
This week WWE will feature a “Superstar Shake Up” that will move wrestlers between Raw and Smackdown Live. There has been a lot of speculation about who is going where.
We’ll be tracking all the moves here.
Most of the reveals will happen during the shows, but hours before Raw we got our first name to move brands!
Apollo Crews!
EXCLUSIVE: @MikeRomeWWE is standing by with the first OFFICIAL @WWE Superstar to be "shaken up" to Monday Night #RAW…@ApolloCrews! pic.twitter.com/1LDEqa6nuk
— WWE (@WWE) April 10, 2017
Funny enough, Apollo Crews and 205live star Akira Tozawa went viral in the wrestling community with their “Shake it Up” videos:
A fan tweeted that they saw the following Smackdown wrestlers at an airport this evening, indicating that they may not be jumping to Raw.
At an airport where Nakamura, Aiden English, Dillinger, Carmella, Breeze and Jordan are boarding flight…guess they are not going to #RAW.
— TheStillRealToUsShow (@SRTUPodcast) April 10, 2017
Live on Raw
The show opened with John Cena’s music…but The Miz and Maryse came out instead….
Are Nikki @BellaTwins and @JohnCena on #RAW?! The #SuperstarShakeUp is FULL of surprises already! @mikethemiz @MaryseMizanin pic.twitter.com/MHHjkrlWLv
— WWE (@WWE) April 11, 2017
They were soon interrupted by the Intercontential Champion and fellow former Smackdowner Dean Ambrose.
They are not screwing around with this #SuperstarShakeUp.
Dean Ambrose (AND the Intercontinental Championship)!? #RAW
— The Steel Cage (@thesteelcage) April 11, 2017
Seriously, two former WWE champions back on the red brand! HUGE!
Curt Hawkins made a quick debut but was then knocked out by Big Show
My face hurts… a lot… that been said… it's now time for @WWE #RAW to… FACE THE FACTS! pic.twitter.com/trNanBSgTc
— Brian Myers (@Myers_Wrestling) April 11, 2017
The award for the most subtle “debut” ever goes to “The Drifter” Elias Samson:
https://twitter.com/totaldivaseps/status/851605995688251393
https://twitter.com/BulletClubItal/status/851605876846841858
It seems all the DRIFTING has led @IAmSamsonWWE to take in a night of Monday Night #RAW action… pic.twitter.com/Ga8XIf5ROS
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 11, 2017
But maybe the biggest and scariest switch came from the Eater Of Worlds himself, Bray Wyatt:
"THIS IS MY NEW HOME NOW!" – @WWEBrayWyatt delivering a message to the @WWEUniverse on #RAW?! #SuperstarShakeup pic.twitter.com/4oc390awta
— WWE (@WWE) April 11, 2017
Will @WWEBrayWyatt get his PAYBACK in the #HouseOfHorrorsMatch against @RandyOrton? #RAW pic.twitter.com/E29Pg0t3rv
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 11, 2017
Then two more additions were announced without much fanfare:
Former #SDLive #TagTeamChampions @HeathSlaterOMRB and @Rhyno313 are also on their way to Monday Night #RAW! #SuperstarShakeup pic.twitter.com/S4Gf5l7Q2D
— WWE (@WWE) April 11, 2017
The high-flying @KalistoWWE is coming back to Monday Night #RAW as part of the #SuperstarShakeup! pic.twitter.com/GETuuFwQ0l
— WWE (@WWE) April 11, 2017
Then we got some #MondayNightBliss!
Be still @WWEGraves' heart! @AlexaBliss_WWE is here on Monday Night #RAW! pic.twitter.com/Xj57ypCUVi
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 11, 2017
AND Mickie James!
It seems @AlexaBliss_WWE is not the ONLY woman joining #RAW from #SDLive! @MickieJames #SuperstarShakeup pic.twitter.com/gHfpiOWaSd
— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 11, 2017
Smackdown lost a lot of great talent and a title belt. I think each move could be good if used properly and given fresh stories. Alexa and Mickie on the Women’s roster add some much needed new blood to a division that had good wrestling but repetitive match-ups.
The way Raw ended makes it seem like Kevin Owens may be moving the US title to Smackdown, which might mean he is taking Jericho with him.
Bray Wyatt’s move is probably the most intriguing. If he wins the WWE Title back from Randy Orton at Payback, then Raw would have both top-tier belts. That doesn’t seem right. Bray is also gearing up for a feud with Finn Balor. If that goes down, then Bray should have the title on him to give the match a bit of an extra kick.
If Bray does win and moves to Raw, does that mean Brock and the Universal Title are moving to Smackdown? Will the Universal Title have to change colors?
Unfortunately, I don’t see Rhyno and Slater being used as anything other than a comedy act. Though it does raise the possibility of a 3MB reunion, especially since Drew McIntyre is back with the company.
It will be interesting to see who makes the switch to Smackdown.
What do you think of all the movements? Share your thoughts!