WWE Draft April 25. What major moves are we gonna see?

[D Mac]

via press release:

THE 2011 WWE® DRAFT TAKES OVER MONDAY NIGHT RAW,
MONDAY, APRIL 25 AT 9/8c

The entire roster of WWE Superstars and Divas will take part in the 2011 WWE Draft next week,
April 25, on MONDAY NIGHT RAW live on USA Network at 9/8c.

In a thrilling night of television, all WWE Superstars and Divas, including WWE Champion The Miz, John Cena, Randy Orton,
Rey Mysterio, Big Show, Alberto Del Rio and SinCara along with WWE Divas Champion Brie Bella,
Eve and Kelly Kelly could be drafted to either RAW or SmackDown.
After Monday Night's momentous draft, John Cena could be on "Friday Night Smackdown,"
which airs each week on Syfy at 8/7c and Rey Mysterio could be coming to MONDAY NIGHT RAW.

The Annual WWE Draft is a chance to renew old rivalries or have WWE Superstars face off against each other for the very first time,
bringing a new and fresh feel to each show.


Cena to Smackdown? Anything big or is it gonna be disappointing.

[M-A-G]

The biggest moves will be the ones that are sent to the unemployment line.

[Ermaximus]

WTF? Ok so a draft the week before a PPV? Fucking stupid planning there.

[M-A-G]

WTF? Ok so a draft the week before a PPV? Fucking stupid planning there.

I imagine the matches will take place as scheduled....like all the other times.

[Ermaximus]

I imagine the matches will take place as scheduled....like all the other times.

I just see a bunch of randomly thrown together fueds taking place at Extreme Rules now because of this draft.

[Rammsteinmad]

Doesn't matter because people will still be appearing on both shows anyway.

[M-A-G]

I just see a bunch of randomly thrown together fueds taking place at Extreme Rules now because of this draft.

There's really not a lot going on feud-wise. Cena's in a holding pattern until next year. Edge just retired. Miz needs a fresh face to feud with after the PPV. Really the only things going are Mysterio-Rhodes (I doubt they'll be moving Mysterio), Orton-Punk (if last Raw is any indication), The Corre's possible disintegration, and Christian-Del Rio.

[Cuse8]

SD needs some main event help, someone has to be going there
nexus and or corre will be broken up by some of the non-main eventers changing shows
morrison and bryan to SD

[The Naitch]

They'll most likely keep Del Rio and Rey Rey on SD! because the mexicans can't afford cable

[Droford]

Yeah, um..Smackdowns on Cable too now

[Lock Jaw]

Cody Rhodes
Big Show
Kane
Ezekial Jackson
Jack Swagger

Go to RAW

David Otunga
Mark Henry
Evan Bourne
Ted DiBiase
Great Khali

To Smackdown

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>Rumor has it releases will be as soon as they get back from the European tour. I imagine they'll shift a fuckload of guys around in a "Draft Lottery" to make it look like there was a ton of movement only for most of them to get sacked.</font>

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>If I had to make 5 predictions per brand, I'd say:

To Raw:
Cody Rhodes
Jack Swagger (possibly to turn face at the incoming PPV)
Kane
Michelle McCool
Wade Barrett

To SmackDown:
Eve
John Morrison
Mark Henry
Sheamus
Sin Cara (I figured him starting on Raw was going to be temporary from the get-go and an excuse for a draft move)</font>

[Lock Jaw]

Draft isn't a draft if Zeke and Khali don't switch brands.

[Shadrick]

Cody Rhodes.
Kofi Kingston.
Drew McIntyre.
Jack Swagger.

Go to Raw.

John Morrison.
Ted Dibiase.
Mark Henry.
Evan Bourne.

Go to Smackdown.

[XL]

I just see a bunch of randomly thrown together fueds taking place at Extreme Rules now because of this draft.
Honestly, I'd prefer that to getting WrestleMania 27: Part II.

[BizarroKing]

Only ones I wanna see is Evan Bourne and Daniel Bryan, maybe John Morrison to SD!

[The Naitch]

JACK MOVES

[VSG]

Cole to Smackdown I can almost guarantee. Jerry Lawler wins at Extreme Rules and that's the end of that feud.

Chris Jericho to Smackdown as well, he is not on the active roster page but since when has that been a technicality?

[Next Big Thing]

I think after all that's happened, Morrison and Melina will be broken up with Morrison going to Smackdown as a face.

Sin Cara will probably go to Smackdown since he botches and could use the editing. Plus WWE likes to keep its Hispanics all together.

Michelle McCool to Raw so she can be the blonde that stops Kong eventually.

Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett might swap spots since Smackdown is predominantly wrestling so Bryan won't have to talk and Barrett is talented on the mic. Plus it's an even swap of midcard belts.

Kofi to Raw since time heals all wounds and Randy has probably forgiven him for botching his RKO.

