Even though AEW is only in its early stages and has yet to score a TV contract (there are rumors the company has offers on the table from major networks) or host its first official PPV, WWE is under pressure to improve its product and to do so in a hurry. Perhaps more than any year in recent memory, there is a tone of pressure for this year's WrestleMania to exceed expectations and feature several big spots and exciting moments. The 35th annual event will be held roughly one month before AEW's Double or Nothing and it's imperative the card is stacked with dream matches and other surprises. The wheels already appear to be in motion as Vince, Stephanie, and Shane McMahon, as well as Triple H, appeared on Raw late in 2018 with a promise to shake things up and give the fans what they want.

While it hasn't been an immediate shake-up, there have been some promising signs in recent weeks as Mustafa Ali was officially moved to SmackDown and put into the main event picture, while Superstars like Andrade, Apollo Crews, Rusev, and Seth Rollins appear to be in line for well-deserved pushes. There is also the decisions of six NXT Superstars as well as the post-WrestleMania roster shake-up to look forward to. However, given some of the stale storylines and possible match-ups, it's even likely we see brand movement and new signings well before WrestleMania. Below are seven switches and/or signings that could affect Raw, SmackDown, and NXT.

21 Raw: Heavy Machinery

Heavy Machinery, comprised of Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight, was never really much of a threat in the NXT Tag Team Division - they were never NXT Tag Team Champions - but that doesn't mean they won't be successful on the main roster. In fact, they're similar to Elias in that they were somewhat miscast in NXT and even more suited to fill TV time on a three-hour program like Raw.

Both members of the team are skilled enough on the mic and possess enough personality to get them over with the casual and hardcore fan. There also entertaining in the ring as their style is much different than any other tag team currently on the main roster. Raw is in need of an improved Tag Team Division and Heavy Machinery should help in that regard.

20 SmackDown: Kassius Ohno

Kassius Ohno might not be the name at the top of anybody's list in regard to most anticipated NXT call-ups, especially after his quick loss to Matt Riddle at NXT TakeOver: WarGames II, but he has earned a promotion not only because of his commitment to the company but also his impressive independent career.

As Chris Hero, Ohno has won multiple titles across a variety of promotions and was once ranked No. 36 in the world by Pro Wrestling Illustrated. The 39-year-old is also a former two-time Ring of Honor (ROH) Tag Team Champion with Claudio Castagnoli (aka Cesaro), so it would be fun to see him either feud with either him or Sheamus. His style also translates better to the main roster than NXT.

19 NXT: Cris Cyborg

First, it was Shayna Baszler and then Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir that made the transition from MMA to professional wrestling/sports entertainment. And while the jury is still out on the latter two, it's clear that the star power of Baszler - and of course Ronda Rousey on the main roster - has altered the industry.

Former MMA stars present a different dynamic to the women's roster and are immediately taken as a threat. Nobody looks the part better than Cris Cyborg who, in the past, has said she would fight rival Rousey in a WWE ring. Like Rousey, Cyborg had a recent tough loss at the hands of Amanda Nunes, so perhaps she could be now thinking about a jump from the octagon to the squared circle.

18 Raw: Paige

It was clear that Raw needed a shake-up, but the unfortunate part about the McMahons taking over in an active on-air leadership role meant that Paige was out as commissioner of SmackDown Live. Paige was great in that role and clearly has the ability to excel in a management or other on-air role.

While it's unlikely she holds the commissioner's spot any time in the near future, she would make a great manager for one of Raw's tag teams. Drake Maverick and his unfortunate gimmick practically ruined AOP, but they could definitely be saved with someone like Paige directing them.

17 SmackDown: Alexa Bliss

Similar to Paige, Alexa Bliss was moved out of her short-lived role as the manager of the Women's Division on Raw and instead given the job of hosting the Moment of Bliss talk show. This segment has unlimited potential, as Bliss is one of the best speakers in the company. She also has the unique quality of being both likable and easy to hate, if that makes any sense.

Bliss recently announced that she will be competing in this year's Royal Rumble, but in any case, it wouldn't be a poor choice to have her host the Moment of Bliss segment on SmackDown as the blue brand's show moves into a new time slot on Fox in 2019.

16 NXT: Jonah Rock

This one has all but been confirmed by several wrestling blogs and insiders, but it's still not exactly certain if Jonah Rock, a prominent Australian independent wrestler, will join the NXT or NXT UK brand. Either way, it's still an impressive and noteworthy signing for the WWE developmental system.

