New beginnings or finally ending tag team drama? 4 trades WWE can make between RAW and SmackDown before 2025
Unless several stars return from injury before the year ends, WWE may need to make some trades before the start of 2025. The Draft was supposed to even the playing field on both RAW and SmackDown. However, several months later there have been some significant developments.
Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss were both out of action for different reasons. Becky Lynch remains unsigned while Raquel Rodriguez has been in and out of the lineup owing to her health. Unless they return before 2025, all divisions across the two main roster brands could use some tweaks.
With RAW heading to Netflix in 2025, there may be some roster swaps. A lot can happen in the next three months. If nothing significant occurs anymore WWE should make the next four trades between the red and blue brands before the year ends.
#4. Austin Theory goes to WWE RAW for Xavier Woods
Austin Theory and Xavier Woods both need a change. Each star is part of a tag team in turmoil. Grayson Waller has blatantly sacrificed his partner at inopportune moments. The 27-year-old didn't agree when others told this to him but started to realize they weren't on the same page.
The New Day came the closest they ever had to splitting on last week's RAW. Woods was extremely upset with Kofi Kingston and he took off at his tag team partner for not keeping him in the loop.
One easy way to rectify both situations would be to break the teams up and have Woods and Theory swap shows. They could each refresh their careers in the singles divisions of SmackDown and RAW respectively. The veteran could turn heel while the youngster can turn face.
#3. WWE swings a 3-for-1 deal with Bianca Belair and Alpha Academy
One star in exchange for three? In this case, yes, it could work. Bianca Belair is one of the top WWE Superstars and is all over advertising and marketing material regardless of whether she is a champion.
The SmackDown women's division is already stacked and if Rhea Ripley doesn't beat Liv Morgan, Morgan will need more heroic challengers on RAW. Lyra Valkyria isn't ready yet to be a major champion and they may not pull the trigger with IYO SKY right away.
Having Belair and Jade Cargill lose their titles and go their separate ways would be a way to break the team up without a heel turn. They can then cross paths for a potential WrestleMania match down the line.
Alpha Academy is an interesting act but doesn't have main-event level credibility. They could mesh into the tag team scene on SmackDown with Maxxine Dupri forming a friendship with Bayley or Michin as her mentor.
Hence such a swap would make sense in the larger scheme of things.
#2. AJ Styles for Bronson Reed
![Bronson Reed has been terrorizing the stars of Monday Night RAW. [Image Credit: WWE.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/09/a92b9-17270314606728-1920.jpg?w=500)
Bronson Reed could be a major player and his recent bookings have started to meet those lofty expectations, finally. He's already unsuccessfully challenged for the Intercontinental Championship. Reed's battle with Braun Strowman won't last the rest of the year.
If he gets traded to SmackDown for AJ Styles, he can go after LA Knight, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, and Andrade among others. Though Styles hasn't been on WWE programming for a few months, the veteran can move seamlessly between heel and face.
Moving to RAW would allow The Phenomenal One to pursue new championships while also facing new opponents like Uncle Howdy, Ilja Dragunov, and Jey Uso if he returned as a heel. Should he come back as a babyface, he can challenge Gunther and Breakker.
#1. Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens both need new feuds
Drew McIntyre has challenged for the World Heavyweight Championship almost five times this year. He won the belt once but has feuded with CM Punk all along. When that concludes, what's next for The Scottish Warrior?
Going to SmackDown would allow McIntyre to battle Cody Rhodes and LA Knight among others. As for Owens, he's feuded with almost every major heel on SmackDown.
He's battled The Bloodline, A Town Down Under, Pretty Deadly, and Carmelo Hayes (briefly). The Prizefighter needs a change and the possibility of facing a Bron Breakker or Gunther for their titles could be a welcome one for him. He's a legitimate threat to defeat either champion.
It remains to be seen if WWE would consider such a move before the turn of the year.