[St. Jimmy]

Miz to Smackdown, Del Rio to Raw :y:

[Ultra Mantis]

Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett might swap spots since Smackdown is predominantly wrestling so Bryan won't have to talk and Barrett is talented on the mic. Plus it's an even swap of midcard belts.

Raw gets IC title, Smackdown gets IWC title?

[Nicky Fives]

Randy Orton moves to Smackdown to fill the void left by Edge.....

[Droford]

Zack ryder to TNA Impact

[Shadrick]

I think after all that's happened, Morrison and Melina will be broken up with Morrison going to Smackdown as a face.

Sin Cara will probably go to Smackdown since he botches and could use the editing. Plus WWE likes to keep its Hispanics all together.

Michelle McCool to Raw so she can be the blonde that stops Kong eventually.

Daniel Bryan and Wade Barrett might swap spots since Smackdown is predominantly wrestling so Bryan won't have to talk and Barrett is talented on the mic. Plus it's an even swap of midcard belts.

Kofi to Raw since time heals all wounds and Randy has probably forgiven him for botching his RKO.

I sure hope so, cuz man, that feud was the shit.

[djoutcry]

They'll most likely keep Del Rio and Rey Rey on SD! because the mexicans can't afford cable

Not sure why, but I Lol'd at this.

[JimmyMess]

Random...

Orton to Smackdown
Morrison to Smackdown
Cody to RAW

[Providence Peep]

Can you guys imagine how cool it'd be if the rosters were more balanced? Yeah, I know Raw is the "flagship" show and whatever, but that really bugs the shit out of me. Why can't the two shows be more equal? For instance, Triple H on Raw and John Cena on Smackdown or something like that.

[Triple Naitch]

WTF? Ok so a draft the week before a PPV? Fucking stupid planning there.

They did this a couple of years ago and they had both world champions on SmackDown.

[Poit]

They did this a couple of years ago and they had both world champions on SmackDown.

But didn't they have a MitB cash-in to fix that?

[Ruien]

Can you guys imagine how cool it'd be if the rosters were more balanced? Yeah, I know Raw is the "flagship" show and whatever, but that really bugs the shit out of me. Why can't the two shows be more equal? For instance, Triple H on Raw and John Cena on Smackdown or something like that.

Don't try to ruin Smackdown...... With it being taped Smackdown basically relies on the in-ring standpoint to obtain viewers. Edge does need to be replaced, John Morrison and Sheamus (With Dolph on Raw now they need to a second big heel) would be the perfect additions.

On the plus side, Smackdown can't really be gutted this draft since they have no one to lose.

[loopydate]

Randy Orton moves to Smackdown to fill the void left by Edge.....

Yeah this one's almost a definite.

[Next Big Thing]

Raw gets IC title, Smackdown gets IWC title?

Forgot Bryan lost that title Sheamus. Shows how little I care about what either of those guys are doing right now.

[Next Big Thing]

I think Smackdown only has to last until Jericho comes back.

[Triple Naitch]

But didn't they have a MitB cash-in to fix that?

After the ppv.

[MoFo]

Taker should be traded to Raw for a few big feuds now hes at the end of his career.

Orton & Nexus need to GTFO of Raw. Boring as fuck

[Asmo]

Sheamus & Daniel Bryan to Smackdown, please.

[XCaliber]

My Top 5 picks for each show in alphabetical order:


To RAW:

Big Show
Cody Rhodes
Kofi Kingston
Layla
Wade Barrett

To Smackdown:

Daniel Bryan
John Morrison
Mark Henry
Randy Orton
Sheamus

[Mr. C]

SmackDown needs some help with Edge gone, say 4 picks each…

RAW: Alberto Del Rio, Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Kofi Kingston
SmackDown: Daniel Bryan, Evan Bourne, Randy Orton, Sin Cara

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've always had the feeling John Morrison was moving. That may not be a sure thing, but it separates Melina & Morrison, and it allows Morrison to work on the edited show where there will be less pressure on him to perform.

I also have the feeling that Randy Orton will end up on SmackDown!. I can't see CM Punk and Randy Orton staying on the same show past next week. I'm sure they'll have "one last match" at Extreme Rules, with the draft coming in to separate them, adding to the drama of it. I could also see it being CM Punk, just because I think SmackDown! could use more heels than faces, but I think that they'll probably move some random faces to RAW (Kane and/or Big Show, for example) and that Orton would add a lot of fanfare to the show. Plus it could lead to a lot of fresh programs.

I've felt that Sheamus could use the breath of fresh air, and I could see him swapping brands with whoever the IC Champion is. I could see that being Wade Barrett, but I could also see that being someone else after SmackDown!. My guess is that Barrett does get drafted back to RAW, leaving the other members of The Corre to develop their own personalities, while Barrett does his own thing on RAW -- possibly bringing up his past with Punk and Nexus.

