Balancing The Rosters

[jamesyboybell]

With WWE's spring shake-up coming soon, I think we'll see some major changes this year because not only are both rosters a bit stale, they are unbalanced on the face/heel aspect.

Right now Big Show (currently busy tagging with Miz), Swagger (in my opinion not quite main event yet and possibly headed to SD) and Sheamus are the only heels on Raw to have held one of the big straps. Batista is still listed as SD and may be heading back after Cena is done with him so that leaves a major gap to fill especially with Orton turning face.

On Smackdown, I only really see Jericho and Punk as main event level heels.

So if you were given the choice, who would you turn/draft?

Personally I'd love to see Triple H, Christian and maybe even 1 more turning heel and give Morisson, Miz and Ziggler bigger pushes. WWE have a big gap before the next major PPV before they need to produce a supercard so it's be nice to see some stars other than the usual suspects main eventing together until then.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Well, Jack Swagger is now on SmackDown!. The draft can be hard to predict, but I see either Chris Jericho or CM Punk going to RAW (probably Jericho). But I would like to see some turns. MVP is someone that I think could use a heel re-alignment. He was money when he hit his stride as the "highest paid athlete in SmackDown! history."

Christian is fine as a face now. No doubt he makes a tremendous heel, but his face run still had legs. He's getting pops, he's doing good work -- leave him. MVP is also getting pops, but he always seems to be treading water as far as credibility goes. A heel turn could give him direction again.

[Schlomey]

I just can't wait until Khali returns from India more focused and captures the World Title in the most monumental heel World Championship run ever!!!!


Seriously though,


Christian is great but RAW is slowly ruining his relevance. He needs to either turn heel or move to Smackdown.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I think Christian moving to SmackDown! is quite likely. It didn't surprise me when he showed up on RAW. There was an opening for faces at the time, and it got him a bit of exposure on the A-show. It could also have been taken as a "reward" for his time in ECW. In addition to giving RAW a favourite besides Kofi Kingston in Money in the Bank. There may be long term plans for him there, but of all the guys who got assigned brands after ECW folded, I think him swapping now is probably the most likely.

[Schlomey]

Reward for his time on ECW? He went from being the number one guy and champion on a show to RAW where he had just a handful of matches, zero feuds, and zero build.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I'm really curious how the draft will work this year. There are only two brands once again so I don't see the point in moving 30 or so guys as they have the past few years under the three show format. If it was up to me, I'd go the 2004 route and have 6 guys per brand swap shows via lottery draw. And then trades can happen after if they want to mix things up a bit further.

To Raw:
Drew McIntyre
Ezekiel Jackson
Finlay
Goldust
Shad
The Great Khali

To SmackDown:
Christian
Evan Bourne
Jillian
Ted DiBiase
The Miz
Zack Ryder

---

A mix of some big names and some lower card guys to make it seem more random. I'll run down my thinking for the picks:

-Drew McIntyre: I'm not entirely sure I like the idea of Drew going to Raw this soon, but WWE are clearly high on him so I could see him doing well. He'll bring the IC Title back to Raw.

-Ezekiel Jackson: Has appeared in just one match since signing with SmackDown. Has a good look that I could see WWE wanting to push. Raw seems like a more likely place to do that, make Regal his mouthpiece again.

-Finlay: He hasn't appeared on SmackDown in ages and creative doesn't seem to have much for him. The move to Raw will probably happen mainly to give Hornswoggle something to do. Moreover, Finlay can tutor the Raw divas...most of whom can't work.

-Goldust: I've really enjoyed Dustin's in ring work lately, but when looking through the SmackDown roster for lower-card guys to move to Raw, he immediately stood out. Perfect for a lot of the comedy stuff they've tried on Raw.

-Shad: I see him getting a bigger push than JTG...and again Raw just feels like a more fitting place. Shad can go to Raw and do his own thing, or maybe even team with Ezekiel Jackson under Regal's tutelage? JTG stays on SmackDown and teams with R-Truth once Morrison turns heel on him.

-The Great Khali: I'm just not sure what else he has to offer on SmackDown. Khali also seems like he'd be a good fit for comedy stuff on Raw. His knees are in bad shape so I could seem him transitioning and working less matches in favor of more backstage skits.

-Christian: Christian will be good no matter where he ends up, but the thinking here is obvious. Edge and Christian on the same show. That will be gold no matter if their are both faces, both heels, one face or one heel, etc.

-Evan Bourne: It seems like lower card guys on Raw that move to SmackDown seem to have career rejuvenations. That's the thinking I have with Bourne, he has some good guys to work with and it should make for some great matches.

-Jillian: A move made mainly to push across the randomness of the draft. However, SmackDown could use a fresh diva to feud with Beth Phoenix once she wins the title. Let her focus on her in-ring work as opposed to the singing shit and it could go well.

-Ted DiBiase: I think we can all agree that one of the Legacy members will be moving shows, and Ted just seems like more of a logical fit to me. I think he's got a brighter future than Cody and SmackDown seems like a better place for him.

