It is draft season once again in WWE and the opportunity for a fresh start on a new brand is here for all those who desperately need it.
Each year there are acts in WWE that are either languishing without much creative direction, or instead requiring a swift escape from an increasingly stale angle/rivalry.
And unsurprisingly this year is no different.
Despite Triple H doing a much better job than the old regime at giving value to much of WWE’s roster, it’s simply not possible to keep everyone relevant and visible at all times.
So with that said let’s identify 11 WWE main roster acts that should be switching brands in this year’s WWE Draft for 2024.
11. Omos & MVP – Free Agent To Raw/SmackDown
One of the only ‘Free Agents’ in WWE left on the market, it’s about time that WWE does away with that concept for good and finally gives The Nigerian Giant Omos and his manager MVP a brand.
As much as Omos lacks in technical proficiency inside the ring, he’s far from the worst we’ve ever seen and there has to be a place for him on TV somewhere.
Since his loss to Seth Rollins at Backlash 2023 a year ago, Omos has remained exclusive to house show matches (mostly against Akira Tozawa) and over-the-top-rope battle royals.
As much as this is a waste of Omos it’s perhaps an even bigger waste of MVP – one of WWE’s best talkers who could quite easily elevate many languishing stars on Raw or SmackDown.
So, hopefully both Omos and MVP get some much-needed direction in a few weeks time. I’m not asking for Omos to be pushed down our throats but still, there’s surely room for him somewhere.
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10. Cedric Alexander & Ashante Thee Adonis – SmackDown To NXT
Speaking of stars that could benefit from someone like MVP by their side – Cedric Alexander & Ashante Thee Adonis have done pretty much nothing since forming a team.
I mean, I’d hazard a guess to say that not many people are actually aware that they did even form a team in the first place. That’s because aside from one vignette on SmackDown in February these two have been not been seen on screen together whatsoever.
This is a shame as both are talented and at the very least deserve some TV time to develop their personalities on screen as a tandem.
Unfortunately this doesn’t seem likely on SmackDown, so they’d 100% be better off heading to NXT where many other languishing talents have managed to thrive and reinvent themselves.
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9. LWO – SmackDown To Raw
The LWO’s war with Santos Escobar and Legado Del Fantasma has been a nice angle on SmackDown’s mid-card for a while now, but I’d say it’s about time for a change.
With Rey Mysterio & Andrade picking up a decisive win at WrestleMania 40, there’s probably nowhere else this one can go.
Obviously there is the whodunit plot of Dragon Lee’s attack which is quite obviously Carlito, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusive to SmackDown and could progress over on Raw instead.
It’s be nice to see the group get a change of scenery and also take their issues with The Judgment Day over to Raw – providing some back-up to honorary member Andrade, who’s finding himself a target of the group.
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8. Imperium – Raw To SmackDown
Imperium’s move from SmackDown to Raw in the 2023 Draft was one of the best decisions WWE made at the time.
Not only was GUNTHER exposed to a host of new opponents for his Intercontinental Championship – such as Chad Gable, Bronson Reed etc. But Imperium also thrived putting on an excellent run of matches with The New Day.
However, following GUNTHER’s IC Title loss at WrestleMania, The Ring General, Ludwig and Vinci seem rather directionless. Hence why GUNTHER hasn’t been on TV for two weeks now – where does he fit on Raw right now?
GUNTHER is ready to move up to the world title scene – something that may well happen on Raw, however, instead a move to SmackDown and pursuit of Cody Rhodes may be the better option and an angle that could carry WWE through the Summer.
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7. Shinsuke Nakamura – Raw To NXT
Shinuske Nakamura is another star on Raw that seems a bit lost post WrestleMania 40. Although unlike GUNTHER you could probably have said that for quite a few months now.
Nakamura was given a new lease on life in 2023, being raised to a main event calibre star for the first time in years – putting on great matches with Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes.
Unfortunately for Nakamura though, he was never going to win those feuds and it’s difficult to see things changing without a change of scenery.
While a move to SmackDown is an option I’d instead love to see him make a return to NXT and be pushed to the top of the brand. He’d make for a great foil for a blossoming babyface star, and would be much better off than languishing on Raw.