Cody Rhodes won a trip to RAW with his WrestleMania performance. Unless they really want to keep him on SmackDown! for some reason (like a program with someone that absolutely has to be on SmackDown!, for whatever excuse), I think it's a pretty safe bet to see him drafted, and his match against Mysterio at Extreme Rules to be billed as his last real opportunity to get at Mysterio.

After RAW, I also have a feeling that Sin Cara will end up on SmackDown!. I think it's more likely that Alberto Del Rio will be moved to RAW, and that the Mexican guy they have already made a star takes flight to RAW, and that the guy they are trying to build gets moved to the cooler until he is absolutely ready for that premium exposure.

Ted DiBiase moving to SmackDown! is pretty much a must. There's just nothing going on for him on RAW, and while the draft alone might freshen that up, I think it's Teddy's time to prove that he can really step it up in the ring and as a character -- just like Cody did after his move to SmackDown!.

Daniel Bryan I could see either moving or being left on RAW, but I think the smart move is to move him to the wrestling show, where they can pipe in cheers and give him more time in the ring. Win-win.

I also can't see there being follow-up on John Morrison vs. R-Truth. So, Truth could be drafted, too. That also allows his heel character to get time to develop away from the big spotlight of RAW.

As for who moves to RAW? I mentioned Wade Barrett and Alberto Del Rio earlier. I think those are two possibilities, but you need some faces to move. Big Show is kept relevant by moving around all the time, and it seems about time for another Big Show move to RAW. With The Miz as WWE Champion, a proper program between The Miz and Show over the WWE Title could really be quite swell (especially if kept short).

Kofi Kingston has been a rising star for some time, and got moved to RAW and really proved that he could do amazing ring work, can play a character, get nice pops and all that shit. There's nothing really going on for Kingston on SmackDown! to keep him chained there. Plus, they'll probably keep him and Orton separate. :shifty:

Drew McIntyre is someone I could see moving, just because. It'd be great to see him to continue to get better in the ring on SmackDown!, but I think he could be used effectively in sharp, short matches on RAW.

Kane moving would solely be for the reason that Big Show moves -- the bigger guys get stale if they sit in one spot for too long. It's for that reason I could also see The Great Khali moving like anyone gave a fuck.

Kelly Kelly will move, just because she's seemingly the girl they want to promote the most, and that role is usually given to a girl on RAW.

While it may not be considered a big move, I think Chris Masters will be the sleeper pick of the draft, and end up moving to RAW, where he will actually get a bit of a push.

Finally, I see Jack Swagger moving to RAW to be aligned with Michael Cole, and bask in the heat that is his half-credible/half-comedy act.

[Mr. Nerfect]

So, for those who just want names:

To SmackDown!:
Daniel Bryan
John Morrison
R-Truth (I can actually possibly see this as a supplementary move with a bit more weight than your average supplementary move)
Randy Orton
Sheamus
Sin Cara
Ted DiBiase

To RAW:
Alberto Del Rio
Big Show
Chris Masters (more than likely a supplementary move, but something that becomes a bigger deal)
Drew McIntyre
Jack Swagger
Kane
Kelly Kelly
Kofi Kingston
Wade Barrett

And while I'm sure there will be supplementary moves, those are so random and could literally see the entire lower-card rosters change.

[Mr. Nerfect]

But that means that there will have to be some sort of turns going on the SmackDown! side, since things are so top-heavy. In that case, I'll probably take back the move of Alberto Del Rio and maybe even Wade Barrett.

[Hulk-a-Bo]

I've been saying forever, I want the draft to end. People say that if they end the draft then alot of guys would be pushed to the bottom because there wouldn't be enough camera time for all the smackdown and raw guys. Well I say good because then you will have guys scratching and clawing to the top more than ever and everybody will be forced to bring their A-game and then some night after night. It would be great for us the fans!

[loopydate]

You won't have guys scratching and clawing. You'll have guys working for peanuts in TNA because there's not enough room in four hours of weekly TV for a roster of nearly 80 guys.

[Schlomey]

I don't want Cody being fed to the Cena machine so whatever happens past that I'm down with.

[dronepool]

Randy Orton To Smackdown (Edge's fill in as big draw)
Sheamus to Smackdown
Morrison to Smackdown (due to the backstage heat)
Daniel Bryan To Smackdown..
Ted DiBiase to Smackdown... (reunion with Cody?)
R-Truth To Smackdown
Evan Bourne to Smackdown.
Chris Jericho to Smackdown
Khali to Smackdown
Cole to Smackdown

Undertaker to RAW
Alberto Del Rio to RAW
Kofi Kingston to RAW
Wade Barrett to RAW (PUNK VS BARRET!)
Kane to RAW

[Mr. Nerfect]

I'm thinking it may not be Orton who goes to SmackDown!. Rather, I could see CM Punk being drafted, leaving Orton with Nexus to take out. I mean, *cough*, make into stars. While many people think a top face is going to fill the whole left by Edge, I think Christian could be built-up to be that guy. Keep in mind that Rey Mysterio is also a top-tier babyface, and that Morrison being drafted is not out of the question. Punk would add depth to the heel side of things on SmackDown!, which currently goes about as deep as Alberto Del Rio and Wade Barrett. Yeah, you have Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes in the wings, but I see at least one of them changing brands.

