10 Problems WWE Solved With The 2019 Superstar Shake-Up

3. Reviving The SmackDown Women's Division

Bayley Becky Lynch Ember Moon
WWE.com

With Asuka, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair on-board, SmackDown's women's division wasn't exactly short of top-level talent heading into WrestleMania 35. Still, the division found itself in a slump.

The presentation was the problem. Becky and Charlotte were splitting their time between WWE's red and blue brands, with Raw the priority. This diminished the SmackDown Women's Title greatly, with champion Asuka becoming an unimportant afterthought as Becky and Charlotte chased Ronda Rousey's strap, before 'The Queen' finally came along, seized the gold, and took it to the MetLife Stadium.

Reconfiguring the group beneath Lynch, the new champion, was a Shake-Up priority. WWE nailed it. Bayley and Ember Moon came over from Raw, expanding the group's star power and potential for great matches exponentially. SmackDown also gained Kairi Sane from NXT, a solid veteran hand in Mickie James, and Liv Morgan, one of the company's most improved performers over the past 12 months. Becky, Charlotte, and Asuka remained attached to Tuesday nights as well. Rejoice!

As thin as the Raw division became this week, SmackDown is stacked, and there are now more than enough wrestlers to fill the singles and tag ranks.

Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.