WWE News: Top RAW Champion Moves To SmackDown Live In The Superstar Shakeup
What's The Story?
In what has to be one of the most sensational moves WWE has made so far during the Superstar Shakeup, Finn Balor is now a SmackDown Live Superstar. The move comes only weeks after Balor defeated Bobby Lashley to win The Intercontinental title from Bobby Lashley and one night after losing to Andrade on RAW.
Unfortunately for the portion of The WWE Universe that was looking forward to a Club reunion, the surprise move also comes one night after AJ Styles became Raw exclusive, which means that won't be a possibility.
In case you didn't know
WWE is holding their annual Superstar Shakeup this week and while the event is usually lauded as an attempt to hit the refresh button, this edition of the occasion seemed much more significant.
In fact, with Styles, The Miz, The Usos and Naomi all heading to Monday Night RAW and Balor now on Smackdown Live, WWE is truly changing the landscape.
With that being said, Balor has struggled on Monday Night Raw for years now, especially with heavyweights like Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns over there, but might get a chance to shine now that he is away from them.
This could even be Balor's chance to enter The WWE Title picture for the first time and capture a main championship once again.
The Heart of The Matter
The company has needed to make this change for quite some time now and it's amazing to see them finally do it.
If nothing else, Balor was absolutely floundering on RAW and him not being a favorite to be in the title picture didn't help things at all. At least now, he will be in a title picture alongside guys like Kofi Kingston, which might mean a title run before long.
It is also will mean that since SmackDown Liveis shifting to Fox Sports in the fall, this move would allow WWE a little bit more freedom storyline wise when scripting his character.
Whether it actually works out or not remains to be seen, but seeing Balor and all his potential now on the blue brand is going to be fun to watch.
What's next?
Finn Balor's first opponent on Smackdown Live was Ali, who might become his next opponent for The Intercontinental title.
Of course that possibility seems less likely after Ali lost to Balor clean, but WWE could still try to turn it into a storyline and insert Ali into The Universal title picture.
WWE could also have Balor be attacked by Andrade Cien Almas and then have him lose The IC title to Almas at Money in The Bank.
Either way, its going to be interesting to watch what WWE does with Balor moving forward, especially in regards to The IC title picture.