[Londoner]

This is why i hate the draft. Trades would be SO much better. Just so many ways either show can get screwed during it.

[Aguakate]

I firmly believe John Morrison is going to get traded to Smackdown.

[addy2hotty]

Noid always gets these predictions wrong.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Either John Morrison or Melina will.

[Mr. C]

Officials have discussed moving Alberto Del Rio to RAW during next Monday’s Draft as he’s currently penciled to headline SummerSlam against John Cena, with The Miz, as WWE Champion, heading to SmackDown.

[St. Jimmy]

Miz to Smackdown, Del Rio to Raw :y:

Why is this guy always right? He's so good.

[Lock Jaw]

That would be a pretty terrible move.

[Aguakate]

An Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena rivalry would be very good.

Actually, for some reason I can see Del Rio as a possible opponent for The Undertaker at WM28...

...he's good on the mic, a good wrestler...is Latino, which caters to Miami, Florida, where WM28 will take place...

...I don't know...

[Mr. C]

The Miz stands right at the beginning of a streak himself, being now 2-0. This is a feud that could work. The idea of Miz establishing his own streak by ending that of The Undertaker is one that would give him a motivation simply beyond making a name for himself. Given that and maybe even a guest referee, this one could be a winner.

[XCaliber]

I'd rather have the "Must See" WWE Champion on RAW thanks and I highly doubt they would ship Cena to SD but ya never know I wouldn't be against it.

[Mr. C]

They should've waited one more week. The day after Extreme Rules would make more sense.

[Jakob Synn]

They should've waited one more week. The day after Extreme Rules would make more sense.

I agree but with Edge's retirement announcement the WWE writers are scrambling when they don't really need to

[Mr. Nerfect]

We are overdue for a championship swap. I think one actually happens every three years or so. The titles were separated in 2002, then in 2005 the World Heavyweight Title and WWE Title swapped shows, and I believe the same thing happened again in 2008? I think The Miz suits RAW just fine, but it really wouldn't surprise me if we got the WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion swapping brands. And while that might seem like a demotion to The Miz, I think he'd talk up SmackDown! great; and really hype himself going there as the most "must-see" event in WWE history. He could cut some deep promos about how he started on the show as its host, and now returns to it its Champion. He would also look amazing if he retained the WWE Title at Extreme Rules, when everyone thinks he loses because he's going to SmackDown!, and it's the last chance for Cena or Morrison to save the title for RAW.

[Juan]

Why is this guy always right? He's so good.

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

[XCaliber]

After watching SD tonight I had to update my selections up a little.

[Aguakate]

The Miz stands right at the beginning of a streak himself, being now 2-0. This is a feud that could work. The idea of Miz establishing his own streak by ending that of The Undertaker is one that would give him a motivation simply beyond making a name for himself. Given that and maybe even a guest referee, this one could be a winner.

...Yeah, but if Miz wants to taunt Undertaker by telling him that he's starting his own streak and blah blah, they (WWE) should wait 'til it builds to like, 7-0 or something...'cause taunting Undertaker, who is 18-0, with a 2-0 record, is laughable...it'd make Miz look dumb...

...Michael Cole is 1-0...so being 2-0 isn't that big of a deal...

...BTW, by the time Miz is 7-0, Undertaker will be retired, so...I don't see that feud happening...at least not like THAT.

[Evil Vito]

<font color=goldenrod>As much sense as it makes to give SmackDown a major name like Miz or Orton (not Cena, they've gone as far as refunding Raw tickets when Cena can't be there - so he's a Raw lifer unless he ever turned heel) - I just don't see it. SmackDown gets habitually screwed in this thing every year. By 2012 some of the guys doing nothing on Raw will have become stars on SmackDown, and they'll go right back over to Raw.

So here's my final picks. Last year there were 8 roster moves on the televised portion of the draft, 3 of which came via one battle royal. Figure it will be similar this year.


Televised Draft

To Raw:
1. Kane
2. Big Show
3. Cody Rhodes
4. Kelly Kelly

To SmackDown:
1. John Morrison
2. Sheamus
3. Sin Cara
4. Mason Ryan (pick conveniently happens right after Punk or Nexus lose a match, Punk flips that his big backup is now off the show)


Supplemental Draft

To Raw:
1. Wade Barrett (yeah, the IC champ doesn't even make it to the televised draft)
2. Drew McIntyre
3. Beth Phoenix
4. Trent Barreta
5. Justin Gabriel
6. Curt Hawkins

To SmackDown:
1. Daniel Bryan
2. Mark Henry
3. Ted DiBiase
4. The Usos
5. Gail Kim
6. Yoshi Tatsu

[Mr. C]

...Yeah, but if Miz wants to taunt Undertaker by telling him that he's starting his own streak and blah blah, they (WWE) should wait 'til it builds to like, 7-0 or something...'cause taunting Undertaker, who is 18-0, with a 2-0 record, is laughable...it'd make Miz look dumb...

