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

1. Weren't You On Raw Two Nights Ago?

Lars Sullivan R-Truth
WWE.com

WWE pulled a weird Superstar Shake-Up move last night, transferring Lars Sullivan to SmackDown less than 24 hours after he'd been officially confirmed as a Raw exclusive, thus undermining this week's television and the mini-draft's integrity as a whole.

Lars being on SmackDown isn't an issue in and of itself. He's a solid big man with underrated microphone skills, and can absolutely get over as the blue brand's biggest monster. His ongoing war on ageing veterans who debuted around the turn of the century is good stuff, his beatdown of R-Truth hit the mark, and he'll be protected throughout. This is a good thing, but why bother confirming him for Raw the night before?

Though this is a relatively minor quibble, it presents WWE's writing team as slapdash and amateurish. Such flubs can't be allowed. WWE are the market leaders, and we're supposed to receive them as such, but there are times when it feels like they can't even get the minor details right.

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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.