WWE: Redrafting Raw and SmackDown’s 2016 Brand Split

WWE.com

35. SmackDown – Kalisto

Kalisto had the best run of his singles career in early 2016. Then came Rusev, an injury, and Baron Corbin, which cemented his spot in the directionless part of the mid-card.

The Lucha Dragon hasn’t exactly been an insignificant part of SmackDown, as he had a pay-per-view match at TLC. There’s just not much potential there after failed trips on the microphone and a lack of character development. At No. 35, he’ll provide pretty much the same thing he gives the Tuesday night show already—depth.

36. Raw – The Usos

The Usos were as stale as any tag team in the spring. They were teamed with Roman Reigns, which turned them into heat-seeking missiles as babyfaces. Unlike Reigns, WWE chose to make Jimmy and Jey heels shortly into the WWE brand split.

At first, the Usos looked set for a tag team title reign. They entered multiple matches with Heath Slater and Rhyno, having the momentum every time. Each bout would result in a loss and send the Samoan twins to the back of the pack in the title scene.

On Raw, these two would continue to provide depth, but likely not reach titleholder status. There’s little momentum for them in January 2017, unless something drastically changes heading into WrestleMania 33 season.