After his excommunication from the Judgment Day, WWE quietly moved Finn Balor to SmackDown during the announcement for the King and Queen of the Ring brackets on the Clash in Italy post-show.
Moving The Prince from RAW to the blue brand allows him the chance for a fresh start. Balor challenged CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship on a few occasions before WrestleMania 42.
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With Roman Reigns moving to Monday Nights, most fringe main-eventers won’t have a chance to win the major prize. The former Universal Champion and Judgment Day member isn’t the only current performer who could use a change of scenery.
More than half the roster could benefit from a change, as many names are in the same spot they’re always in. The next six WWE stars would benefit from a fresh start, just like Finn Balor.
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#6. Chad Gable goes back to the drawing board
By losing to El Grande Americano in the Mask vs. Mask clash last weekend, Chad Gable had to unmask. Everyone knew he was under the disguise, but the official moment of taking off the treasured mask was important for the story being told.
Gable has many tools to be a World Champion, except for two. The first is that he’s a bit undersized, but that didn’t stop Balor and Rey Mysterio from winning major titles. The other is backing from management.
Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns are both champions, making it next to impossible for other stars to move up the ladder. Since he was unmasked while still a member of RAW, Gable could do well with a move to SmackDown.
He can turn face again instead of crossing paths yet again with Otis and Tozawa. Imagine if he were on SmackDown during the Open Challenge days of the United States Championship.
#5. Giulia gets a fresh start on RAW
Giulia came to NXT and WWE with a lot of fanfare. She was treated like a big star and quickly captured the NXT Women’s Championship. After her promotion, she won the Women’s United States Title on two occasions.
The issue was that bookers completely ignored her when she held the belt. She never defended the title on a PLE and was even left off SmackDown. Solo Sikoa and the MFTs, however, remained all over the three-hour program.
Now that she’s headed for a split from Kiana James, WWE officials should move her to RAW. She can start fresh and hopefully gain some momentum that she was supposed to have last year.
#4. The puzzling case of Rusev
Having Rusev come back to WWE last year was exciting. There were several new big men to tangle with, including Bronson Reed, Bron Breakker, Otis, and others.
He had a few good showings, but over the last 10 months, he’s been terribly booked. Officials have stuck him in the Intercontinental Championship picture, which got him a spot on WrestleMania.
Unfortunately, he’s lost or been pinned in most of his matches this year. Rey Mysterio, Penta, and Je’Von Evans all have singles victories over the imposing Bulgarian.
Like Balor, Rusev should go to SmackDown to recharge his character. That could mean turning face or being booked like the monster he should be.
#3. WWE hasn’t used Ilja Dragunov lately
Ilja Dragunov is a former NXT and United States Champion. An injury derailed his momentum after he joined the main roster. When he returned last fall, he picked up where he left off, having hard-hitting slugfests with many opponents.
That style led to beating Sami Zayn for the United States Championship. The Mad Dragon continued the Open Challenge, but eventually dropped the belt to Carmelo Hayes.
Once it came time for WrestleMania season, Dragunov was put on the back burner. WWE didn’t use him some weeks, but he’d pop up for things like the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.
His inconsistent usage is disappointing because he’s proven to be a great in-ring performer. If Balor, Rusev, or others move to SmackDown, Ilja could head to RAW. It’s where he started, and things have changed on both shows.
#2. WWE hasn’t done anything with Liv Morgan as Women’s World Champion
This entry is more about what’s happened with Morgan since winning the Women’s World Championship from Stephanie Vaquer at WrestleMania 42. The two had a heated and personal feud, but there hasn’t been any follow-up with it.
While Vaquer didn’t need to get the first shot at Morgan, someone should have. Morgan won the title on Night 1 of The Showcase of the Immortals on April 18. She faced Sol Ruca in non-title action on the RAW after the big PLE.
When it comes to putting the title on the line, however, she hasn’t done so once. It’s now the first week of June. There’s no excuse for that booking. WWE’s answer was to put her in the Queen of the Ring Tournament.
The focus should be on crafting great feuds for her over the prestigious title. The tension with Roxanne Perez can still happen, as that appears to be the direction. It’s not her fault, but the title picture needs a complete reboot, and perhaps a new person holding the title.
#1. Roman Reigns always buries Solo Sikoa
There was once a time when Solo Sikoa was as feared as Jacob Fatu. He was the silent muscle and Tribal Heir of the Bloodline during its initial run. Once he branched out on his own and formed his own group, he had some success.
When it came time to cross paths with his family, he always looked inferior, especially to Roman Reigns. Every time they had an important singles match, he lost. The same happened against Cody Rhodes.
Against anyone other than those two, his group looked formidable. Now that Fatu has been defanged by losing Tribal Combat, Sikoa again looks like a chump. He tried to warn Fatu, but his words fell on deaf ears.
Any clashes in the near future will play out the same. WWE needs to book him outside of family drama so he can build his own identity. The one that was created for him has been destroyed.
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Edited by Matthew Serocki
