The biggest winners and losers of the 2018 Superstar Shakeup

Many WWE stars switched homes this week, and some came out of the Shakeup better off than others. Some moves made no impact. For instance, did anyone really notice that the Riott Squad was traded for Absolution? No, instead it seems likelier that both factions will settle into their old roles, just with a new color surrounding them.

Some stars wound up losing out big. Others won just as much, with the new change of scenery set to work wonders for them. With that in mind, what can we expect for the next year? Who will be given prominent spots in the months ahead?

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Winner: Natalya

Natalya might well go from blue brand afterthought to red brand stalwart. It's no secret that Natalya was one of Ronda Rousey's training partners at the Performance Center, and already, she's become enmeshed with her on Raw. She was probably specially moved to work with Ronda Rousey, which was a smart decision.

Where the story goes is anyone's guess, but her involvement with Ronda Rousey means that Natalya is set for the most prominent spotlight she's had in years. A SummerSlam match between them is very possible.

Winner: The Miz

Early in the Shakeup, we learned that The Miz would return to his SmackDown roots to renew his rivalry with Daniel Bryan. It's an exciting development, one which could potentially lead to one of the feuds of the year.

It will also be a breath of fresh air to see The Miz do something other than chase or hold the Intercontinental Championship. Quite frankly, it's a big step up for him. Miz instantly became one of SmackDown's main event heels just by making the move. Exciting times for him and the WWE Universe await.

Loser: Drew McIntyre

The new and improved Drew McIntyre is a natural for Monday Night Raw. He has the look that Vince McMahon loves. He's underrated on the mic and he's improved vastly in all areas since first leaving WWE in 2014. He has everything WWE usually looks for in a star.

That's why it was so puzzling to see him paired with the irrelevant Dolph Ziggler and focusing his attention on the jobber team of Titus Worldwide.

Drew McIntyre might still get out of this spot, but as long as he's in it, he won't go beyond the tag team titles. It's a shame, since McIntyre has proven himself a reliable, if not quite the most exciting, main event or semi-main event caliber star.

Winner: Baron Corbin

Baron Corbin was an infamous 50/50 booking victim in 2017. If there was anything left to be saved in him, he needed a change of scenery. He got it.

If rumors are to be believed (and take them with a grain of salt), Vince McMahon is still high on him and moved him to Raw for the express purpose of building him back up. It's puzzling, since McIntyre is better than Corbin in every way, but Baron Corbin is as of now in a better spot.

That might not be the best call. Corbin has failed to impress so far, and he's had ample chances. His victory might well be Raw's loss. Still, we'll just have to see where the long road to WrestleMania 35 takes him.

Loser: Chad Gable

Already lost in the shuffle on SmackDown, Chad Gable was unceremoniously split from his tag team partner, Shelton Benjamin, and dumped on Raw with little fanfare. He'll now have to make it on his own.

The former Olympic athlete has many talents, but there's no prominent spot on the red brand he can fill at the moment. Perhaps he might wind up surprising us, but Chad Gable's stock was in the "sell" territory long before this, and the Shakeup didn't do much to improve it.

Winner: Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy was exactly what SmackDown's long-suffering mid-card needed. Sure to add some life into the long-lifeless United States Championship scene, Jeff is free to do his own thing while brother Matt associates himself with a Bray Wyatt, which is always a dicey proposition.

Many potentially exciting matchups await him in the future, and Jeff Hardy will have a solid role on the blue brand for the next year.

Winner: Samoa Joe

One of the biggest winners of all, the acquisition of Samoa Joe is a boon both for the Samoan Submission Machine and for SmackDown itself. Samoa Joe wasted no time in inserting himself firmly into SmackDown's main event conversation, a conversation which has so badly lacked top shelf heels for the past year.

The year to come promises immense excitement as Joe tangles with the likes of Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, and more!

Winner: Big Cass

Unfortunately, not all is smooth sailing on SmackDown. Big Cass is the type that Vince McMahon might try to push at a main event level despite the shortcomings which are immense as he is.

Last night seemed to see us heading in that direction, as Cass interfered in the main event featuring AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan. This is concerning, as his track record isn't good. The feud last year with Enzo and the Big Show was abysmal.

It's been suggested by many a commentator that Big Cass can serve as hired muscle for The Miz as he feuds with Daniel Bryan. Let's hope that winds up being the case. Big Cass was a big winner in the Superstar Shakeup, but his win might well be SmackDown's loss.

Winner: Asuka

Asuka was in a vulnerable spot after losing her undefeated streak at WrestleMania. Thankfully, it looks like she'll come out relatively unscathed. The switch to the blue brand was a boon for her, as Raw's women's division looks grim at the moment.

Her win is also a win for SmackDown, as this opens the window to an exciting, year-defining rivalry with Charlotte, not to mention the other potentially great matches awaiting her with Becky Lynch and possibly Nikki Cross, should she join her SAnitY comrades.

Losers: Gallows and Anderson

Gallows and Anderson weren't doing much before this, but their switch to the blue brand means they'll be leaving the side of Finn Balor, who did more to make them over than anything in the past year. With The Bar, SAnitY, the Bludgeon Brothers, The Usos and New Day around, their standing in the tag team division isn't high, either.

Perhaps they can join with AJ Styles as in the past to find some new life, but that's unlikely. They could have done more to help rebuild Raw's thoroughly shattered tag team division.

Winner: Andrade "Cien" Almas

Andrade "Cien" Almas has been one of the hottest WWE superstars in 2018. Lighting NXT on fire during his championship pursuit and reign, he now makes the jump to SmackDown.

He'll join a roster featuring AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe, Jeff Hardy, Randy Orton, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, and...the list goes on forever.

Many, many exciting matches come with Almas' arrival, and with Zelina with him, he should comfortably find a place in SmackDown's upper mid-card and main event conversation.

This is going to be good.