Smackdown is the best built Brand for the phase of Next-Gen Superstars that'll need to step up. Raw, whether people want to see it that way or not, is going to be hurting badly in a month's time.
Rumors are Triple H will be returning after Judgment Day, by way of House Shows. If this is true, he'd likely return at Judgment Day to continue his program with Orton, or begin a new one with Batista. Either way, I look for Shawn Michaels to return soon to feud with Orton as well.
The only up-starts Raw has that can come into play by filling in the pieces are going to be the following:
M.V.P: Already beginning to take full effect it seems. M.V.P is likely going to drop the United States Championship soon, but not for a bad reason.. instead, so he can jump up in the Main Event scene and begin a feud with either Orton, Legacy, or Batista.
My guess is he can drop the Championship to someone like THE Brian Kendrick, Miz, or possibly even Regal. (but I'd hope not the latter) Porter has all the talent, in-ring and mic-skills to become the next Heavyweight Champion. And by all the signs, it looks like this will happen within a year's time. Maybe not on Raw, but then again, who knows.
Either way, M.V.P is every bit of what his name says he is.. currently, He's Raw's best hope for leading the next group of Superstars looking to step up in a time when they need some new Main Eventers the most.
Kofi Kingston: Kingston has quietly been on a push. He began in E.C.W with an undefeated streak that was quietly ended by Shelton Benjamin. This lead to a really good feud between the two of them.
Kingston came to Raw and won the Intercontinental Championship, again rather quietly, only to drop it without even losing to begin with. He was meant to be in the Elimination Chamber, but as Edge took his place it never panned out. Kingston is the stereo-typical Main Event prospect.
He's always getting quiet pushes to the top spot, but never getting the spotlight pushes to make people remember them. I think Kingston has all the in-ring talent and ability, but he doesn't talk much. He has a good look, but not the look of a Main Event "big man". I firmly believe Kingston & Miz can feud (quietly or not) over the United States title, should Miz gain it.
The Miz: Miz is currently making himself the W.C.W version of Chris Jericho. He's unofficially claiming to hold a 2-0 win streak against Cena.. which is similar to Jericho's streak against Goldberg.
Miz has the mouth to be a Champion, but his in-ring skills might still need some tune-ups. Currently, Miz is one of, if not THE best mid-carder they have. That's saying a lot, considering I believe Matt Hardy and Kingston are mid-carders.
Smackdown on the other hand has a great installment of talent. I won't say much on them, but the ones I believe are going to strive not just on Smackdown, but overall for the future will be:
C.M. Punk: Punk is the main guy out of everyone whos been pushed, dropped, repushed, hurt, tarnished, and repushed.. he's been through shit everywhere in the past two years and yet people still love him. He's here to stay, regardless what anyone thinks.
This coming from one of the biggest Punk "haters" there is.. Punk is a very important piece to the future of this Company, and Smackdown is his last opportunity to make the most of becoming a Main Eventer.
Jericho, Edge & Mysterio are all key pieces in the puzzle that is Punk's rise (or fall) to the top spot. If Punk can't work with those three individuals, then he truly is a failure and doesn't need anymore pushes.. nor a spot on television. While I may dislike Punk, I don't think he's a failure. I just think they need to discover his strengths from his weaknesses a bit better.
John Morrison: I've been huge on Morrison since his days as "Johnny (don't call me Monday) Nitro". Of course I never thought he'd be anything until the days of M.N.M., especially when he broke away w/ Melina and became a nice Intercontinental Champion.
Morrison has great in-ring ability, and looks like a version of Jericho and Shawn Michaels. Mix this with the fact that he has a ton of charisma, and he's a cornerstone for the future. His downfall is not having any type of "persona". He's constantly jumping from name to name, never knowing which to stick with. He needs to stay with Morrison, or find something permanent.
He's already had some great matches with Main Eventers like Cena & Shawn Michaels. He just needs better direction.
Finally, E.C.W doesn't need to hold a lot of hope for the future, because their entire Brand is one big list of new comers who're instant contenders.
Jack Swagger, Tyson Kidd, Christian & Evan Bourne are all the future for that Brand.. and they'll make it work.
