The WWE Draft 2023: Night 2 Mindy’s Bakery Raw 1/5/23

[XL]

So the draft takes place on 28th April and 1st May and we’ll probably get the usual “everybody in” approach.

What do you think we’ll see? Any guys/girls you’re hoping to see on particular brand/called up?

[GD]

Kevin Owens and The Miz get drafted almost every single time. I hope they do not change shows.

LA Knight could benefit from a 3-hour show where they can flush out his personality even more.

Nakamura has been with Smackdown since he made his main roster debut. It'd be interesting if they moved him to RAW.

If they're serious about the brand spit, I hope there isn't any silly exchange of brand specific championships. I am still not over how cringeworthy the belt exchange was between Lynch and Flair. If you want to market your women's title as world championships, name them something better.

I also hope they split the tag team straps since there are so many solid tag team units on both shows. It'd make more sense to have separate belts for each show. If not, unify them already.

[GD]

I really want to see them commit to a brand split like they did in the early 00s. It'll force them to get more creative and make new stars in the process.

[Lock Jaw]

Robert Lashley will go to SD to fight Ramon Reigns for a few months

[GD]

You say your name is the Tribal Chief and you love to fight. Well, I say you're the Tribal chief and you're a bathturd!

[slik]

Judgment Day to SD

Imperium to RAW

LA Knight to RAW

Seth Rollins to SD

[Lock Jaw]

You say your name is the Tribal Chief and you love to fight. Well, I say you're the Tribal chief and you're a bathturd!

Vintage!

[Evil Vito]

I have to lol when they hype up "WHICH TEAMS WILL BE SPLIT IN THE DRAFT?" only for the rules to end up being that teams and stables can be drafted together.

I mean the rules kinda have to be that way. The very first draft had Vince draft D-Von right after Flair took Bubba. If this draft were a shoot there's no reason you'd ever let the other side build a tag division. So you either need to have random elements of the draft, or let teams be picked together.

But then the other side of it is you get dumb shit like The New Day splitting up because apparently SmackDown decided, nah, we don't want this heavily decorated 3-man stable, just give us Big E, thanks.

[Evil Vito]

Remembering the several years of drafts where the picks were meant to be random but you had to win a match to get a pick for your brand

Very first year they did that, heel SmackDown champ Edge cheats to win a draft pick only to be terrified to see Great Khali join SmackDown. Shouldn't the heel champ be throwing the match in hopes of sending better competition away?

2004 was the only one that really made sense to me. Each side got like 5 or 6 picks out of a tumbler and that's it. Allowed them to flip a few big names around along with a few midcarders they wanted to push, broke up stables in a logical way etc

[XL]

Yep. Not a fan that they move so many parts around. You end up moving half a division which means you’ve not freshened anything up.

I’d be happy with something like 5 saves, 5 steals, and 5 drafts from NXT/Free Agents. Limits the moving parts.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I came up with an idea that they could do the draft by having Raw and SmackDown essentially “bid” for talent. Each show gets assigned so many draft points. You then have to bid more of these points for certain talent.

This allows you to not lead with your hottest. You could open SmackDown with Sami and Owens finding out that they’re trading shows and when they lose the belts that’s it for them as a team. Montez Ford gets a much higher offer on him than Angelo Dawkins, which causes friction. Roman tells Paul to put a call in. Heyman asks Roman if he’s sure he wants to do this. After a tag team match, Jimmy Uso finds out that big offers were placed on him from Raw and SmackDown, but he’s staying on SmackDown. Jey Uso gets the same offer from Raw, but when SmackDown’s comes up, it says “No Bid.” Roman has essentially exiled Jey.

You could also do cute things like Dominik getting a massive offer from SmackDown, but Raw has had enough of him and doesn’t play for him at all. Bianca Belair could get the single biggest bid of the draft.

I dunno, I was just playing around with the idea.

