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I was asked to do a special article examining the overall WWE Superstar Shake-Up and so, here it is. In this feature, I shall try and determine whether the calls that WWE took on RAW and SmackDown Live were effective from a long term perspective.
Obviously, there is absolutely no way to predict the future, until it actually plays out. I mean how many of us would have assumed that Elias, Alexa Bliss, and Carmella, three individuals who hardly made an impression in NXT would be such major players in the WWE main roster? Who would have assumed that Asuka would not fare nearly as well as she did back in NXT?
But based on guesswork and fantasy booking, let me try and determine whether the decisions WWE took during the Superstar Shake-Up will be effective or not over the long run. Because the brand you are on could be a make or break factor for almost everyone in the WWE Roster.
I present my analysis...
#1 Best: Asuka and Kairi Sane on SmackDown Live
Well, Paige had promised us that she would be bringing a team to SmackDown Live, and she did! I think that the pairing of Asuka and Kairi Sane is great because both of them are incredible in the ring. And this pairing makes the Women's Tag Team title picture exciting again. Otherwise, one hears crickets chirping during their segments.
Obviously, English is not the first language for either of the women and Paige can help overcome that shortcoming. It also keeps Paige on TV and we all know how much she loves being on screen. It's a win-win situation for everyone involved.
I think that this pairing will hold some gold very soon. I do not foresee the IIconics holding the titles for a long duration.
#1 Worst: The Viking Experience on RAW
This is clearly the biggest mishap to happen during the WWE Superstar Shake-Up. War Raiders was a cool name, but The Viking Experience just sounds like it was put together at the very last minute.
There's also the question of Erik and Ivar being able to defend the NXT Tag Team Championships now that they are in the main roster. There's obviously a disconnect between NXT and the main roster because the champs did not arrive with their titles, leading to many questions swirling in my mind.
Because both men involved in this equation are big, muscle guys, I'm just hoping that Vince McMahon makes use of them in the right manner. Because it would be a shame to see their NXT run cut short because of a botched main roster stint.
Bad name or not, both men could potentially be a very explosive team.
#2 Best: Roman Reigns and AJ Styles switch brands
I think it's great that the top babyface of either brand went to the other. By doing this, WWE will ensure that both AJ Styles and Roman Reigns have new opponents to face. And let's be honest, as good as both men are, their feuds were getting a little stale, were they not?
And now we have so many dream confrontations that we can potentially see take place on either brand. Don't tell me that you don't want to see AJ Styles and Seth Rollins tear it up for the Universal Championship, hopefully at SummerSlam. You'd also be lying to yourself if you aren't excited about a potential Roman Reigns vs. Daniel Bryan match.
AJ Styles has a new look and it's indicative of a fresh new beginning. Roman Reigns is obviously going to be the face of brand blue on FOX and hence, the big switch was made.
#2 Worst: No more Riott Squad
One of the more shocking decisions during the Superstar Shake-Up concerned the fact that the Riott Squad is no longer going to be a unit. Liv Morgan has been separated from the pack and drafted to SmackDown Live as part of the Superstar Shake-Up. Unless WWE has concrete plans for Morgan, this could potentially be a terrible move.
Morgan obviously fits the look that WWE is known to like from the entire bunch, so I'm guessing WWE wants her to move in a more 'diva' direction. Of course, this is all speculation, but that has to be the only reason why she was separated from her sisters. I just don't know if Logan and Morgan are ready to be singles competitors.
Plus, their pairing could have had a pretty good run with the Women's Tag Team Championships. Now there's one less team left in the women's tag division.
#3 Best: Ember Moon on SmackDown Live
While a lot of the moves from RAW to SmackDown Live and vice versa are welcome, I am picking Ember Moon out specifically because of her inherent skill set. Ember Moon is incredibly talented but her character isn't well-fleshed out enough for her to be a major force on RAW.
But on SmackDown Live, she can let her in-ring work do the talking, whether she is a singles or a tag team competitor, in my opinion. Ever since she's been called up, she's been impressive, but there's always been something missing back when she wrestled on RAW.
People said the same thing about Finn Balor when they commended his move to SmackDown Live, but the fact is that Balor was a force on RAW too. This certainly wasn't the case with Ember Moon, who also had her share of injuries.
Let's hope she excels on SmackDown Live.
#3 Worst: No more SAnitY
Yes, I know what you guys are thinking. How can I be critical of SAnitY breaking up when the unit hardly did anything since they were called up to SmackDown Live.
I am calling this a 'worst' not merely because of the split but because of how much potential was wasted by not having this unit run through their opponents. I think that the group had the charisma and the skill set to be the new Wyatt Family, had they been booked as a monster heel team.
But somehow, nobody had their back and now Eric Young will do his own thing on RAW, whereas Killian Dain will try and prove why he's the most athletic big man in the business on SmackDown Live. It's just a shame that the group never got to wage wars with the likes of The Shield.
Everything is better in NXT.
#4 Best/worst: Calling up 205 Live stars
I will admit that I do not watch 205 Live on a weekly basis. But I'm just curious if anyone will tune in to watch the show now that the three biggest stars- Cedric Alexander, Buddy Murphy, and Ali are not on it. I mean those three men were the faces of the brand who made it what it is.
But that said, I cannot dispute the fact that this is a much-deserved accolade and all three of the men deserve all the success in the world. I've interacted with Ali back when he still had a first name, and he's just brimming with positivity. So, I can't fault WWE for rewarding the men for their incredible skill-set.
I just hope that they don't become enhancement talent. You never know on the main roster, do you?
The Goddess will still, however, remain on RAW.
