10 Roster Moves WWE Must Make After SummerSlam 2017
The first Superstar Shake-Up papered over the cracks. Now, it's time to fix them.
April's Superstar Shake-Up was WWE's first big attempt at reconfiguring their talent roster since the 2016 draft. A series of trades and transactions saw a total of 22 acts switch between Raw and SmackDown, with some benefiting immensely (Jinder Mahal), but others continuing to struggle in their new surroundings (Bray Wyatt).
Now, less than four months removed from the last major reshuffle, it looks like WWE are planning a second Shake-Up. Reports suggest that the next set of changes will take place following SummerSlam on 20 August, and there's talk of expanding the format.
While the last mini-draft was exclusive to Raw and SmackDown, the second could see NXT brought into the fold to not only facilitate a number of call-ups, but also transfer struggling main roster stars to the third brand. This opens up a completely different set of possibilities to April, and while another roster overhaul might feel premature, there are plenty of potential benefits.
April certainly shook things up, but it didn't cure all the roster's ailments. SmackDown and Raw remain rife with neglected, misplaced stars, and while changing brands brings no guarantee of better fortunes, the following moves should benefit both the wrestlers and the company.
10. Zack Ryder To Raw
The Hype Bros haven't had much to do this year. Zack Ryder suffered a serious knee injury last December, and while it initially looked like this would prompt a significant singles push for Mojo Rawley, this never materialised. It looked as though they were on the verge of breaking up, but the angle hasn't been given a whole lot of airtime on SmackDown, and there's a chance WWE have already forgotten about it.
Whatever happens with that particular story, it's clear that Ryder is going nowhere at the moment. The former United States Champion has worked just three televised matches since returning in June, and, as has often been the case throughout his WWE career, he now finds himself cast astray once again.
Would moving brands cure his woes? Unlikely, but it's not like he can fall much further at this point. Raw's upper-midcard/main event scene is bloated, but the card's lower tiers still lack depth. Ryder, a fine wrestler on his day, could help pad the Intercontinental Title division, and moving him from SmackDown would allow WWE to split The Hype Bros without an overlong break-up angle.