After hitting the lowest points in the company's history of television ratings, WWE had to improve the product. The Chairman of the company, Vince McMahon, was then advertised to make an appearance on RAW in order to shake things up.
Among the changes promised by the chairman and his family was the arrival of new faces on the main roster: four singles competitors, and a tag team unit from NXT.
These new signings are Nikki Cross, Lacey Evans, EC3, Lars Sullivan, and the tag team of Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight, Heavy Machinery. Each of them are exciting prospects, regardless of whichever brand they go to.
But considering the state of each brand, they must be carefully placed so they don't get lost in the shuffle, like numerous other NXT call-ups before them.
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#5 Heavy Machinery (RAW)
Lets just look at the tag team division of SmackDown for a moment; we have The Bar as the champions, with major teams like The Usos and The New Day always in line for the top spot.
And after the changes promised by the McMahons, the tag division seems to have new life, with the Good Brothers and Sanity entering the fray. With these five teams competing on the brand, the SmackDown tag division is in safe hands.
Compare this to RAW.
Rhyno was fired, Matt Hardy retired, The B Team is again irrelevant, and Lucha House Party are heels in face skins (who haven't firmly set themselves on the main roster).
Despite the talents involved, the team of Roode and Gable are just place holders until one of them turns on the other, but that's just my opinion though. The Revival and Authors of Pain are the only hope for RAW's tag division.
Heavy Machinery's inclusion in the division would be mutually beneficial for both the team, as well as the brand.
On RAW, Heavy Machinery would get ample opportunity to cement themselves as the top team, at the same time, their fun in ring style gels well with RAW's entertainment factor.
#4 Nikki Cross (SmackDown)
Technically Nikki Cross has already had a match on SmackDown against former Women's Champion Becky Lynch. Her move to the blue brand also means a reunion with Sanity, and the stable really needs their unstable sister to have an edge over others.
On her run in the women's division, SmackDown would prove to be a much better place for her title aspirations. Becky Lynch and Charlotte would probably move to RAW, for the title. Even if Charlotte stays to compete against Asuka, Nikki Cross could be a future contender, with all her experience in NXT.
Overall, the RAW women's division is packed with female superstars who could be in the title picture, which gives SmackDown a chance to insert new blood like Nikki Cross in the title picture.
She could reignite her feud with Asuka, but this time for the SmackDown Women's Championship.
#3 Lacey Evans (RAW)
Lacey Evans made her mark in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, where she reached the second round. Later she became a part of the NXT roster and feuded with the likes of Kairi Sane, Dakota Kai, and Candice LeRae. She is still fairly new in WWE, and has to build herself up from the bottom.
She is a former US Marine, and member of the Marine Corps Special Reaction Team, roughly equivalent to a civilian SWAT team, which transcends into her Lady Like gimmick.
For her individual growth, RAW would be a better roster to join. With opponents like Bayley, Sasha Banks, Natalya, and Ember Moon, Evans would find footing to establish herself on the main roster.
She would most probably be a heel when she settles down, but we could still see a clash against the #Facebreaker during her initial outing.
#2 Lars Sullivan (SmackDown)
Lars Sullivan is the archetypal superstar for which "the Land of Giants" is famous for. He has the look and the build to immediately make an impact on the flagship brand as a main event talent. But why is SmackDown better for Lars Sullivan?
For one, RAW is filled with monster heels at the moment, with Brock Lesnar, Drew McIntyre, and Bobby Lashley all present on the red brand. Beside them, there is Baron Corbin and Authors of Pain.
Comparing this to SmackDown, there's only Samoa Joe, with Killian Dain making only sporadic appearances, and Big Show probably done with in-ring work..
SmackDown would be the perfect place for Lars to start off his dominant run on the main roster. A feud with Rusev for the US title could do wonders for him, and WWE could give him a run with the title before entering him into the main title scene.
#1 EC3 (RAW)
EC3's first stint in the company doesn't boast much credibility to be discussed, and he mostly came into the limelight due to his run with TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, where he portrayed the role of IMPACT's President Dixie Carter's spoiled nephew.
He became a two time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, and one time IMPACT Grand Champion.
His NXT resume is quite thin, and it didn't seem like he would be featured in the NXT title picture anytime soon, which could have been the reason for his call up.
Coming back to the selection of brand, EC3 is a fit for both brands, but RAW at the moment needs EC3 more than SmackDown.
EC3 is filled to the brim with charisma, and has the mic skills and technical acumen in the ring to back himself up, which RAW is in need of for its mid card and upper mid card.