|BY WILL GLASBAND|
With the landscape of WWE now forever altered following the Superstar Shakeup weeks ago, some superstars are truly positioned to succeed. While the Zack Ryder’s of the world may find themselves fighting for TV time, other superstars are in prime spots for having a successful run. The following list will discuss five of these types of superstars and will not be limited to Raw or SmackDown, but rather include both. For more WWE news and discussion, check out “Will Power Radio” on KKSM AM 1320, www.PalomarCollegeRadio.com, and Cox 957 every Monday from 2:30 P.M. to 4:00 P.M. PST., and the Will Glasband YouTube page!
Chad Gable (RAW)
While Chad Gable’s future looked somewhat bleak during his tag team run with Shelton Benjamin on SmackDown!, it is looking a whole lot bright now on the red brand. With a plethora of mid-card heels to test his skills against, including Jinder Mahal, Baron Corbin, Dolph Ziggler, and hopefully Bobby Roode sooner rather than later, Gable is primed to succeed. The true indicator of his success, however, is dependent on if he will be treated as a young, up and coming underdog, or as an afterthought. Here’s to hoping it’s the former.
Jeff Hardy (SD!)
Now that he’s separated from his Broken brother Matt, Jeff Hardy has a real opportunity to spread his main event sized wings on the SmackDown! brand. If the rapid nature of him winning the United States Championship from Jinder Mahal is any harbinger of things to come, then Jeff Hardy is destined for a memorable singles run on SmackDown! Who knows, maybe he will eventually find himself feuding for the WWE Championship with the likes of AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura, similar to his previous world title feuds the last time he was on the blue brand back in 2009.
Samoa Joe (SD!)
During Samoa Joe’s time on Raw, it seemed like there was never quite enough room for him at the top of the card. Whether it was Brock Lesnar’s strangle hold on the Universal Championship, or the sheer star power of Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman, Joe always seemed to be slightly overshadowed on Monday nights. However, with the way the SmackDown! roster is currently designed, it seems as if Joe is ready to burst on the scene as a main event performer, giving his contemporaries a vicious run for their money.
2.
Drew McIntyre (RAW)
When glancing at the NXT roster a few months ago, there was literally no other superstar more ready for a main roster call up than Drew McIntyre himself. Simply put, the man has recreated himself following his departure from the largest wrestling organization in the world back in 2014. From his new overall demeanor, to his improved in-ring performance, McIntyre has everything going for him, except for his partnership with resident deadweight Dolph Ziggler. The sooner that ends, the faster McIntyre will be in a prominent position on WWE’s flagship show.
1.
The Miz (SD!)
Seemingly immediately after being drafted to SmackDown! in 2016, The Miz revitalized his career and his character reached new heights. The blue brand served as the perfect environment for the Hollywood A-Lister to showcase his impressive mic skills, without being overshadowed by those with bigger star presences, such as Braun Strowman, Brock Lesnar, and Roman Reigns. During The Miz’s time on Raw, this was precisely the issue: he could not escape from mid-card purgatory and it’s crowded main event scene. However, now that he is back on the blue brand and a main event feud with Daniel Bryan is imminent, The Miz is in perfect position to be a focal point of the show, and maybe even recapture a title has eluded him since 2011: the WWE Championship.
