14 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown Superstar Shake-Up

2. Big Dog, Bigger Acquisition

When WWE.com posted that Vince McMahon would name "the biggest acquisition in SmackDown Live history" in this year's Superstar Shake-Up, it had to be Roman Reigns. Had to be.

'The Big Dog' needed to escape Raw. He was an unwanted spectre looming over Seth Rollins' Universal Title reign. Fans would have spent the entire time on edge, expecting Reigns to step up and steal their favourite wrestler's belt at any moment. Splitting these former Shield brothers not only removes that threat, but it means that Roman is no longer the focus of WWE's "flagship show" for the first time in forever, thus reducing the chances of his post-return crowd reactions turning around again, and also presents him with all kinds of fresh, exciting possibilities inside the ring and out.

Make no mistake, this was the Superstar Shake-Up's best move. Reigns is a star, a tremendous sports entertainer, and exactly what SmackDown needed after losing AJ Styles. He debuted with an awesome Superman Punch to Vince McMahon's mouth, and he'll probably end up battering Elias at Money In The Bank, after which he'll become one of the brand's most valuable players, and a great opponent for guys like Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston.

This is 'The Big Dog's' yard now; everyone else is just playing in it.