The long-awaited WWE Draft is set to kick off during tonight’s WWE SmackDown, and there will be a lot to talk about if Triple H is to be taken at his world. Triple H’s announcement of the WWE Draft also came with the statement that it will be a game-changer and that every WWE superstar is eligible. The event will be split into two nights, with night 1 taking place tonight and night 2 taking place on Monday Night Raw next week. The full list of eligible superstars for night 1 includes some big names and you can find every Superstar drafted tonight and which brand they have been drafted to on the next slide.
One of the biggest feuds in WWE is slated to be a major part of tonight’s draft, as both The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes are eligible to be drafted during SmackDown. The Bloodline is specially listed as Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa, as The Usos aren’t eligible to be drafted until night 2 on Raw. Could this mean The Bloodline will be split up and represented on both brands? Perhaps that is one of those game-changing elements Triple H spoke of.
The Women’s Division will also be a major factor tonight, as Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO Sky, and Dakota Kai), and more will be eligible to be drafted tonight. Lynch, Belair, and Damage CTRL are all currently on Raw, so even if one switches to SD it will be a big change.
Other big names on the list tonight include Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, Imperium, The Miz, and The Street Profits. There will also be select NXT superstars getting call-ups tonight, giving both rosters several new talents to add to the mix. We’ll have to wait and see which NXT superstars jump to the main roster, but in the meantime, you can find all of night 1’s draft choices on the next slide.
What have you thought of the WWE Draft so far? Let us know in the comments and as always you can talk all things wrestling with me on Twitter @MattAguilarCB!
The first pick of the draft was for The Bloodline, consisting of Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Roman Reigns. The unit was drafted as a collective by SmackDown, so they will be staying put.
The 2nd pick of the WWE Draft was Monday Night Raw’s, and they chose Reigns’ WrestleMania 39 challenger Cody Rhodes, who will be staying on the red brand.
The 3rd pick of the WWE Draft went to SmackDown, and this is where we got our first big shakeup. SmackDown chose The EST Bianca Belair, and that means she will bring her Title with her (most likely) and become the new SmackDown Women’s Champion. That means Rhea Ripley is probably headed to Raw, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The 4th and final pick of the first round went to Monday Night Raw, and it would be The Man being chosen to stay on the red brand. So far Raw pretty much stayed the same, but later rounds might shake things up a bit.
The 2nd round started off with SmackDown’s pick, and the blue brand chose fan favorite Tag Team The Street Profits.
Monday Night Raw wanted to shake things up with their next pick, and they absolutely did, as they chose the group of Imperium. That includes Gunther, Giovanni Vinci, and Ludwig Kaiser, and that means the Intercontinental Championship will move over to Raw.
SmackDown was next, and they went for one of their earliest stars for their next pick. SmackDown picked Edge to head to the blue brand, a brand he has quite a history with.
The final pick of the 2nd round went to Monday Night Raw, and unlike Edge, it involved a star staying put. Raw chose Matt Riddle, who will continue to call the red brand home.
The first pick of the 3rd round was a big one for SmackDown, and they started things off by choosing the All-Mighty one himself Bobby Lashley, who will move over from Monday Night Raw.
It was Raw’s pick next, and they looked to add some power to their Men’s Division as well, drafting Drew McIntyre to the red brand.
Next up was SmackDown, and they pivoted a bit, choosing a faction. That faction was The O.C., who have been off WWE TV for a bit, but returning with them was AJ Styles, and they looked to make a big impact on the blue brand immediately.
The final pick of the 3rd round went to Monday Night Raw, and the red brand is staying in The Miz business, drafting the A-List Superstar and keeping him exclusive to Monday nights.
The fourth and final round of night 1 was up, and SmackDown’s first pick packed a punch. SmackDown got three superstars with one pick, drafting Damage CTRL’s Bayley, Dakota Kai, and IYO SKY to the blue brand.
Raw was up next, and with the 2nd pick of the 4th round the red branded the King of Strong Style Shinsuke Nakamura, who recently made his return to WWE after being off of WWE TV for a bit.
SmackDown had the 3rd pick of the 4th round, and we finally got an NXT call-up. It wasn’t the one most were expecting though, as SmackDown drafted the current NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn.
The 4th and final pick of the 4th round was also an NXT call-up, and again, it was an unexpected pick. Monday Night Raw drafted the current NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell, potentially reuniting her with her former teammates in The Way Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae, and Austin Theory on the red brand.
