7 Mistakes WWE Made With The 2019 Superstar Shake-Up

These people can't quite seem to make up their minds.

Samoa Joe Raw
WWE

The Superstar Shake-up is the one opportunity WWE has every year to significantly alter the landscapes of Raw and SmackDown Live, and offer fans fresh feuds and exciting new storylines. By WrestleMania season, it isn't uncommon for us to have to sit through the same stagnant matches we've been watching for months, so in many ways, the Shake-up each April is welcomed.

Unfortunately, the format of the pseudo-draft gets worse and worse by the year. That trend continued with the 2019 installment with many moves either not making sense, not being explained, or both. Even a week out from the Shake-up, most fans are left with more questions than answers regarding where certain Superstars are headed (or not headed in some cases).

These questionable calls leave the masses to wonder why the company bothers to hold a Shake-up to begin with if they aren't going to put any effort into making the Brand Split matter. It's evident that the end of the Brand Extension is nigh, but all of the mistakes made with the 2019 Shake-up might have simply sped up the process.

7. 205 Live Gets Nobody

Samoa Joe Raw
WWE

The commentators acknowledged last week that in addition to Raw and SmackDown Live, 205 Live and NXT would be a part of the 2019 Superstar Shake-up as well. This was encouraging to hear, as the SmackDown and Raw rosters aren't the only ones in need of new talent at the moment.

That was, however, until it became apparent that although 205 Live stalwarts Cedric Alexander and Buddy Murphy are moving on to the main roster, the Cruiserweight division isn't getting anyone from either brand in return.

It's rare for Raw and SmackDown stars to return to NXT on a full-time basis, but 205 Live has welcomed the likes of Kalisto and Mike Kanellis in the past despite them previously being members of the main roster. It would have been nice for more wrestlers to join the Cruiserweight ranks in the Shake-up, especially since there's so many people from both brands who aren't even on television at the moment.

Chad Gable, Rey Mysterio and Xavier Woods would be perfect fits for 205 Live, but WWE opted to keep them where they are instead. 205 Live could really use some fresh faces now that they've lost two of their biggest stars. Akira Tozawa and Tony Nese can have only so many matches together.

In this post: 
Samoa Joe
 
Posted On: 
Contributor
Contributor

Since 2008, Graham has been a diehard pro wrestling fan and, in 2010, he combined his passions for WWE and writing when he joined Bleacher Report. Equipped with a master's in journalism, Graham has contributed to WhatCulture, FanSided's Daily DDT, Sports Betting Dime, and GateHouse Media. Along the way, he has conducted interviews with wrestling superstars like Chris Jericho, Edge, Goldberg, Christian, Diamond Dallas Page, Jim Ross, Adam Cole, Tessa Blanchard, Ryback, and Nick Aldis among others.