Why Can't Everyone Make The Jump?

[Super Crazy]

I was thinking about this after Raw on Monday and how come Batista can just decide to jump to Smackdown without any trades or drafts and what not? This is just another way of showing that the brands really aren't as divided as they once were. In my eyes this is a good thing but that is for another thread/post at another time.

One would think with the WWE Draft and with trades and such that superstars could not just jump to a different brand of their choosing. You would think that Batista would not be allowed to just jump to Smackdown. But then again there is no GM on Raw so who is really going to stop him?

I'll make an example here. Let's say DX saw that the Hart Dynasty were turning into real arrogant and cocky up and comers like Legacy and wanted to shut them up. If Raw has no GM does that mean that DX could just jump over to Smackdown and give everyone the feud they want to see happen after Legacy? I most certainly think not.

My point here is that if Batista can jump to another show why can't anyone else? Let's say Randy Orton no longer felt the need to be on Raw. Would he too be allowed to just make the jump over to another brand just because he wanted to?

I know this is the WWE's way of sending more stars to Smackdown with Edge and Jeff gone. I always thought that if this were to happen though that they would just book JeriShow to drop the belts and have Jericho go back to being in the world title/main event scene on Smackdown.

I know this is the point where everyone says " Just build up more Main Eventers!! Get Morrison and MVP in the the title hunt !! " While I may agree it is time for new main eventers to rise to the occasion this is neither the time nor the thread to go on about this in.

If superstars can just jump to a new brand could Christian just say that he is done with ECW and walk off and leave it with no real major face to rule the brand and head to Smackdown? Could the Undertaker say he is tired of Smackdown and head to Raw? So what are your thoughts on this? Do you think it is fair for superstars to just be able to up and leave the brand they are on without a trade or a draft? Do you feel there is another way they could boost Smackdown's ratings without changing current storylines?

 

[angry_panda]

I'll use a term banded around this forum often...."Kayfabe is Dead"

Sure if he really wanted too the "character" of Christian could decide he wanted to ask his GM if he could jump to Smackdown, and said GM could let him if he wanted to (The same way Matt Hardy did when Christian first came to ECW), but Christian the “Character” is a tool of the writers, he is a fictional creation/an alter ego, what ever you wanna call him.

However could the "Performer" Jason Reso, decide he wanted to ply his trade on Smackdown because he felt he was too good for ECW, simply....no.

The writers can jump characters about however they want......they should stick to the brand extension and draft, in a kayfabe sense. But if they are fine with stepping around kayfabe and covering it with a weak story (asking the guest GM…pfft rubbish) well, its their show, so who can argue.

 

[johnbragg]

Right now it's a plot hole. Hopefully, they will create some sort of storyline explanation.

I don't think that Batista said that Trish let him jump ship, just that Trish let him have one last match on RAW. Also, Batista's promo was about how he was at least somewhat sad to leave the "RAW fans".

Now, the storyline explanation could be a simple and empty as "'Cause Vince said so. Ask him why. He's the boss and the guy who signs the checks." That would hurt the brand split a little bit, but be consistent with the capricious Mr. McMahon character.

 

[tLight]

I think with Batista jumping to Smackdown, it didn't really matter, because no one gives a shit about Batista on Raw, and he was only in the way of real stars with real talent so moving him back to Smackdown which is where he became popular isn't really a surprise.

As far as Christian moving to a different brand, its the same type of situation, he's worthless where he is, and will be worthless if moved. He much like Batista bring nothing worthwhile or meaningful to the WWE.


Jumping brands has taken place so many times this year its not a surprise anymore. Thats how Triple H ended up on Raw earlier this year, just to continue in his feud with Orton. Matt Hardy has been on every brand this year, started on ECW as the Champ, moved to Smackdown to feud with Jeff, got drafted to Raw, only to be Drafted back to Smackdown.

The brands still matter, but when you have a staff that cant write a show, or book the show then you have to find easy ways of moving people around to fill gaps and replace people who who go out with injury's or wellness policy violations.

 

[King Patrick Star]

I agree. The Brand Split should be honored. Batista should NOT have been allowed to just jump ship. At the very least, they should have done some kind of three way trade. The way I would have gone about it would be, Goldust to Raw for Legacy, The Great Khali to ECW for Regal’s Round Table, and Batista to Smackdown for reality. Though we know who got the better end of the stick here, it still “evens” it up a bit and makes it look legit, storyline wise.

 

[Tenebrous]

For the record, Triple was defending his family's honor to advance the WM storyline but he WAS drafted to RAW.

As far as Batista, Teddy Long sewed the seeds when he said that he had an announcement that would change the face of Smackdown. "Teddy Long negotiated with Batista" in order for the Animal return to SD.

