8 Last Minute WWE Draft Rumors You Need To Know
6. John Cena To SmackDown?
It’s assumed that John Cena will be split-up from fellow WWE “golden child” Roman Reigns in the forthcoming draft, and it has been strongly suggested over the past few days that Big Match John is headed to SmackDown.
Reports state that WWE officials are highly concerned that SmackDown will maintain its “B-show” reputation as soon as the split takes place, and that the blue brand will struggle for momentum against Raw, the supposed flagship.
Their concerns are well-placed. Despite the quality of wrestling on display on SmackDown throughout the initial brand split, the show never shook-off it’s “little brother” image, and by the time the split was cancelled, SD had become an afterthought. WWE cannot afford to let this happen again: they’re already under immense ratings pressure from the USA Network, and need to go all-in on ensuring SmackDown is presented as being just as important as Raw.
Cena can help in this regard. Despite his dwindling road schedule, he remains the company’s most marketable star. Love him or hate him, people tune-in to see John Cena, and his presence alone will add a strong air of importance to the Tuesday night show.
Source: Rajah