The WWE draft has been a revelation for some superstars on the roster, some have gone from strength to strength, however, others have seen their stock plummet dramatically.
It’s quite fortunate that the company are currently so blessed with such exceptional talent, but for the talent themselves it can be a curse, because often some of them are inevitably left behind. Not everyone can feature on the shows, but when Raw is 3 hours I think it’s quite strange that they can’t find the time to fit everybody in somewhere.
Back in July I write about the ‘5 Superstars That Will Benefit Most From The Draft’ (https://www.sltdwrestling.com/6-superstars-will-benefit-draft/), but yet here we are 5 months later and whilst Becky Lynch and Bray Wyatt have benefitted, others on the list haven’t really moved positions.
Here are 5 drafts I think need to happen.
Sami Zayn -> Smackdown
RAW <- Dolph Ziggler
It’s such a shame that bar a few matches with Kevin Owens and a feud with Braun Strowman that didn’t go anywhere, Raw has done nothing for Sami Zayn. I found it quite odd that it was indeed Zayn that was given the nod to challenge The Miz for the Intercontinental Title at Survivor Series, when in reality he’s quite far down the pecking order. I think the opportunities would be much higher on Smackdown Live for the Canadian superstar, with The Miz, Baron Corbin and even AJ Styles attractive prospects for him. At least there’s potential there.
I absolutely insist on a Dolph Ziggler heel turn, moving to Raw and feuding with Roman Reigns for the United States Title. People that have really cooled on their appreciation for Ziggler will I’m sure start to notice him more and have a reason to get behind him once more, and even those who boo Roman would be invested in a rivalry between the two.
Ziggler’s heel mic work is a cut above any of the work he’s done as a face, mainly because his promos currently could easily be viewed from the perspective of a heel.
Roman Reigns v Dolph Ziggler would give both underappreciated guys a chance to show the fans that they are in fact fantastic workers, and I predict they could work really well together in the ring.
Sasha Banks -> Smackdown
RAW <- Becky Lynch
As great as both of these women are doing on their respective brands, I think they both need a fresh batch of feuds. It seems as though Lynch has feuded with the majority of the Smackdown Live brand already (although a future Carmella rivalry would be welcomed), whereas Banks has had so many matches with Charlotte I think we’ve had our fix of that match for the next several years.
Lynch and Charlotte would be great in the ring together, but I would rather see Lynch and Bayley be given some time to put a good programme together, really certify themselves as just as good as the other women in the division. Becky has gained a lot of credibility and momentum on Smackdown Live as Women’s Champion, it’s time to take her to the next level competitively.
Sasha would have plenty of opponents on Smackdown Live in Alexa Bliss, Carmella, Natalya and even Nikki Bella. I fear fans are growing tired of Banks, not due to her in ring performances, but to her repetitive storylines (again, no fault of her own), and a change would be just the solution.
Cesaro -> Smackdown
RAW <- Baron Corbin
I think Cesaro is a fantastic athlete, sure, his mic work isn’t great, but he’s still incredibly over with the audience because he’s thoroughly entertaining. On Raw he’s been given the old ‘don’t know what to do with these 2 guys so let’s pair them in a tag team’ act, which has been okay for the most part, but think of what he could be doing, or rather what he should be doing. The ‘Swiss Superman’ has the fanbase backing and the talent to be challenging for the Intercontinental Title, but I think he’s even above that, why not have him against AJ Styles for the WWE World Heavyweight Title? Those two would put on some exceptional matches, I’m confident in that, and would fans buy Cesaro as WWE Champion? Absolutely!
I admit, I thought Corbin on Smackdown would be a great move, but the fact they have him in storylines with Kalisto is doing neither superstars any good, and he needs to be on Raw where there’s more time for him to showcase his ability, and to get to know him. He’s great on Talking Smack, but not everybody watches that, so there’s very little to really know or invest in Corbin as a fan. Not to use him as an example again, but Roman Reigns would be a great opponent for Corbin, both big guys, I think would have good chemistry in the ring. They really need to build up Corbin as big time guy though, as taking him out of the Survivor Series match really set him back a few paces I think.
The New Day -> Smackdown Live
American Alpha <- RAW
This one isn’t based on brand performance, because both teams are very valuable to their respective shows, I just feel they need to broaden their horizons. As is the same with a lot of feuds in WWE at the moment, The New Day v The Club has been done to death now, and when you look around at the Raw roster, there isn’t a whole lot else for them to turn to. On Smackdown American Alpha are doing good, but they could be doing great. I would like them to almost completely switch over and take over from each other and have The New Day enter feuds with The Wyatt Family, seeing as there’s now a reason for them to face each other with 3 active competitors each, and American Alpha to go against The Club.
Whilst it’s great that a new era tag team can potentially overtake a historic record like the one set by Demolition (478 days), their tag team title reign hasn’t exactly been a memorable one. Their matches haven’t lived up to a standard people can look back on in 10 years and say ‘those guys put on great matches’, but rather credit their entertainment value instead.
The problem with the tag team division is over on Smackdown Live you have guys like The Hype Bros, The Ascension and The Vaudevillians who are just..there, but without really being that important to the show. I’d quite like to see WWE try and add another superstar to the mix of these teams, almost like they did with Stardust & The Ascension to face the 3 members of The New Day, even if it’s not a permanent arrangement. Curt Hawkins joining The Hype Bros? Promoting Jack Gallagher to join The Vaudevillains? Again, not a permanent fixture, but as a way to get these superstars meaning something again.
Apollo Crews -> NXT
Smackdown Live <- Samoa Joe
Apollo Crews is one of the most exciting prospects NXT have had to offer, yet he was lifted way to early and placed into the main roster swimming pool which he is currently struggling to stay afloat. I was very surprised he was given the call up as he was just finding his groove in NXT, and he’s found out the hard way that being called up to the main roster doesn’t guarantee success (just as Tyler Breeze). I’d like to see him back in the developement show very much a main attraction, but built up to feel like a star. It’s hard to believe he was actually challenging for the Intercontinental Title at Summerslam, but even that felt really out of the blue and out of place.
I think we all fully expect Samoa Joe to be debuting on the main roster at the Royal Rumble if not before, and it’ll be fully deserved. He’s been an example of how you build someone up properly, moulded and ready for the main roster. I know he’s somewhat of a veteran within the wrestling business, but not everyone who has success outside of WWE can reach the expected heights in it. Joe is destined for greatness once the company release him to the main roster, and Smackdown Live should be the first place he arrives. Pro wrestling fans will have seen Joe and Styles wrestle each other before, but the prospect of having it inside a WWE ring to new and old fans alike is both exciting and intriguing.
Joe is such a great worker that despite his size he could put on a great match inside the ring with just about anyone, and while it would be easy to place him in a feud with Kevin Owens on Raw, I would like them to build his character on Smackdown Live as a main eventer first, which could be assisted with feuds against The Miz, Dean Ambrose and even Dolph Ziggler before he reaches the highly anticipated match against Styles.
Who do YOU think needs to switch brands? Is Samoa Joe better off on Raw or Smackdown Live?
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