run for the former tag team specialist? I have always been a fan of O’Neil, and his push against Rusev is the perfect start of a solid singles career.
The thing about O’Neil becoming a bonafide star is that he will always be linked to tag team wrestling, and there will always be the “stigma” associated with him being a wrestler representing a minority in a WWE ring.
He may never getting a real shot at the world title. There are so many good things about O’Neil in and out of the ring. This is the chance for him to move out of the mid card and push toward the main event roster.
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
