After a wonderful and interesting weekend of wrestling, Wrestlemania weekend finally came to a close on Sunday with the conclusion of Wrestlemania 34, which will definitely be one of the most memorable ‘Manias in a long while, for better or for worse.
Now with ‘Mania weekend done, WWE is set to make a set of big changes on April 16 and 17 (17 and 18 in Manila) with the second edition of the Superstar Shakeup. Last year’s edition saw some big roster moves for each brand, with the likes of Charlotte Flair, The New Day, the Miz, and Alexa Bliss switching brand colors. This year, we expect no less when it comes to moves that will really shake things up.
With that in mind, here are our predictions on which superstars would be switching brand by the next week.
Balor Club moves to the Blue Brand
Ever since returning from injury, Finn Balor’s run on Raw has been quite an unusual one, with a feud with Bray Wyatt, along with his recent run-in with Seth Rollins and The Miz being notable. (along with the fact that he has not gotten his Universal Championship shot yet) His fellow Balor Club members Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have not fared much as well after briefly holding the Raw Tag Team Championship. A move for the Bullet Balor Club would give them a fresh start, and will also reunite them with a familiar face in AJ Styles.
The New Day returns to Raw
Since moving to Smackdown, The New Day have become one of the cornerstones of the brand’s tag team division, winning the Tag Team Championship twice, and having an impressive series of matches with the Usos. Having proven that they can succeed in either brand, it might be the best time for the trio to move back to Raw once more and shake up their tag team division, which recently added the Authors of Pain.
The Miz goes to Smackdown Live (with or without the Miztourage)
The Miz has been on perhaps one of the best runs of his career, becoming one of the best Intercontinental Champions of all time. Having lost the title at ‘Mania, it might be about time to insert him into the world title picture soon. A move to Smackdown will not only keep the WWE Championship picture fresh and exciting, but it will also help rekindle his rivalry with Daniel Bryan, which will definitely be a match-up worth seeing.
Rusev Day on Monday
Over the past few months, Rusev has become one of the most popular superstars on Smackdown, with crowds chanting “Rusev Day” in every arena he’s in. After being unable to recapture the United States title, it might be time to start fresh and move back to Raw, along with Lana and Aiden English.
Jeff Hardy goes to Smackdown Live
Brother Nero has been out for quite some time due to injury. After appearing in Ultimate Deletion a few weeks back, he has now recovered, marking his return in a six-man tag team match on Raw. With his brother Matt teaming up with Bray Wyatt, along with being free of his “Woken” condition, it is best for Jeff to have another solo run and move to Smackdown. Based on his previous solo runs in the years prior, we believe Brother Nero would be fine.
Roode to Monday night
Bobby Roode’s WWE run can be rated as somewhat average. While he may have had a United States title run, it always felt like he was never fit to be a babyface, as his character comes off as dull. A move to Raw will not only give him more opportunities to shine, but may also be the place where he can truly show his true colors, and return to being the heel that he has been for most of his career.
The Monster Among Men to Smackdown
After winning the Raw Tag Team Championships with Nicholas at Wrestlemania, Braun Strowman had to vacate the titles due to Nicholas’ obligations as a fourth-grade student. Having faced almost every major superstar on Raw, it might be the best time to test new waters and move the Monster Among Men to the Blue Brand. He could also have a mini-reunion with his former Wyatt family members Harper and Rowan as well, and who wouldn’t be intrigued to see who can stop him from completely annihilating the Smackdown locker room?
Ka-Mi split up
After being fired from Smackdown, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn tried to get into the Raw roster by facing each other, with the winner getting a post in the locker room. With the match ending in a draw, the question of where they’ll be going still lingers. However, we see K.O. moving back to Raw, where he can get into the Universal title picture again, and Zayn staying in Smackdown where he can thrive as the hungry underdog again.
Bayley and Asuka to Smackdown
While there’s a rivalry going on between Bayley and Sasha Banks right now, it will not be surprising to see one of them moving to Smackdown, and our bet is on Bayley. This will help her rediscover that fire that she had during her successful run as NXT Women’s champion. She will not be the only woman switching, as we think Asuka might be on the move as well. Having beaten every woman on Raw, it is time for Asuka to set her sights on Smackdown and beat everyone on the route to becoming Women’s champion. Despite the move, we might not be seeing her having a rematch with her ‘Mania opponent because…
Charlotte and Becky to Raw
…Charlotte will be moving back to Raw. Having shown that she is the Queen of Smackdown, Charlotte will return and assert her dominance on Raw once more, with the likes of Nia Jax and Ember Moon being intriguing match-ups. For Becky, this is a much-needed change of scenery, as she got lost in the shuffle during the past few months. Having a fiery competitor like her will definitely keep things exciting.
2018 is already becoming one of the biggest years in wrestling, and the Superstar Shakeup is bound to make things even more interesting for the whole WWE. With so many possible scenarios and rivalries on the horizon, things will definitely be shaken up.
Have any picks on who will be making the switch? Leave a comment below!
The Geeky Juans 