8 Problems WWE Solved In The Superstar Shake-Up
6. Charlotte Kills Two Birds With One Stone
As expected, Charlotte was transferred from Raw to SmackDown after losing at WrestleMania 33 and taking a shellacking at Nia Jax’s hands earlier this week. Though the red brand has now lost its most effective female heel, the move solves a couple of problems:-
1. It puts an end to the endless stream of Charlotte vs. Bayley/Sasha Banks matches that, while generally excellent, had seen the division fall into a predictable holding pattern.
2. It gives SmackDown’s scene a sorely needed jolt of star power, particularly in Alexa Bliss’ absence.
This looks like the best move of the whole Shake-Up at the moment. There’s almost nothing negative about Charlotte changing brands, and with Banks expected to turn heel and inherit her role as Raw's chief antagonist, her loss will be mitigated.
Charlotte was one of Raw’s biggest stars throughout 2016, and this should continue on SmackDown. She already has excellent chemistry with Becky Lynch and Natalya, and her presence should help lesser wrestlers like Tamina and Carmella take their game to the next level.
Expect Charlotte to be at the heart of everything that happens in the SmackDown Women’s Title picture over the next few months, and for her to be pushed just as strongly as last year.