SmackDown Live Superstar Shake-Up Review

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WrestleMania is behind us. The SmackDown Live After Mania is behind us. Day One of the Superstar Shake-Up is behind us. Now we can move forward on the Blue Brand with building new storylines for next years’ Showcase of the Immortals. SmackDown Live was the stage for the second night of this year’s Superstar Shake-Up.

WWE already teased a big “acquisition” for SmackDown on WWE.com:

After an exciting first night of the 2019 Superstar Shake-up, things are only going to get crazier tonight on SmackDown LIVE. WWE Chairman Mr. McMahon has promised to reveal the biggest acquisition in SmackDown LIVE history tonight. What major name will be joining Team Blue?

 The show opened up with a recap from RAW just in case you thought you were living through a fever dream, The Viking Experience is still a thing that happened. Following that recap, the Montreal crowd just about lost their minds when Face Kevin Owens walked out for his in-ring talk show, The Kevin Owens Show. Kofi Kingston was his guest along with Xavier Woods. KO made his case to join The New Day in the place of an injured Big E. Meanwhile, Cesaro teamed up with Rusev, Nakamura and Cesaro for a 6-Man Tag Match against The New New Day.

Finn Balor

The Intercontinental Champion has made the move to SmackDown Live and I couldn’t be happier about it. Finn Balor made his debut against Mustafa Ali which is a match I didn’t know I wanted to see. Ali’s music hit and I was like, “Holy crap! This is a dream match for me!”

Finn needed a change of scenery. He needed to get away from the slower paced behemoths on RAW. I really would love to see a Heel Balor some time soon. No more popping collars and smiling it up to the crowd, please. One can dream, right?

I guess this means the rumors were true that Samoa Joe is off to RAW and was supposed to face off against Braun last night. Joe was left off both shows due to illness. Get well soon, Joe.

Lars Sullivan?

I thought he was on RAW? Color me confused. Lars was announced on WWE.com as a RAW acquisition. What the heck are the rules to this thing? Why isn’t the commentary saying anything about this? This makes no sense.

Anyway, he laid out R-Truth and slowly walked towards Carmella like a creep. It felt very much like the Kane and Lita storyline from back in the day. I’m over him already. Was really hoping Braun would’ve come out, chased him off and made his SmackDown debut.

Ember Moon

Oh, hell yes! Ember’s one hell of a talent. Honestly, I forgot which brand she was on. She walked right out and challenged Becky 2 Belts for the SmackDown Live Women’s Championship right before things got complicated.

Bayley

Huh… Bayley’s on SmackDown Live and… she got booed. She mentioned Sasha and even bigger boos were heard. She, too, said she was coming for Becky’s SmackDown Live Women’s Title.

Bayley also said she’s no longer a hugger. She left all her hugs back at RAW. Whatever that means.

Kairi Sane

Paige here!

On last week’s SmackDown, Paige said she was bringing her new tag team to challenge the IIconics. I was hoping it would’ve been the Sky Pirates, but it looks like Io Shirai will stay down in NXT and Kairi Sane will move on up to the main roster. Kairi is now partnered up with Asuka and Paige is their manager.

After all that… Ember Moon ended up being Sasha Banks’ stunt double teaming up with Bayley along with Sane and Asuka against The IIconics and Fire and Desire with Sane getting the win for her team by going over Peyton Royce.

Buddy Murphy

Yes and thank you!

Announced via video package – former Cruiserweight Champion, Buddy Murphy is headed to SmackDown Live. Buddy Murphy is absolutely fantastic. CANNOT WAIT to see him go up against the likes of Finn Balor, Daniel Bryan and Kofi Kingston!

Elias

Hello, I am Elias.

Vince McMahon came out and announced Elias as the biggest acquisition ever for SmackDown Live.

I am prepared to be swerved. Looks at the clock. Hurry up, please? This can’t possibly be the big announcement, right?

Roman Reigns

Yup. Elias was all a set up for Roman. Reigns was a bit out of place on RAW following the dissolution of The Shield. He couldn’t have possibly feuded with a face Seth Rollins. It’ll be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Reigns hit Elias and Vince with Superman punches. Roman speared Elias after he declared SmackDown Live to be his yard now.

So, that ends Day Two of this year’s Superstar Shake-Up. As of this writing, these are the names of the superstars that have moved from RAW, NXT or 205 Live over to SmackDown Live.

What did you think of this year’s post-Mania Superstar Shake-Up? Let us know in the comments below.