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WWE reintroduced the brand split in July 2016 as the company divided its roster into two. Both the premier shows of WWE got their own separate rosters. While RAW was already airing live on TV, this brand extension transformed SmackDown from a taped show to a live one.
At the Battleground PPV, SmackDown's Dean Ambrose managed to retain his WWE Championship, which meant that the blue brand was the new home of WWE's most prestigious title. The Miz, who was the Intercontinental Champion at that time, was also drafted to SmackDown.
However, the blue brand did not have its own women's championship nor its tag team titles. Though they were introduced later on, they did not have them on the very first episode.
A lot of things have changed in the WWE since that night and here's a look at the current status of the superstars who were a part of the show .
Shane McMahon
Shane McMahon was one of the key reasons behind the brand split in 2016 and "The Money" was crowned the Commissioner of the blue brand by his father, Vince McMahon. Shane has continued to be an integral part of the show in 2019 as well, and the one notable thing he has achieved in the 3 years is the WWE World Cup.
Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan was the General Manager of SmackDown Live in 2016, and earlier that year he was forced to retire from professional wrestling.
Fast forward to 2019 and the GOAT is the WWE Champion. He made his triumphant in-ring return at WrestleMania 34 in 2018 and has turned from a popular babyface to a vicious heel.
Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose was the WWE World Heavyweight Champion on the first episode of SmackDown Live in 2016. The Lunatic Fringe moved to RAW in 2017 and has since been a regular feature of the show's mid card.
He had a short reunion with his Shield brothers and Ambrose is currently a heel Intercontinental Champion on the red brand.
Kane
The Big Red Machine, Kane had participated in a battle royal on the first episode of SmackDown Live and was later on a part of the Randy Orton vs Bray Wyatt feud.
Kane has made sporadic appearances in the WWE since becoming the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee. His last in-ring appearance was in November 2018 where he teamed up with his brother the Undertaker to take on DX in a dream match.
Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder was also a part of the Battle Royal on SmackDown's first episode. The Long Island Ice-Z has not done a lot since the split.
The brand split was expected to be Ryder's golden chance but he was paired up with Mojo Rawley as a part of the tag team known as Hype Bros. Zack Ryder is a part of the RAW roster in 2019 and he regularly wrestles on WWE Main Event.
The Vaudevillains
One half of the Vaudevillains, Simon Gotch, was released by the WWE due to his poor performances in the ring. Simon and Aiden English were a part of the Battle Royal on the first episode of Smackdown.
Gotch has been wrestling for Major League Wrestling currently. However, his former tag team partner Aiden English has continued to rise in the WWE.
The Ascension
Viktor and Konnor, who had a stupendous run in NXT were drafted to SmackDown in 2016. The duo however failed to repeat their magic on the main roster and soon became jobbers of the tag team division.
In 2019, the only thing that has changed for the Ascension is their brand. They are currently performing the role of jobbers on RAW and not on SmackDown.
Kalisto
Former US Champion Kalisto was drafted to SmackDown in the Draft of 2016 and the Luchador has since then performed well in the WWE. The Mexican was also a part of the Battle Royal on SmackDown.
Kalisto has won the Cruiserweight Championship twice and is currently performing the role of a tag team wrestler on RAW where he is a part of the Lucha House Party.
Erick Rowan
Erick Rowan, who was a part of the Wyatt Family back then, has changed his on-screen character. Rowan was eliminated by Aiden English in the first episode's battle royal.
In 2019, Erick Rowan and Luke Harper are a tag team known as the Bludgeon Brothers. Rowan is currently injured and is expected to make his in-ring return soon.
Alberto Del Rio
Mexico's Greatest Export, Alberto Del Rio, battled in the battle royal on SmackDown's first episode. However, Del Rio soon parted ways with the WWE and wrestled in the indies.
He had developed a controversial relationship with Paige back then, which was being hailed as one of the key reasons behind his release. Del Rio recently hinted at a comeback to MMA.
Mojo Rawley
Mojo Rawley was one of the most surprising call-ups to the main roster in 2016. He was called up to the Smackdown roster to form a tag team with Zack Ryder.
However, Rawley and Ryder are no longer together and Mojo portrays the character of a heel guy on RAW currently.
Apollo Crews
Apollo Crews had won the multi man battle royale on SmackDown to secure the sixth spot in the Six-Pack Challenge match which took place on the show later on.
Crews has not received his huge push in WWE yet and the muscular athlete is a part of the RAW roster currently. Coincidentally, Apollo Crews won a battle royal on the last RAW episode 2018 and Dean Ambrose's championship was the reason behind both battle royals.
Breezango
Tyler Breeze and Fandango were one of the funniest teams on SmackDown Live and the duo's TV series of Fashion Files gained the WWE Universe's attention.
However, the duo were not able to reflect the same success inside the ring as they are still portraying the roles of jokers on RAW presently.
Natalya
Natalya wrestled in a match against Becky Lynch on the first episode of the New Era and the Queen of Harts has still continued to be an important part of the WWE's Women's division. Natalya had feuded with Nikki Bella in what was one of the best feuds of SmackDown in 2016-17.
She had even won the Smackdown Women's title in 2017 before she was drafted to RAW where she is portraying the role of Ronda Rousey's sidekick on TV now.
Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch was the female draft pick of SmackDown in 2016 and the Irish Lasskicker went on to become the first ever Women's Champion of the brand a few weeks after the first episode of the show. Lynch defeated Natalya in a singles match to kick off her career on the blue brand.