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6. Nikki Cross Raw To NXT
Speaking of stars who could massively benefit from a return to NXT – despite capturing a world championship on Raw and a handful of tag team titles on the main roster, Nikki Cross has never been quite the same since leaving NXT way back when.
Arguably you could say that has been the case since Cross was split from Sanity, with her unique character coming across as more goofy than anything for the longest time.
It’s hard to see a way back for her on Raw or SmackDown for that matter, so it’d be nice to see her return to NXT for a refresh.
Whether that’s in the shape of a new gimmick entirely or just a slight shift, it is certainly worth a shot, as again, it’s much better than being AWOL on Raw.
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5. Pretty Deadly – SmackDown To Raw
YES BOY. Pretty Deadly are simply too entertaining to be denied any longer, something they sadly were at WrestleMania 40.
I’d say WWE recognise this blunder with their implementation of Kit Wilson & Elton Prince into the pre-match vignette for Mania. With it perhaps likely that the duo will be in line for a tag title shot soon enough.
While this is presumably coming on SmackDown, those titles are now held by the team that reportedly took their spot at Mania – A-Town Down Under, who are of course heels.
So unless, WWE plan to turn the Wilson & Prince babyface, they may be better suited over on Raw instead.
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4. The Creed Brothers & Ivy Nile – Raw To SmackDown
In exchange for Pretty Deadly perhaps the blue brand can get themselves the established grapplers of The Creed Brothers and Ivy Nile.
Maybe it’s due to Team Angle tying up on SmackDown back in the day, but there’s something about talent of that ilk and the blue brand that feel like a good fit. I may be alone in that feeling but it just feels right.
Also, The Creed Brothers have very much gone cold over on Raw, while Ivy Nile is endlessly stuck feuding with Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell.
Julius and Brutus would be a logical foil to the brash Austin Theory and Grayson Waller early in their reign and hopefully an opportunity to flesh out their characters a bit at the same time.
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3. Cameron Grimes – SmackDown To Raw
Another true casualty of the 2023 WWE Draft, Cameron Grimes finally said goodbye to NXT after a memorable run on the brand this time last year, with many fans excited to see what Triple H would do with him on the main roster.
Bafflingly however, I don’t think any of us could name a single thing that Grimes has actually done in that time.
Most recently being seen on last week’s SmackDown (April 12) getting squashed in just over a minute by Bron Breakker, Grimes is about as lost in the shuffle as you get right now.
That means any change would be appreciated. A move to Raw along with a long-overdue heel turn would be the ticket, with the potential for Grimes an IC title level talent with the right treatment.
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2. Jimmy Uso – SmackDown To Raw Or Jey Uso – Raw To SmackDown
Ok, slightly cheating here but given the recent developments in The Bloodline saga it’s safe to say The Usos need to find there way back to being on the same side once again.
Well, more specifically Jimmy needs Jey. Jey is doing more than fine on his own on Raw, while Jimmy has found himself brutally kicked to the curb by his younger brother Solo Sikoa and new Bloodline recruit Tama Tonga.
With Jacob Fatu potentially joining this new Bloodline soon enough also, Jimmy either needs the help of his brother over on SmackDown OR a swift exit from the blue brand to reunite with Jey on Raw.
Whatever way it works out, expect The Usos to be back on the same side and same brand in the WWE Draft.
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1. LA Knight – SmackDown To Raw
At the time of writing, WWE’s Mega Star LA Knight is just a few days away from potentially earning a WWE Championship match at Backlash 2024 in Lyon, France.
However, unless WWE pulls a shock and goes for a babyface on babyface face-off, it seems pretty safe to assume that Knight will fall short to AJ Styles.
Knight has cooled off slightly since the peak of his popularity in mid to late 2023, but he’s still massively popular but will need some direction to sustain that.
A feud with Logan Paul for the US Title is one many have theorised could happen, but it seems for now at least Paul will be continuing his feud with Randy Orton instead.
With Cody Rhodes likely remaining on SmackDown as the top babyface champion, it leaves little room for Knight at the top, with a far better chance of capturing gold – especially world title gold over on Raw instead.
Damian Priest will be in need of babyface challengers early in his run, and Knight would make for a solid choice.
It remains to be seen whether Knight actually reaches the top of the mountain, but safe to say he’s far more likely to on the rec brand as opposed to the blue one.
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