What if Elias replaces Roman Reigns as the face of Raw?

2. Division of styles between brands

The differences between Raw and SmackDown may only intensify with a big push for Elias.

During the original WWE brand split, the general consensus was that SmackDown was more of the worker’s brand for hardcore fans, featuring the better in-ring action, whereas Raw was more of the entertainment brand with bigger names but less exceptional actual matches.

Whether it was by conscious design, or simply the way things played out, that dynamic has repeated itself with the current brand split. One need look no further than the respective shows’ world title scenes, where AJ Styles has stood tall as quite arguably the best worker in WWE working opposite talents like Shinsuke Nakamura, Samoa Joe, and Daniel Bryan, Raw has been headlined by the likes of Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and Braun Strowman—not bad talents, but quite arguably “more sizzle than steak.”

Elias isn’t a huge star yet but he has the potential to become one. If he does so, it won’t be on the grounds that someone like Chad Gable or Mustafa Ali conceivably could as a standout worker. On the contrary, while Elias is competent in the ring, his star power is far more rooted in his charisma and mic skills. If he’s pushed on top, it will further establish Raw as the more entertainment-oriented brand.