Grading the SmackDown roster following WrestleMania 37

#4 Apollo Crews and Big E have featured atop the SmackDown mid-card

Crews and Big E have had a heated rivalry over the Intercontinental title.

While the main event scene of both RAW and SmackDown features the top stars of WWE, it can be argued that the mid-card is just as important. Sometimes, the mid-card sees a star move up to challenge for a title.

The mid-card also allows a main-event star to drop out of the title picture for a while so that they can help build other stars. Cesaro is the latest superstar from the mid-card to get a shot at the main event. Long a tag team specialist, the Swiss Superman will likely get a shot at Roman Reigns after Daniel Bryan gets one more shot.

Since Apollo Crews is the new Intercontinental Champion, it would have made sense for the former Champion Big E to move up. He will, but it will likely take place later in the year when Reigns needs more challengers.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are also both former Intercontinental titleholders and can carry any feud. Even when they are against each other, the result is almost always entertaining.

How did @WWEApollo kick out of that?!?!#SmackDown #ICTitle @FightOwensFight pic.twitter.com/ucxvnTD8uP

— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2021

After dropping his belt to Crews, Big E could eventually be the latest mid-card star to finally move up to the SmackDown main event scene. This must be part of the reason why the New Day was separated in the 2020 WWE Draft. If Big E's eventual rise didn't factor into the decision, it would be strange.

The rest of the SmackDown mid-card is in good shape. Not every star, however, has received the chance to shine. Cesaro, Zayn, Owens, and Crews have been heavily featured in 2021. Shinsuke Nakamura had a brief shot and was the last person eliminated in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. The winner, Jey Uso, has also been solid in the mid-card.

King Corbin has been moved back-and-forth between the main event and the middle of the brand, but hasn't been on SmackDown following WrestleMania. The extremely talented Murphy has also been off of the blue brand for a while despite his skill. He was brought back for a random appearance in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal.

Let’s cut the weeds, sing our songs and let me tell you a story riddled in sins. You will know me, you will know him. You will dance with me in the abyss. pic.twitter.com/1nNxmvNjk7

— Devil's Blood (@WWEAleister) April 24, 2021

The same would have been said about Aleister Black, but a vignette featuring the Dutch Destroyer aired on the latest SmackDown. Overall, the mid-card on the blue brand is in solid shape.

Grade: A-