The WWE draft is one of those game changing moments that change the landscape of the WWE for the next 12 months, or until a new draft happens. The draft is when superstars from their brands are selected at random and switched to the opposing brand. For example, in the 2011 draft Randy Orton moved from Raw to SmackDown where he soon established himself as a main star on SmackDown and would go on to win the World Heavyweight Championship.
Reasons that the Draft needs to happen:
- The RAW Supershows play no part in building any future stars. The likes of Dolph Ziggler, Jack Swagger and Zack Ryder would all benefit from a move to SmackDown, why? Because they’ll get more screen time. Sure Dolph and Swagger are on Raw mostly every week but is it in a great light? No. They get small matches that last 3-10 minutes at the very most and this inevitably stops them from climbing the WWE ranks. Whilst I can admit bringing SmackDown stars over to Raw for the Supershows such as Sheamus, Orton and Mark Henry help us grasp an image that these three are good enough to be allowed to wrestle on both shows, the supershows do absolutely nothing for the low-card to mid-card superstars already there. If a draft was to take place I hope that it would help solidify that there are two brands and hopefully the Raw Supershows would be stopped.
- SmackDown is in dire need for a change. SmackDown’s roster compared to Raw’s is very skinny and what I mean by that is that it lacks substance or star power. The three biggest stars on SmackDown today are Sheamus, Randy Orton and Mark Henry, with many struggling in the mid-card region. Whilst SmackDown, in my opinion, would have the better mid-card I still feel that SmackDown needs more star power. By bringing someone like John Cena, CM Punk or Chris Jericho over to SmackDown many would be tuning in to SmackDown to see how they cope there. Furthermore, by having someone like CM Punk who is the “Best In The World” on SmackDown it would increase the star power immediately, earning SmackDown the image that there are the best wrestlers on SmackDown and not just concentrated on Raw.
- The Draft is exciting! Many thought that this week’s Raw that was 3 hours long and was a “special” was going to host the draft, but many left with bitter tastes in their mouths after seeing no draft take place. I, for one, love the draft. It changes everything for me. Well not everything but I do take particular interest to the draft because (and this may sound dumb) but I want to know who I’m going to see when WWE come back to Belfast. The draft usually happens after the April tour here therefore it’s of interest to me to see who’s coming over in November. For example, Raw is in November and I want to see CM Punk, therefore I’m particularly interested to see if he does stay on Raw. Not only that but I’m also intrigued as to see who I’ll be tuning in to SmackDown or Raw to see.
- Having a draft would change the title scene. It is very uncommon (if it’s even happened at all) that a champion has switched brands, but it is often the title contenders that switch. For example, in the next draft we may see Daniel Bryan switch over to Raw. If this was to happen we could see Bryan challenging Punk for the title (wouldn’t we all LOVE this) and by this happening leaves Sheamus to defend his title (if he still has it of course) against someone new, such as Randy Orton or Christian. On Raw matters could change if Jericho was to be drafted. Punk would soon find himself challenged by a host of stars including Lord Tensai, John Cena, Brock Lesnar, Dolph Ziggler. You never know. Here I am babbling on about the many possibilities, whereas prior to thinking about the draft we know what’s happening on both shows. WWE need a change, they need to switch it up.
Who Needs To Change:
Many of the stars on both shows need to change. Here’s a list of a few of them:
- Dolph Ziggler – This dude is amazing and is highly praised within the IWC, or from what I have seen anyway. WWE know they have a true star on their hands with Dolph; he can make anyone look good and has recently been jobbing to everyone. Dolph is stuck in a rut, creative don’t know what to do with him and he’s far too good to be doing nothing therefore I propose he switches brands and challenges for the World Heavyweight Championship, with or without Swagger and Vickie.
- Jack Swagger – I am also a big fan of Swagger. His in-ring work is great but like Dolph isn’t getting the chance to shine. When Swagger was on SmackDown as World Heavyweight Champion I felt he played the heel role very well. I literally did hate him which is kudos to him because I honestly find it hard to really hate a heel… Unless you’re Michael Cole. I think Swagger could afford to switch the SmackDown and also challenge for the WHC, setting up a possible feud between him and Dolph.
- Daniel Bryan – I feel Bryan needs to switch but it’s only because of my greediness, I just want to see Bryan vs Punk in a feud for the WWE title!
- Alex Riley – I feel A-Ry has a great set of skills; I feel he has decent-good in-ring ability and I feel he has a great charisma. Riley isn’t afraid to get on the mic and can definitely talk like his once upon a time mentor, The Miz. Riley was moved to SmackDown but then was moved back to Raw, many got confused over this but he is on the Raw roster. Move Riley to SmackDown and let him challenge for the Intercontinental title.
Here are some random pictures. I didn’t really know what photos to use or what to do so I combined some photos of the guest appearances on Raw (Edge and Paul Bearer), Lesnar and then the draft picks I previously mentioned.
There are others that I feel would benefit from the draft but unfortunately that is all I have time for, my dog had her puppies on Monday and I’m acting as the second human parent. Thanks for reading and I hope you have plenty of comments (Good and Bad) that you can post below. If you want to continue the discussion on Twitter follow these two accounts: @WrestlinRambles and my own personal one @Razor_WWE94.
Until next time,
-Ryan.
Ringsidehustle.com 
The draft is pointless. This week’s three-hour edition of Raw was supposed to be the draft show, but they decided to scrap it. They could do it at a later date, but I doubt it. There is honestly no need for a draft since the Smackdown stars are on Raw every week. Plus Alberto, who just returned, is back on the Smackdown brand all of a sudden without no explanation. And yes, he’s appeared on Raw every week since his return!
