A lot of hype goes into the Superstar Shakeup. People switching shows are supposedly receiving new opportunities. It’s supposed to bring about new & exciting matchups to intrigue the WWE Universe.

I wondered if that’s actually true or not. So I decided to take a look back at last year’s Superstar Shakeup and grade how the people involved then fared on their new show over the past year. Should we really be excited? Or is this merely a bunch of hype that ultimately leads to nothing?

The 2017 Superstar Shake Up

From Smackdown to Raw

Apollo Crews: D

Amazing! Military Press…Standing Shooting Star! @WWEApollo #RAW pic.twitter.com/BZvbFUTVAB

— Brian The Guppie (@briantheguppie) February 28, 2018

Outside of some random Titus Worldwide wins over The Bar in January, Apollo hasn’t accomplished a whole lot of note during his year on Raw. He lost his last name for a couple of months but seems to have found it again. Crews has yet to really find his purpose since arriving on the WWE main roster & one wonders if he ever will.

The Miz & Maryse: B

As I sit at #WrestleMania, I can’t help but to think about my selfless wife. This time last year she was fighting by my side and now she’s at home taking care of our child. I hope tonight I can make you both as proud as I am of you two. pic.twitter.com/X7FsSCqZQO

— The Miz (@mikethemiz) April 8, 2018

Miz feels more at home on SmackDown Live to me & I’m glad he’s going back there. His run on Raw was highlighted by the formation of the Miztourage, but before that he was stuck in a forced marital drama with Maryse that nobody really bought into. They’re just too perfect together, amirite? He missed the main SummerSlam card as Intercontinental Champion. Miz rebounded towards the end of his run on Raw with his Mixed Match Challenge championship alongside Asuka & an IC title reclaiming victory over Roman Reigns on Raw 25.

He also became a father recently, explaining Maryse’s absence from his corner for most of the year. I’m hoping he does the Ricky Steamboat Family Man gimmick & has Maryse take Monroe Sky to ringside on a regular basis. Daniel Bryan/Birdie vs. Miz/Monroe has money written all over it.

Dean Ambrose: B

That feeling the next morning when you stay up all hours of the night to watch #WrestleMania #DeanAmbrose pic.twitter.com/lxTaQ3wQdh

— DA Gifs (@DAGifs_) April 9, 2018

Dean was having a really productive run on Raw until an injury put him out of action. His tag team with Seth Rollins leading to the reformation of the Shield was good business. He was advertised for upcoming Raw events in South Africa, though it seems like that was an oversight. He should be back in September, & hopefully he’ll still be aligned with Rollins & Reigns at that point. Given the hits Raw took to their roster this week though, maybe we’ll see Ambrose go back to his evil ways from back in the day.

Curt Hawkins: D

Last year I was completely against the #SuperstarShakeup …I didn’t want to go to Raw. But, it wound up being a great move. I’m going to embrace it this year. Whatever happens, happens. Either way I’ll give my best effort as always.

— Brian Myers (@TheCurtHawkins) April 11, 2018

Hawkins hasn’t won a match in a long time & doesn’t seem to be on his way to doing so anytime soon. If only he’d taken my advice.

Bray Wyatt: D+

@MATTHARDYBRAND ,

Who is this oracle @davemeltzerWON ???

And why does speak so poorly of me?

My allegiance to #HouseHardy is true

As long as I stay away from the creature that lives in the lake…

— Bray Wyatt (@WWEBrayWyatt) April 14, 2018

Bray spent most of the year doing things I couldn’t possibly care about. The Finn Balor feud was pretty painful to watch. The Matt Hardy feud started the same way, but I like how they’ve joined forces now. He also hooked up with JoJo to end his marriage, so there’s that.

Kalisto: D

….as only @KalistoWWE can. #205Live pic.twitter.com/w3nNLqvIQu

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 11, 2018

Once Kalisto got put on 205 Live where he belongs, he was more productive. He spent way too much time feuding with Braun Strowman & Apollo Crews early in his year. They were wanting him to be the next Rey Mysterio, but the charisma just isn’t there.

Heath Slater & Rhyno: D

Working!!!!!!! https://t.co/FSddZxE3vi

— Heath Slater (@HeathSlaterOMRB) March 11, 2018

The most memorable thing either of these guys did this year? Jonathan Coachman mistaking Bo Dallas for Rhyno.

Alexa Bliss: B

She's been a diehard @BlueJacketsNHL fan from the beginning and @AlexaBliss_WWE is stoked for the playoff run. #StanleyCup https://t.co/fg8jerq2BD

— NHL (@NHL) April 3, 2018

Alexa was Raw Women’s Champion for most of the year. She doesn’t quite make it up to A level for me. It didn’t feel like she did a heck of a lot even though she was champion. She went months without defending the title & spent most of her time avoiding Asuka in order to set up a showdown for the championship that never really happened. It was a solid year for Alexa, but could have been better with more activity.

Mickie James: B

So I think we can all agree, Mickie James is obviously drinking the blood of babies to continue to look this amazing. pic.twitter.com/KedGdvtCcW

— Larry T. Csonka (@LarryCsonka411) March 20, 2018

Mickie’s booking wasn’t the best this year. She broke up with Alexa towards the end of their run on SmackDown. Then she decides to be friends with her again a couple of months ago because…reasons? I won’t complain too much because…reasons.

