7 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE SmackDown (6 Dec - Results & Review)

1. This “Transfer Window” Business

WWE Transfer Window GUNTHER Nick Aldis
WWE

It's early days, obviously, but this "Transfer Window" thing just sounds like WWE’s latest excuse to nullify their own Draft. Maybe things would be different if wrestlers hadn’t been moving around since April. Sadly, the 2024 Draft was wrecked pretty much straight away, so it’s hard to get pumped for more chat about “ironclad contracts/rosters” in coming weeks and months. Dunno, hopefully Triple H has a plan he sticks to, but we’ve been here before.

There are only so many times fans can get fooled into caring about the brand split stuff when creative continually ignores it. If anything, doing away with the split roster pretence would suit most viewers. It'd also suit the writers, 'cause then they wouldn't be forced to concoct various schemes that explain why workers are ignoring the rules.

It'd also be great if this was limited to maybe 5-7 wrestlers per brand.

GUNTHER was shown shaking hands with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis backstage, so perhaps he and Cody Rhodes will switch brands. It makes sense that Netflix want Cody on their platform as much as possible, and it's hardly like GUNTHER is a crap get for Friday nights anyway. Shaking things up is fine, just...stop insulting the intelligence of fans or laughing in the face of their emotional investment surrounding the Draft.

Put it this way: If GUNTHER is heading to SmackDown, then he shouldn't be spotted on Raw full stop for at least 6 months. If WWE don't treat the "Transfer Window" with respect, then it'll count for nothing. That's one latter day Vince McMahon habit Hunter should move mountains to avoid.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.