7 WWE Superstars who joined RAW in 2016 and have never switched brands ever since

Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman have been the cornerstones of RAW
Seth Rollins and Braun Strowman have been the cornerstones of RAW

Vince McMahon decided to split up the roster into two weekly shows, RAW and SmackDown Live in mid-2016 as the ratings for the 'B' show were dropping at an alarming rate. The Creative team decided to change the structure of SmackDown. They transformed the show from a taped show to a live one.

Earlier, fans used to read the spoilers of the SmackDown episode and thus, not many tuned in to watch the show. The brand extension took place in July 2016 as WWE kicked off its new era with the Draft Lottery.

Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley tried their best to assemble a good roster for the flagship show. They picked the likes of Roman Reigns, Finn Balor and Charlotte Flair, amongst others, in the draft. However, since the inception of the Superstar Shakeup, a lot of RAW stars moved over to SmackDown Live.

Also Read: The roster on the first RAW after the 2016 brand split: Where are they now?

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In this article, we will have a look at the 7 Superstars who became a part of the red brand in the inaugural draft and have never left the roster until now.


#7 Titus O' Neil

Titus O' Neil became the first ever 24/7 champion last week
Titus O' Neil became the first ever 24/7 champion last week

Titus O' Neil has been one of the most prominent members of the WWE. Not only does the wrestler battle inside the squared circle but he's also present at all the public events of WWE. O'Neil has been with the company for a long time and he has seen a lot of ups and downs in his career.

He is primarily an under-card Superstar who only wrestles in multi-man matches on pay-per-views but recently, Titus won the 24/7 Championship on RAW. Even though the Pancake Patterson lost the title in seconds, he will always be remembered as the first ever 24/7 champion.

Also Read: WWE RAW : 3 reasons why Lacey Evans can become the next 24/7 Champion

#6 Sasha Banks

Sasha Banks is still officially a member of RAW
Sasha Banks is still officially a member of RAW

The Boss won the RAW Women's Championship on the first ever episode of RAW after the 2016 brand split. She continued to be one of the top female Superstars of the company for a while before Ronda Rousey entered the picture. Banks was relegated to the lower mid-card of the female division but, she managed to become the first-ever WWE Women's Tag Team Champion, along with Bayley.

However, WWE messed up their title reign which upset Sasha Banks. She has been on a hiatus ever since she lost the Tag Team Title at WrestleMania 35.

Watch: 10 WWE Superstars who allegedly asked for their release in 2019

Apart from this recent controversy, Banks had a highly successful career on the flagship show. She won the RAW Women's Championship on multiple occasions and she even took part in the first-ever women's Hell In A Cell match, Royal Rumble match, Elimination Chamber match as well as Ironman match.

#5 Nia Jax

Nia Jax has been the Irresistible Force of the RAW women's division
Nia Jax has been the Irresistible Force of the RAW women's division

Nia Jax was one of the many NXT Superstars who made their way to the main roster during the WWE Draft. Jax joined the RAW roster in 2016 and has been a major part of the division ever since. She went on to win the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 34. Besides, her constant heel/face turns has forced the WWE Universe to compare her character with the Big Show's.

The Wrecking Ball with a Million Dollar Smile kicked off her journey with matches against random jobbers. She was built as the mega-heel of the women's division yet she did not become as successful as she should have been.

Jax was involved in a love angle with Enzo Amore in 2017-18, a storyline which ruined Nia Jax's character. The former RAW women's champion is currently off TV because of an injury.

Also Read: 4 Storylines that could have amused the WWE Universe in 2018

#4 Seth Rollins

The Undisputed King Slayer & Beast Slayer
The Undisputed King Slayer & Beast Slayer

Seth Rollins was the first draft pick of Monday Night RAW in the 2016 draft. Hence, it should not surprise many that Rollins has not left the flagship show yet. His Shield-brother Roman Reigns too had stayed on RAW for quite a while before he moved to SmackDown Live this year.

Rollins has feuded with every top star on the 'A' show. He has battled with the likes of Finn Balor, Elias, The Miz, Roman Reigns, John Cena, Braun Strowman, Brock Lesnar, Dean Ambrose, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Chris Jericho, Jinder Mahal, Mojo Rawley and Bray Wyatt during his stay on RAW.

He had a stellar reign as the Intercontinental Champion of the red brand and the Kingslayer is currently the Universal Champion of the show. The Beast Slayer is undoubtedly the biggest babyface of the company and thus, he deserves to be a part of the premier show.

Also Read: 5 Things that should happen in WWE in 2019 and 5 that should not

#3 Braun Strowman

Braun Strowman has never won the Universal Championship
Braun Strowman has never won the Universal Championship

Perhaps, one of the most under-utilized Superstars of the company, Braun Strowman has been on the red brand since the brand split. Just like Nia Jax, he started off his career with many squash matches against random local jobbers. He then had his first feud with Sami Zayn.

Though Braun was always portrayed as the Monster Amongst Men, he has never been pushed like a true monster. The Mountain of a Man is yet to win a singles title on RAW. His only title victory came at WrestleMania 34, where he won the RAW Tag Team Championships with Nicholas.

Also Read: 4 unnoticed similarities between WrestleMania 34 and WrestleMania 35

The former member of the Wyatt Family has won the Greatest Royal Rumble match, the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal but when it comes to capturing the Universal Championship the Monster becomes an ordinary man.

#2 Brock Lesnar

Nobody can deny that this guy is an entertainer
Nobody can deny that this guy is an entertainer

While a majority of the WWE Universe believes that Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins are the biggest stars of RAW after the reintroduction of the brand split, Vince McMahon has instead pushed Brock Lesnar more than Reigns or Rollins. The Beast Incarnate is the most vicious heel (or perhaps was) on RAW.

He is the only Superstar to have won the Universal Championship twice. The Conqueror's first reign lasted a record 500+ days before he lost the title to Roman Reigns at SummerSlam in 2018. However, it took only 2 months for The Mayor of Suplex City to regain the Universal Championship.

Lesnar has feuded with Samoa Joe, Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Goldberg, Roman Reigns and Braun Strowman in the last 3 years.

Though Brock has never moved to SmackDown Live in the Superstar Shakeup, it is highly expected that the Beast will make the blue brand his home after SmackDown moves to FOX.

Also Read: 10 most underwhelming finishing moves in WWE

#1 Dana Brooke

The most surprising name on this list
The most surprising name on this list

It isn't that surprising to see someone like Brock Lesnar or Seth Rollins retaining his position on the flagship show for 3 consecutive years, but it is indeed very surprising to notice that WWE has never moved a lower-card superstar like Dana Brooke to SmackDown Live.

I am not saying that Brooke does not deserve to be on RAW but the fact is SmackDown would have offered her more opportunities than she has received on RAW. After all, SmackDown is the 'Land of Opportunities!'

We have seen Superstars like Becky Lynch, Naomi, Jinder Mahal, Kofi Kingston and many more become stars on SmackDown. Brooke has been very unlucky not to have been a part of the 'B' show after the brand split. Thus, these are the 7 Superstars who joined RAW in 2016 and have never changed brands since.

Also Read: 5 superstars who joined SmackDown Live in 2016 and have never changed brands since

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Edited by Israel Lutete
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