[Lock Jaw]

VEER IS COMING

To Smackdown

[GD]

Remember the reaction of the Fox war room when they got Natalya? Priceless.

[erickman]

i like they do it this year the same time as the real draft, the nfl draft.

[Mr. Nerfect]

WWE are apparently considering brand exclusive PPVs again. The way they structure them, I can definitely see it being more viable than it was in the past.

[Rammsteinmad]

I actually didn't mind the brand-exclusive PPV's from the early 2000's. It gave a lot of midcarders/cruiserweights etc a chance to actually have meaningful matches, and gave that variety to the shows, without big names being left off.

[Rammsteinmad]

But after twenty years of inconsistencies, I doubt this draft will mean anything and within two weeks they'll have people "invading" other shows, or "final picks before the rosters are locked" or whatever nonsense they come up with.

[Mr. Nerfect]

My only hope for it, and this is a long-shot because he hasn’t seen much use in it so far, is that Triple H might have more to do with it creatively.

[Sting Fan]

I actually didn't mind the brand-exclusive PPV's from the early 2000's. It gave a lot of midcarders/cruiserweights etc a chance to actually have meaningful matches, and gave that variety to the shows, without big names being left off.

Its solid in theory but I fear it would just result in more of the special attraction guys working more often.

Maybe theres an upside in that as well but there all ageing now.

[GD]

Remember the reaction of the Fox war room when they got Natalya? Priceless.

Minor correction: USA Network executives

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-height="500"> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/comments/pzk2uf/last_years_draft_natalya_is_drafted_to_raw_and/">Last Year’s Draft: Natalya is drafted to RAW and the USA War Room goes wild!!</a><br> by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/topside_downes">u/topside_downes</a> in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SquaredCircle/">SquaredCircle</a> </blockquote><script async="" src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

[xrodmuc316]

Remember the reaction of the Fox war room when they got Natalya? Priceless.

The War Rooms were the best lol

[Mr. Nerfect]

Everyone is speculating that the World Heavyweight Title is going to either Cody, Seth or Drew. It would be kind of fun if they all ended up on the same show as Roman, and were therefore out.

[Sepholio]

lol when Bork Lasnur gets the new title.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t have a problem with Brock getting the new belt at all.

[xrodmuc316]

I think the only one they cannot put the new title on is Cody. The whole narrative is Cody came back to WWE to win the title that was taken from Dusty, not to win some brand new World Championship with zero lineage.

I think Lashley would work best since he never lost the WWE title clean either time, and never got a shot at Roman after that, but any upper level babyface but Cody would work.

[Helmsphere]

Omos is clearly.goimg to be champion.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I really hope it isn’t going to be Seth or Drew.

[Fignuts]

So I haven't really commented much on Cody losing at mania very much, because I wanted to give it time to think about it, and to see where they go directly afterwards. There was an arguement to be made that Cody winning would have been a little to easy. And it would better mirror his father's career if he had to chase roman just as dusty chased flair.

I was starting to buy into the idea that it could work. I wasn't completely sold, as it's incredibly ambitious, but I wasn't writing off roman retaining as a miostake.

That changes with the introduction of a new title. It doesn't matter how good the story is or how over cody is. Cody winning the title will never, ever mean as much as when there was one, undisputed champion. Because he won't be THE champion. He'll be A champion.

If this was the plan, Cody should have won at wrestlemania.

[Fignuts]

I really hope it isn’t going to be Seth or Drew.

Pretty sure Drew is on the way out.

[Lock Jaw]

If this was the plan, Cody should have won at wrestlemania.

If this was the plan, they definitely should have called an audible and had Sami Zayn fight Roman at WM and beat him.

Instead they flushed away their hottest storyline in years to go with Cody... and then didn't "finish the story" there either....

And now instead of being able to at least try to rekindle one or the other story for the next WM they have just completely flushed their whole 1000+ day story/build down the drain.