...Michael Cole is 1-0...so being 2-0 isn't that big of a deal...

...BTW, by the time Miz is 7-0, Undertaker will be retired, so...I don't see that feud happening...at least not like THAT.

Edge mentioned his 5-0 streak before he fought Undertaker at WM24, so it's been done before. Definitely wouldn't make Miz look dumb, especially if they keep the title on him and let him hold it until WM28. From now until Royal Rumble, he has Big Show, Christian, Kane, and Rey Mysterio to feud with, assuming he does get drafted to SmackDown. You'd have Miz's 16-month title reign and 2-0 record vs. Undertaker's 19-0 record at WrestleMania 28.

As you already pointed out, by the time Miz is 7-0, Undertaker will be retired, so that's why I see that feud happening. It's just too good to pass up. I can just picture Undertaker not returning until the Royal Rumble as a surprise entrant and winning. On SmackDown the following Friday night, it's hyped up that Undertaker will announce who he'll face at WrestleMania at the end of the night. When it comes to that time, it's Miz who instead comes out and cuts a promo on Undertaker, bringing up his (at that point) 14-month title reign and 2-0 record at WrestleMania and challenging Undertaker to challenge him. Undertaker comes out and stares down Miz to end the show, not saying a word.

At Elimination Chamber, Miz retains the title inside the chamber. After the match, the lights go out, and Undertaker appears in the ring and chokeslams Miz, signaling that the match is on for WM28.

[Aguakate]

...Even 5-0 is more respectable then 2-0.

[Mr. C]

Wow, three more. :roll:

[Mr. Nerfect]

An updated list of the moves I see taking place. A lot of the supplementary ones I can see leading to releases, and some guys (Husky Harris, for example) will probably be repackaged before they see the main roster again.

To SmackDown!:

Alex Riley: I think the WWE does this move to give the fans a "heels being forced to break-up" happy moment, and to test the waters with Riley as his own man on SmackDown!. I can see this move happening on the main show, with The Miz perhaps even throwing a match (conserving energy for his Steel Cage WWE Title defense), and it thus backfiring on him. I know rumours say that The Miz might change brands, but I think the WWE keeps the WWE Title and the most must-see man in sports entertainment on RAW.

CM Punk and the Nexus: I see Punk as being in a similar position to Chris Jericho a while back -- probably the best heel the WWE has, but not the heel they want at the forefront at this particular point in time. Two of the three Nexus members are also very green, and thus could use the B-show as a chance to improve before they get that main exposure. The Nexus could be treated as a serious threat on SmackDown!, especially with Punk becoming the de facto #1 heel there after some other moves take place.

Daniel Bryan: SmackDown! is just a great fit for him. They can pipe in cheers, and he can work longer matches. It's win-win. There was a time when it was sane to have Bryan on RAW -- he was a hot commodity for a while last year. But now that he's cooled, Bryan could really use the chance to build himself on SmackDown!.

David Hart Smith: I don't know/think that Smith will be used in a big way, and I have a feeling he might actually be leaving the WWE soon, but I think SmackDown! is just a better fit for him, and this is just one of those supplementary draft moves that just happens.

Eve Torres: Just a move to try and get some interest in the blue brand by appealing to red-blooded males.

Gail Kim: She's not doing much but accompanying Daniel Bryan, and if he goes to SmackDown!, it'd make sense to move her, too. She can wrestle, and really help the Divas Division on the blue side of things. She's not really adding anything critical to the RAW girls and their shit.

Goldust: He's inactive at the moment, but I think he gets moved in the supplementary draft and ends up on the same show as his brother (who I am taking off my draft list). People love Goldust, so they will actually care about this supplementary draft move. Also, I can't remember the last time Goldust was ever officially part of the SmackDown! roster. There's something fresh about it.

John Morrison: I still think JoMo gets moved, partially as punishment, partially to hide his weaknesses and to focus on his strengths -- good ring work and making more moments for highlight reels. I think Morrison has a chance to become the top babyface on SmackDown!, and that can help he transition back over to RAW next year or something, to really make a big impact.

Mark Henry: I think The World's Strongest Man will be retiring soon, but for the moment, Henry is still part of the active roster, and isn't doing much of anything. Why not move him? Henry is heaps over, so moving the guy would create that interest that often isn't there with other supplementary draft moves.

