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It is no secret WWE produces an incredible amount of television. Between RAW and SmackDown alone, the company churns out five hours of first-run programming each and every week.
With such a large volume of content to put out, it is no surprise WWE faces a constant battle to keep its product fresh. One of the ways in which it is able to create new storylines and rivalries is by rotating its superstars between brands.
When a superstar runs out of steam on RAW, they can be traded to SmackDown and vice versa. These switches open up a whole host of new matches and feuds for superstars who might have grown stale had they stayed on their existing show.
In the past, WWE has used a number of storyline devices to explain these switches. Whether it be holding a full draft, or announcing a Superstar Shake Up, WWE is good at making these events feel like a big deal.
There is no suggestion that WWE plans to shuffle its main roster in a major way any time soon, though. After all, the last WWE draft only took place last October.
With that said, now that WrestleMania (and WrestleMania Backlash) are in the books, there are several WWE Superstars who would benefit from switching main roster brands immediately. Here are five of the most glaring examples.
#5 WWE should switch Asuka from RAW to SmackDown
Asuka has not had the best few months on RAW as of late. First, the Empress of Tomorrow lost her RAW Women's Championship to Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 37.
Then, once Charlotte Flair returned on RAW the following night, Asuka was relegated to the role of a supporting player in the rivalry between The Queen and Ripley.
The Japanese superstar did participate in a Triple Threat match for her former title at WrestleMania Backlash, which also involved Flair and Ripley. However, it was almost as if Asuka was included in the bout just to make sure that neither of her opponents had to lose the match.
Asuka was pinned by Ripley at the pay-per-view, marking the third occasion in a little over a month that she had been emphatically defeated by The Nightmare.
Sure, Asuka has picked by a few victories over Flair in the same time period, but the focus has always been on the Ripley vs. Charlotte feud. This doesn't look like it will be changing moving forward.
A move to SmackDown, together with a possible heel turn, would do a lot to freshen up Asuka's character.
#4 WWE should switch Bayley from SmackDown to RAW
If WWE does switch Asuka from RAW to SmackDown, it should consider replacing her with Bayley.
The Role Model lost to current WWE SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair this past weekend at WrestleMania Backlash. In truth, Bayley doesn't seem to have many other places to go on the Blue Brand once her feud with Belair comes to an end.
As a two-hour show, SmackDown doesn't typically have the time to promote a number of strong women's feuds. As a rule, the brand will showcase its champion and her latest challenger.
If Bayley isn't going to be a featured part of the championship picture on SmackDown, which looks doubtful given her recent loss, then a move to RAW makes a lot of sense for her.
The first-ever WWE Grand Slam Women's Champion would be a great fit on Monday nights too. Bayley could be slotted straight into a title programme with Rhea Ripley or work a feud with Charlotte Flair based on their history with one another.
Bayley hasn't been an official part of the RAW roster since 2019. The time is right for her to make a return.
#3 WWE should switch Keith Lee from RAW to SmackDown when he returns to action
The disappearance of Keith Lee from WWE television is something of a mystery - reportedly even to some inside the company.
The 36-year-old is currently a member of the RAW roster, but hasn't been seen on WWE television since February. Rumors suggest his absence is related to a lack of creative direction for him, rather than an injury or health issue.
When WWE does decide to bring Lee back to television, it should do so on SmackDown instead of RAW. Lee has spent his entire WWE main roster run on Monday nights and has already worked with many of the top names on the brand.
A switch to SmackDown offers Lee a fresh environment in which to really make his mark. Matches with the likes of Sami Zayn, Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns would, no doubt, be great to watch. A list of similarly appealing bouts doesn't really exist for Lee on RAW.
Lee could also be moved to Friday nights for family reasons. His real-life partner, Mia Yim, was quietly moved to the SmackDown roster on the WWE website recently - and is expected to debut with the brand shortly.
#2 WWE should trade Aleister Black from SmackDown to RAW
Reports suggest WWE is already considering moving Aleister Black from SmackDown to RAW. It would be a switch that could hugely benefit the Dutch superstar.
Black has returned to WWE television in recent weeks, having been absent since last October. The 36-year-old hasn't yet appeared in the ring since his reappearance, though. Instead, Black has been seen in a series of vignettes on SmackDown, regularly cutting cryptic promos.
When he does step back through the ropes, however, RAW might be the ideal hunting ground for him. Rumors emerged last week suggesting WWE is lining Black up for a main event push on Monday nights - and this is a plan the company should follow through with.
Aleister Black probably has the best claim to a shot at reigning WWE Champion Bobby Lashley of any superstar on the current SmackDown roster.
Black pinned Lashey at WrestleMania 36 last year - and The All Mighty has barely suffered a defeat since. Black can use his win over Lashley on the WWE's biggest stage as leverage for an immediate title shot and, if booked right, the company will have itself a new headliner on RAW.
WWE needs to pull the trigger on an Aleister Black return to RAW.
#1 Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre would benefit from a move to SmackDown
Drew McIntyre enjoyed a breakout year in 2020 in WWE. However, 2021 has not panned out as The Scottish Warrior would have hoped. Ever since losing his WWE Championship to The Miz at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in February, McIntyre has struggled to regain the momentum he enjoyed last year.
McIntyre received his opportunity to regain the title against new champion Bobby Lashley in the opening match at WrestleMania 37. The stage was set for McIntyre to repeat his success from the prior year and, once again, lift the WWE Championship at the Show of Shows.
However, it was not to be. McIntyre failed in his bid to unseat Lashley, passing out to the Hurt Lock submission hold. Drew did manage to secure another opportunity at the gold though, this time at WrestleMania Backlash in a Triple Threat match also involving Braun Strowman.
The match itself was a hard-hitting classic but, ultimately, McIntyre did not win the bout. After two unsuccessful attempts at regaining the biggest prize on RAW, could it be time for the Scotsman to shift his focus to SmackDown?
McIntyre has had a great run on RAW but, if he is not going to be in the running for the WWE Championship, it is difficult to see many fresh directions for him on the Red Brand.
Over the last year, McIntyre has faced off with almost every major superstar on the RAW roster. A switch to SmackDown provides McIntyre with an entire slate of new opposition, including a potential feud with reigning Universal Champion Roman Reigns.
Drew has also long teased a match with heavyweight boxing star Tyson Fury, who was in attendance this past weekend at WrestleMania Backlash. If WWE ever intends to stage that bout, it makes the most sense for the build-up to it to take place on SmackDown - WWE's most-viewed television show in the United States.
McIntyre will be a huge star for WWE regardless of which brand he performs on. The timing is right for him to make the jump from RAW to SmackDown.
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