Thoughts On The Superstar Shakeup

I know it’s a little late but the next shows haven’t started yet so it’s still acceptable. Last week WWE had the Superstar Shakeup (also known as Designated Fun/All Things Happen Night) where a bunch of people moved from one show to the other. Today we’re taking a look at all of them, even if some have already been moved back. Some of these will be very short as there isn’t exactly much to say about them.

To Raw

1. The Miz

Cool, even if he’s been traded every single year (and yet it still somehow feels like Miz has been on Smackdown forever). Miz is likely there so they can plug his reality show even more, because that’s what wrestling is all about these days. Oh and more with Shane McMahon because reasons.

2. Andrade

It’s a good idea, even if they put him over the Intercontinental Champion on his first night. Then again it doesn’t matter as he’s already back on Smackdown. You know, because they can’t make their mind up for that long.

3. Ricochet

This guy just oozes charisma and the bigger stage he’s on the better. I don’t trust WWE to not turn him into a jobber, but at least he’s on his own now.

4. Aleister Black

Already moved to Smackdown, because WWE still can’t make their minds up.

5. The Viking Experience

I’m going to get this one out of the way before I come up with 14 more jokes about the name. The move is a surprise, but if there was ever a team ready for the main roster the day they debuted in NXT, it’s these two.

6. Rey Mysterio

Does it matter which show he’s on? Rey is a legend and is going to be able to help put over young talent no matter where he is so this is pretty inconsequential.

7. Usos

The most overdue of the whole thing and the move that the team has needed for years now.

8. Naomi

Sure. Given that the champ defends on both shows, most of the women’s division moves mean absolutely nothing at the moment.

9. Zelina Vega

Already back on Smackdown so we’ll move on.

10. Eric Young

The Shakeup ended Sanity and I think we’re all in a better place because of that. The team has done nothing since debuting so maybe they can be better off on their own.

11. EC3

At this point, he’d be better off as a garbage collector so the move doesn’t exactly change much for him.

12. Cedric Alexander

He has the charisma of a bowling ball so hopefully his work is good enough to make him stand out. That’s certainly not out of the question, but his talking abilities are average at best.

13. Lars Sullivan

Moved over to Smackdown the following night so more on him later.

14. Lacey Evans

It’s about time they did something with her. Putting Evans on Raw is fine, though she had more success punching Becky on Smackdown. Her win was good though and hopefully this goes somewhere as there’s a hard to describe appeal to her, which could take her somewhere.

15. AJ Styles

Well what else was he going to do on Smackdown? Give him some fresh opponents.

16. Cesaro

Allegedly moved after the Shakeup. The Bar has run its course anyway so let him see what he can do on his own, a mere five years after it was almost too late to pull the trigger.

To Smackdown

1. Finn Balor

Feels like a big deal, but it comes after Andrade beat him on Raw in another meaningless and unnecessary loss for a champ. Such is life for a champion in WWE these days, but I’m sure it’s fine because he was the Demon at Wrestlemania.

2. Ember Moon

See what I said about Naomi, though Moon vs. Becky is oddly intriguing.

3. Bayley

This one is a little different as Bayley needs to get far, far away from Sasha Banks because that’s the same story they’ve run for over a year now. Come up with something else for Bayley and maybe her career can be saved.

4. Kairi Sane

Hey did you know that she’s from Japan and so is Asuka? We better make them a tag team….with Paige as their manager?

5. Lars Sullivan

He could work on either show and having a resident monster around is a good idea. Let him wreck people and then get into a big spot where he may or may not win. It works in its simplicity, as has been the case forever in wrestling.

6. Buddy Murphy

It took me some time to warm up on Murphy but man alive has he nailed everything that he’s done in the last year. This is well deserved and maybe now we can stop pretending that he doesn’t weigh 230.

7. Elias

His act works wherever it goes, but he’s not getting any higher up the card than where he is now.

8. Roman Reigns

They needed an ace and now they have one. Seth Rollins is happy too as Raw can be his (and AJ’s) show now.

9. Liv Morgan

All the rest of these were announced on WWE.com. Morgan….I’m not sure if she can hang on her own. She doesn’t talk much but when you look like her, you’re going to have a job for a long time in WWE.

10. Chad Gable

Another team broken up, though he’s not going anywhere. I’d like to see him get a push, but he’s too small and too gimmicky (An Olympic wrestler who can talk. What chance would that have?) to get a real shot these days.

11. Apollo Crews

I’m sure his guaranteed rocket push is coming any day now.

12. Mickie James

Just another name moving that doesn’t change anything.

13. Heavy Machinery

This one intrigues me as you could have them as the cult favorite team. Otis is going to draw people to him so there’s nothing wrong with letting them get a chance. Their interactions with New Day alone should be great.

So that’s the Shakeup this year and….eh. WWE has made it so no one is allowed to break out, but it’s nice to have a mixture of NXT callups and some fresh faces around, though it’s little more than changing names around for some new matches. That’s a good idea, but WWE is going to push the same people more likely than not, as is always the case.