It was announced last December that Rock had reportedly signed with WWE, but his last scheduled match in Australia isn't until February 2. Moreover, he recently surrendered his WR Australian National Title and came up short in an MLW World Heavyweight Title match against Low Ki, so all signs point to him coming to WWE in some capacity. He could certainly fill the void of some departing NXT wrestlers in the coming months.

15 Raw: EC3

Like the other rumored call-ups from NXT, EC3 has been seen on both Raw and SmackDown as the company is testing out the Superstars to determine on which brand they would best be suited. Ignoring that it's a bad way to debut Superstars, it now leaves us wondering where someone like EC3 would fit best.

He was never really the focus of NXT and instead seemed primed for the main roster, but it'll be interesting to see how he is used. He has a John Cena-like quality about him that could make him one of the face's of the company if booked right, but he could also go the way of Jinder Mahal post-WWE Championship run. Either way, Raw is the best place for EC3 as SmackDown, at least right now, seems more focused on in-ring ability.

14 SmackDown: Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn was only on Raw for a handful of weeks before being forced to the sidelines following double shoulder surgery. He is rumored to be returning in the not-so-distant future and WWE will have an interesting decision to make in regard to where they place him and how they book him. Zayn was great as a heel but is still adored by many fans for his underdog babyface persona.

If he comes back as a heel on Raw, he'll likely serve as a complement to his longtime friend/rival Kevin Owens. Yet, he has much more to give than that and, either as a heel or babyface, could work great matches with some of the talents on SmackDown right now. Ideally, he returns as a babyface because that roster is seriously lacking in that regard outside of AJ Styles.

13 NXT: Jack Swagger

Were Jack Swagger to make a WWE return - he is rumored to be of interest to both WWE and AEW - he could obviously join either Raw or SmackDown immediately and be somewhat of a big deal. A Royal Rumble return in particular could be noteworthy, however, his best course of action is to go to NXT and rebuild himself within the confines of the WWE Universe.

Swagger has been away now for quite some time and, despite an upcoming MMA bout in Bellator, could return to the ring in the near future, especially if his match doesn't go as he anticipates. It would be best for him to follow the path of Drew McIntyre and dominate in NXT before once again proving himself on the main roster.

12 Raw: The Usos

The Usos have held down the SmackDown Live Tag Team Division for a couple of years now, to the point where there's really nothing else they can do on the show. As good as they are in the ring, there also really aren't many people clamoring for another Usos/Bar or Usos/New Day feud.

So, for that reason alone, they need to go to Raw, even if they seem to be a perfect fit on SmackDown. The Raw Tag Team Division doesn't exactly have that impressive of a Tag Team Division, but The Usos against teams like AOP, Roode and Gable, and Heavy Machinery (assuming they also go there) could be interesting. It would also make us forget about the bad Jimmy Uso/Mandy Rose/Naomi storyline.

11 SmackDown: Nikki Cross

When Nikki Cross first appeared on the January 14 episode of Raw, die-hard NXT fans had to be disappointed given it would have meant she wouldn't re-join SAnitY on SmackDown. Fortunately, it was soon after announced that all NXT call-ups would be appearing on both rosters in the short-term, which means a reunion is still possible.

Cross is so much different than the other women in WWE that she's a breath of fresh air. Yet, at the same time, she doesn't really seem to fit on Raw and instead would be elevated on SmackDown. In turn, she could re-energize SAnitY and make them a destructive faction in an era where factions really aren't all that prevalent.

10 NXT: Trevor Lee

In January, former IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion Trevor Lee announced he had signed a four-year contract with WWE. While Lee isn't quite in the same ballpark as Kenny Omega in regard to star power, he's someone WWE can build up into a top superstar if they use him right.

While he has the pedigree to immediately join the main roster, he would be much better served starting out in NXT and rising the ranks there while competing against the likes of Adam Cole, Ricochet, and Matt Riddle, among others. A debut at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix would be a great way to introduce him to the WWE Universe.

9 Raw: Cedric Alexander

When Mustafa Ali was officially promoted to the main roster and vaulted to the top of the card on SmackDown, many wondered what would happen to Cedric Alexander, especially given he has enjoyed more success than Ali on 205 Live and might even be bigger than some main roster stars.

Yet, Alexander isn't even one of the four cruiserweights competing for the championship at the Royal Rumble, which could either mean he has been bumped down the card or that WWE has other plans for him. Hopefully, it's the latter, because he would be a great addition on Raw and add a high-flying element that is otherwise missing, save for Finn Balor and Seth Rollins.

