WWE’s brand split is often a topic of debate. Does WWE adhere to it as strictly as it should? Should it even exist? Well one thing is for sure, just because you’re on one brand doesn’t mean you won’t get shifted to another.
As such, we’ve compiled a list, that we’ll be updating every time it happens, of every WWE star who has changed brands in the year of 2020! We’ve also included the date they were moved, which brands they were moved from and to, and any extra details.
Riddick Moss
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: January 27
Details: Debuted as then-24/7 Champion Mojo Rawley’s backup before turning on him and winning the title himself
Angel Garza
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: February 3
Details: Brought in as Zelina Vega’s new client when Andrade was suspended, move became permanent
Shayna Baszler
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: February 10
Details: Targeted Becky Lynch and went on to challenge her for the Raw Women’s Title at WrestleMania
Mojo Rawley
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: March 13
Details: Moved to be alongside real-life best friend Rob Gronkowski who left the company soon after
Austin Theory
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: March 30
Details: Replacement for injured Andrade as Angel Garza’s tag team partner at WrestleMania, move then became permanent
Bianca Belair
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: April 6
Details: Debuted aligning with the Street Profits with real life husband Montez Ford
Apollo Crews
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: April 6
Details: Wasn’t being used on SmackDown, Paul Heyman (Raw executive director at the time) saw potential in him, went on to win US Title
The Forgotten Sons – Steve Cutler, Jaxson Ryker & Wesley Blake
From: NXT
To: SmackDown
Date: April 10
Details: Called up after WrestleMania but soon pulled from TV due to controversial social media posts from Ryker during Black Lives Matter movement
AJ Styles
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: May 22
Details: Reportedly fell out with Paul Heyman (Raw executive director at the time) resulting in being moved as part of the Intercontinental Title tournament, which he won
Matt Riddle
From: NXT
To: SmackDown
Date: June 19
Details: Debuted by crashing AJ Styles’ Intercontinental Championship celebration then beating him in a non-title match
Dolph Ziggler
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: June 22
Details: Lack of credible challengers for WWE Champion Drew McIntyre resulted in Ziggler being switched
Robert Roode
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: June 22
Details: Was inactive during the COVID-19 pandemic but was moved with Dolph Ziggler being his tag team partner
Mustafa Ali
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: July 20
Details: Hadn’t been used on SmackDown for several months, was rumoured to be ‘SmackDown hacker’ but the angle was dropped
Ridge Holland
From: NXT UK
To: NXT
Date: July 29
Details: Debuted in the North American Title three-way series
Keith Lee
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: August 24
Details: Debuted by cutting off Randy Orton, but lost debut match by DQ due to Drew McIntyre interference
Austin Theory
From: Raw
To: NXT
Date: August 26
Details: Exact reason unknown but came after he had been pulled from Raw TV months earlier following sexual misconduct allegations had been made against him
Mandy Rose
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: September 12
Details: Reason unknown, was announced out of nowhere by The Miz on Talking Smack
RETRIBUTION
From: NXT
To: Raw
Date: September 21
Details: All five members were completely rebranded as a new faction for the main roster after separate time in NXT. They had appeared before this date but this is when they ‘unmasked’ themselves and were properly revealed
Dana Brooke
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: September 28
Details: Switched brands to form a new tag team with Mandy Rose
Toni Storm
From: NXT UK
To: NXT
Date: October 4
Details: Announced the switch via video during TakeOver 31 following conclusion of Women’s Title match
Ember Moon
From: SmackDown
To: NXT
Date: October 4
Details: Arrived at TakeOver on a motorcycle after weeks of mysterious videos
Mercedes Martinez (RETALIATION)
From: Raw
To: NXT
Date: October 9
Details: Removed as member of RETRIBUTION and moved back to NXT only weeks after emerging as a member of the group
Seth Rollins
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
AJ Styles
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Naomi
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Bianca Belair
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Dominik & Rey Mysterio
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
The Miz & John Morrison
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods
Pictured left & right
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 9
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Murphy
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 10
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Drew Gulak
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 10
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Tucker
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 10
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
“The Fiend” Bray Wyatt
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Street Profits
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Braun Strowman
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Matt Riddle
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Kevin Owens
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Jeff Hardy
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Alexa Bliss
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Elias
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Lacey Evans
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Sheamus
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Nikki Cross
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Apollo Crews
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Aleister Black
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Natalya
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Riott Squad
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Billie Kay
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Zelina Vega
From: Raw
To: SmackDown
Date: October 12
Details: Moved as part of WWE Draft
Arturo Ruas
From: Raw
To: NXT
Date: October 18
Details: Moved back to NXT after Raw Underground was scrapped
Jaxson Ryker
From: SmackDown
To: Raw
Date: December 14
Details: Brought back to TV as Elias’ ally after being off TV for several months due to comments made during the Black Lives Matter movement
4 years ago by Liam Winnard
Trending
- WWE Star Declares Himself ‘Better Than The Undertaker’
- Former AEW Star ‘Speaking’ With WWE
- Netflix Announces Significant Change Ahead Of WWE Raw Deal
- AEW Name Reacts To WWE Abandoning ‘Sports Entertainment’
- WWE Star Undergoes Surgery Following Injury
- Former WWE Name To Work With AEW
- Former WWE Stars Make Surprise Debut In Unique Promotion
- Big Change To AEW Championships Confirmed
- WWE Star Shares Emotional Message To ‘Bigger Kids’
- WWE Names Behind Sheamus’ In-Ring Return Revealed
mailing list