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But that is a reason the draft should happen, to reinstate the fact that there are two brands. I’m hoping that if there is going to be a draft that they will stop the supershows and superstar crossovers.
If they want to continue the supershows then more fool them because it isn’t doing anything to build stars. Like I said, reinstate the fact that there are two separate shows. Make the divide again.
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I agree that is what SHOULD happen.Honestly, its been apparent for quite sometime that Vince has given up on the concept of a true brand extension. I remember last year’s show when John Cena was drafted to Smackdown and then back to Raw in the same evening. What a joke that was. Lol.
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Completely agree, Vince has given up on the brand extension. Or so it seems.
When Cena was double traded I was piss mad! Cena would have suited a change of scenery, if only for a few months & then by the power of god traded back to Raw on a one off special. I think that Cena ordeal took up two trades didn’t it?
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Yes I beleive so.
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An incredible waste of draft picks.
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I can’t disagree with you on Smackdown points. It’s in desperate need of change and the wrestler’s you mentioned would get more TV time and will grow on SD. It’ll brighten up SD a lot and all will benefit.
BTW – I’m thinking of banning the word ”Superstars”, because they’re wrestlers. I hate how people refer wrestlers to Superstars. It’s not you, the majority of fans! lol
Great work!
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For sure. SmackDown just feels poor now, well not poor but just very bland ad that’s coming from me who usually finds Smackdown great.
Someone like A-Ry would be great on Smackdown, he’d fit in on the mid-card with Hunico, Rhodes etc.
Do I use it a lot? I use it without even thinking! And when I do realise I’m using it I try to stop using it lol! Whoops, damn Vince McMahon for doing this on me.
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I just find SD not interesting, I think that’s how I can best describe it. The likes of A-Ry, Ziggler, Ryder etc.. will get on much better there.
Cena won’t move over, but Punk would be DAMN interesting.
It’s not just you who uses Superstars term, it’s nearly everyone! lol
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For sure, even if they switched it around and make SmackDown the feeder show for Raw, that could work too. Although to entice viewers to SD they need huge wrestlers on it like Sheamus and DB.
I think Punk would be very interesting on SmackDown. Haha, good, I’m glad I’m not the only fool using the word superstars LOL
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I wouldn’t call Bryan and Sheamus ”Huge” wrestlers, like they’re enjoyable to watch, but they wouldn’t be classified as starpower IMO. If Punk went to SD..he’d have a variety of new feuds to open up with the likes of Orton, Sheamus, Bryan, Ryback even.
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Well yeah, they probably wouldn’t be classified as starpower, Bryan for me would be the biggest star on SD. But I agree, moving Punk over could be good for then; either way I want a Punk-DBryan feud.
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I would like the draft to happen because I want the brands to have a definitive split. I wasn’t a fan at first, but I’ve grown to love both brands for how different they are. I like how Smackdown builds new talent and has more wrestling. Ever since this Supershow garbage things have been rushed and haven’t made much sense. Smackdown has turned into mini Raw.
I hope they go back to having a definitive split soon, as we’ve seen it didn’t help the ratings at all to do the “Supershow”. Ratings have been lower or stayed generally the same.
Good write up. Hope to see it happen soon. As for the talents, I hope they change it up big time.
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Thanks for the feedback. Wasn’t too sure on this article as you know but I’m glad you liked it.
I completely agree; SmackDown is a great show for building talent but I feel that it’s recently got stale which we obviously don’t want. Having wrestlers crossover makes me feel that SD isn’t big enough for them and no wrestler should ever be bigger than the show.
The supershows are definitely doing nothing to help ratings, if they made the definitive split then they could focus more on having two great shows instead of focusing more on one show and letting the other drift in and out in terms of viewers.
The drafts are exciting like i said, the feeling of “What will happen to…” is the great element of it.
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I would draft Hogan, Tugboat and Papa Shango to Smackdown, then bring over Eugene, Khali and Ric Flair to RAW.
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I was reading a day or two ago that many don’t want a Draft due to the new Supershow aspect of RAW and SD. But they do admit some wrestlers could use a change and that will will likely get some “trades”.
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Damn. Thats a bit shit if that is the case. I know Vince probably isn’t in favour of the draft but fck that old foogey! Haha!
The four wrestlers I mentioned definitely need a switch, Dolph especially because he’s getting booked to shit on Raw.
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Dolph will rise up and destroy Lesnar. lol
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The draft is completely pointless. The shows are called “Supershows” now, stars randomly show up here/there; the brand split is dead.
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The draft used to be a great feature though and used to change the following year of WWE.
I know they’re SuperShows but they suck and they need to bring back that definitive split. Or so I think.
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I agree with that, but until they fix the brands, holding a draft is just insulting fans’ intelligence.
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You have a good point there. See I was thinking that they could use the draft as a way to start the brand split again. Basically say “yeah ….. is on ….. now and you won’t see him on the other show from this point forward.”
But I do get your point.
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Bess Massingham Being Erin’s Grandma this was the bestest and netaset wedding I ever attended. The bride was gorgeous..( I may be prejudest) and love my new Grandson! Thankyou for all the unforgetable pictures.
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I didn’t see the point of having Cena drafted to Smackdown when he only got drafted back to Raw that same night.
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When they done that they showed exactly how much the draft meant to them which was nothing. I was fuming when it happened.
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I thought it was pretty funny. Plus, that can happen during something random like the Draft.
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Completely agree, especially on the part about Ziggler and Swagger moving. I thought moving Ziggler to Raw, would propel him forward. While it did put him into a great feud with Punk, he’s gone 2 steps back for me. Moving him to SD would help, and could see him pick the title up.
What would you think about a move for Miz?
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