Melina: They might release Melina in the spring cleaning, but I see her moving, even though Johnny Nitro might be doing the same, just to send a message to her -- that being that her position on RAW isn't sacred. Melina returning to SmackDown! would be quite fresh at this stage of the game, and she could put over some girls there -- like Layla, Gail Kim and Eve Torres.

Natalya: She's a great ring worker, but she's been lost in the shuffle on RAW. Why not move her, get the commentators excited/disappointed hotties are leaving/joining their brand, and give her a refresh on SmackDown!? Plus, I have a feeling that Beth Phoenix will be moving, so Natalya serves as a fair trade-off for that.

Primo: Just a random supplementary draft move. I think this guy is overdue for another stint on SmackDown!, where he can do the things he does best -- fly around the ring.

Sheamus: He's never officially been a part of the SmackDown! roster, and it creates a fresh atmosphere around the Celtic Warrior -- which is why the WWE does these drafts in the first place -- to freshen things up. The guy doesn't seem to have anything special going on over RAW's way (besides being a dominant mid-card champion), which is why he can do by taking the belt over to SmackDown!, anyway.

Sin Cara: The show just seems perfect for him. This will be one of the main draft moves, in my opinion, and Cara will benefit from being in the taped environment. He's already gotten a hell of a rub from his tiny stint as part of the RAW roster, anyway.

Ted DiBiase: He goes to SmackDown! to get the same reboot that Cody Rhodes did last year. I think DiBiase will be instantly more relevant given a change of scenery. And like Sheamus and Goldust, he just hasn't ever been part of the SmackDown! brand, which makes the move all the more refreshing.

Tyson Kidd: This guy is getting better and better on the mic, but his strength is always going to be his ring skills, and they are better utilized on SmackDown!. I could see the guy being a great mid-card heel on blue brand.

William Regal: Just a random supplementary move to create the illusion of change. Regal being on SmackDown! would actually be refreshing, if he worked the occasional match, don't get me wrong. But I think Regal is stepping away from an active role, hence his new commentary position on NXT. So he's always going to be at the tapings, anyway, it just reduces the travel Regal needs to make. A logical move, in my opinion.

Yoshi Tatsu: The guy worked SmackDown! the other week like he was part of the roster, anyway. They might as well just move the guy and put him on the wrestling show. They can even do a sad separation between Tatsu and Maryse on the last NXT of this season.

Zack Ryder: He's got a great character, but I think it's just got more of a chance being taken seriously on SmackDown! than it does RAW. I'd love to see more Ryder vs. Christian matches down the track.

To RAW:

Alberto Del Rio, Brodus Clay & Ricardo Rodriguez: Team Del Rio moves as a major draft, and Del Rio emphasizes that it is not only his destiny to win the World Heavyweight Title, but it now MUST be done at Extreme Rules. He doesn't achieve this, but he does become one of the top forces on RAW, which I can see fitting him well.

Beth Phoenix: This is one of the moves I'm willing to put a small amount of money on. Phoenix hasn't really been doing much on SmackDown!, and she really should be doing something. Trade her for some of the girls that aren't doing much on RAW but should be (Gail Kim, Natalya, etc.). It'd also be good to see Glamarella together again.

Chavo Guerrero: Not a major move, and I don't think Chavo gets a huge push or anything like that, but I think he could be a great veteran presence backstage, making up for William Regal and Mark Henry being traded to SmackDown!. He could work some matches against Dolph Ziggler, or something. He might also help with RAW's standing with Hispanic fans. Have Del Rio & Guerrero on RAW and Mysterio & Mistico on SmackDown!.

Chris Masters: A supplementary move, but I still see Masters getting a nice push for himself later this year. SmackDown! (well, Superstars) has proven that Masters can work a good match, but his guilty pleasure-style would work better in shorter, more dominating matches.

The Corre: I can see them all being drafted together. Wade Barrett has lost something since moving to SmackDown!, and he just works better on the live show, I think. Right now he's the Intercontinental Champion, and a trade with Sheamus might really freshen things up. I think Barrett needs to get away from Big Show right now. He's the group heat killer. Justin Gabriel's 450s are always a nice spot and a good addition to RAW, and Ezekiel Jackson's style just fits the red show more. Heath Slater might not seem to fit the RAW scene right now, but he doesn't seem to fit the SmackDown! scene much, either. Whether they break-up or stay together, I think The Corre could make an interesting (re)addition to RAW.

Drew McIntyre: He's not doing much of anything on SmackDown!, and he hasn't been a part of RAW since he's re-debuted as The Chosen One. He's a young man, with a marketable look, and fits the whole "SmackDown! guy RAW can steal and possibly ruin" archetype. Actually, I see McIntyre doing quite well on RAW, truthfully.

