WWE Raw vs. SmackDown: 10 Best and Worst Moves from Superstar Shake-Up

The WWE Superstar Shake-up featured changes to both Raw and SmackDown's roster at every level, but some of the moves made more sense than others.

A few of the more predictable shifts occurred as expected, but WWE surprised us with a few unexpected changes, especially when it came to the midcard title scene.

Each show picked up a few major names, but overall, the new version of the draft lacked the same sense of spectacle past years have had. No announcements were made by those in charge. People just came out to announce they had switched shows.

However, the variety of potential feuds in every division has increased with these changes, and nobody is ever going to complain about having more to choose from in the world of wrestling.

This slideshow will look at the five best and five worst moves from the Superstar Shake-up. Rather than ranking the entries in any specific order, they will alternate between best and worst.

Worst: Lana

WWE made a point of advertising Lana and Rusev as separate SmackDown acquisitions, which leads one to believe there are plans in place for Lana to begin working in the ring.

She has been training at the Performance Center for some time, but her one match on the main roster at WrestleMania 32 did not inspire much confidence.

Her gimmick worked best in the beginning when she was the cold, heartless brain behind Rusev's brute force, but WWE has softened her over time.

There is always the possibility of her surprising us with her ability, but if the plan is for her and Rusev to compete separately, both characters will suffer as a result.

Best: Charlotte Flair

SmackDown picked up two women in the Superstar Shake-up. Tamina Snuka will add a powerhouse to the division, but Charlotte Flair brings much more to the table.

Her natural athleticism makes her one of the most versatile competitors in the entire company, and growing up around the business gave her a big head start on understanding the psychology behind her character.

Her feuds with Sasha Banks and Bayley dominated the Raw women's division in 2016, so it will be great to see her face a group of different wrestlers in the coming months.

We have seen what she can do against Becky Lynch and Naomi in the past, but those matches will feel fresh again because so much time has passed.

Charlotte is already a five-time champion if you count her reign as Divas champion separate from the women's title WWE introduced at WrestleMania 32. She is only 31 years old, so she has plenty of time to catch up to her father's record of 16 championships.

Worst: Curt Hawkins

One could be forgiven for wondering why WWE even bothered to hire Curt Hawkins again if it was just going to book him as an overconfident jobber.

Hawkins is a good enough hand in the ring, but he has been put in a position to fail. His gimmick hasn't gotten over at all, but there is hope for him.

Some fans would love to see him team with Zack Ryder again, but with Ryder still being part of the SmackDown roster, any chance of a reunion has been postponed for the time being.

WWE needs enhancement talents sometimes, and there is no shame in it, but when a character is never allowed to succeed, people stop caring.

Best: The Miz

The Miz has been one of the best parts of SmackDown for a long time, and if his Raw introduction is any indication, he will continue to shine on Mondays.

The buildup to his WrestleMania 33 match with Maryse against John Cena and Nikki Bella was better than the actual bout, but it allowed The Miz to flex his creative muscles more than he has in years.

When he gets on a roll, nobody is more cutting on the mic. His insults go right to the bone, and it often makes fans wonder if he is going off script.

Once Brock Lesnar is done being universal champion, WWE needs to put The Miz back into the hunt for Raw's top title. It has been far too long since The A-Lister was at the top of the mountain.

Worst: Jinder Mahal

To WWE's credit, Jinder Mahal has been getting a lot more TV time recently, but it doesn't look like he is in line for a push.

Mahal is in incredible shape, and some fans might be surprised to find out how good he is in the ring if WWE would ever let him have a longer match.

Moving him to SmackDown didn't make any waves, but the blue brand has been the place to be for Superstars who needed a second chance, so he may still find success as a midcard champion.

He is moving away from playing the stereotypical WWE "villain in a turban" into someone who prides himself on outworking everyone else on the roster. It's a step in the right direction, and it could be the key to him being taken seriously in the future.

Best: The New Day

The New Day may have been the top dogs on Raw for well over a year, but they have been taking a back seat for several months so other teams can have some time in the spotlight.

The move to SmackDown will give them a whole new set of teams to feud with, and it should lead to some interesting matchups.

American Alpha and The Usos are two duos capable of tearing down the house against anyone, so putting them in the ring with The New Day should lead to some instant classics.

WWE didn't have them appear on SmackDown this week, but we should see them once Kofi Kingston is healed up from the ankle injury WWE.com reported on April 10. 

Worst: Heath Slater and Rhyno

The rise of Heath Slater was one of the most entertaining storylines of 2016, and that is why it is so disappointing to see WWE putting so little effort into his tag team with Rhyno.

Slater got over with the crowd naturally, which is rare these days. His comedic ability shined during the segments filmed at his fake trailer with his fake wife and kids.

Rhyno's reserved nature played an interesting counterpart to Slater's zaniness. They made it all the way to the tag team titles, and then WWE halted their push for no reason.

Even as champions, they were barely featured in backstage segments or promos. Their reign was a let down after such a great chase.

Moving to Raw might help them, but with the tag team division already being so competitive on Monday nights, it is more likely they will be used to put others over until their eventual breakup. 

Best: Alexa Bliss

If you combined Rachel McAdams' character from Mean Girls, Alisa Donovon from Clueless and all the mean girls from Carrie into one person, it would be Alexa Bliss.

The way she has channeled her gimmick into one of the cruelest people in WWE has been a joy to watch since she first turned heel in NXT.

She is easily one of the most improved performers to come along in years both on the mic and in the ring, and it's going to be fun watching her verbally eviscerate a whole new group of opponents on Raw.

At only 25 years old, Bliss is way ahead of the curve. If she keeps going at this rate, she could end up being one of the greatest women's champions of all time.

Worst: Sin Cara

Sin Cara has been floundering ever since WWE broke up The Lucha Dragons for no reason whatsoever, and with him moving to Raw and Kalisto moving to SmackDown, any chances of a reunion went out the window.

Many expected WWE to use him in the cruiserweight division, but it never happened. He may find more success on SmackDown than he did on Raw, but the chances are slim.

He didn't even appear on camera to debut during the Superstar Shake-up. The announcement was made with little to no hype behind it.

Sin Cara can put on a good match because he can switch styles at will, but fans rarely get to see what he is capable of anymore. Hopefully, he is given more chances to show off on Tuesday nights.

Best: Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn

Kevin Owens is arguably the most established star to switch brands during the shake-up, and SmackDown benefited in a big way.

Since the moment he debuted in NXT, Owens has been one of the most vicious heels in the entire company. His work in the ring is on par with the best, and few can touch him on the mic.

Then there's Sami Zayn. It seemed appropriate to combine these two into one slide since their feud is never going to end.

The Underdog From the Underground has been underutilized on Raw for a long time, so it will be great to see him get a fresh start on SmackDown.

The Superstar Shake-up may not have been everything fans hoped for, but it definitely paved the way for some great matches in 2017.