If WWE is going to continue the draft concept than it should be treated more sports. Raw should receive some kind of compensation for Batista like a pick next year or some minor players. Then have that minor player "develop" into on of the top players (of fans have to buy into the guy). This makes more sense than guys switching shows whenever they want. I know it's fake but let's be consistent. If you are SD, ECW or RAW property how do you get "out of your contract" without some ramifications? Thoughts?

 

[Chadmw]

As I have stated a few times, the draft is useless as they eventually have Superstars jumping from show to show randomly.

It started off slowly with Edge appearing on Raw when Vicky was quitting, than on the 3 hour raw they had just a smackdown superstar match. When I poiinted this out here as proof the drafts were not going to hold up, I was laughed at and said these were bad examples.

But over time you have slowly seen more superstars switching over for an episode or so. For example, Cryme Time appeared on Raw with Shaq for no reason, now Batista has switched brands with no trade or any explanation given.

 

[The Wild One]

I prefered it when the brands were competing with each other. Fighting to sign guys and the managers looking to undercut each other. You could always pull the "free agent" card where a guy's contract was expired and have a few weeks of each brand's manager plying for his services. (Scott Steiner was a great example of the brands fighting for a guy) The current system has the brands working together too much. May as well go back to having all the rosters together and just having different shows.

 

[allketchupisnotthesame]

If WWE is going to continue the draft concept than it should be treated more sports. Raw should receive some kind of compensation for Batista like a pick next year or some minor players. Then have that minor player "develop" into on of the top players

thats a good idea...a real good idea...but see...that would not only require creative to look past the next pay per view when they plan...but theyd also have to stick with somethin and see it through...cracks me up how theyre quick to give up on stuff that should be seen through but they keep crap like chavo and hornswoggle...even just hornswoggle...going for waaaaaaaaaay too long.

 

[ManOfSteel]

I have to agree that I think it's stupid that Batista can just jump to SmackDown cause he feels like it. What's the point of the draft or trades if a superstar can just jump around like that?

 

[Tastycles]

Teddy Long has been talking about an announcement for ages, so it isn't really that suprising that Batista has jumped ship. It could be easily explained by saying Trish granted him his move to Smackdown or Teddy made one of the heel GMs a deal. It is quite easy to explain away, and yet it has quite bizarrely become a huge issue for people. People change brands outside of the draft all of the time, and its always easily explained, so calm down people.

 

[allketchupisnotthesame]

yeah...it would be easy to explain...thats even more reason that they should have.

 

[hArdyPUNKmArk]

They should have kept more kayfabe in regards to the jumping ship of Batista but they've done it plenty of times this year that it's no surprise. That being said, WWE needs to try and keep wrestlers on the show they are signed otherwise the draft and brand split will start seeming less and less important.

 

[jamesman22]

And I quote from the Main Page,"Smackdown needed more star power because of the suspension of Rey Mysterio and The departure of Jeff Hardy so in turn, Batista was sent to smackdown"
In any case, I feel that Batista going to Smackdown is better for him, because he can take his matches at a slower pace and keep rehabilitating his arm. He will likely go back to Raw once wrestlemania 26 comes and goes. I really don't see the point other than that of Batista going to smackdown. If anything, he may be taking the spotlight from the up and comers like Ziggler, Morrison, and R-Truth.
There is already a whole lot going on in Smackdown with the Undertaker vs cm punk program, the ziggler vs morrison feud, Ziggler's cheating angle, the Drew Mcyntire build up, The divas having a very heavily developing storyline, Cryme time building themselves up against the unified tag champs, and The Hart dynasty also building themselves up. There is only one obvious route for them to take for Batista, Probably put him in a tag team or handicap match against the Hart Dynasty, OR turn him heel and make him go up against Cryme Time. Smackdown is just too busy right about now.

 

[GameOver]

Right now it's a plot hole. Hopefully, they will create some sort of storyline explanation.

I don't think that Batista said that Trish let him jump ship, just that Trish let him have one last match on RAW. Also, Batista's promo was about how he was at least somewhat sad to leave the "RAW fans".

Now, the storyline explanation could be a simple and empty as "'Cause Vince said so. Ask him why. He's the boss and the guy who signs the checks." That would hurt the brand split a little bit, but be consistent with the capricious Mr. McMahon character.

And the current storyline of people doing the wrong thing cause someone said they had to or risk losing there job.

Could it just be that they want more star power on Smackdown

They can't wait a whole year for the brand lottery to trade people around if something happens and they need a boost on one show or another

Also it could be said he was a bigger star on Smackdown and they need someone else to fued with CM Punk since Taker isn't fully healed (well thats the out of ring speculation)