8 WWE Superstars that should switch brands

WWE - and pro wrestling in general - is always in a state of constant flux. Things are always changing to meet certain demands, whether those demands be to cater to a network, a sponsor, or to increase ratings. Injuries also force WWE to call audibles for feuds and other storylines.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced everyone to think outside of the box and to be flexible. With so many WWE stars unavailable due to various reasons, it has forced WWE to lean heavily on a few stars (Bayley, Sasha Banks, and Asuka, to name a few) on both shows.

While WWE has made do with what is available to them, there have still been some issues evident within each brand's divisions. The SmackDown tag team division has been decimated by injuries (The Usos and The New Day). Bayley has literally faced every woman on the Blue brand at one point or another. It's likely a big part of why next week's Battle Royal to determine her SummerSlam opponent will involve all three brands.

Although SmackDown needs some replenishing and additions to make it seem viable to RAW, RAW needs some tweaks also. How many times have the Viking Raiders and Street Profits faced off over the last four months? How many chances will current stars in the women's division, like Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler, actually get while Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch are out of action?

WWE has already made some tentative plans for another draft this fall. It was during the fall of 2019 when SmackDown moved to FOX and the rosters were supposed to be exclusive to each show. There are several moves that could be made to shore up particular divisions of each brand.

Here are six stars that should switch brands. A good deal of the suggested moves involve stars going to SmackDown as it needs more reinforcements at the moment.

#8 Humberto Carrillo to WWE SmackDown

Humberto Carrillo clearly has talent and is someone that could be one of the cornerstones of the WWE mid-card for the next few years. He's appeared sporadically during the Seth Rollins/Rey Mysterio storyline. At one point, he was injured and gone for a month but then he returned and disappeared soon after that.

He'd likely get more chances in WWE on SmackDown than on RAW. On Monday nights alone, he has youngsters like Murphy, Andrade, Angel Garza, Ricochet, and Cedric Alexander to compete with. That was even before Mustafa Ali switched to RAW.

The fact is that there are too many talented mid-card wrestlers on RAW and a few spots to fill. On SmackDown, however, there aren't many stars like Carrillo in the mid-card. Sure there's the Lucha House Party, but they are more a tag team and needed in that division. He's also feuded with a good portion of the RAW roster like Bobby Lashley, Angel Garza, Andrade, and Seth Rollins. For those reasons, Carrillo should move to Friday nights for a fresh start. In return, someone like Sheamus could go to RAW.

#7 Ruby Riott to WWE SmackDown

Prior to WrestleMania 36, the RAW women's division was mainly Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Asuka, and everyone else. Other women were featured week in and week out, but for the most part, those were the three WWE Superstars that carried the division and received the most title opportunities.

WWE Superstars like Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and the IIconics were in the second-tier of the division and also participants in the women's tag division. Simply put, they were overlooked for most parts with the likes of Flair, Lynch, Asuka, and Nia Jax always being featured.

Those chances dwindled even further as both Shayna Baszler and Bianca Belair joined RAW. They had done all they could in NXT and were now slated to become a big part of the future of WWE.

For those reasons and the fact that Flair (and later Lynch) will return to RAW at some point, someone like Riott needs to be moved to SmackDown. The chances for advancement are greater on the Blue brand even despite Bayley having near a year-long reign as SmackDown Women's Champion. Bayley has defeated practically everyone on Friday nights and needs some new challengers. Even though she'll likely lose her title at SummerSlam, adding Riott to the division will at least open up some new feuds.

#6 Lacey Evans to WWE RAW

In a somewhat strange move, once Lacey Evans became a permanent member of RAW last year, she received three title shots at Becky Lynch. She was unsuccessful in each of her attempts, after which WWE moved her to SmackDown. During her time on Friday nights, Evans once again received numerous shots at the SmackDown Women's Championship. She has even switched from heel to face and back to heel during her time on the Blue brand.

The women's divisions on both RAW and SmackDown need some reshuffling and having Evans return to Monday nights would help accomplish that. She's still a ways away from being a viable Women's Champion in WWE, but the dynamics for her character would change a lot if moved to RAW. While she's been a heel or face, she's never faced a monster opponent, someone like Shayna Baszler or Nia Jax. All of her talk would mean nothing if they knocked her down or choked her out.

