WWE News: SmackDown Roster to appear on Raw 25th Anniversary

What’s the Story?

WWE is promising a big show for the 25th anniversary of Monday Night Raw and have announced that members of the SmackDown Live roster will be at the show.

In Case You Didn’t Know

WWE announced that they will be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Raw and have promised several WWE legends like Shawn Michaels, Kevin Nash and have hinted at the chance of an Undertaker return.

A report published in the New York Post reported that Raw will emanate from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn and the Manhattan Center in New York City.

The Heart of the Matter

The addition of the SmackDown roster could mean that one brand will occupy the Barclay Center for a show while the other wrestles in the Manhattan Center.

If this is the mindset for the Raw 25th Anniversary show, then the Raw roster may wrestle in the Manhattan Center as a throwback to the debut of the program while SmackDown Live could host their show at the Barclay Center.

Another option would be the mixing up the roster for both brands and give both venues shows with both Raw and SmackDown superstars, but that is pure speculation.

What’s Next?

Another big factor that could affect WWE programming on Jan. 22, 2018 is the fact that it’s the week before the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

Not only will this potentially mean an interesting supershow next year, but could go a long way in adding to the buildup for the Royal Rumble match.

Author’s Take

The 25th anniversary of Raw already had an impressive lineup of stars and a unique experience for the fans, but the inclusion of the SmackDown roster will make for a great show next year.

Whether the WWE will break their mantra of Survivor Series being the only Raw vs. SmackDown show remains to be seen.