8 SmackDown: Finn Balor

Finn Balor might be the current contender for Brock Lesnar's Universal Championship, but it seems unlikely that the Extraordinary Man who can do Extraordinary Things will overcome The Beast to reclaim his championship. We've seen stranger things occur in WWE, but the match appears to be Vince McMahon's way of appeasing hardcore fans while, at the same time, protecting Braun Strowman from racking up another loss.

Should he lose, Balor could go to SmackDown, where he could easily be a realistic contender for The New Daniel Bryan's WWE Championship, assuming he retains against Styles. Besides, SmackDown is in dire need of top babyfaces and Balor re-joining Gallows and Anderson is something that needs to happen.

7 NXT: ACH

Like Trevor Lee, ACH, formerly of ROH, has already signed with WWE and the company is now only waiting for the right time for him to debut. He doesn't exactly have the same name recognition as someone like Lee, so it's a certainty that he starts in NXT, although his debut may have to wait until after WrestleMania when some of the brand's top stars make their main roster debuts.

The 31-year-old left ROH in 2016 and has since competed in Japan as well as Impact Wrestling, where he was part of its 2017 Super X Cup tournament. He didn't win any titles in ROH but was ranked as the 58th best wrestler in the world by Pro Wrestling Illustrated back in 2015.

6 Raw: Shayna Baszler

Shayna Baszler has exceeded all expectations on NXT. She's different than most of the women on the roster and exudes confidence and toughness. More than any other woman in NXT and even on the main roster, she has the aura of a believable threat in the squared circle. The two-time NXT Women's Champion, however, has nothing left to prove with the brand.

She's scheduled to face the undefeated Bianca Belair at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix and it wouldn't be a surprise to see her drop the title and, along with Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir, join the main roster in a Four Horsewoman angle.

5 SmackDown: Lars Sullivan

The Lars Sullivan situation has been an interesting one. The Freak was supposed to make an appearance alongside the other NXT call-ups on Raw and/or SmackDown in January, but reportedly left the arena on Monday night due to anxiety and flew home, missing Tuesday's SmackDown in the process.

There have since been reports he was never scheduled to be on TV in the first place, so WWE could have something bigger in mind for Sullivan than the other call-ups - and rightly so. Our guess is that he makes his debut at or after Royal Rumble and joins SmackDown as Raw already has Braun Strowman, Bobby Lashley, and of course, Brock Lesnar.

4 NXT: Dalton Castle

This one is more of a stretch - and perhaps wishful thinking - but Dalton Castle remains one of the best wrestlers now outside of WWE, AEW, and Japan. The former ROH World Champion is now one of the faces of the company but is naturally attracting attention from the aforementioned promotions.

The affable Castle joked about rumors he has been targeted by WWE during an interview this past December. Staying somewhat in character, he asked "Who wouldn't be interested in Dalton Castle?" and then joked he had actually received an offer from WCW. The one thing to take away from the interview, however, is that he didn't flat out deny the WWE rumors.

3 Raw: Becky Lynch

Becky Lynch is the hottest thing going in all of professional wrestling, AEW included. The Man receives the biggest crowd reaction night in and night out, and is now being treated by WWE like a major star after they accidentally stumbled onto something brilliant with her character.

However, as popular as she is right now, it makes sense to have her lose to Asuka at the Royal Rumble so she can be free to move to Raw and kick-start a program with Ronda Rousey. She could lose to Asuka and still compete in and win the Women's Royal Rumble or earn a match with Rousey at Elimination Chamber. Beyond that, Raw needs a ratings boost much more than SmackDown, and The Man can certainly deliver that.

2 SmackDown: Velveteen Dream

There's something to be said about letting someone fully develop their skills before calling them up to the main roster, but it's also possible that you can wait too long and miss out on a tremendous opportunity. WWE seems to be at a crossroads with Velveteen Dream in that regard. While there are still things he needs to clean up in the ring, he's one of the fastest rising Superstars in the company and one of the most over Superstars in NXT.

Clearly, Vince McMahon wasn't going to give in and promote him after he wore pants with "Call Me Up Vince" written on the back, but it's now high time for The Dream to make his WWE debut. There are rumors he has heat for asking fans on Twitter to spam WWE's account with demands for his promotion, but he's simply too popular to last another year in NXT. He needs to be called up in the first half of 2019 and SmackDown would be the best spot for him.