This year's draft format

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>So, the draft is in about a week and for the first time since 2005, it will be conducted with only two brands. They’ve used several different formats for the draft over the years. In 2004, each show got a set number of picks regardless of the matches. 2005 was similar but stretched out over a month. Then they added ECW and went to the current format they’ve used since 2007 - matches to determine picks.

Personally, I’ve never been a fan of the current system. I understand that they do it for show structure plus it ensured that ECW didn’t get as many picks as the other shows…but logically it didn’t make much sense. They pushed the matches as being for “brand pride” and such but really why would a heel want to add more competition? Shouldn’t they throw the match? They even illustrated that in the past. IIRC, the very first draft pick match in 2007 saw Edge win and then SD drafted Khali and Edge looked horrified.

But anyway…I’m wondering how you think the show should be formatted now that it’s back down to two shows. The same way it has been? Go back to the old format of each show getting a set number of picks? How about something new - like a total re-draft (it’s unlikely…but WWE.com has posted out a printable draft sheet listing the entire roster and a slot for what show they wind up on - so it’s not entirely impossible if they wanted to move a lot of guys and essentially “start over”).

I’d definitely like to see them go back to the 2004 format. It made both shows feel like they were on an even level. Maybe they can have ONE draft pick match. I’m envisioning maybe 20 people get moved - 9 picks per show, then a 20-man team-based battle royal for the final 2 picks (which gives one show a slight advantage and brings a sense of competition to the draft).

Dunno, just wondered what your thoughts were. The draft feels meaningless when they have people switching shows so often, but the actual draft show always seems to intrigue me every year for some reason.</font>

[VSG]

Agreed, both shows need to have an equal number of picks and I am not referring to the mid-card draft that happens later on in the week. I say about 5 picks each during Raw, the battle royal for another 2 picks and then 5 more picks per show during the week for the undercard.Of course, unlike 2005, I want this all done in a single week.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Oh yeah, and here's a random idea I had if my idea were carried out:

After each show had made their first 9 picks, the 10 vs. 10 battle royal takes place for the final 2 picks. Cena is the only Raw guy left in the ring against 3 SmackDown heels. As per usual, Cena overcomes the odds and Raw gets the last two picks. A good chunk of the Raw roster comes out to celebrate (pushing across brand pride).

The first pick is shown, and it's somebody relatively inconsequential...like a diva or something. The Raw roster is shown and they, of course, seem happy to have a diva joining their show. Then comes time the second pick, and it's THE UNDERTAKER. Everybody in the ring looks like "oh shit".

Lights go out, gong, come back on...Taker's in the center of the ring and he just pushes people's shit in to close the show. Think that'd be a markout moment, kinda similar to when he returned at Survivor Series 2005 and destroyed a bunch of SmackDown guys.</font>

[tjmidnight420]

As per usual, Cena overcomes the odds and Raw gets the last two picks.

Maybe we'll get lucky and he wins this one by DQ cause they stomp the dog shit out of him until he can't compete in the match anymore.

eh, not likely. I can dream though.

[XL]

Sounds like a good way to end the show if you ask me.

[BillyBonez]

I think they should do an entire format like Cyber Sunday where THE FANS get to vote for what show they want each guy to move. That would be really awesome but of course Vince prolly wouldnt wanna do it cuz it may mess up storylines but if it happened it would be the best draft ever.

[screech]

I think each show having a set number of picks would be good, with a battle royal for a "bonus pick" as you suggested.

I'd really like it if RAW had a permanent GM so he/she could make picks for the show, but that is clearly off the table.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Interestingly enough, they haven't announced a Guest Host for the draft show yet.

*hopes WWE gets Mel Kiper and Todd McShay*</font>

[screech]

John Madden

[The Gold Standard]

I'd really like it if RAW had a permanent GM so he/she could make picks for the show, but that is clearly off the table.

Like they did when it first started. It was a lot better because it gave more of a competition aspect to it.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I hope they either go with a set number of picks, and then the supplementary draft feature. If not that, then go with the entire re-draft idea. That would be pretty epic, actually. Maybe do something where the champions cannot move brands. The one exception could be a Miz/McIntyre switch. So after Extreme Rules, you could have a set roster like:

RAW:
John Cena (WWE Champion)
Drew McIntyre (Intercontinental Champion)
Eve Torres (Divas Champion)

SmackDown!:
Jack Swagger (World Heavyweight Champion)
The Miz (United States Champion)
Beth Phoenix (Women's Champion)

And then you can do random picks, with the rest being sorted in the supplementary. It'd be easier to leave some big stars free for this, and then you can have the mystery of where some guys like Big Show or Christian end up (as they won't likely be big enough stars to warrant brand locating on the main show, but are usually too big for the supplementary draft). It could also leave some mystery for the announcers and such.