[GD]

In order for Cody to "finish the story", he needs to win the title his dad never won. Not the newly minted WHC title. It would very disappointing if Cody ends up winning it and they present it as a focal point of his career.

[Sepholio]

Gonna laugh when they unify again. Cody wins new title and wins the rumble again and fights roman for all the gold.

[xrodmuc316]

<blockquote class="reddit-embed-bq" style="height:500px" data-embed-height="500"> <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SCJerk/comments/12ysxln/fightful_plans_for_the_next_3_wrestlemanias/">Fightful: Plans for the next 3 Wrestlemanias leaked (knowing Vince)</a><br> by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/ShadyWolf">u/ShadyWolf</a> in <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SCJerk/">SCJerk</a> </blockquote><script async="" src="https://embed.reddit.com/widgets.js" charset="UTF-8"></script>

:rofl:

[GD]

<marquee>https://imagehost9.online-image-editor.com/oie_upload/images/2644827tn537p/266481NlgwRMmI.gif</marquee>

[Mr. Nerfect]

Gonna laugh when they unify again. Cody wins new title and wins the rumble again and fights roman for all the gold.

This actually wouldn’t be the worst story in the world. I doubt it’s what they’re doing, but using this belt as a story to fuel the ultimate Roman/Cody is not the worst way about getting to that.

I’m not feeling Cody in that spot though. I think they’ve created this so don’t need to have him as the ultimate guy.

[Lock Jaw]

The more I think of the new belt, the "angrier" I get. Like, damn... ok if you want a new belt. Just call it something else and treat it with higher respect and prestige than the IC/US level, just don't pretend that it is supposed to be an "equal" to Reigns belt(s).

Now we are just back to two world titles where one is clearly on the top guy, while the other is several levels below and could be stuck on just about anyone because it doesn't really matter.

That was always the problem with the two belts. Very seldom were they actually "equal". They would go back and forth with "this one is the more important one" and it would just devalue winning either.

[Evil Vito]

I didn't mind two world champions in those first 3 or 4 years of the brand split when brands were actually kept entirely separate and basically treated like their own promotion.

Once they started having people arbitrarily switching shows whenever it was convenient, they needed to merge the titles. Hilarious that the "World Heavyweight Title" continued for years after the brand split was killed off on TV, it reeked of midcard.

And there's no reason to expect they won't just have everyone appearing everywhere again.

[Mr. Nerfect]

The way Triple H talked about it, it could be presented as a different tier title to Roman’s. That it could be defended against anyone, anywhere, etc. kind of made it sound like it could just headline PPVs Roman isn’t on.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It sounds to me like they don’t plan on having Roman drop the belts anytime soon and they need a placeholder while he does whatever. Which means he’s gonna have it probably for at least another year. Probably more. Which sounds pretty awful tbf.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Could be. Or it could be misdirection and just build towards SummerSlam.

[Evil Vito]

USA supposedly feel the World Heavyweight Title will be seen at second rate and want Roman and the Bloodline on Raw. But the internal feeling is that they were ticketed to be back on SmackDown because FOX is the bigger money deal and their highest rated show.

On top of that, the draft is said to be happening because the networks again requested unique rosters and no cross-promotion. Same line of thinking that led to the last few drafts.

So it's really no secret why WWE always end up re-merging rosters within a few months, because they pretty much can't win otherwise. The networks want unique rosters but then get ticked off if certain stars don't appear.

[XL]

It sounds to me like they don’t plan on having Roman drop the belts anytime soon and they need a placeholder while he does whatever. Which means he’s gonna have it probably for at least another year. Probably more. Which sounds pretty awful tbf.

Rock must need another year to get into shape.

[Lock Jaw]

The way Triple H talked about it, it could be presented as a different tier title to Roman’s. That it could be defended against anyone, anywhere, etc. kind of made it sound like it could just headline PPVs Roman isn’t on.

That's all well and good, just don't call it a world title. Call it by any other name and do the same thing.

