8 Problems WWE Solved In The Superstar Shake-Up

Though the brand split has largely succeeded in increasing SmackDown’s ratings and establishing it as a clear alternative to Raw, the process hasn’t been flawless. Both shows’ curtailed rosters meant that predictability was inevitable, and at some point down the line, the bookers would have no choice but to recycle old feuds and matches. The repetition has become particularly noticeable over the past few months, and in that regard, the Superstar Shake-Up couldn’t have come at a better time.

Raw’s bookers had become particularly prone to filling their cards with rematch after rematch (seriously, how many times have we seen Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks?), but it’s far from a brand-specific problem. Fortunately, those days are over, and both sides should benefit from matches and storylines featuring brand new superstar combinations.

Repetition will eventually creep in again, but it’s a clean slate for now. Coupled with the recent NXT call-ups, the Superstar Shake-Up should keep both shows interesting for the foreseeable future, and when they start to waver, there’s no reason the rosters can’t be switched again. Of all the things WWE accomplished this week, this is easily the most significant.