-The Miz: I really have enjoyed The Miz on Raw, but SmackDown probably needs to get another "major" name coming and since Drew took the IC Title to Raw, Miz brings the US belt to SmackDown. ShoMiz can still team, although they are teasing the breakup already. Moving Miz also brings about the likelihood that Daniel Bryan will wind up signing with SmackDown when he wins NXT and challenges Miz for the belt...and Bryan on SmackDown would own.

-Zack Ryder: Similar reason to Evan Bourne moving. I love me some Zack Ryder, and I just don't see him amounting to much on Raw, unfortunately. I would absolutely love to see Zack Ryder and Dolph Ziggler form a tag team.</font>

[Schlomey]

The biggest name on your list is Christian. Try again.

















PS. - NOBODY GIVES A FLYING FUCK WHERE KHALI GOES *as he is gone now anyways*

[Evil Vito]

The biggest name on your list is Christian. Try again.

















PS. - NOBODY GIVES A FLYING FUCK WHERE KHALI GOES *as he is gone now anyways*

<font color=goldenrod>Call me crazy, but I think they might actually keep a good majority of the big guys (Cena, HHH, Orton, Edge, Jericho, Punk, etc.) right where they are this year. It not only builds more brand identity...but people are so used to a shitload of huge changes every year, it makes guys like Christian/Drew/Miz look better. They are the "stars" of this draft class.

And as for Khali, I know he's taking time off but we all know he's not going to be released. He can be drafted to Raw while he's away and, again, his eventual return can but put across as a big deal.</font>

[XCaliber]

To Smackdown:
Cody Rhodes
Evan Bourne
Koki Kingston
Triple H
William Regal

To Raw:
Chris Jericho
Drew McIntyre
Edge
John Morrsion
Undertaker

[Mr. Nerfect]

Reward for his time on ECW? He went from being the number one guy and champion on a show to RAW where he had just a handful of matches, zero feuds, and zero build.

Being on RAW is a good thing for wrestlers.

[Schlomey]

So how many guys have moved from ECW or Smackdown only to find ZERO success with the RAW writing staff and quickly get moved, shelved or fired?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I was thinking about the draft earlier today, and here were the moves I came up with:

To RAW:
Caylen Croft
Chris Jericho
David Hart Smith
Drew McIntyre
Finlay
Funaki
Goldust
Jimmy Wang Yang
JTG
Kane
Michelle McCool
Mike Knox
Natalya
R-Truth
Slam Master J
Theodore Long
Tiffany
Trent Barreta
Tyson Kidd

To SmackDown!:
Alicia Fox
Carlito
Chavo Guerrero
Christian
Jillian Hall
Kofi Kingston
The Miz
Maryse
MVP
Nikki Bella
Primo
Randy Orton
Rosa Mendes
Santino Marella
Zack Ryder

Now, granted, this is not an even draft. But whatever. They can play with the numbers somehow. I'd also consider assigning the NXT guys to a "tentative brand" in the draft, corresponding to their WWE Pro. So that evens it up a bit in the end.

There are reasons behind these moves, and I could explain them, but I am very, very tried. Obviously it won't actually go down like this, but the idea would be that the supplementary draft moves everyone the WWE isn't really using at the moment, to give them to the other writing team. The problem with this is that the roster changes alone could give them something to do, but it's just easier this way. That's why guys like Funaki and Jimmy Wang Yang change brands. I guess you could keep one or both of them on SmackDown!. Doesn't really matter.

The others all moved because I feel that they could use the change, that they would freshen up either themselves or the other show with the move, and I did have some ideas in mind for future feuds/angles.

Like Big Vito, my draft plan suffers from a lack of big "shock" moves. The only three guys moving with World Championships under their belts are Chris Jericho, Kane and Randy Orton. You do have a few upper mid-carders changing brands, though. Kofi Kingston, MVP, Christian and R-Truth being the most noticeable. Arguably Finlay, too. The Hart Dynasty could be a hot move, as would JTG. The Miz and Drew McIntyre essentially change places.

[Schlomey]

I do hope Knox comes to RAW and gets a big man push......Hardly see it happening sadly.

[HBPunk]

I do hope Knox comes to RAW and gets a big man push......Hardly see it happening sadly.

I really hope he never does get pushed, im sick to my balls of seeing big angry generic heels, i dont even care how good Knox might be, his look is terrible and he has as much charisma as a tree. Shad is getting that push now anyway. I want to see guys the size of HBK, Christian, Fatt Hardy and even a few the size of Rey and Evan.

Are you really so entertained with the slow moving 6'5 300lbs heel who consistently. . .

a) Spend lots of time shouting and grunting
b) Use a big boot to the face to look strong
c) Have a truly ugly face (Knox, Snitsky, Henry etc)

[Mr. Nerfect]

Your scenario A doesn't actually fit Knox at all.

