Just wanted to briefly reflect on the current state of some superstars and explain why a little change of scenery would benefit them.
Finn Balor
Finn Balor was drafted to RAW in 2016 during the WWE draft, thus moving up to the main roster. Upon his initial run, he was seemingly treated as a cornerstone of WWE’s flagship show. On his first night he was apart of a Fatal-4-Way match to determine who would go on to face the winner of an additional Fatal-4-Way match later in the night, in a #1 contender’s match, with the winner of that match ultimately going on to SummerSlam to battle Seth Rollins for the Universal Championship. Finn Balor defeated Rusev, Cesaro and Kevin Owens, while Roman Reigns defeated his opponents. Later that night, Finn Balor and Roman Reigns battled it out to see who would move onto the main event of SummerSlam. In unexpected fashion, Balor was successful in defeating Roman Reigns. He was introduced to the main roster, won a Fatal-4-Way match and defeated one of the biggest stars in WWE to ensure a Championship match at one of the biggest WWE events, all in one night.
At the time, you could assume Balor was destined for greatness on the main roster, but sadly that assumption would come to an abrupt end. During his match with Seth Rollins to determine the inaugural Universal Champion, he suffered a shoulder injury that would ultimately keep him on the shelf for a significant amount of time. However, he still won the match, thus becoming the first ever Universal Champion. The following night on RAW, he had to relinquish the title. This was a bummer, because as soon as this happened I knew things wouldn’t be the same when he returned. The night after WrestleMania, he returned as Seth Rollins’ tag team partner in a match against Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens. Since his Universal Championship match, he hasn’t been involved in anything important. I feel like all he has done since was face Baron Corbin in a singles match…like…I don’t know…52 times. It’s unfortunate, being a fan of his, I really wanted to see him succeed like he did in NXT and New Japan. This is where a change of scenery could help him.
I can’t say he’s “done it all” on RAW, as he’s really done nothing. Aside from the Universal Title, he hasn’t done anything worthwhile. However, he has faced just about everyone on the RAW roster in some capacity. Because of that, it’s time to move him to SmackDown. He’s become stale on RAW. Moving Balor to SmackDown allows him to face the likes of Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Rey Mysterio. Reading that sentence just sounds refreshing. He may never be a World Champion in WWE again, who really knows, but a move to the blue brand would freshen him up nonetheless. Opens up opportunities for new storylines, new opponents, a number of things. He’s definitely at the top of my list regarding this topic.
Seth Rollins
Seth Rollins is evidently higher than Finn Balor on the totem pole. He has bigger things coming his way. As soon as that Universal Championship comes out of hiding, he’s at the beginning of the line for a shot, undoubtedly. He is, however, in the same boat as Finn Balor when it comes to SmackDown – fresh opponents, new rivals, drama, storylines, you get the picture. I wouldn’t say he needs to as much as Finn Balor, but a jump to SmackDown would do no harm. Everyone, as far as I know, wants to see AJ Styles vs. Seth Rollins, and on SmackDown that can obviously happen. Hell, Seth Rollins vs. Daniel Bryan, Seth Rollins vs. Jeff Hardy, Seth Rollins vs. Rey Mysterio, Seth Rollins vs. Andrade Cien Almas, etc. After his current feud with Dean Ambrose, what’s there to do if he doesn’t get a Universal Championship match? Nothing comes to mind. Send him to SmackDown.
Randy Orton
Randy Orton has honestly done it all: a multiple-time world champion, 2-time Royal Rumble winner, Mr. Money in the Bank, top heel at one point, top babyface at one point, apart of various factions, the whole nine yards. The thing is, he’s always felt like a RAW guy to me as much as he’s been on SmackDown. I will say though, there are multiple superstars on the blue brand that he is yet to get his hands on – Samoa Joe comes to mind, babyface Daniel Bryan, and we never received that AJ Styles/Randy Orton feud folks were clamoring for. So, when it comes to Orton on SmackDown, I guess there are technically a few things to still – not necessarily accomplish – but rather to invest in. I’d rather he go to RAW, though. I just feel like he’d fit there better. And he’s a big star to compensate for the loss of Balor and Rollins on RAW.