From Raw to Smackdown

Jinder Mahal: A

… and that's why I should have been #1 on the Smackdown Live Top 10 Superstars List. #sdlive

— The Maharaja (@JinderMahal) February 14, 2018

I’m not on the Jinder bandwagon like one of my Chairshot brethren. I’ll give the devil his due though: out of all the people moved in last year’s Shakeup, Mahal made the most of the opportunity. He went from complete irrelevance on Raw to the most pushed guy on SmackDown. His matches left something to be desired, but he did get the type of crowd reactions they were hoping for. I’m not sure the move back to Raw will help his cause, but at least it gets him away from Randy Orton.

Kevin Owens: C

On the flip side, KO was supposed to be the main addition from Raw & got the most hype. He ended up having a mixed bag of a year. His Face of America gimmick got undercut by Mahal & Rusev also working foreign heel gimmicks at the same time. His feud with AJ Styles was disappointing from a workrate perspective & his drama with Shane McMahon outlived its welcome by a few months.

Most of Kevin’s highlights involved the next person on the list.

Sami Zayn: B+

Every time I hear Sami Zayn’s theme tune, I think of that podcast where Steve Austin talked about how much he loves it. Then I think of Stone Cold doing the Sami ska dance and giggle. pic.twitter.com/41ynd8u5Fm

— David J. McCutcheon (@ZoopSoul) April 17, 2018

Sami got off to a slow start, but finally found his groove after helping Kevin defeat Shane McMahon at Hell in a Cell. He became a complete toolbag afterwards & it was fantastic. Even if his SmackDown win-loss record wasn’t anything to write home about, he was able to find himself creatively. So it was a year well spent.

The Colons: D

Con un equipo así, quién no se siente patriota… ¡Gracias, @WWE_Primo y @WWEEpico! #WWESanJuan pic.twitter.com/QVYcaqZAXb

— WWE Puerto Rico (@WWEPUR) June 9, 2017

It looked like Primo & Epico were going to do something for a hot minute. The injury bug bit them pretty hard. They didn’t do much on the limited occasions they were healthy either.

Tamina: D

Happy Birthday to #SDLive's own @TaminaSnuka, who had a memorable @WWE debut alongside the @WWEUsos! pic.twitter.com/afEnnrYEBd

— WWE (@WWE) January 10, 2018

She beat Bayley & Nia Jax in the Survivor Series Women’s Elimination Match. Do you remember anything else she did?

Charlotte Flair: C

What can happen in 4 years?
Taking the throne @WrestleMania.
Literally. pic.twitter.com/amtvQvIbx3

— Triple H (@TripleH) April 12, 2018

Much like Alexa, Charlotte mainy suffered from a lack of competition. I feel she’s miscast in the face role, and like her father is a much more natural heel. She did get the big win over Asuka at WrestleMania & held the Women’s Championship for a good amount of time. SmackDown’s women’s division did well in this year’s Shakeup, so Charlotte should be more productive over the next twelve months.

Sin Cara: F

Hey…I was just about to say "Sin Cara's not dead!" – then Joe's music hit. #SDLive #UseYourHead #SendHelp

— Andrew Balaz (@IWCWarChief) April 18, 2018

Other than a brief feud with Baron Corbin, Sin Cara did absolutely nothing over the past twelve months. Probably for the best, honestly.

Rusev: B-

Bury me softly, Brother https://t.co/IWnBvL20Ez

— Rusev (@RusevBUL) April 11, 2018

The Bulgarian Brute certainly had an up & down year. He was originally expected to get the push that went to Jinder Mahal. After months of not doing much, he formed Rusev Day with Aiden English & improbably became one of WWE’s top merchandise sellers. I have no real idea of what to expect from him in the next 12 months. He could be WWE Champion. He could be out of the company. Neither would surprise me.

Lana: D

People might think that I'm not good enough to wrestle on #SDLive & don't deserve to be in that squared circle. I will continue to train every day! Because NO ONE will stop me from doing what I love & achieving my dreams. Always resiliently chase your dreams

— CJ (Lana) Perry (@LanaWWE) March 21, 2018

They tried to have Lana as a wrestler. That didn’t go well. Then she managed Tamina and that didn’t go over much better. Now she’s booking matches for Rusev in Saudi Arabia. They’ve had no real idea what to do with her since Donald Trump told Vince McMahon to stop using Vladimir Putin for heel heat. Which is a shame.

The New Day: C

North American champion ladder match is first!!!! I’m Big E eating popcorn hyped!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/3mLSEIwh5D

— ? (@_emaleeee) April 7, 2018

I feel like Xavier, Kofi & Big E have kind of run out of useful things to do together. But then you see the merchandise in the stands and you realize they can’t really split these guys up. They’re a good mid-card act to get the crowd hyped, which is something every show needs.

So what have we learned? Nothing we didn’t already know. The Superstar Shakeup can bring about great opportunity for a select few. For most, it’s a mostly pointless jump to alleged new scenery. Most of the people involved in this week’s Shakeup won’t see a great difference in their status due to their new address. A couple will.