Hornswoggle: Why? Why not? The kids love him, and he doesn't really do much wherever he goes. His move makes the children pop, keeps him floating, and doesn't really hurt anyone. I could see him actually being drafted on the main show, too -- probably as part of a big RAW win, where they get a handful of draft picks -- and his image pops up just before someone like Kane's does.

Jack Swagger: He's got more going on on RAW as a SmackDown! Superstar than he does on SmackDown!. Hell, he's got more going on on RAW than a lot RAW guys do. Just make the move official.

JTG: I see him being a victim of spring cleaning, unfortunately, but I'd like to see JTG be given one more chance to get over -- and the RAW atmosphere just seems more akin to the style he brings.

Kaitlyn: I could see her being released in the spring cleaning, but I don't see the problem with her moving to RAW, just to create the illusion of change. I feel like I've said that before in this very post. She was also her most over when she was feuding with Vickie Guerrero, and Vickie is on RAW. Just saying.

Kane: I feel that either Kane or Big Show have to move, and the only reason I'm picking Kane is because I feel that Show is probably more of the marketed attraction at this point, and Show helps SmackDown! more than Kane does. The Big Red Machine also doesn't step on too many toes, as he seems to be a background player, even whilst working in the main event.

Kelly Kelly: I think the WWE wants her to be the new Torrie Wilson, or the new Stacy Keibler. Not a great worker, and she probably won't ever be (although she has had a few matches that have actually been quite enjoyable), but she can be a huge part of the company's marketing strategy. One of their "attractions." She'd fit RAW for this reason. She originally moved to SmackDown! to get them some attention, but now I think that's played out, and Eve does that this year, with Kelly returning to RAW.

Michelle McCool: Mrs Undertaker moves where her husband does, for one. Secondly, I think she's a Diva the WWE actually takes seriously. She and Layla did a great job on SmackDown! so much that they got used on RAW, as well. But this is McCool's official promotion to the RAW brand, which would be refreshing to the Divas angles on both sides.

Tyler Reks: Like everyone confined to Superstars, Reks could very well find himself being released in the coming weeks, but I'd like to see him given another shot higher up on the card. Let him tear through the RAW scene for a bit. He's a good worker for his size, and he'd just fit RAW that tiny bit more than he does SmackDown!.

The Undertaker: This one will be the huge move of the draft, I think. The Undertaker's career is winding down, and although it is always great to see him promoted in association with SmackDown!, they'll still have Rey Mysterio, Big Show, the Nexus, John Morrison, Sin Cara, etc. as symbols or faces to associate with the brand. The Undertaker hasn't been a part of RAW since the early days of the draft. Also, I'd like to see him and Triple H part of the same brand, and while that could easily be SmackDown!, it just fits RAW better, in my opinion.

[St. Jimmy]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day

http://images.topix.com/gallery/up-ICRD516S86GLBMIN.jpg

[Dat Fool Train]

Evan Bourne to unemployment

[Juan]

Fuckin' muties.

[Destor]

some major baby has to go to smack down to take the place of Edge, cause lord knows this christian push will only last 3 months at the most. orton would seem logical seeing as raw isnt big enhough for both orton and cena. titles swapping this year also seems likely. barret to raw, shemus to smackdown. miz will prolly head to smack down seeing as the cena/miz program has been done and after that they always get rid of the heels. gotta keep fresh to feed to hogan after all. so that means a rising heel steps in, likely del rio, to be the next cannon fodder heel for cena. danielson isunemployment line bound with a short stop over on smackdown prolly wont bother airing the move. my gut says morrison will go but with the program with r-truth starting up i cant see it. raw already got their midcard heel early in ziggler so i imagine no other notable midcard heels will head to raw. michell mccool will likely go to raw now that taker isnt touring. bath pheonix might as well. not too confident on that one tho. i imagine the miz being drafted will be their "hook" tho and everything else will just kinda be...meh. by in large.

[Destor]

sorry for the block of text... my phone just spits it out that way :(

[Destor]

...and now that i start looking threw the thread i see that people already posted my thoughts...*sigh*

[MoFo]

Kane & Big Show dont need to move, as tag champs they appear on both shows anyway.

[Evil Vito]

Also, I can't remember the last time Goldust was ever officially part of the SmackDown! roster. There's something fresh about it.

<font color=goldenrod>Last year. He went to SmackDown after ECW folded and was subsequently drafted to Raw like a month later.</font>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Oh okay. Honestly don't remember that.

[loopydate]

How I would book it, not necessarily how I think it will happen:

Televised
Each brand gets five "picks," with ten supplemental picks (more on that later.

RAW gets Alberto Del Rio, Jack Swagger, Kane, Michelle McCool, and Undertaker
SmackDown gets the Bella Twins, John Morrison, Randy Orton, Sin Cara, and The Miz

There's also a big midcarder battle royal with supplemental draft implications. The winning brand gets eight of the ten supplemental picks (again chosen at "random")

Supplemental Draft
RAW gets Chavo Guerrero and Ezekiel Jackson
SmackDown gets Daniel Bryan, Goldust, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Ted DiBiase, The Great Khali, Tyson Kidd, and Zack Ryder

-----

Looking at the rosters, RAW has way more depth than SmackDown, so a stipulation like the one I laid out would be a great way to shore up the blue-brand roster.

