WWE ‘Superstar Shake-Up’: Night One Roster Changes
Who made the jump to the red-brand on night-one of the WWE 'Superstar Shake-Up'?
* Jinder Mahal makes the jump to Monday night's.
Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal was the first superstar to transition over in the 2018 WWE 'Superstar Shake-Up'. Mahal, accompanied to the ring by Sunil Singh; on his first night on the red-brand had a list of orders ready to give RAW GM Kurt Angle. Angle alerted "The Modern-Day Maharajah" that his high maintenance requests would not be tolerated on Monday night's and that if Mahal wanted to earn those privileges and luxuries he could start by defending his WWE United States Championship. Jinder's challenger to the WWE United States Title would be revealed and it was none other than "The Charismatic Enigma" Jeff Hardy.
The two men went one-on-one as the WWE United States Title hung in the balance and at the end of the contest Jinder was met with a "Twist Of Fate" and "Swanton Bomb" to top it off and was pinned for the three count, and now, Jeff Hardy is the new WWE United States Champion.
* The 'Riott Squad' makes another statement; joins Monday Night RAW's women's division.
Former RAW Women's Champions Sasha Banks & Bayley's issues with one another reached its boiling point as the two long-time friends/rivals squared off in singles action during tonight's RAW. As both Banks & Bayley began to pick up the pace and take the fight to one another their match was put on hold as Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan, and Sarah Logan who together are known as the 'Riott Squadd' made their Monday Night RAW debuts which resembled the way they busted onto the scene of SmackDown Live's women's division last November.
* Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn are back on RAW.
At WrestleMania 34 Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn took on the team of Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon after months of back and forth and attacks between the two parties. The stakes of that bout were sky-high as Owens & Zayn's jobs were on the line and if they could not defeat the returning Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon, they would lose their spots on SmackDown Live. Owens & Zayn fail short to Bryan & Shane and the following night on RAW they showed up looking to find spots on a WWE roster. RAW GM Kurt Angle made it clear that he did not have room for both men and pitted them against one another in a match to earn a spot on RAW; which resulted in double count-out awarding neither man the contract.
Tonight during the WWE 'Superstar Shake-Up' Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn returned to RAW for a second week in a row, but this time around Kurt Angle could not send the two former NXT Champions packing as they came prepared with a handwritten letter from RAW commissioner Stephanie McMahon which was a confirmation letter that Zayn & Owens are officially a part of Monday Night RAW.
* The Miz will be moving back to SmackDown Live at the request of former GM Daniel Bryan.
Former 8-time WWE Intercontinental Champion The Miz was riding high as he proclaimed that along with 'The Miztourage' and Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn, that they were going to begin a takeover of RAW. The "A-Lister" was in for quite the surprise as Kurt Angle revealed that he spoke with the current SmackDown Live GM Paige and constructed a deal to send The Miz alone, not with Curtis Axel & Bo Dallas, to SmackDown Live and Miz's move came at the request of a familiar foe; former SmackDown Live GM Daniel Bryan.
* Zack Ryder to RAW.
Former WWE United States Champion Zack Ryder announced via social media that he was going to be bringing the "Woo" back to Monday night's.
* Breezango are already awarding fashion error tickets on their first night.
The flamboyant duo of Tyler Breeze & Fandango are wasting no time handing out fashion-error tickets as they had their first encounter as a part of the RAW brand with former four-time RAW Tag Team Champions Sheamus & Cesaro.
Breezango were a part of SmackDown Live where they normally hosted their 'Fashion Files' show. Breezango's last traditional tag team match was on the WWE 'Fastlane' PPV kickoff show.
* "The Queen Of Harts" brings the experience.
Former SmackDown Live Women's Champion Natalya was revealed as one of the newest additions to RAW's women's division by way of the 'Superstar Shake-Up'. Natalya made an appearance in GM Kurt Angle's office while he was speaking with Ronda Rousey, and Natalya made sure to reel "Rowdy" Ronda in as a potential ally as she begins her journey on the red-brand.
* Dolph Ziggler arrives to the red-brand with a "Sinister" ally by his side.
Former two-time World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler was the next superstar to be moved over to Monday Night RAW as part of night-one of the 2018 'Superstar Shake-Up'. As "The Showoff" was about to address the WWE Universe he was interrupted by "Titus Worldwide" who came out to the ring in hopes of recruiting Dolph Ziggler to the team. Ziggler stated that before he was rudely interrupted he was going to reveal that did not come to RAW alone…
"The Sinister Scotsman" Drew McIntyre made his main roster debut after months of rehabbing a torn bicep that he suffered at NXT TakeOver: War Games last November. The former NXT Champion has aligned himself with Dolph Ziggler as the two former WWE Intercontinental Champions look to establish dominance over a stacked RAW roster.
* Mojo Rawley is looking for a second chance at opportunity.
Mojo Rawley joined SmackDown Live in hopes of seeking an opportunity in "The Land Of Opportunity". Unfortunately for Mojo that opportunity never arrived as his tenure with the blue-brand did not live up to his expectations. Tonight, a video was published onto WWE's YouTube channel of Rawley proclaiming that he is going to capitalize on his chance as the newest member of the Monday Night RAW roster.
* "The Lone Wolf" has arrived.
Former WWE United States Champion Baron Corbin was announced as the next competitor to be joining the RAW roster.
Corbin is looking to bring the "End Of Days" over to the red-brand after a successful run on SmackDown Live.
* RAW just became "Glorious".
During the beginning portions of tonight's show a 10-man tag team match was announced as the main event and one of the ten competitors was dubbed a "mystery partner". That mystery partner turned out to be "The Glorious One" Bobby Roode who is fresh off of a WWE United States Title reign and has come to Monday night's to make things glorious.
* The "Power Of Love" has arrived to RAW.
Mike Kanellis' highly anticipated appearance at last summer's WWE 'Money In The Bank' PPV was one that resulted in high expectations for the former TNA X Division Champion. He would soon make his way onto the SmackDown Live roster but after a few months of being with the company Kanellis was left off WWE programming for months on end. Tonight, as a part of the 2nd annual WWE 'Superstar Shake-Up' "The Miracle" stated that he will be bringing the fight to Monday night's as the birth of his newborn baby girl has given him a new passion in life.
* Chad Gable looking to find his own way.
Although not announced during the broadcast, RAW gained a big-time player in former SmackDown Live Tag Team Champion Chad Gable. Gable teamed with Shelton Benjamin over on SD Live but now the duo have to find their own paths in singles competition as the Olympian Chad Gable is headed to Monday Night RAW.
* Could this move be the ascension of 'The Ascension'?
Konnor & Viktor of 'The Ascension' have found a new home within the sports-entertainment company. Coming off of their success in the NXT brand 'The Ascension' were having trouble finding their footing on WWE's main roster. Now, they have a clean slate as they have been moved to RAW as a package deal in the 2018 WWE 'Superstar Shake-Up'. Other than house shows and dark matches, the last time that Konnor & Viktor had traditional tag team match on WWE programming was in early February of this year.
