The Complete Story Behind WWE's 15 Person Roster Shift

Tim List

Analyst Written on June 30, 2009

GREEN BAY, WI - JUNE 22: Vince McMahon attends a press conference about the WWE at the Austin Straubel International Airport on June 22, 2009 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mark A. Wallenfang/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mark A. Wallenfang/Getty Images)

The Complete Story Behind WWE's 15 Person Roster Shift

They're crediting it to Donald Trump, but in reality WWE Chairman of the Board Vince McMahon has let his brand priorities be known in a very public way.

Monday Night Raw now gains Mark Henry, who pinned WWE Champion Randy Orton on Raw tonight; Evan Bourne, who was inexplicably pinned by Orton in the gauntlet match; Jack Swagger; Gail Kim; and Alicia Fox.

Friday Night Smackdown completes the raping of the ECW roster by gaining Tyson Kidd, David Hart Smith, and Natalya; plus Finlay and Matt Hardy.

The depleted ECW gains Shelton Benjamin, who has been around forever but has never become a draw; Goldust; William Regal, and The Bella Twins.

ECW loses Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne, Finlay, Mark Henry, and The Harts.

When Vince McMahon expressed his contempt to Rob Van Dam about the legacy of Paul Heyman's original legendary ECW, did anyone ever think McMahon would sacrifice his own Tuesday night show to rape and deplete a brand he finally started giving just a little bit of quality to?

Now ECW is back to being a developmental brand, and maybe even the last stop on the way out of WWE for talents that the public just doesn't care about.

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written on June 30, 2009 Breaking News