10 Problems WWE Solved With The 2019 Superstar Shake-Up
8. Refreshing The Intercontinental Title Picture
The Intercontinental Title scene was staler than month-old bread prior to this year's Superstar Shake-Up.
Finn Balor scored a fan-pleasing victory over Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 35, but the preceding feud stunk. While Seth Rollins' and Dolph Ziggler's 2018 back-and-forth was fun, it was undone when Dean Ambrose unseated 'The Kingslayer' in a p*ss-boring TLC 2018, after which the likes of Tyler Breeze and Apollo Crews were shoehorned in as challengers, then Lashley's involvement and the disappointing diminishment of a belt that had recovered greater throughout the previous year.
This was addressed in the Shake-Up. Balor was sent to SmackDown, with United States Champion Samoa Joe seemingly set to replace him on Raw. The scene has therefore been blown wide open, with all kinds of fresh, new, and exciting opponents awaiting the Irishman on his new home.
Ali was his first opponent, and the two left nothing in the tank in their non-title exhibition match. Fellow newcomers Buddy Murphy and Chad Gable would make great opponents along with established SD personnel like Randy Orton, Xavier Woods, and Elias, and Lars Sullivan entering the picture probably isn't too far away either. Match quality will vary, but it least it won't involve Lashley again.