We found out on Monday Night Raw that a huge “Superstar Shake-Up” was on the way. Many had speculated that WWE would be having another draft this year after the fan interest it drew in 2016, but no one was sure exactly how the event would go down. Now it appears we know that instead of a traditional draft format, we will be in store for a new “Shake-Up” format. Hopefully that won’t be the name of the event every year. Might I suggest the WWE Trade Deadline. It seems to work for other sports.
Videos by ComicBook.com
Anyhow, WWE.com reported that new Raw General Manager Kurt Angle and SmackDown General Manager Daniel Bryan were are already in ongoing discussions with each other regarding next week’s anticipated Superstar movement.
According to WWE, “The WWE Chairman will be granting both sides an opportunity to make trades, deals and other moves that they feel fit, according to WWE.com sources. There are many potential maneuvers that the WWE Universe will surely be buzzing over.”
Trades and deals sound like the same thing. Then again, there could be “expiring contracts” we don’t know about, but the trades are the number one thing we’ll focus on.Before we get to the actual trades themselves, lets look at the phrase, “WWE.com sources?” You ARE the WWE. We’ll take your word for it.
But I digress. A shake-up will kick us into a brand new season of wrestling action with new storylines and new feuds to roll us into SummerSlam, the slightly less than ultimate thrillride.
There are talented superstars on both brands who are in dire need of a change of scenery. Superstars who are stuck in a rut and need the boost of a new roster to push them to new heights. Click Start Slideshow to see who we’ve chosen as the five trades that absolutely should happen next week to help WWE avoid any kind of post-WrestleMania hangover.
Sami Zayn for Dolph Ziggler
Let’s start off with two stars who can’t seem to climb out of their current positions on the roster even if you threw them a rope and a ladder with a championship belt attached to it.ย
In Dolph’s case, it may just be too late. We may have seen too many reboots that don’t actually change anything significant enough to make us care what happens to one of the most talented stars on the roster. Yet, anything will be better than where he’s at now, as the bitter veteran who doesn’t want a New Era star to take his spot. The Smackdownย mid-card isn’t worth getting that upset about.ย
For Sami, a move to Smackdownย makes all the sense in the world. With Cena heading on a hiatus soon, the blue brand is hurting for true babyfacesย at the top of the card. Randy Orton may be one, but he just burned his buddy’s barn down so lets just say it’s a gray area at best.ย
Charlotte for Becky Lynch
The New Day for American Alpha
The New Day need a New Day, yes they do. If their run-in with The Revival is any indication, they’ll be sticking around RAW for a while, but it feels like now is the time for a move to Smackdown. They’ve accomplished everything they possibly could on RAW by holding the Championships for longer than anyone in WWE history.ย
American Alpha is a great fit anywhere, but I just need to see them on the same brand as Kurt Angle. I don’t know if I can accept anything else.ย
Rusev for The Miz
The Miz is on the greatest run of his career and he’s ready for the bright spotlight of Monday Night Raw to once again shine down upon him. With three hours to kill, you need a guy who can fill up some time with his yapper and The Mizย is just that. He’d be a perfect third guy in Triple H’s stable of Kevin Owens and Samoa Joe or fine to stand on his own.
Rusev has been nothing but comedic fodder for the past year and it’s time that stops. He’s way too talented to be booked as a husky Santinoย Marella. Let’s get him to Smackdown and let he and Lana do their thing. In fact, let Rusevย finally do it as a babyface. I know this goes against every old wrestling trope because he’s “not from round here” but we want to love him. Let us. ย
AJ Styles for Seth Rollins
The biggest rumor attached to Vince wants another draft last year was that he wanted to see AJ Styles on Raw. At first glance, this made me sad. I feel like he truly is the face that runs the place on Tuesday nights. But then I realized that Brock Lesnar was the champion on RAW and the thought of an AJ vs Lesnarย match simply blows my mind. WWE keeps putting Lesnarย up against other behemoths and I get the spectacle of the whole thing, but the best matches are with two stars whose “styles clash” in look and in their ring technique.ย
For Seth, a change will do him good. He just slayed the King and now he has to hang around and pretend he doesn’t want to immediately go after that championship? Come on! Let’s get him away from Triple H or his associates for a while. He’s spent the past two years building up this storyline and for him to truly move on, he has to move out. Give him a fresh start on Smackdownย and let him go after Randy Orton’s WWEย Championship immediately.ย
Will any of these trades happen? Who would you like to see swap homes next week?