It's just a dorky thing of mine; but I'm obsessed with commentary. I'd love it if there was a special commentary team for the draft. Even if it was a neutral team like Joey Styles & Josh Mathews. That would be awesome. Very unrealistic, though. A more realistic suggestion (as unlikely as it still may be), is one RAW commentator, a SmackDown! commentator and the neutral Josh Mathews. Michael Cole, Striker & Mathews? Jerry Lawler can have the night off, or do some big backstage interviewing for the night and bring some personality to the role, and maybe make a random RAW pick somewhere.

[Ermaximus]

King: "Cena Wins! Cena Wins!"

Cole: "That means Raw gets 2 draft picks King! Who are they going to be?"

*random pick*

Cole and King: "Darren Young has been drafted to Raw?"

[Innovator]

Interestingly enough, they haven't announced a Guest Host for the draft show yet.

*hopes WWE gets Mel Kiper and Todd McShay*
Then they could finally face off, it's gonna happen sooner or later

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>I'm still not sure there really needs to be a supplemental draft this year. With only 2 rosters I feel they could get by with only adding 10 or so new people per brand. I have a feeling that even if they had a low-carder or jobber drafted on television, the crowd would actually have a reaction to it as opposed to just silence. Plus, it'd add to the randomness factor.

They can move jobbers during times when it makes sense. For instance - I picture Sheamus coming out during a segment and either boasting about his win over Triple H at Extreme Rules, or lamenting over his loss. Either way, either the Raw Guest Host or Sheamus himself announce that they will face the next superstar drafted to Raw - RIGHT NOW! Then the random selection winds up being a SmackDown jobber or something. If nothing else, a different way of setting up a squash match.</font>

[glanville6]

<font color=goldenrod>I'm still not sure there really needs to be a supplemental draft this year. With only 2 rosters I feel they could get by with only adding 10 or so new people per brand. I have a feeling that even if they had a low-carder or jobber drafted on television, the crowd would actually have a reaction to it as opposed to just silence. Plus, it'd add to the randomness factor.

They can move jobbers during times when it makes sense. For instance - I picture Sheamus coming out during a segment and either boasting about his win over Triple H at Extreme Rules, or lamenting over his loss. Either way, either the Raw Guest Host or Sheamus himself announce that they will face the next superstar drafted to Raw - RIGHT NOW! Then the random selection winds up being a SmackDown jobber or something. If nothing else, a different way of setting up a squash match.</font>






I like this idea. A lot. So much, I'd like it as a way to reveal all draft picks. I think it would be tricky... but it would be different and would add suspense.

Although if they could find a way to do that, cool...don't see it happening.

To feed off of Vito's idea, I might break things up hourly.

First hour, if I'm running the show. you put 4 matches on, you know, the standard 5 minute bout. We start off slow, only moving a few Midcarders to RAW or Smackdown, either or, So, match 1, music hits. If its a RAW superstar, say, Santino... it gives away that he will not be moved through out the night...however, his opponent, say Vance Archer comes out, you know he's been drafted. So first guy out it staying on his show, other guy moved.

Hour two...if possible, announce William Regal as permanent GM... I know its not over, and I know the Rock is supposedly coming to GM for a while in the summer, but with RAW not having a GM to get excited or upset about picks like Teddy and Vicky will be able to. This hour, every 15 minutes (9:05, 20, 35, 5o, you can do like Bischoff and Heyman did, drawing balls with names in them, and announcing them to the crowd. Use the upper midcarders. No former or current World or Heavyweight champs.

Hour 3. Al Main Event Talent, at least former Champs are still on their shows. So, the whole show builds up to this...it is announced that 3 current or former WWE world or heavyweight champions will be moved.

From Smackdown- Edge, Taker, Mysterio, Punk, Jericho, Swagger, Kane, Khali

RAW- HHH, Big Show, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista, Sheamus, and just to even things out, the longest reigning WWECW Champion, Christian.

