Knee-jerk reactions to the post-Shakeup Raw and SmackDown Women’s divisions

Before we dive in to any analysis, here’s a look at each brand’s division post-Superstar Shakeup...

Raw

Alexa Bliss*
Alicia Fox*
Bayley*
Dana Brooke
Ember Moon
Liv Morgan
Mickie James*
Natalya*
Nia Jax*
Ronda Rousey
Ruby Riott
Sarah Logan
Sasha Banks*

Also listed: Maryse, Stephanie McMahon

SmackDown

Asuka
Becky Lynch*
Billie Kay
Carmella*
Charlotte Flair*
Lana
Mandy Rose
Naomi*
Peyton Royce
Sonya Deville
Tamina
Zelina Vega

Also listed: Maria Kanellis, Nikki Bella, Paige

* Former main roster champions

• At a glance, this is the best balancing act they managed. Raw has an edge in former champs, but their lead consists of a couple stars who don’t figure to regain the belt (except in a possible “career achievement”/”victory lap” kind of way) in Mickie and Foxy, and SmackDown has a just-waiting-to-happen titleholder in The Empress of Tomorrow.
• Future stars are pretty balanced, too. I’d give Mondays a workrate advantage - more because I’m high on Ruby and Sarah as in-ring performers than anything else, where Tuesdays are getting a personality boost from The IIconics.
• Not that Peyton and Billlie are slouches, and Team Blue gets a very useful utility player-type in Andrade Almas’ business associate.
• Story-wise, they’ve chosen to preserve all the friends-turned-rivals possibilities, and even set one up for Ronda with Natty.

Overall, I don’t see a loser here. There are differences, sure, and Raw has what I think are the bigger drawing feuds in McMahon/Rousey and Banks/Bayley, but there’s no reason both shows shouldn’t have entertaining women’s wrestling over the coming year.

Let us know what you think, Cagesiders! And don’t forget to chime in on the post-Shakeup tag division here and men’s scene here.