WWE Superstar Shake-Up Results: Updated Rosters For 'Monday Night Raw,' 'SmackDown Live' After Trades
A week after WrestleMania 33, the WWE landscape has seen significant changes. Following WWE’s “Superstar Shake-up,” the rosters of “Monday Night Raw” and “SmackDown Live” look very different.
There was no draft like there had been in July when the brand split became official, but the two shows seemingly made trades, exchanging some of their top wrestlers. The moves will affect the potential matchups for upcoming pay-per-views, likely through WrestleMania 34 in 2018.
Let’s take a look at the results of WWE’s recent shake-up.
Who was sent to “Monday Night Raw?”
When “Monday Night Raw” ended, it looked like WWE’s flagship show would be getting the much better end of the shake-up. Dean Ambrose (current Intercontinental Champion), Bray Wyatt and The Miz, all former WWE Champions, are now part of the red brand. Ambrose and Wyatt have both held the belt since July’s draft, and The Miz faced John Cena at WrestleMania 33.
“Monday Night Raw” also added two stars from the Smackdown women’s division. Two-time SmackDown Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss and Mickie James showed up Monday night, and they could soon continue their feud that had been brewing on Tuesdays.
The other additions to “Monday Night Raw,” however, haven’t done much of anything in recent months. Rhyno and Heath Slater were the first-ever SmackDown Tag Team Champions, but they haven’t gotten a whole lot of TV time since they lost the belts in December. Apollo Crews, Curt Hawkins and Kalisto are on the “Monday Night Raw” roster after they failed to come close to sniffing a title during nine months on “SmackDown Live.”
The biggest acquisition for “Monday Night Raw,” aside from the former champions, might be Maryse, who comes along with The Miz. Maryse was part of the mixed tag match with Nikki Bella, Cena and The Miz at WrestleMania 33, though it’s unknown if she’ll be part of the Raw women’s division.
Who was sent to “SmackDown Live?”
The biggest new name on “SmackDown Live” will be determined at WWE Payback on April 30. Kevin Owens will defend his United States Championship at the pay-per-view, and the winner will bring the belt to Tuesday nights. Owens appeared in the first segment of Tuesday’s show, and it’s hard to imagine he’ll lose the belt right away after taking it from Jericho at WrestleMania 33.
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have been linked for almost the entirety of their wrestling careers, and that should continue over the next year. Zayn has joined the blue brand, following his fiercest rival. Rusev is headed to “SmackDown Live,” as well, as is his wife Lana. Rusev is currently injured, but WWE ran a vignette Tuesday night that indicated Lana might appear on the show before her husband is ready to return to in-ring action.
While “Monday Night Raw” took former world champions from “SmackDown Live,” the blue brand acquired the biggest names from Monday’s women’s and tag team division. Charlotte Flair and The New Day will be performing exclusively on Tuesday nights for the first time.
The Shining Stars, Sin Cara and Jinder Mahal also joined “Smackdown Live.” Tamina Snuka made her “Smackdown Live” debut Tuesday, though she didn’t appear on “Monday Night Raw” either over the last year.
Staying on “Monday Night Raw”
Champions: Brock Lesnar (WWE Universal Champion), Bayley (Raw Women’s Champion), The Hardy Boyz (Raw Tag Team Champions), Neville (Cruiserweight Champion)
Singles Wrestlers: Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Big Show, Braun Strowman, Titus O’Neil, Darren Young, Mark Henry, Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel, Cruiserweight Division
Women’s Division: Sasha Banks, Nia Jax, Dana Brooke, Emma, Alicia Fox, Paige, Summer Rae
Tag Teams: The Revival, Enzo Amore & Big Cass, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson, Sheamus & Cesaro, Golden Truth
Staying on “SmackDown Live”
Champions: Randy Orton (WWE Champion), Naomi (SmackDown Women’s Champion), The Usos (SmackDown Tag Team Champions)
Singles Wrestlers: AJ Styles, John Cena, Shinsuke Nakamura, Tye Dillinger, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, Mojo Rawley, Aiden English, Erick Rowan, Luke Harper, James Ellsworth, Kane, Zack Ryder
Women’s Division: Becky Lynch, Natalya, Carmella, Nikki Bella
Tag Teams: American Alpha, The Ascension, Fashion Police
© Copyright IBTimes 2024. All rights reserved.