10 WWE Roster Trades That Must Happen In 2017
1. Rusev To SmackDown
Nobody needs a roster trade more than Rusev at the moment. He enjoyed a successful run as United States Champion in the summer, but Raw’s babyfaces have done nothing but bully him ever since. It started with Roman Reigns, and continues with Enzo & Big Cass. Rusev is continually pushed around, taunted, and mocked, and while he’s not shy of retaliating, the Bulgarian Brute is only standing up for himself.
Rusev should be one of WWE’s biggest heels, but on Raw, he comes off as the brand’s gutsiest babyface. That’s all kinds of wrong, and for as long as Rusev is surrounded by these guys, he’ll never fit into his natural role. It’s only right that he’s traded, and a move to SmackDown would benefit both the wrestler and the brand.
For Rusev, it’s an opportunity to start afresh. He’s one of WWE’s most talented homegrown performers, one of the best wrestlers in the company, and a surprisingly engaging talker. Sadly, it looks like he’ll never get the opportunity to rise to the top on Raw, but SmackDown’s track record in elevating guys like The Miz suggests he’d be just fine on Tuesdays. Him and Lana would immediately be among the brand’s top heels, which is where they deserve to be.
From the brand’s POV, SmackDown are still a little short of top heels. Aside from AJ Styles and The Miz, there’s very little roster depth, and Rusev would ease this to no end. Whether competing for the World Title or dominating the Intercontinental division, Rusev would be a huge credit to Daniel Bryan’s show.