5 WWE stars who can move to RAW before the end of 2024
WWE's announcement of a "transfer portal" on SmackDown essentially opens things up for roster movement. With RAW's transition to Netflix from the USA Network, several prominent stars could swap brands to shake things up.
Instead of simply making a few trades or having a lighter draft, officials will try to piggyback off NCAA football's controversial 'transfer portal' tactic at the end of the year. When collegiate athletes don't get playing time or mesh with a coaching staff, they simply enter the portal to move to a new school, regardless of academics.
Rosters up and down the Stamford-based company could use some shaking up. The next five WWE Superstars could move from SmackDown to RAW before the end of 2024:
#5. Pretty Deadly is too unique not to be featured
Kit Wilson and Elton Prince burst onto SmackDown two years ago. Their refreshing act blended old-school heel tactics with comedic timing. They faced Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens for the Undisputed Tag Team Championship but lost.
Since then, Pretty Deadly has been fodder for other teams. While they had varying levels of success, the team has drifted to the bottom of the SmackDown tag team division.
If RAW goes back to three hours on Netflix, it would easily open up more time for an entertaining act like Pretty Deadly. They could get a renewed push and tussle with the Final Testament, Wyatt Sicks, or other teams that remain on the red brand.
#4. Carmelo Hayes already teased a move
Hayes was already earmarked for future success. He was a first-round selection in the 2024 WWE Draft and battled Cody Rhodes on his first night on the main roster. The two revisited the earlier showdown on a recent episode of SmackDown.
A big reason for Hayes shifting to RAW is pairings. The former NXT Champion battled Andrade in a best-of-seven series of matches. And he's faced the brand's top star twice.
Hayes also regularly tussled with LA Knight over the United States Championship. To switch things up for a potential future champ, he should move to RAW before the end of 2024.
#3. Tiffany Stratton's Money in the Bank cash-in is looming
Tiffany Stratton has been popular on the main roster ever since she popped up before WrestleMania 40. That popularity led to her winning the Women's Money in the Bank contract and several prominent spots on various PLEs.
She could easily cash in on either Nia Jax or Liv Morgan due to each champion being a heel. Morgan's time is running out while Jax will likely lose her title before the serious build to WrestleMania 41.
Stratton is a star of the future and could be prominently positioned as one of the new faces of RAW on Netflix. The WWE fans already love her so her cash-in would provide the huge debut episode with an iconic moment.
#2. Bianca Belair is the current face of WWE's women's division
Whether she's been a champion or not, Bianca Belair has been on practically every PLE poster in 2024. She's currently the top face of the women's division after an injury to Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch's contract expiration.
Rhea Ripley also anchors the division but has been in and out of the lineup this year. The two could swap spots to shake things up. If Belair is revealed as Jade Cargill's attacker, it could be a way to break things up only to have things spill over on the way to WrestleMania 41.
Other WWE names could switch brands but Belair has battled most of SmackDown's women numerous times. Beating Piper Niven yet again doesn't help either woman.
#1. Roman Reigns has sat atop SmackDown since 2020
Roman Reigns was positioned as WWE's top star for the last decade whether fans wanted it or not. His heel turn in 2020 did wonders for his career but also kept things at a status quo on SmackDown for the last four years.
Because WWE officials didn't want anyone to beat him, he cleaned out the roster year after year. Changing things in drafts just meant different names would be on the losing end against the Original Tribal Chief.
With Cody Rhodes assuming the spot previously held by Reigns, SmackDown doesn't need both stars. They've exhausted their feud and several new opponents await The Head of the Table on RAW.
Reigns could battle Gunther, Bron Breakker, Bronson Reed, or finally revisit his short encounter with Karrion Kross. It would also break up The Bloodline feud since the OG side won at WarGames.