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WWE is not the fan-favourite wrestling promotion it once was during its heyday in the attitude era, and most of Vince McMahon's harshest critics all shout the same thing, the company has become relatively predictable over the last few years.
While that opinion is somewhat right, there is no denying that WWE has swerved fans more than once this year with their now famous unpredictability.
2018 has been an unpredictable year for the WWE Universe, as significant decisions such as a thoroughly over babyface winning the Royal Rumble, proper dream matches on a WrestleMania card, and shocking results no one could’ve fathomed, were all booked by the company this year.
Therefore, with WWE trying to give their fanbase something different since the start of this year, it is safe to say that the Superstar Shakeup next week, could feature some of these unpredictable booking strategies that could drastically shake up the landscape of Raw and Smackdown respectively.
#1 Switching World Champions
Smackdown Live is the brand where AJ Styles became the hottest Superstar in the company, and Raw has been Brock Lesnar's playground for his entire second run with the company.
Therefore, having these two Superstars switch brands would be an unexpected monumental moment. WWE has shifted World Champions over Raw and SmackDown over the years, but this time it would be a genuinely unpredictable moment.
The factor that makes this move a shocking one, is that the fact that the Universal Championship was exclusively created for Raw.
Thus, seeing that title being switched over to SmackDown would raise specific questions such as, does the Universal title stay exclusive to Raw? Do Brock Lesnar and AJ Styles exchange their Championships because of this fact, and how will this narrative pan out?
If WWE wants the Superstar Shakeup to shake up the landscape of Raw and SmackDown Live, this would be the best possible scenario.
Taking into consideration that Lesnar and Roman Reigns have a Universal title match at the Greatest Royal Rumble event. With reports circulating that Reigns might dethrone Lesnar, this might be the best option for Reigns to switch brands, with his title to start afresh as WWE has worn out his booking options on Raw.
Also, after Raw had the worst rough patch without a full-time World Champion for over a year, AJ Styles is the perfect man to step into the flagship show, rejuvenate the main event scene and help Raw reach its peak once again.
#2 Owens and Zayn return to NXT
Free agents Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, have been without jobs ever since they mercilessly attacked their SmackDown Live Commissioner, Shane McMahon.
Although being fired by Daniel Bryan, Owens and Zayn had one more chance to regain their jobs on the blue brand, by merely beating McMahon and Bryan at WrestleMania which they failed to do.
Therefore, this past week on Raw, the best friend duo decided to confront Kurt Angle for a Monday Night Raw contract which they once again failed to capture.
Now that WWE has taken all predictable routes for Zayn and Owens, the only logical step and best booking option, is to have them drafted to NXT.
While most of the WWE Universe might say that this is an outrageous move WWE might never consider, taking into consideration, Owens' unexplained relationship with Triple H, and Zayn’s history with the brand, the COO would not hesitate in giving two of the most celebrated NXT Superstars a chance in Full Sail University.
This move would be groundbreaking for the company, as two of the most prominent wrestlers in the world who were being misused on Raw and SmackDown Live, would now work wonders for the yellow brand.
Therefore, by sending them back to NXT, WWE can bring more attention to the brand. They can help Zayn and Owens regain their lost footing, and they can allow NXT to transition into a more prominent brand in WWE.
#3 Ambrose, Rollins, Reigns are all drafted to SmackDown Live
When Dean Ambrose finally made his way back to Raw in 2017, a majority of the WWE Universe was uncontrollably excited, as they knew this meant a full-on reunion with his former Sheild brethren Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins.
Moreover, WWE gave the fans exactly what they wanted, as The Shield had reunited in white hot fashion, taking out every wrestler that stood in their way.
However, the group's long-awaited reunion came at the wrong time, as it was plagued in injury, controversy and bad booking.
Instead of having the 'hounds of justice' take on long-awaited dream opponents like The Club and The Wyatt Family, WWE chose to assemble non-factions to face the team.
Therefore, it should be shocking if WWE attempts a third try at a Shield reunion and that too on SmackDown Live.
Furthermore, that could be possible, as the WWE Universe is expecting Dean Ambrose to return soon, and Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to move to the blue brand, as they have no more competition left on Raw, and are in need of a change in scenery. Thus, WWE might take three of their most famous stars and draft them to the blue brand.
While most would say that the company might not take their three most important stars and place them on the 'B Show' that is SmackDown, the fact that a third Shield reunion programme could result in high merchandise sales and high television ratings for the product this is a money programme worth doing right.
As this time around, this story has a whole year for dramatic builds, swerves and classic matches. WWE has a chance to rewrite their poorly received booking with The Shield's second run and create one of the best narratives of the year.
#4 Trading Commissioners
When Vince McMahon pitted his son against the Undertaker at WrestleMania 32, for the right to have full control over Monday Night Raw, many predicted that 'The Prodigal Son', would not hinder the Undertaker's WrestleMania win-loss record. That proved to be correct as Shane lost.
However, over the next few months, Vince had reintroduced the brand split and put his two children in charge of Raw and SmackDown Live.
Since then, the two siblings brought their style of authority to the shows, as Shane was all about giving opportunities to young up and comers, while Stephanie was set on oppressing Superstars under her dictatorship.
Therefore, the most significant shock the company can book for next week’s Superstars Shake-up is to have Stephanie and Shane switch their brand of leadership.
The change of authority figures will not only be a bold decision to garner shock value, but it would make sense in a storyline perspective.
As the Chairman can announce his reasoning for switching commissioners is due to Stephanie's constant issues with her General Manager Kurt Angle, and employee Ronda Rousey, as both have already physically harmed her and one of them is responsible for her broken arm.
Also, it would be refreshing to see different authority figures as the head of Raw and SmackDown Live, as Raw has felt like the same old show with autocratic authority figures running it, and it would be fresh to see Shane bring his style of leadership to the show.
Therefore, this would be the most significant way to change up the landscape of Raw and SmackDown Live this year.
#5 The cruiserweight division moves to Smackdown Live
Triple H unveiling the Cruiserweight Title at the finals of the Cruiserweight Classic was an absolute surprise, as fans thought they would never see the division make a comeback to WWE programming.
That decision led to Raw becoming the home of the cruiserweights, as their three-hour runtime could accommodate these highflying wizards and their narratives.
However, over time WWE creative team got more and more lazy with booking the division thus leading to its demise.
Now that the company has taken more effort to rebuild the division by having a Cruiserweight title tournament, that culminated at WrestleMania with Cedric Alexander as Champion, the future of 205 Live is looking bright, but not on Raw.
Raw’s monotonous tone over the last year has been responsible for the condition of the division, as WWE dedicated its three hour runtime to other programmes. Thus the division got sidelined. Therefore, the best way to take the division forward from here is to have it move to SmackDown Live.
While just taking the entire division and placing it on the blue brand cannot change anything much, it can give the division a new feel, a new environment to work in, and it can credit SmackDown Live for being the land of opportunity.
WWE is at an advantage here and doesn't have to make drastic changes to the brand as 205 Live already starts after SmackDown Live every week.
Therefore, the only thing the company needs to do is to grow and develop the division in an environment where the product can be appreciated and booked correctly.
Teddy Long snaps when Swerve Strickland's race is brought up HERE