Evans has also feuded with WWE stars like Bayley, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss/Nikki Cross, and Naomi on multiple occasions. She needs some different foes and that could be accomplished if she and Riott trade spots. Both women would get a new list of potential feuds while also helping add a different dimension to each brand's women's division.

#5 & #4 Erik and Ivar of The Viking Raiders to WWE SmackDown

As mentioned earlier, the SmackDown Tag Team division is in shambles at the moment. The most recent episode of SmackDown was the first time Heavy Machinery competed as a team in months. Instead, WWE has pushed Otis as a singles star, even having him win the Money in the Bank.

Jimmy Uso is out injured and both Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are out with injuries. With the Forgotten Sons off of TV for a repackaging, the Tag Team division is being shouldered by SmackDown Tag Team Champions Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura, The Miz and John Morrison, and Lucha House Party. While Lince Dorado and Gran Metalik have proven that they are entertaining in-ring performers for WWE, they don't exactly scream "Tag Team champions".

RAW's division is in a little better shape but The Viking Raiders have already been titleholders on Monday nights. They've faced the Street Profits a lot over the last four months and need a refresh. RAW also has Murphy and Rollins, the Hurt Business (if required), Ricochet and Alexander, and the challengers for the titles at SummerSlam, Andrade and Garza.

SmackDown just needs some reinforcements in its tag division, especially if WWE is going to continue to push Otis more as a singles star going forward. By adding Erik and Ivar to Friday nights, it would also provide an enticing showdown between the Vikings and Cesaro and Nakamura. RAW would be fine if they left, especially once Robert Roode and the Authors of Pain return.

#3 Carmella to WWE RAW

For the entirety of her WWE main roster career, Carmella has been a member of SmackDown. There aren't many other WWE stars that can boast about that. With a roster split almost every year since 2016, it is somewhat surprising that she hasn't switched brands even once.

For that reason, and the possibility that she would be an excellent addition to RAW's mid-card women's division, Mella should switch to RAW. She has feuded with the likes of Lynch, Flair, and Asuka while on SmackDown, but there's a lot of new blood on RAW now. Carmella hasn't faced Belair, Jax, Baszler, the IIconics, or Ruby Riott. If at least one of her, Riott, or Evans traded brands, those feuds would be both possible and fresh. Being in a relationship with Corey Graves would obviously be a slight roadblock in switching brands, but commentary teams could also change.

When Carmella returns, it would be a nice reset for her if she joined RAW instead of SmackDown. Carmella could even join forces with Jax to chase the Women's Tag Team titles. It could be a Shawn Michaels/Diesel situation and a different dynamic for the tag division. There are opportunities to be had all over the place, especially since the pandemic has forced a select few WWE stars to be featured.

#2 & #1 Ricochet and/or Cedric Alexander to WWE SmackDown

Outside of Matt Riddle and Shorty G, most of SmackDown's mid-card is made up of WWE stars that were in their primes five or seven years ago. The likes of Jeff Hardy and Sheamus have had a featured feud over the last two months, while veterans like the Miz, John Morrison, Cesaro, and AJ Styles have also dabbled in the mid-card.

Styles is usually a main-event star but his standing is adding some prestige to the Intercontinental Championship. Once he drops the title, however, WWE should move him back up to the Universal title scene.

The point is that there are very few young, up-and-coming and exciting WWE stars in the SmackDown mid-card. Elias is hurt, Drew Gulak has already had a few shots and may not get many more. Big E is finally getting a singles push but how far will that go? Lars Sullivan is still out with an injury while Sami Zayn and Daniel Bryan are both currently out of action. As such, WWE have been forced to use tag team members (Gran Metalik, Otis, Morrison, Miz) in both divisions. While that is a tried and true operating tactic, some stars are needed more elsewhere.

On RAW, however, there are the likes of Murphy, Andrade, Angel Garza, Humberto Carrillo, Aleister Black, Ricochet, and Cedric Alexander. For that reason, one or both of Ricochet and Alexander should be moved to SmackDown. If they stay together, they could help the tag team division. If they go their separate ways, they could both provide exciting matches on Friday nights.