[Tazz Dan]

I honestly can't see Orton being accepted as the "Face of Smackdown" like Edge was. I think it will kill him a bit to go that show :-\

[loopydate]

I think they'd be better suited to have Christian be the top babyface. The fans want him to be the guy now that Edge is gone. But I think WWE still doesn't see him as such. Orton's the #2 guy, so I think they'll want him there.

[Mr. C]

RAW gets Alberto Del Rio, Big Show, and Rey Mysterio.

SmackDown gets Mark Henry, Randy Orton, and Sin Cara.

RAW Faces: Big Show, Daniel Bryan, John Cena, John Morrison, Rey Mysterio, Triple-H
RAW Heels: Alberto Del Rio, CM Punk, Dolph Ziggler, R-Truth, Sheamus, The Miz

SmackDown Faces: Christian, Kane, Randy Orton, The Undertaker
SmackDown Heels: Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Mark Henry, Wade Barrett

[Mr. Nerfect]

So are we discussing the supplementary draft in this thread, or will it get its own one? I'm not sure how many people will change brands, but here are my random guesses.

To RAW:
Beth Phoenix
Brodus Clay
Chris Masters
Ezekiel Jackson
Hornswoggle
JTG
Kelly Kelly
Ricardo Rodriguez
Trent Barreta
Tyler Reks

To SmackDown!:
Daniel Bryan
Eve Torres
Gail Kim
Goldust
Melina
Michael McGillicutty
Natalya
Tyson Kidd
William Regal
Zack Ryder

[#1-norm-fan]

Since I saw some complaining about it in the Raw thread, I have to say, I thought Sin Cara to SD and Mysterio to Raw was a GREAT decision.

A) People were upset when Sin Cara went to Smackdown! because it meant no Sin Cara vs. Rey feud. Wasn't gonna happen anyway. Maybe in the form of a throwaway match. Definitely not worth getting them on the same brand just for the match though.

and B) Smackdown has always been the cruiserweight friendly show. Also, Mexico loves Smackdown I guess. Sin Cara is basically looked at as the new, young Rey Mysterio. Rey is getting old and he can add star power to Raw while Sin Cara can become a star and get to be the new Rey Mysterio over on Smackdown. Each show has their superstar masked wrestler now with the veteren on the A show and the future star on the B show. It was such a perfect move.

Going in I thought these two moves NEEDED to happen and I'm glad they did.

[Mr. C]

Personally, I would’ve loved John Cena on SmackDown. I didn’t know what to think and was shocked at the time.

The show went from a 10 to an 8 for me because of Cena going back to RAW. SmackDown needs all the help it can get. Now that Del Rio, Cena, Morrison, and Miz are RAW, does that make Christian the SmackDown title winner?

[Ermaximus]

A loser leaves Smackdown, no DQ match between Layla and Michelle McCool has been added to Extreme Rules. So I'm guessing that McCool will be headed to Raw with Undertaker then?

[Asmo]

The Cena double switch was a complete waste of time. At least Sheamus & Bryan moved.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I love the sound of the supplementary draft. I also love that Ryder & Hawkins are on the same brand again, even if it happens to be RAW.

[Mr. C]

I personally feel like the supplementary draft this year was overkill. There were 8 (6 technically) televised draft picks and 22 supplementary draft picks. That's absolutely ridiculous. I liked it better in 2007 when the supplementary draft had only 12 picks and lasted 12-2pm. That would've been perfect, but now, it seems like they moved almost every RAW superstar to SmackDown & vice versa. Here's how I would've done the televised and supplementary both:

<font color=blue>1. John Cena to SmackDown</font>
<font color=red>2. Rey Mysterio to RAW</font>
<font color=blue>3. Randy Orton to SmackDown
4. Mark Henry to SmackDown
5. Sin Cara to SmackDown</font>
<font color=red>6. Big Show to RAW
7. Alberto Del Rio to RAW
8. Jack Swagger to RAW</font>

<font color=blue>9. Daniel Bryan to SmackDown
10. Great Khali to SmackDown
11. Jimmy Uso to SmackDown</font>
<font color=red>12. Kelly to RAW
13. JTG to RAW</font>
<font color=blue>14. Alicia Fox to SmackDown
15. William Regal to SmackDown
16. Yoshi Tatsu to SmackDown</font>
<font color=red>17. Drew McIntyre to RAW</font>
<font color=blue>18. Natalya to SmackDown</font>
<font color=red>19. Curt Hawkins to RAW</font>
<font color=blue>20. Jey Uso to SmackDown</font>