Almost like a grab bag, each Smackdown star grabs a bag with a tee shirt it it, either the red or the blue. Since it would be 8 on 7, one Smackdown star will have a white tee that says "free agent, and they can choose whichever show they would like to be on, and go on commentary.

So after the shirts are revealed, RAW Superstars do the same, 4 stay, 3 go. Then do a 7 on 7 tag that includes all those champions.

Just a different idea.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm not unconvinced that Theodore Long will be drafted to RAW and serve as a sort of GM figure even with this Guest Host stuff going on.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Shame WWE felt obligated to make Taker appear on Raw last night. I get why they did it, they had to use the SD roster on short notice and felt they should put the top guys on for the benefit of the fans who were expecting Raw. My draft idea with Taker would have been far more markout worthy if that was his first appearance since WM.</font> :(

[Mr. Nerfect]

Well, I've long thought that The Undertaker could be drafted to RAW without actually showing up. Even if he did, he could just walk to the ring, the lights go out, and then he is gone. Then, when his hiatus is over, he can return randomly on RAW Chokeslamming shit.

[XCaliber]

Don't remember the draft being spread out over a month I surely don't like that idea if anything it should be a simple 10 man swap and they should leave it at that. Suppose it would defeat the purpose of having a show around but the matches themselves should still have an impact on who gets moved. So for example the main event would determine which show gets the #1 vs getting the #2 (or even #10 for that matter!) selection and would help to the order of the picks themselves. So regardless of what happens 5 would go to SD and 5 would go to RAW only the quality would be affected in this case. Although this would mean that the GM or guest host would actually be involved in this format which would be nice again for a change.

[Evil Vito]

Don't remember the draft being spread out over a month I surely don't like that idea if anything it should be a simple 10 man swap and they should leave it at that. Suppose it would defeat the purpose of having a show around but the matches themselves should still have an impact on who gets moved. So for example the main event would determine which show gets the #1 vs getting the #2 (or even #10 for that matter!) selection and would help to the order of the picks themselves. So regardless of what happens 5 would go to SD and 5 would go to RAW only the quality would be affected in this case. Although this would mean that the GM or guest host would actually be involved in this format which would be nice again for a change.

<font color=goldenrod>The month-long draft was actually pretty awesome. You knew the picks were made off-camera, and they all debuted with their new shows in different ways. Some guys showed up out of nowhere to interfere in a match (Orton), some guys interrupted promos (Hassan), Cena debuted on Raw as the guest of Jericho's Highlight Reel, etc.

The best was the last night. 6-man elimination match to determine a new SD champion (since Cena had gone to Raw a few weeks earlier). Christian was a surprise participant, as he had just been drafted. Anyway, JBL won the bout but was then told there was no need for a new belt...as World Heavyweight champion Batista was the final pick for SD.</font>

[Mr Amazing]

they should mix what they did in 2004 and what they do now have the winning brand gm makes a pick

anyways my picks for the draft are

to smackdown
Randy Orton with his WHC
Christian
miz
broune
ryder
kingston

to raw
McIntyre
SES
Shad
r -truth

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod><font color=goldenrod>Well, they’ve announced there WILL be a supplemental draft on WWE.com on Wednesday.

To be honest, I’m still a little puzzled. Both rosters have like 35-40 people on them right now. So how many moves will actually happen? If they move too many it’d almost feel like they just did a roster swap. Furthermore, how do they divide who gets picked when? My guess would be the Supplemental Draft is a lot shorter than year’s past, but I’m not sure.

Anyway…given that there’s a Supplemental Draft, that probably confirms that the 3-hour Raw will hold a similar format to past years. So I kinda see Raw grabbing one or two more picks than SmackDown.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>The more I think about it...I can very easily see Drew McIntyre drafted to Raw WITHOUT The Miz getting drafted to SmackDown, leaving both midcard belts on Raw. My rationale for this is that Miz can appear on every show anyway due to being a tag champ. Both belts will technically be on Raw for a couple months...and then Daniel Bryan wins NXT, wins the US Title during his PPV opportunity, and then signs with SmackDown where he can then feud with a freshly turned John Morrison.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>With all the roster cuts today I almost wonder if the Supplemental Draft will actually function like a real draft or something. They'll assign brands for the NXT rookies or something. I just don't see how there are enough people left to hold a 3-hour draft show AND a supplemental draft</font>