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This week's episode of SmackDown kicked off the 2021 WWE Draft, and 16 Superstars were selected on Friday. Nine of these picks were from different brands, and fans now have an idea as to how the blue brand will shape up for the next year.
SmackDown invested heavily in main event talent, as the brand picked Roman Reigns first and gained Drew McIntyre. RAW Women's Champion Charlotte Flair has also been brought on board, while the blue brand also selected a mix of old and new faces.
Following these selections, the blue brand needs to add a few heel teams on Day Two of the WWE Draft, and it should also pick some mid-card babyfaces. While some of these areas will be improved by in-house names, SmackDown will likely go shopping for new ones to fill out the roster.
This list will look at five stars who need to move to SmackDown on Day Two of the WWE Draft. Which members of RAW do you think should switch to Friday nights? Let us know in the comments below.
#5 The Hurt Business to SmackDown - WWE Draft 2021
While Bobby Lashley ended his feud with Big E without the WWE Championship, he regained his former partners. The Hurt Business is back together, and things might be looking up for the stable.
It's fair to predict that Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin will be fed to Goldberg before he takes on Lashley at Crown Jewel. Therefore, the group needs to get a fresh start in the aftermath of this feud. The WWE Draft provides The Hurt Business with this opportunity, as they'll have the option of remaining heel or turning babyface.
Exciting programs against either Hit Row and The Bloodline might be waiting for Lashley and his allies on SmackDown. A match between The All Mighty and Roman Reigns also seems like a buzzworthy possibility.
#4 The Miz to SmackDown - WWE Draft 2021
The Miz has not been on WWE television since he turned on his tag team partner, John Morrison. During this betrayal, he unleashed his aggressive side, which had rarely been seen in recent years. Once he returns from Dancing With the Stars, the former WWE Champion can regain a prominent role on either RAW or SmackDown.
At this point, The Miz would be better off going to the blue brand. He would instantly become one of the top heels on the show if he moves there in the WWE Draft. He previously thrived on the blue brand during an incredibly successful period in 2016 and 2017. The Miz's reign as the Intercontinental Champion remains the run of his career.
The A-Lister could win the belt for a record-equalling ninth time if he and Shinsuke Nakamura wind up on the same brand. Otherwise, The Miz can face off against SmackDown's various babyfaces and build them up.
#3 Ricochet to SmackDown - WWE Draft 2021
One of the Superstars most desperately in need of a move to SmackDown in the WWE Draft 2021 is Ricochet. He has barely been doing anything on RAW, as he has floundered in the undercard for nearly two years.
Ricochet needs a change of scenery and a fresh start, which could help him build some momentum. Could SmackDown be the place where his incredible in-ring skills are finally coupled with solid booking? It's certainly possible.
WWE needs to capitalize on the high-flying star's amazing talent. The blue brand might offer better growth opportunities for Ricochet, especially given SmackDown's need to elevate babyfaces to feud with Roman Reigns.
#2 Doudrop to SmackDown - WWE Draft 2021
With Bianca Belair moving to RAW in the WWE Draft, SmackDown will have to build up a new top babyface in the women's division. A few in-house names like Naomi and Liv Morgan, come to mind. But the blue brand needs depth, so it must add some fresh faces.
Doudrop can provide this depth by moving to SmackDown in the WWE Draft. She must be separated from Eva Marie, who she's been feuding with in recent weeks. Plus, the former NXT UK star could do some interesting things on Friday nights.
Aside from being the powerhouse of the roster, Doudrop can star in a tag team setting. She and Toni Storm are good friends, and they could offer an interesting dynamic on SmackDown. The two stars could potentially become WWE Women's Tag Team Champions at some point down the road.
#1 AJ Styles to SmackDown - WWE Draft 2021
Whether Omos joins him or not, AJ Styles needs to move to SmackDown during the 2021 WWE Draft. He just feels at home on the blue brand. The Phenomenal One is a natural fit for Friday nights, as he was a major part of the SmackDown roster following the brand split in 2016.
Styles has done all he can on RAW, having spent nearly a year with Omos by his side. The former WWE Champion might even need to turn babyface soon in order to freshen up his character. The Phenomenal One can do that on Friday nights after the WWE Draft, and this change would offer him a whole host of fresh opponents.
The most compelling foe for Styles on SmackDown has to be Roman Reigns. The two have never faced each other since their incredible series in the spring of 2016. It has been way too long since they've clashed, and a match between the two would be even better this time around.
Other options include a rematch from 2019 against Seth Rollins and a proper Intercontinental Championship reign. Beyond these possibilities, Styles might simply want to put over younger competitors. For example, if Omos joins him on SmackDown, the two can split up and feud on the blue brand. This rivalry could firmly establish Omos as a new star.
Whatever he winds up doing on the show, SmackDown just feels right for AJ Styles. He needs to return to the "house he built" on Day Two of the WWE Draft.
