WWE RAW, in many ways, is the pulse of professional wrestling. The longest-running weekly episodic TV show in history is the Stamford-based promotion’s flagship show. The company’s top stars are often featured heavily on the red brand.
Currently, major names like Roman Reigns and Seth “Freakin” Rollins are on RAW. The roster is also loaded with fresh faces like Logan Paul, Joe Hendry, Dominik Mysterio, Oba Femi, and Bron Breakker, among others. However, a loaded roster often comes at the cost of several criminally underutilized talents.
Recently, Gunther made the switch to SmackDown. This was a welcome change as the Ring General had already feuded with top names on the red brand, including Seth Rollins and CM Punk. The blue brand presents fresh opportunities for the Career Killer. Similarly, several other talented individuals could benefit from such a move.
On that note, let’s look at 3 stars who could jump next from WWE RAW to SmackDown.
#3. Finn Balor Needs to Stay Away from the Judgment Day
The Judgment Day was born in 2022. 4 years later, in 2026, the faction has lost all of its original members, but is still a key part of the midcard division on RAW. Finn Balor was a part of the original trio that evicted Edge, the founder, from the group. For a while, Balor benefitted from the faction.
Unfortunately, the Judgment Day couldn’t do much for the Prince, who was kicked out of the group a few months ago. Balor got his revenge at WrestleMania. The Demon was unleashed at the Show of Shows, and he earned a convincing win over Dominik Mysterio. However, that should have been the end of the saga.
It doesn’t appear as if Balor’s problems with the Judgment Day are behind him. The Prince needs to move away from the group entirely. CM Punk had a point: the group did hold Balor back, and a prolonged feud will do no one any favors.
On the contrary, SmackDown will be the land of opportunity for Finn Balor. Imagine the matches he could have with the likes of Carmelo Hayes, Ricky Saints, and Ilja Dragunov. Balor could also pursue the US Championship, adding another belt to his resume. If Triple H is committed to a major Balor push, the Prince might also face Cody Rhodes.
#2. Jimmy Uso Could Break Out on His Own on SmackDown
Triple H seems to be committed to developing another chapter in the Bloodline storyline. Jacob Fatu recently jumped from SmackDown to WWE RAW and challenged Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship. The feud has put the Usos in an interesting position. Jimmy and Jey Uso are firmly loyal to the OTC, but they also care for Fatu.
The Samoan Werewolf’s rebellion has been intriguing, and Jimmy will certainly have a role to play in this angle. However, Big Jim needs a breather from all the Bloodline drama. “Main Event” Jey Uso, Solo Sikoa, and Jacob Fatu have all found championship success as singles stars.
Meanwhile, Jimmy Uso has been a side character in many of their storylines. Big Jim distancing himself from the Bloodline and jumping to SmackDown could give him the room he needs to grow as a singles star. He is an incredibly talented Superstar, and deserves a legitimate opportunity to thrive alone as a star.
#1. LA Knight is Lost on WWE RAW
LA Knight has not spent much time on WWE RAW, but it has still taken months off his career. The Megastar jumped to the red brand for his storyline with the Vision. The angle did him no favors, and he was treated as a side character. The frustrating bit was that Knight was involved with the group every week, but was still shelved from the Men’s WarGames match last year.
When his angle with the Vision ended at WrestleMania, Knight seemed destined for newer things. WWE teased something between Gunther and Knight on the RAW after Mania. However, the angle was over before it started, and the Ring General moved to SmackDown. The Megastar has not been seen since that backstage confrontation.
SmackDown wasn’t very kind to Knight either. Nevertheless, Knight was regularly featured on the show and won the US Championship twice on the blue brand. Compared to WWE RAW, SmackDown has a thinner roster, which lacks depth in the upper mid-card and main event scene.
Knight has all the tools to fill such a role on Fridays. All hope is not lost for the former US Champions as SmackDown could present Knight with better opportunities and fresher storylines.
