WWE: Roster Shakeup 2018: After the quake

On April 16th and 17th the annual Roster Shakeup took place at RAW and SmackDown! live. A total of 36 people switched between the shows. SPOX analyses these changes in terms of their perspective.

30 men and women from the Main Roster as well as the former NXT champions Drew McIntyre and Andrade Cien Almas (with manager Zelina Vega) and the former NXT-Tag-Champs SAnitY including the German Alexander Wolfe changed the roster in the past days. Some changes make absolute sense at first glance, while others seem questionable at first.

At Great Balls of Fire 2017, Samoa Joe got a taste of what it feels like to be in the Main Event and get a chance at the Universal Championship. But for Raw, where three men – Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman – are at the top and will continue to make up the World title next year, this would probably have been the highest of emotions.

SmackDown, on the other hand, is the perfect match against Daniel Bryan or his old TNA rival AJ Styles. In addition, the Destroyer’s chances of establishing himself as a top-heel alongside Shinsuke Nakamura and winning the WWE title at least once are very good.

Unlike many other changeovers from red to blue, The Miz didn’t urgently need the change, as his standing with Raw was still more than decent. Without question, he could have completed one or two more Intercontinental Championship runs and further cement his position as one of the biggest midcard champs of all time.

But SmackDown, the show that gave him his start in the WWE Main Roster twelve years ago, has an even bigger program waiting for him: the much-anticipated feud against Daniel Bryan. This already started during his time as Bryans Pro at NXT 2010, to be continued in the Main Roster and finally in the form of Miz vs. SmackDown GM Bryan.

A clash seemed unthinkable – until Bryan announced his comeback out of nowhere. This pairing is an absolute money match, which could also take one of the prominent places in the SummerSlam and steal the show.

Jeff’s comeback in the post-WrestleMania issue of Raw immediately made it clear that WWE did not plan to put Brother Nero alongside his brother Woken Matt Hardy once again. A decision that makes perfect sense, as the triple World Champ still draws huge pops in his solo role.

At the same time, his brother must emancipate himself from him in order to continue the storyline with Bray Wyatt. For solo push the Charismatic Enigma promptly won the United States Championship, but winning the World Title again at the Blue Brand does not seem absurd either. The roster also features AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura for fresh potential money matches.

What was true for Samoa Joe does this to an even greater extent for the not yet established Cass: In the blocked Raw Main Event he would not have found a place, but in SmackDown the heel side of the Main Event is much more open. The attack on Bryan for his comeback also shows that WWE still has big plans for the Hünen.

For this, however, it is urgently necessary that Cass has used his injury break and improved in the ring in the basics. His matches after the Heel-Turn against Enzo Amore last year clearly showed that he is still green.

The former NXT champion is at first glance the call up to the roster shakeup, who has landed in the best position to succeed. Although NXT has three new heels – Nakamura, Joe and Cass – that are pointing towards WWE titles, the cards are now being reshuffled.

In addition, since the departure of Rey Mysterio, WWE has been looking for a Mexican star – a role that Alberto del Rio failed for various reasons. Almas now has the chance to play a central role in the blue brand, which is traditionally more geared to the Latino market. Sooner or later, however, he will have to emancipate himself from his manager Zelina Vega.

Page 1: WWE Roster Shakeup 2018: The Winners

Page 2: WWE Roster Shakeup 2018: The losers and the question marks