5 Trades to Give WWE Raw and SmackDown a Boost Without Full Draft

Since the 2016 brand split, the WWE draft has traditionally occurred every fall, freshening up the rosters after SummerSlam and ahead of Survivor Series.

This year, there has been no mention of a draft—or even a Superstar Shake-up—or whether it will take place at all this year.

Instead, a report on Fightful Select (h/t Andrew Ravens of WrestlingNews.co) suggested fans may have to wait until after WrestleMania 39 season to see the next draft, meaning the current lineup has to last another seven months.

Of course, nothing is stopping WWE from swapping a few Superstars between Raw and SmackDown or calling wrestlers up from NXT to keep things interesting without holding a full-on draft for the entire roster.

Here are some trade suggestions that could spice things up without shuffling the deck too much.

While Roman Reigns can travel between both brands, he most frequently appears on SmackDown. It is more convenient for his challengers to be on that show, which means more babyfaces on the blue brand couldn't hurt.

AJ Styles is one of the few top names who could fit that purpose. As a former champion who has had great matches with The Tribal Chief in the past, he'd be a great opponent for one of the smaller events in which Reigns just needs someone reliable to fight.

By proxy of feuding with the dual champion, Styles would be able to step in the ring with Solo Sikoa for the first time, as well as team with The New Day against The Usos.

Karrion Kross and Gunther are two other names The Phenomenal One has yet to face, which could also benefit the newcomers to the main roster.

As a counterbalance to Styles on SmackDown, Shinsuke Nakamura heading to Raw would fill a similar position to The Phenomenal One while providing some fresh matchups.

Let's see The Artist mix it up with Ciampa, Dexter Lumis, Damian Priest, Johnny Gargano and maybe even Cody Rhodes on the red brand on Monday nights.

Nakamura could even challenge Bobby Lashley for the United States Championship.

Revisiting another feud with Finn Balor would be appealing, and it wouldn't hurt to see The King of Strong Style team up with Matt Riddle on occasion.

Moving Dana Brooke to SmackDown is less about what she would do for Friday nights and more about what her exit from Raw means to the 24/7 Championship.

For far too long, the 33-year-old has been the focal point of the title but with little substance. Her terrible romance angles with Reggie, Akira Tozawa and R-Truth were among the worst moments of WWE television for months on end.

We've yet to see any real positive changes to Brooke as 24/7 champion, but it would force WWE to change the formula if she left Raw.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported at the time that the initial idea to restore the title came from USA Network (h/t Jeremy Lambert of Fightful), which likely means it will stay on the red brand and wouldn't follow Brooke to SmackDown.

Maybe that could be the impetus to something different happening with the belt after WWE Creative looks at the Raw roster and decides who is next in line to hold it.

Trades aren't specific to just jumping between Raw and SmackDown. At any moment, someone can get called up from NXT to join the main roster, which often leads to an instant influx of new potential feuds.

While many would point to Bron Breakker and Carmelo Hayes as two standouts from the developmental territory who are poised for stardom, they still have more they can do in NXT. The same can't be said for Cameron Grimes.

While still only 28, he's been in NXT since 2019 and has feuded with most of the big names.

Moving to Raw or SmackDown gives Grimes a sink-or-swim opportunity. Whether as a lovable goofball babyface or a mean-spirited heel, he would be a fresh opponent to work with for several Superstars on the main roster.

The WWE women's division is always in need of more stars.

Toxic Attraction have been such a big part of NXT 2.0 that it would be odd to see them leave, but it would create a power vacuum there to allow others to step up while also boosting the singles and tag team divisions on the main roster.

Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne are among the only true women's teams at this point in the company. They could easily win the WWE Women's Tag Team Championship and carry on where they left off as two-time NXT tag titleholders.

Mandy Rose has significantly improved and grown more confident as a performer every week. She's more than earned her spot back on Raw and SmackDown.

Toxic Attraction could work well on either show, but the blue brand might have an advantage over Raw, if only to keep them away from the other trio faction of Damage Control.

Perhaps most importantly, the NXT trio knows its characters. There would be no fumbling around to find where they fit, such as with Lacey Evans turning from heel to face every week.

Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, Spotify and everywhere you find podcasts. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.