Though Becky had lost her direction in 2017, she bounced back like a champion in 2018 and is currently the hottest thing in the entire company.
Alexa Bliss
Alexa Bliss was seen as a push-over from NXT who was promoted to Smackdown just to make up the numbers. She debuted on the blue brand by interrupting Becky Lynch during her post match promo, along with Naomi, Carmella and Eva Marie.
Bliss has won the Women's Championships of both RAW and SD Live multiple times and the Five Feet of Fury is currently away from the ring recovering from her injuries.
Naomi
Naomi, who earlier played the role of Sasha Banks' sidekick, had changed her gimmick on Smackdown. This change in gimmick helped Naomi in becoming a 2-time Smackdown Women's Champion.
She has been an important member of the blue brand's women's division since 2016 and Naomi is currently involved in a storyline with Mandy Rose on Tuesday nights.
Carmella
Carmella was the last draft pick in the 2016 Draft, and she too made her main roster debut by interrupting Becky Lynch. At that time, hardly anyone would have predicted Carmella to become a Smackdown Women's Champion in the future.
However, Mella overcame all the odds and became the first ever Miss Money in the Bank before cashing in her briefcase to win her first championship in the WWE.
Carmella has joined forces with R Truth recently and the duo's dance breaks are extremely popular amongst the WWE Universe.
Eva Marie
Eva Marie seemed like a mismatch on SD Live as she was still being portrayed as a Diva during the Women's Revolution. Marie featured on some episodes of SmackDown before she got injured and was soon released by the company in 2017.
Marie has taken up acting and fashion designing as her career now and the former WWE diva has been teasing a return to the ring of late.
The Miz
The Miz had become a jobber in the WWE in 2015-16 and it was his Intercontinental Championship victory on the RAW after Wrestlemania 32 that made him relevant once again. Though the Miz portrayed a heel character on Smackdown, he was often cheered by the crowd.
On the first episode, the Miz hosted Miz TV, with Randy Orton being its special guest. The two went on to have a match later on, which was won by the Viper.
The Miz is presently involved in a tag team angle with Shane McMahon as the Co-Besties are trying to step into the SD Live tag team division.
Randy Orton
Back in 2016, Randy Orton was a face superstar who used to receive lukewarm reactions from the crowd. He was feuding with Brock Lesnar heading into the brand split and Orton participated in an interview on Miz TV in order to promote his SummerSlam match with the Beast.
A lot has changed for Orton since the brand split, as he is now the same sadistic heel that he was known to be in the initial stages of his career.
Heath Slater and Rhyno
Heath Slater was not picked by RAW or Smackdown in the Draft of 2016 which left the One Man Band appearing on both the shows demanding a job. After failing to secure a contract on RAW, Slater came to the Blue Brand where he demanded to be signed and got the “Sign Heath Slater” chants going.
However, as we all know, Rhyno gored him to end that segment and the duo later on formed a tag team to win the Smackdown Tag Team Championship, which helped Heath Slater become a member of the blue brand.
Heath Slater and Rhyno are currently floundering in the RAW tag team division as the duo has failed to repeat their past success.
John Cena
John Cena was not the part timer in 2016 that he is currently and Big Match John had battled in a Six Pack Challenge on the first episode of the show. Cena was feuding with AJ Styles during that time and so he was not booked to win the match and become the #1 contender.
Cena has reduced his WWE appearances considerably and the 16-time World Champion made his return to Smackdown just last night where he teamed up with Becky Lynch to take on Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega.
Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler emerged victorious in the first main event of Smackdown as he defeated 5 other men to be crowned the new #1 contender for the WWE title.
Ziggler had an epic rivalry with the Miz after his feud with Ambrose. However, the ShowOff is now a part of the RAW roster and is mainly being used as WWE's gatekeeper for the upcoming NXT talents.
Bray Wyatt
The Eater of the Worlds, Bray Wyatt enjoyed grand success during his run on Smackdown. He won the Tag Team Championship with Randy Orton before becoming the WWE Champion of the show. Wyatt had wrestled in the six man #1 contender's match on SD Live.
Wyatt is currently preparing for his in-ring return and the WWE Universe is awaiting his return to Monday Night RAW.
Baron Corbin
Baron Corbin's run in the WWE can be hailed as one of the most unpredictable stories of all time. Corbin started his main roster career by winning the Andre the Giant Battle Royal and then was booked like a future WWE Champion on Tuesday Nights. He too was a part of the 6 Pack Challenge but the Lone Wolf failed to capture the opportunity.
Corbin became the Acting GM of RAW in 2018, but Corbin's tenure as the Authority figure ended before 2019 commenced and he is struggling to make it big in the WWE now.
AJ Styles
2016 was the year when AJ Styles made his debut in the WWE and the Phenomenal One instantly became one of the top stars of the company. Styles was picked by Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan in the 2016 Draft and he soon became the face of the blue brand.
He feuded with John Cena in the initial stages of his Smackdown career before winning the WWE Championship on the show's first PPV, Backlash. He then feuded with Shane McMahon heading into Wrestlemania 33 before turning face and winning the US title at the MSG house show.
Styles became the first ever superstar to win the WWE Championship outside North America and had one of the longest reigns as the WWE Champion.
AJ is currently feuding with the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan and the two superstars are going to clash at the Royal Rumble PPV.
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