[XL]

I still like the idea of a Heritage title (borrowing from NXT UK). Have the matches be 2/3 falls where you have to pin and submit your opponent. Use the Winged Eagle with updated wordage. That can be your “workhorse” champion that defends against all comers. Feels like a solid way to establish someone.

[Lock Jaw]

1 out of 2 falls ONLY.

[XL]

Remember a few years ago when Vince went mad for 2/3 falls matches on Raw. They’d go multiple segments with falls either side of breaks.

[GD]

Remember a few years ago when Vince went mad for 2/3 falls matches on Raw. They’d go multiple segments with falls either side of breaks.

Such good shit.

[XL]

So with more time to consider this new belt situation I’ve come to this conclusion; we know that HHH has been using 3 x Booker of the Year Tony Khan’s playbook and having exhausted who he can bring back for a debut he’s turned to TK’s next best booking tactics, making big announcements and introducing new championship belts.

[Evil Vito]

Like in previous years, the draft is split into two separate draft pools.

Eligible to be drafted on Friday:

* Becky Lynch
* Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair
* The Bloodline (Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa)
* Bobby Lashley
* Candice LeRae
* Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville
* Cody Rhodes
* Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai)
* Dexter Lumis
* Dolph Ziggler
* Drew McIntyre
* Edge
* Hit Row (Top Dolla, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, B-Fab)
* Imperium (WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)
* Lacey Evans
* Matt Riddle
* Maximum Male Models (ma.cé, mån.sôör, Maxxine Dupri)
* The Miz
* Mustafa Ali
* Natalya
* The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin)
* Omos and MVP
* Shinsuke Nakamura
* The Street Profits (Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins)
* The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar, Valhalla)
* Select NXT Superstars

Eligible to be drafted on Monday:

* Akira Tozawa
* Alpha Academy (Otis, Chad Gable)
* Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo
* Asuka
* WWE United States Champion Austin Theory
* Baron Corbin
* Braun Strowman and Ricochet
* The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch)
* Brock Lesnar
* Bronson Reed
* Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin
* Charlotte Flair
* Dana Brooke
* Elias
* Emma
* Johnny Gargano
* Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio)
* Karrion Kross and Scarlett
* Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
* LA Knight
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
* The LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Zelina Vega)
* The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods)
* Nikki Cross
* Piper Niven
* SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley
* Rick Boogs
* Riddick Moss
* Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
* Seth "Freakin'" Rollins
* Shotzi
* Tamina
* Tegan Nox
* The Usos (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso)
* Trish Stratus
* Xia Li
* Select NXT Superstars

The Bloodline only being Roman and Solo with the Usos having to be picked separately is kinda strange but ultimately feels like a red herring. Probably one of those deals where Monday rolls around and Roman "demands" the Usos get drafted to his show. Can't imagine the full group being split up before they properly finish up their story.

Rhea not listed with Judgment Day is weird and feels more likely to be telegraphing a split, otherwise why was she not just drafted with the rest of the group? I assume she's going to SmackDown, yeah they could always do another "belt swap" angle but not sure I see it when Bianca's got a year-long title reign going with the Raw title lineage. Logic aside I hope they don't split Rhea and Dom up.

Street Profits remain the most likely team to be abruptly split - with Montez presumably being on Raw to stay with Bianca and Angelo going to SmackDown. But I think keeping them together and doing a proper breakup angle makes more sense.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I’d be completely okay with the new World Title being used to elevate someone new entirely. Even someone like a Bron Breakker or my outside pick…Apollo Crews. Is being plugged into mid-card stuff going to do that much for them? When someone has got the tools, you might as well present them as a big deal (as long as you are committed to them).

A guy like Crews has a great look, an interesting background, can work, is quite young and isn’t completely useless as a talker. He’s done the mid-card thing, he’s worked with a bunch of the guys coming up, he can play a face or a heel. There’s no real “hunger” for it, but that could be a shock that jolts people into paying attention.

