It has been more than a year since the WWE made that celebrated brand split, a move seen to challenge both Raw and SmackDown to flourish on their own. The move offers WWE stars better chances of rising above the rest, not to mention help in the improvement of TV show rankings.
SummerSlam 2017 takes place this August 20 at the Barclays Center in New York, a bit event outside Wrestlemania. With most stars expected on hand, it could also be the last for them (at least for now) for their current brands.
Have the moves begun?
There is no telling who among the WWE stars would be moving for now.
There are speculations, but the recent developments could be a sign that the shake-up has already begun.
One is the case of John Cena. Though the Cenation leader still has a pending storyline involving Shinsuke Nakamura for the right to face Jinder Mahal, the fact that he has been branded a free-agent could somehow be related.
Until now, most saw that move as part of Cena’s schedule. With his commitments outside the WWE, Cena is unable to appear regularly. Such has drawn criticism, depriving the regular stars on the SmackDown roster the right to be cast in the main event.
The curious case of Jason Jordan
In a low-key revelation, Jason Jordan was revealed as the Kurt Angle’s son. Best known as one-half of American Alpha with Chad Gable, the sudden appearance (and storyline) caught WWE fans off guard.
The obvious reason here is a push for Jordan, and it seems to be all happening on the red brand.
Though not as high profile (for now), that too could be a sign of things to come. So the question is when others will follow? Will it be before SummerSlam or after?
The answer to that could be for the remaining shows. While the remaining episodes will likely build on storylines, some could hint at impending transfers after Aug.
20. They will set the stage for some climaxes with the verdicts delivered on the Raw and SmackDown shows following SummerSlam.
Rather than a re-draft, which most speculated, a shake-up would make sense. No one is exempted from such – meaning both male and female top stars – could be making a switch.
Champions are not exempted as well, except perhaps for the heavyweight champions.
Would it include a change in show commissioners and general managers? It could happen depending on Vince McMahon’s call.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to the analytics. The WWE will likely dig down and see who is delivering and who are not. The tweaks are being made for the greater good – something hopefully even the fans would agree with.
