WWE Draft 2017: 10 Trades To Expect

10. Rusev To SmackDown

Injury means that Rusev won't be appearing on WWE television anytime soon, but the Bulgarian Brute is in dire need of a change of scenery. The former United States Champion has become a non-factor since feuding with Roman Reigns, and after the horrendous Lana/Enzo Amore angle, it looked like WWE had absolutely no idea what to do with him. A shame, as he could be a huge asset to either brand.

The injury might be a blessing in disguise. It has allowed Rusev to escape lower-card purgatory (at least temporarily), and means he should be able to start with a clean slate whenever he returns. This will ideally happen on SmackDown, as it’s abundantly clear that Rusev is going nowhere on Monday nights.

His injured shoulder is a stumbling block, but doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of him moving. SmackDown’s roster resembled little more than a ragtag bunch of misfits at the time of the previous draft, and Rusev’s career requires the kind of rebuild that the blue brand has come to specialise in. Shifting him would be a smart, logical choice that would add some much-needed depth to SD’s midcard, making Rusev an obvious selection for Daniel Bryan.