WWE is about to undergo some drastic changes as they move NXT and SmackDown Live to Wednesday and Friday nights, respectively.
One of Vince McMahon's first big moves was hiring Paul Heyman to take over as Executive Director for Monday Night Raw, while Eric Bischoff will run SmackDown Live. But it sounds like Vince has another big plan up his sleeve.
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that WWE could hold "another draft type of thing to build permanent Raw and SmackDown rosters." So if this ends up happening, which 10 superstars could benefit from a change of scenery?
Let's dive into five Raw superstars who should move over to the SmackDown brand, and five SmackDown talents that should move to WWE's flagship program.
10 Go To SmackDown: Ricochet
Ricochet has been a massive success since joining the main roster, but after his program with AJ Styles, there aren't a whole lot of options for him on Raw. It would probably be best if SmackDown landed this up-and-coming talent as they prepare for the move to Fox.
Raw is WWE's flagship program, and there just isn't going to be a whole lot of room for Ricochet to enter the main event scene. It makes sense to move him over to SmackDown and have Ricochet compete with other established veterans there like Kevin Owens, Randy Orton, or perhaps even Kofi Kingston.
9 Go To Raw: Shinsuke Nakamura
We can't emphasize enough how much WWE has mismanaged and poorly booked Shinsuke Nakamura, who has all the tools necessary to be a true main event superstar. His program with AJ Styles should have been legendary, but WWE completely botched it.
Nakamura remains an elite in-ring performer and deserves more exposure. Maybe Paul Heyman can make something work with Nakamura, the way he has with Cedric Alexander and Ricochet up to this point. Nakamura's WWE career can be salvaged, but it's not going to happen if he's stuck as a mid-card performer on SmackDown. A move to Raw would open op more opportunities for the former NXT star to finally break out as a legitimate main eventer.
8 Go To SmackDown: Baron Corbin
There have been rumors for a while about WWE giving Baron Corbin a main event push despite them wasting his 2017 Money in the Bank cash-in. But Corbin is stuck as one of the many talented superstars on a Raw roster that has way too much star power - and he's not about to outshine any of the main eventers there.
WWE wasted its chance to push Corbin by having him lose to Seth Rollins, but the former could emerge as a top-tier heel on SmackDown. A feud with somebody like Kevin Owens or Kofi Kingston could work really well, especially since those two are running out of suitable opponents. WWE could really spice things up there by adding Corbin to the main event picture. He'd work tremendously with Shane McMahon, and maybe even Daniel Bryan.
7 Go To Raw: Finn Balor
Like Nakamura, Balor has been criminally underused and mismanaged since his call to the main roster - which took place three years ago. Yes, Balor became the first Universal Champion at SummerSlam 2016, but then he had to relinquish it because of a shoulder injury. WWE hasn't given Balor much of a push ever since.
This is despite the fact that Balor is one of the top in-ring performers as well as one of the most beloved among the WWE Universe. He has all the qualities to be a true main event talent, and it simply isn't working on SmackDown right now. If he moves back to Raw, maybe Paul Heyman will be able to find a way to use him accordingly.
6 Go To SmackDown: Brock Lesnar
Lesnar hasn't wrestled since dropping the Universal Championship to Seth Rollins at SummerSlam. The hope among the majority of WWE fans is that creative won't put any major championships around the waist of Lesnar again - since he's a part-time performer.
The future Hall of Famer has been on the Raw brand long enough, and it's time to give him some fresh feuds and programs. There isn't really anybody else for him to feud with there, but it's a different story on SmackDown. Between Owens, Kingston, and even Nakamura (should he stay on SmackDown), the possibilities are endless for Lesnar.
Plus, WWE and Fox may want to put a big name like Lesnar on SmackDown so that he can help their ratings from the get-go.
5 Go To Raw: Charlotte Flair
"The Queen" has gone back and forth between both brands over the past three years, and it's clear she's better off working on the Raw brand at this point - because the current run on SmackDown isn't going so smoothly.
The creative team has been disorganized with its women's division there, unable to find a regular feud for Bayley, the SmackDown Women's Champion. They just keep bouncing around, and Charlotte could use a change of scenery. Even if Becky Lynch were to swap brands as well, Charlotte would be able to rekindle her old feud with Ronda Rousey. Who wouldn't want to see that again?
4 Go To SmackDown: Becky Lynch
The face of the Women's Division moved over to Raw after winning both championships in the main event of WrestleMania 35. But Lynch has already worked through numerous opponents as champion - including Natalya, Lacey Evans, and now Sasha Banks.
That's why it may be best for Lynch to go back to SmackDown. And as we mentioned in the Lesnar entry, it might be smart for Fox to bring a big name like Lynch aboard to enhance their ratings at the start. She'd be able to clash with different opponents like Alexa Bliss and Bayley, too.
3 Go To Raw: Roman Reigns
WWE made a bold choice to move Roman Reigns over to SmackDown in this year's Superstar Shake-up. Vince McMahon has been trying to push him as the main face of WWE for several years now, but they decided to try rebuilding Reigns on the "b" show.
It's worked in more ways than one. He's gotten more cheers and less boos from the fans, and his program with Daniel Bryan has been superb. Once that is done with, Reigns will need new foes - and the best bet may come on Raw. Not only that, but WWE might have more success in pushing Reigns as a main event face again if they put him back on the flagship program.
2 Go To SmackDown: Seth Rollins
With Reigns stepping away to deal with Leukemia last year, WWE decided to push Rollins as their top main eventer. It's been a wonderful success up to this point; he won the Royal Rumble and took down Brock Lesnar in two separate Universal title matches.
But WWE is quickly running out of suitable opponents for Rollins on Raw. He's already clashed with Lesnar, AJ Styles, Baron Corbin and now Braun Strowman. We'd love to see Rollins clash with somebody like Kingston, Owens or even Daniel Bryan there. It would keep Rollins' persona fresh and help him retain the status as a true main event star, rather than lose any momentum.
1 Go To Raw: Daniel Bryan
Daniel Bryan's return to the ring has been a massive success, and he's been shining as the top heel on SmackDown for almost a full year now. At this point, Bryan more than deserves his chance on the Raw roster. This is assuming that somebody as big as Rollins moves over to SmackDown.
At some point, Bryan will run out of feuds here. He's already done his program with Owens and Kingston, and Bryan's rivalry with Reigns will only last so long. Bryan will turn babyface again eventually, and it's best if he's on the Raw roster for this. Plus, you know, SmackDown might be gaining one of Raw's top superstars in a WWE draft - so it's only fair that Heyman and company receive a main eventer like Bryan in return.