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With WrestleMania 34 just three months away, major rivalries ahead of the event are beginning to take shape.
The much-anticipated match between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar looks certain to happen, while we’ll know more about The Undertaker’s potential presence in New Orleans after the 25th anniversary of Raw on 22 January.
While it’s already clear who some Superstars will face at “The Shows of Shows”, others aren’t so lucky and it remains uncertain who they will take on at WWE’s biggest show of the year.
In this article, we look at five Superstars who would benefit by switching from Raw to SmackDown Live, or vice versa, in the months leading up to ‘Mania.
#5 Braun Strowman
Current roster situation: Braun Strowman was the dominant Superstar on Raw in 2017 and his path of destruction continued into 2018 when he used a grappling hook to send a lighting truss crashing onto Brock Lesnar and Kane – his Royal Rumble opponents – on the episode of Raw that aired on January 8.
WrestleMania situation: While many fans will hope for Braun to win the Universal Championship at the Rumble, it’s unlikely to happen. As for potential WrestleMania opponents, “The Monster Among Men” has faced almost everyone there is to face on Raw and he doesn’t seem to figure into WWE’s biggest plans for the show.
Alternative suggestion: Switch him to SmackDown Live. There are multiple Superstars who Strowman hasn’t faced on the blue brand – AJ Styles, his dream opponent, being one. Even if he faces someone else and doesn’t have a title match at WrestleMania, anything would be better than another kickoff show battle royal.
#4 Kevin Owens
Current roster situation: Kevin Owens has been a regular main-event presence on SmackDown Live ever since he moved to the brand in the 2017 Superstar Shake-Up. He has spent the last nine months feuding with AJ Styles and Shane McMahon and will team with Sami Zayn in a Handicap Match for Styles’ WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble.
WrestleMania situation: At this stage, nobody really knows who Owens will face at WrestleMania. Talk of a potential match with bitter enemy-turned-best friend Zayn seems unlikely with both men cemented as top heels on SmackDown.
Alternative suggestion: Owens moves back to Raw, possibly with Zayn. This would present both men with numerous potential opponents at WrestleMania and, if their switch to the red brand is tied in with the Shane storyline, it would bring a definitive end to a feud that has been going on for almost six months.
#3 Becky Lynch
Current roster situation: As a SmackDown Live Superstar, Becky Lynch has recently made her return to the blue brand after seven weeks away to film The Marine 6: Close Quarters. She is feuding with The Riott Squad and defeated the stable’s leader, Ruby Riott, on the 9 January episode of SmackDown.
WrestleMania situation: If reports are true and Ronda Rousey wins the first-ever women’s Royal Rumble, she is almost certain to face Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania. That would leave Becky – and several female performers from SmackDown – without a meaningful storyline heading into ‘Mania.
Alternative suggestion: Switch to Raw. Of course, this is pure fantasy booking, but if Ronda goes on to face Charlotte, that means the first one-on-one female match at WrestleMania in 11 years is expected to come from the SmackDown Live roster. The red brand would then be more likely to have a multi-woman match for the Raw Women’s title, which is where Becky could come in.
#2 Neville
Current roster situation: Neville reportedly walked out on WWE before an episode of Raw in October 2017. The former Cruiserweight champion has since been edited out of the 205 Live intro graphics and he hasn’t been seen or mentioned on WWE programming for three months.
WrestleMania situation: It looks like Neville won’t be appearing at WrestleMania this year but, WWE being WWE, you just never know. Speculation in late 2017 claimed there had been “positive discussions” between the two parties and that he could still return.
Alternative suggestion: He goes back to WWE as a member of the SmackDown Live roster. Nobody knows Neville’s reasons for apparently walking out but many believe he did not want to be pigeon-holed as a cruiserweight and as a member of the 205 Live roster. A switch to the blue brand, where there are no cruiserweights, would allow him to compete against anyone and everyone in WWE once again.
#1 Finn Balor
Current roster situation: Finn Balor is yet to be granted a rematch for the Universal Championship – a title he had to relinquish due to injury in August 2016 – and reports claim that Vince McMahon does not feel he is ‘over’ enough to face Brock Lesnar. The Irishman has recently reunited with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson and has already confirmed his entry into the Royal Rumble.
WrestleMania situation: With Balor’s first WrestleMania on the horizon, his only likely opponent from the Raw roster appears to be The Miz. If “The A-Lister” defeats Roman Reigns for the Intercontinental Championship on the 25th-anniversary episode of Raw, then expect the former NXT champion to chase the title over the next few months.
Alternative suggestion: He moves to SmackDown Live. While a feud with The Miz would be good, a move to the blue brand would be even better. There have been suggestions since reuniting with The Club that Balor could even win the Royal Rumble, setting up a dream WrestleMania match with AJ Styles. Whatever happens, it looks like Finn will be challenging for some gold at “The Show of Shows”.
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