I appreciate Knox's current position in the company. He's a big man whose size and ring work are used to put smaller guys over. Awesome. Personally, call me weird, but I'd actually like to see him come back and stalk his ex-girlfriend, Kelly Kelly. I think it'd be...interesting, in a bizarre sort of way. Kelly could have a new boyfriend (Evan Bourne?) and that could lead to a feud between the two, which would no doubt lead to some fun matches -- the primary design behind them being to make Bourne look good and get him even more over.

[Jakob Synn]

When is the draft?

[DAMN iNATOR]

April 26th (the night after Extreme Rules) on RAW, I believe.

[Lock Jaw]

To RAW:

Batista
Dolph Ziggler
Drew McIntyre
John Morrison
R-Truth
Shad

To Smackdown:

Carlito
Christian
Evan Bourne
Jack Swagger
Kofi Kingston
MVP

[CSL]

The biggest name on your list is Christian. Try again.

















PS. - NOBODY GIVES A FLYING FUCK WHERE KHALI GOES *as he is gone now anyways*

What the fuck is this post?

[Schlomey]

The truth is what that post was. His list features only mid carders & Christian who is amazing but not yet main eventer. The draft is one of my favorite times of the year and if his list would happen to be correct I'd be rather dissapointed. I like to see the main eventers moved.






HART DYNASTY TO RAW.

[Triple Naitch]

God I hope McIntyre doesn't go to Raw right away. I just have a feeling that he will be completely lost over there. He has really stepped into his own on the blue brand and is easily a top 5 heel there.

[Lock Jaw]

But it is tradition for Smackdown up and comers to be drafted to RAW, while former up and comers who went to RAW and were ruined/wasted go to Smackdown.

[Schlomey]

Smackdown has had a pretty brilliant year. I hope to see that trend continue in 2010 by eliminating some of the glamor and keeping it more about talent than writing.

[BillyBonez]

How I would do things if I was in charge

To RAW:
1. Undertaker
2. Edge
3. John Morisson
4. Mickie James
5. Chris Jericho

To Smackdown:
1. Big Show
2. Chris Masters
3. Carlito
4. Mark Henry
5. Jillisn

I chose to only move 5 people, IMO, moving more sucks.

[Mr. Nerfect]

But it is tradition for Smackdown up and comers to be drafted to RAW, while former up and comers who went to RAW and were ruined/wasted go to Smackdown.

Yes, this is true. So realistically we can expect:

To SmackDown!:
Carlito
Chavo Guerrero
Chris Masters
Cody Rhodes
Evan Bourne
Mark Henry
MVP
Primo

To RAW:
David Hart Smith
Dolph Ziggler
Drew McIntyre
John Morrison
JTG
Natalya
R-Truth
Tyson Kidd

Many of those being supplementary draft moves, of course.

[Mr Amazing]

raw

Jericho
morrison
McIntyre
shad
big zeke

smackdown

Miz
Christian
Kofi
bounre
chavo

wwe should bring back the crusierweight title and ceter it around Bourne,JTG,Mysterio,Chavoand sometimes put miz aand kofi in the mix or if it on both brands you can give it to Tatsu,Primo,Charlito,or Rhodes

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The more I think about it, the more I really hope each brand gets a set number of picks. I always thought the concept of "win a match and your brand gets a draft pick!" seemed stupid.

Like yeah, some faces might want to win the match and get some fresh competition...but why would a chickenshit heel champion want to risk having a big name title contender move over to the same show as him? If anything, a heel would want to lose the match in hopes of getting his rival on the same show drafted away.</font>

[Schlomey]

I can see Shad or JTG coming to RAW for sure. Their mini feud will only be good for one PPV I would assume. So come draft time I say that one or the other is moved in hopes of helping them get away from the Tyme gimmick.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah, I don't like the winner gets a pick. It's all a bit gimmicky. If they want to go gimmicky, I would not mind it if the draft picks faced off against each other as they went.

For example: If SmackDown! picked Kofi Kingston and RAW picked R-Truth, you'd have Kofi Kingston vs. R-Truth, with one getting a chance to build some momentum as they head to the other brand.

[jamesyboybell]

I can see Shad or JTG coming to RAW for sure. Their mini feud will only be good for one PPV I would assume. So come draft time I say that one or the other is moved in hopes of helping them get away from the Tyme gimmick.

There's no way this match goes to PPV. They'll go 1 on 1 once or twice then one will change brands.

[XL]

I just hope they don't do a double title switch again. Seems all too convenient that the US Champ gets drafted to one show whilst the IC Champ goes the other way.

[XIII]

the draft is fuckin gay anyway... they need to do smackdown live at least once in a while, they want to keep all the big stars on the live show, which is understandable, but put maybe cena or orton over on smackdown and change the fueds up a little bit.. its always the same fuckin shit anymore...

[HBPunk]

the draft is fuckin gay anyway... they need to do smackdown live at least once in a while, they want to keep all the big stars on the live show, which is understandable, but put maybe cena or orton over on smackdown and change the fueds up a little bit.. its always the same fuckin shit anymore...

quiet down child