The Revival
Okay, this one bothers the hell out of me. The Revival, a dominant unit on NXT, a team you took serious every week, an old school tag team…they have now essentially turned into jobbers. They have been used to get legends over, stupid comedy acts like B-Team, and more recently have been used as a joke to get this moronic “Lucha House Rules” gimmick over. It’s incredibly ridiculous. They should’ve at the very least been tag team champions by now. They just resemble rough and tough, mean dudes, but in reality, they’re perhaps the biggest joke in the company. It’s sad, really. I feel as though the writers on SmackDown would have something of substance for The Revival. Look at Zack Ryder, when he was on SmackDown, he was almost on the show on a weekly basis, had a storyline with Mojo Rawley that led to the team breaking up – granted it wasn’t that exciting of a story, but it led somewhere. Whereas Dash and Dawson show up to work to simply lose every week to a bunch of goons. What’s the point? You don’t use your best tag team on your roster as utter jokes. Come on now. Move them SmackDown, I see nothing but bigger and better things.
Becky Lynch
Becky Lynch is losing the SmackDown Women’s Title at TLC. I’ll come out and say that right off the bat. If not at TLC, some time before the Rumble, rather it be the night of or weeks prior to it. Why before the Royal Rumble? Simple – champions can’t enter the Royal Rumble Match and she’s my pick to win it this year. She’s going to win the Royal Rumble and choose to face Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania for the RAW Women’s title, ergo becoming apart of the RAW roster and simultaneously giving us the match we thought we were getting at the Survivor Series, but this time on the bigger stage. She’s defeated Charlotte Flair, the top of the food chain, no one else on SmackDown is believable enough to defeat her one-on-one aside from Asuka at this point. She’s already beaten the best, what makes you think someone like Mandy Rose or Lana could do it? Wouldn’t make the least bit of sense. On RAW, she has former foe Alexa Bliss (if she’s ever cleared), Bayley, Ember Moon, Mickie James, and of course she could get revenge on Nia Jax. Pack her bags, and send her to RAW.
The Usos
The Usos and New Day always have pretty good matches together, exciting. But I’m just tired of the repetitiveness. They face each other so much (rather it be singles matches or tag), the excitement level just plummets. Not to mention RAW’s tag team division is a dumpster fire in its current state, so sending the Usos to RAW would freshen things up a bit on both shows. I suppose you could send another top tag team to RAW, like the New Day or The Bar, but they already had their run on Monday Nights. Whereas The Usos haven’t been on RAW in like two years, give or take. Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn will be returning soon, they can join the tag division. The Usos and Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn could sit atop of RAW, while New Day, The Bar, and the addition of The Revival can do there thing on SmackDown. You can even send Sanity to RAW along with the Usos. They aren’t doing a damn thing on SmackDown. As much as people would disagree, sometimes a move to RAW can be beneficial. I’d say Kevin Owens, for example, has had a better RAW run overall in comparison to his SmackDown run, and Sanity are more than capable of doing the same. I had initially planned to just put the Usos here, but as I’m writing this piece, I think I’m going to go head and add Sanity as well. Usos and Sanity to RAW.
Sasha Banks
Like Randy Orton, Sasha Banks still has a bit to do on her current brand. She still hasn’t had her big match with Bayley, an Alexa Bliss feud I think would be okay, and of course a match with Ronda Rousey. After that, not so much to explore. I’ve seen enough of her and Bayley against the Riott Squad, Alicia Fox, Mickie James, Nia Jax, and Dana Brooke to a lesser extent. I’d love to see Sasha Banks against Asuka, and as it’s been a while she can even reignite her rivalry with Charlotte. So, I’d say after Sasha has her inevitable match with Bayley, perhaps a feud with Alexa Bliss, and a Ronda Rousey match-up, she should be traded to SmackDown. Plus, in my opinion, she looks and seems like a SmackDown talent. It’s difficult to explain why, but I just think she’d fit right in. I think she even said herself she preferred SmackDown.
So, with all that said, this is what the lists would call for.
RAW gets:
Randy Orton
Becky Lynch
The Usos
Sanity
SmackDown gets:
Seth Rollins
Finn Balor
Sasha Banks
The Revival
Do you agree? Do you disagree? Do you simply not care? Am I completely missing someone? Express your thoughts below if you’d like. Don’t be shy, share your sheer, unmitigated brilliance with the community! Goodbye, for now.
