Top 11: Ranking the Superstar Shakeup of new SmackDown stars and how they can succeed

The Superstar Shakeup has hit WWE SmackDown Live in a major way, bringing over several up and comers, as well as already established top Superstars.

Only time will tell how these Superstars can succeed on SmackDown, if at all. However, I believe that each one of them can succeed in their own way, should WWE be smart about what to do with them.

Here we take a look at every Superstar who was traded from RAW to SmackDown and what they can accomplish on Tuesday nights.

#11 R-Truth

The seeminly immortal R-Truth was traded to SmackDown Live this week. Truth had just returned to action in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal at WrestleMania, after being inactive on RAW since last October due to a shoulder injury.

The comedic Truth hasn't been up to much, or anything at all since he and Goldust split in early 2017. At 46 years old, it appears Truth still has much left in the tank and juding by his appearance on Smackdown this week, he may be about to form a tag team with the equally underused Tye Dillinger.

#10 Absolution

Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville have done pretty well since debuting under the guidance of Paige on RAW last November. With Paige now officially retired and now the new General Manager of SmackDown, the two are left to fend for themselves, but I'm not worried.

The two are ultra talented, and along with NXT's Velveteen Dream, are proof that the revival of Tough Enough wasn't a complete waste. I could see Rose and Deville maybe having some conflict with Paige, as she won't be showing them any favouritism. Indeed, they are a fine addition to the women's division on the blue brand.

#9 Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson

Two good brothers looking for two good Championships

A welcome addition to SmackDown, in my opinion. The good brothers have been floundering on RAW, at one point seemingly about to be used in a big way, only for WWE to apparently lose interest in what they were going to do with them. This has been a recurring theme for Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson in WWE.

These former WWE Tag Team Champions should have held the gold more than once by now, but haven't come close since losing the belts back at WrestleMania 33. This move to SmackDown may revitalize them in a big way. While they are leaving Finn Balor behind, they are returning to the same brand as their other good brother, WWE Champion AJ Styles.

Could we see a reunion at some point? I think that is pretty likely, but until then, I can't think of a better team breathe some new life into the SmackDown tag team division.

#8 Big Cass

Big Cass is finally back in action after a torn ACL last August, and boy is he ready to go. Cass has made an immediate impact on SmackDown as he re-debuted for the show, by attacking the ever popular Daniel Bryan during the main event of this week's episode.

With this, and his size, WWE obviously have big plans for him. I would have expected him to start out in the United States Championship ranks, but it looks like he is going to be inserted in with the top stars of the blue brand, right away.

#7 SAnitY

Not all new RAW and SmackDown roster additions came in the form of brand trades, but as first seen with Drew McIntyre on RAW, we have had some call ups from NXT too. SmackDown got a pretty good deal with the crazy unpredictable trio of Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain and former TNA World Champion Eric Young.

Unfortunately they will not be joined by psychotic sister Nikki Cross, who is slated for a feud with NXT Women's Champion Shayna Bazler next. But they can survive without her, and hopefully we may see her join them later this year.

For now, the treacherous trio known as SAnitY have much potential and can be both a major threat to the tag team division, and to other top tier Superstars.

#6 The Bar

A surprisingly low key trade, former 4-time WWE RAW Tag Team Champions The Bar should have at least made an appearance on their new home in an big way, but were instead just briefly mentioned as having joined the brand.

Nevertheless, they have become one of the best tag teams in the entire wrestling world and will rock SmackDown's tag team division to it's very core. And should the time come for the team to split, they are both well capable of successful solo careers - Cesaro has all the potential in the world, and Sheamus is a former WWE Champion and World Champion, and could easily re-enter the WWE Championship scene.

#5 Asuka

A brand switch that was supposed to have happened already, most expected the then undefeated Asuka to defeat Charlotte for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania, but shockingly lost.

Still having not been pinned and still one of the best female wrestlers on the planet, Asuka is a very worthy addition to SmackDown and has a dozen great potential matches lined up, including a rematch with Charlotte. I would be surprised if she doesn't win the SmackDown Women's Championship at some point this Summer.

#4 Andrade "Cien" Almas and Zelina Vega

As mentioned earlier, not all brand switches came between RAW and SmackDown. Joining SAnitY on the blue brand is former NXT Champion Andrade "Cien" Almas, and his tremendous business manager, Zelina Vega.

Almas is a great example of turning your career around, as at one point he was just a background player who helped get over new top NXT face stars. His alignment with Vega turned him into a Superstar. Almas has turned many heads since his 5-star classic with Johnny Gargano at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia, and big things may be awaiting him on the main roster.

I can see him winning the WWE United States Championship later this year, before moving on to big feuds with top stars.

#3 Jeff Hardy

Jeff Hardy was and almost 20 years later still is, one of the most popular Superstars in all of wrestling.

The tag team specialist has always been a mega solo star, having held the WWE Championsip, World Heavyweight Championship, TNA World Championship, as well as several other Championships. The Grand Slam Champion has now added the WWE United States Championship to his incredible career.

Jeff won't be the US Champion forever, as WWE has always looked at him as a major player. Expect him back in the WWE Championship ranks within the next few months, should he be able to stay on the clean path.

#2 The Miz

RAW's best heel becomes SmackDown's best heel

Perhaps the most 'Awesome' trade, The Miz was the first RAW star to move to SmackDown.

The Miz has been the best heel WWE has had over the past decade, and after being one of RAW's most entertaining stars for the past year, he is back on the blue brand. John Cena and Nikki Bella aren't the only WWE couple whose break up has shocked fans, as The Miz is now separated from the WWE Intercontinental Championship, and will have to wait at least a year or so now, until he can break the record for most days as IC Champion.

Until then, Miz can also bring some prestige back to the WWE United States Championship. And after spending most of the next year doing so, I can easily see him as WWE Champion by 2019, if not sooner.

#1 Samoa Joe

It all boils down to opinion of course, but I was most excited to see former TNA, ROH and NXT Champion Samoa Joe join the SmackDown Live roster.

Joe is one of the most legit hard-hitting wrestlers in the entire world, and right up on that level with Brock Lesnar, who he easily got the better of, during all their confrontations last year. Joe had a pretty respectable run on RAW - always in the main event scene, headlining pay-per-views, being presented as one of the toughest Superstars in the company, and picking up victories over several top stars, including multiple wins over Roman Reigns.

The possibilities for Joe on SmackDown are endless. The biggest of these would be a feud, as he alluded to in his first SmackDown promo, with WWE Champion AJ Styles. Joe and Styles have had some of the best matches in TNA history, including the actual best (also involving Christopher Daniels), and will surely put on some show-stealing encounters in WWE.