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Every time the rosters of both RAW and SmackDown reset, there are always stars that benefit greatly. There are, however, also performers that still get lost in the shuffle. With Bruce Prichard in charge of SmackDown and Paul Heyman helming Monday nights, each man has his favorites that they'll want to push. It still leaves some on the outside looking in.
After appearing on the blue brand last week to hype the addition of his friend Rob Gronkowski to WWE, rumors have already swirled that Mojo Rawley will join Gronkowski on Friday Night SmackDown. There has also been speculation that Nia Jax will be a member of the blue brand now that she is medically cleared to return. Until she returns, however, we won't know for sure.
That's all well and good for those performers, but there are currently some wrestlers who either seem like they're on the wrong show or that need a change of scenery. I could say that about a lot of stars but here are six current WWE stars that need to switch brands.
#6 Cedric Alexander
It wasn't too long ago that Alexander was battling The OC, Drew McIntyre and Lashley alongside the Viking Raiders, Roman Reigns and The Usos. That, of course, was before the latest WWE Draft, an event that ended the Wildcard rule and that stopped brand jumping.
Alexander still delivered when called upon but started to fade to the background with each passing week. His latest showing was in a quick loss to 24/7 Champion Riddick Moss. There was some speculation that Vince McMahon gave up on Alexander which is why his push stopped.
It's an understatement to say that RAW's mid-card was stacked following the Draft. In addition to the talented Alexander, the red brand added the likes of Rey Mysterio, Andrade, Aleister Black, Humberto Carrillo, Murphy and Rowan to it's ranks. The former Cruiserweight Champ got unluckily lost in the shuffle with so many new mouths to feed and push.
SmackDown's mid-card has some names, but it's mainly filled by veterans like Sami Zayn, Cesaro, Sheamus, Shorty G, Dolph Ziggler, Robert Roode, Miz, John Morrison and Shinsuke Nakamura. Ziggler, Roode, Morrison and Miz are parts of tag teams. That leaves some openings for younger/newer stars like Ali to make an impact. Alexander could do the same if he gets a chance to make a mark on Friday nights.
#5 Humberto Carrillo
Humberto Carrillo has been pushed ever since joining RAW during the Draft. He clearly has the in-ring talent to hang with the big kids but he has failed to connect with a personality. I'm sure he has one but it's been hard to see him as anything other than a babyface. Carrillo cannot cut lengthy promos and has mainly been embroiled with the likes of Andrade over the last few months.
He was even in the US Championship picture before the Draft. He faced AJ Styles for the title on multiple occasions and also battled Seth Rollins before he became the Monday Night Messiah. Talent was never the problem. Being a part of a three-hour show that has more time to flush characters out, however, seems to be an issue.
There has been the angle of the current face of Lucha Libre now that Mysterio is on his downturn. But with Zelina Vega able to speak for Andrade and his cousin Angel Garza (to a lesser extent), he's had trouble fighting back verbally.
SmackDown is only two hours but there are still similarities as both shows have promos, interviews and backstage vignettes. There is less time to mess around especially with WWE having to answer to FOX. Carrillo is better suited to a show more focused on in-ring talent like his and the likes of Daniel Bryan, Cesaro and Drew Gulak. He wouldn't need to talk as much and he would literally add a fresh face to the mid-card.
#4 Mandy Rose
One or both of Fire and Desire could/should move to RAW. But with Shayna Baszler now looking like she'll be atop the red brand's women, it would make more sense for Rose to join the ranks of Monday nights.
Deville is a former MMA fighter just like Baszler but with a career that was less high-profile. For that reason, Rose should shift to RAW. She's never been apart from Deville and she's always been a heel. Rose could stay a bad girl but a change of scenery could switch things up for her. I know people want her to get together with Otis on the blue brand, but what happens when that is over?
Both divisions have had a lot of the same feuds around the title. Bayley and Becky Lynch have been atop their divisions for the majority of 2019 and 2020. Charlotte Flair had some briefs runs in there as well but isn't in the picture at the moment. It would be interesting to see what Rose would be like as a singles competitor. Since she's battled Alexa Bliss, Nikki Cross, Naomi and the rest of the roster, she should get a fresh start on RAW.
She's improved greatly since joining the main roster alongside Absolution and her gimmick is different from everyone else currently on RAW. With Baszler likely lording over the division, she'd still have the opportunity to mix it up with other stars instead of rehashing the same feuds.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura
Shinsuke Nakamura has been on SmackDown for the majority of his main-roster career. During his run, he's challenged for the WWE Championship and won both the US and Intercontinental Championships. Many of us would have liked to see him get a run on top of SmackDown, but he's been a mid-card fixture regardless.
For that reason alone, Nakamura should receive a change of scenery. There are stars he hasn't feuded with on RAW (Black, Andrade, McIntyre, Murphy, Ricochet) and if they all remain on RAW, he'd have plenty of feuds in place.
He has faced Styles and Rollins (briefly) in the past but could work against anyone if he stays heels or turns back to a face. The partnership with Sami Zayn has been interesting, but after WrestleMania, where do they go? Is the title going to be defended in a multi-person match featuring Nakamura? If so, is Zayn going to retain or lose to Nakamura or another contender?
Even if they maintain their partnership, having a three-hour show would allow the gimmick to breathe a little more. They've done perfectly fine on SmackDown but RAW would allow them a few more minutes with which to work. If he stays by himself, he's more than capable of being a singles star on the red brand.
#2 Ruby Riott
After the Women's Elimination Chamber match, practically every participant needs a little rehabilitation. Things were fine until Shayna Baszler entered and tore through the entire field of competitors. It's clear to see that an upcoming feud with Asuka is in the cards for the Queen of Spades when/if she takes the title from Lynch.
It made sense for Baszler to easily dispatch Liv Morgan, Natalya and Sarah Logan but Riott had the highest profile of the members of the Riott Squad. Her lone title shot last year was pretty much a squash by Ronda Rousey. SmackDown doesn't have a dominant monster heel Champion or the most popular woman (Lynch) in the company either.
By moving to SmackDown, Riott would not only have a chance to branch out onto her own but also the opportunity for new feuds. We haven't really seen her mix it up with Rose (if she stayed), Deville, Carmella, Bliss, Cross or Naomi. She'd also have more of a chance as a top star of the division once Bayley loses her title. On RAW, her chances at becoming the Champ are severely limited, unless she wins Money in the Bank.
Riott is someone who is clearly gifted. She has just needed a push and the right spot to run with the ball. In terms of the women's division on the blue brand, it really is the Land of Opportunity. Riott is a star that could really blossom on Friday nights if given the chance. They just might want to get this obvious Riott Squad feud out of the way first.
#1 Elias
As I've mentioned a couple of times in previous slides, RAW being three hours better suits particular acts. Elias needs a good deal of time for his gimmick. When he isn't in the ring or having a match, he's been briefly used in backstage segments just in order to get on the show.
Every time the rosters of both RAW and SmackDown reset, there are always stars that benefit greatly. There are, however, also performers that still get lost in the shuffle. With Bruce Prichard in charge of SmackDown and Paul Heyman helming Monday nights, each man has his favorites that they'll want to push. It still leaves some on the outside looking in.
It's an understatement to say that RAW's mid-card was stacked following the Draft. In addition to the talented Alexander, the red brand added the likes of Rey Mysterio, Andrade, Aleister Black, Humberto Carrillo, Murphy and Rowan to it's ranks. The former Cruiserweight Champ got unluckily lost in the shuffle with so many new mouths to feed and push.
