WWE Raw and SmackDown Superstar Shake-Up Preview and Predictions

With the end of WWE WrestleMania 33, the new WWE season has begun.

This year will include a Superstar Shake-up, as wrestlers on Raw and SmackDown will switch brands to refresh both rosters. Details of the event that seems to have replaced the WWE draft this year are sparse at best, with the only promise that major performers will be moving.

As stated on WWE.com, this will be a two-night event on both shows, where new Raw general manager Kurt Angle and SmackDown counterpart Daniel Bryan are in talks about huge trades. It is possible that all the moves from Raw or SmackDown will be trades, but WWE CEO Vince McMahon, who announced the event, could also take control and force moves.

Until Raw starts Monday, nothing is certain with this new twist on shuffling the brands. Rumors and reports aplenty have given hints about who might be changing sides, but it is still difficult to predict how many wrestlers will be moving from one show to the other.

Still, enough can be made of the Superstar Shake-up that it is possible to forecast who might be wrestling on a new show once the event is over. Some of these predictions are based on recent rumors. Other predictions are based upon a necessary fit, with many wrestlers feeling as if they need new starts to get back on track.

Credit: WWE.com

Predictions

Heading to Monday Night Raw

AJ Styles: Long rumored as an expected move by Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc), SmackDown's most valuable asset may just be the biggest star to shift brands. Styles has no major rival, so a move would be easy to execute without disrupting the brand. It could also allow The Club to reunite.

Alexa Bliss: The top villain in SmackDown women's division, Bliss has improved immensely in the past year. However, her feud with brand champion Naomi has run its course, and she has already feuded heavily with Becky Lynch as well. She could have a fresh program with anyone on Raw and would add a new air to the division.

Luke Harper: Harper has finally made a full break from Bray Wyatt, and it has helped him get over with the fans. However, Wyatt will always loom over Harper if he remains on SmackDown. By moving to Raw, he would get a fresh start and add a big babyface who is ready to perform in the upper midcard on the Monday night show. Almost every opponent he could face would be an exciting prospect.

Natalya: Despite SmackDown's use of its entire women's division, Natalya has felt as if she does not quite fit on the roster. Part of the reason is that Natalya has been riding the line between heel and face roles for months. A move to Raw should help her solidify herself as a heel and become a more vital part of the roster, with almost no one on Raw having serious history with Natalya.

Mojo Rawley: The Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner is on the rise, but he may be better off talking big and fast on Raw. The big man needs to escape the potential of a return to a tag team with Zack Ryder, helping both men to move on as singles stars, so this move is a perfect way to separate the partners.

Andrade "Cien" Almas: With it likely NXT will also be a part of the shake-up, Almas is the perfect talent to add to Raw, particularly as a credible addition to the cruiserweight division. He has been a serious asset to NXT with his in-ring work and should do even more for Raw. This may be too soon, but few other wrestlers make sense to make the jump.

Credit: WWE.com

Heading to SmackDown Live

Seth Rollins: How do you replace Styles on SmackDown? It'd be a tough job for anyone, but The Architect may just be the perfect man for the job with his equally fast-paced style. While this would stop Rollins from feuding with Samoa Joe, there are many new potential feuds for Rollins on the blue brand, including the unexplored potential of Rollins vs. Bray Wyatt.

Charlotte Flair: One of the top Raw draft picks and just about the premier female performer in the business, Charlotte has been the star of Raw's women's division for a long time and has battled every babyface on the brand countless times. A change would give her many top rivals, including Naomi and the recently returned Mickie James, while adding star power to the division.

Sami Zayn: Is there a wrestler more in need of a fresh start? Zayn has been the prominent underdog babyface for Raw this past year without much success, putting on great matches in losing efforts. With a loaded main event scene, Zayn has just seemed to drift without direction. SmackDown is the perfect spot for Zayn to take on a bigger role, likely instantly becoming a main event star.

Emma: Making her return on the most recent edition of Raw, Emma felt like the odd woman out, with little effort put into setting her up as a threat. This may be simply because WWE plans to make her a major heel on SmackDown instead. Few women on either brand are more talented than Emma despite her lack of regular use. She could be the top star on SmackDown in time.

Enzo and Cass: While Middleton rumored The New Day will be the ones to shift brands, Enzo and Cass feel more like the odd men out on Raw. With the potential of New Day vs. The Revival just beginning, Enzo and Cass have no competition, leaving the title scene with the arrival of the Hardy Boyz. SmackDown needs major tag teams, and Enzo and Cass have potential to lead the division.

Elias Samson: The Drifter recently lost a Loser Leaves NXT match, which is usually a good sign of a talent being ready to take the next step. While he has tried to return to NXT under a mask as El Vagabundo, this seems more like a short-term stalling gimmick before Samson joins one of the main brands. He should fit into the lower midcard of SmackDown with his odd musical style.

Perhaps John Cena, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns or even Brock Lesnar could be switching sides. It would not be a surprise if champions like Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens switched brands just to make a lasting impression with this huge event.

However, no matter what happens, Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live should be exciting to watch, featuring major moments that cannot be missed. Hopefully these shows will make the next few months of WWE television different from anything they have been before.