You can tie it into him getting advice from Roman at some point too.

I think the problem you are going to face with the belt is the new champion feeling less than, especially if they’ve lost to Roman in a big way already. While establishing the champion, maybe they should be an unknown quantity, so you can play with the idea that this guy could hypothetically be the spoiler for Roman Reigns down the line. Someone fresh also allows you to pivot off a bunch of stories with the talent on that roster who have likely already mixed in the upper levels. What’s Seth going to do as champion? Feud with Bobby Lashley?

Montez Ford, Dominik Mysterio, Chad Gable and Damian Priest are other names I’ll throw out there for the spot.

From the existing main event roster, I can see the path forward with Cody (this isn’t good enough for me), Edge (I finally made it again) or even a miracle return from John Cena or Randy Orton. I can kind of get behind Bobby Lashley too. Or Logan Paul if his new deal allows it. But I think a good pick would be Sami Zayn, especially if they can get it done in Saudi Arabia, because the “feel good” can carry it through.

Seth and Drew are bad picks imo. They’re just not hot enough in the spot and it feels like it’s been done. I know Seth’s thing is that Roman hasn’t beaten him properly, but it still feels a little flat. I’m fine with him as the other guy in the decider.

If the belt is truly around to stay, Cody is a mistake too. And they also need to come up with fresh stories around it that don’t revolve around The Bloodline and what they’re doing.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I could really get behind Bron Breakker in the spot. He’d be like Finn Balor in 2016. Just smash him over and become “the guy” on Raw. He can defend the belt at NXT Battleground. If crowds boo him, roll with it. If they cheer him because he’s fresh, run with that too.

[Sepholio]

Have Rhea win it.

[xrodmuc316]

This is my problem for every draft when they split teams up.

Street Profits are listed as a team, yet they will get drafted one at a time. Zero logical reason to only draft one when you can draft both.

[XL]

Yep. And they’ve doubled down this year by splitting some teams in the pool and not others only for the inevitable splitting of some of the teams.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I always hate how they split teams like that. The only thing that slightly smooths it over in my mind is if the wrestlers have the agency, so drafting them as singles forces that split in the team. But then it takes the pressure off the other show to draft the other person.

It would not shock me to see Montez Ford end up on Raw and Angelo Dawkins end up on SmackDown.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yep. And they’ve doubled down this year by splitting some teams in the pool and not others only for the inevitable splitting of some of the teams.

The only splits I can see are Roman & Solo Sikoa being separate from The Usos (there’s #1 right there) and Rhea Ripley being separate to Judgment Day. I think it’s pretty likely we’ll get The Usos and Judgment Day on Raw.

[Sepholio]

Judgement Day going to SD, will end up feuding with The Bloodline. Imperium to Raw. They are protecting Gunther almost like Roman. Lets him have a run at the new world title instead of having to feed him to Reigns.

[GD]

I haven't watched Smackdown in forever. Hopefully they produce a good show.

[slik]

Night 1:

Guessing Roman, Cody, Seth, Theory, Omos, Becky for SD in and Drew, Edge, Imperium, Nakamura, Bianca to RAW.

[GD]

I'm genuinely excited for this show. I hope they stick to the roster split this time around.

[xrodmuc316]

Kind of weird they are going up against the NFL draft if the rosters are not going into effect until May 8th anyways.

[GD]

So this confirms the fate of the World Heavyweight Championship.

[slik]

I'm already wrong lol

[xrodmuc316]

Also, why would the Smackdown fans cheer for Raw picks?? :rofl:

[Sepholio]

lol Bianca and Rhea title swap time.

[xrodmuc316]

LOL why, every fucking year!

[GD]

Looks like Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley are going to exchange the belts.

[slik]

Round One:

SD - Roman/Solo/Heyman

RAW - Cody

SD - Bianca

RAW - Becky Lynch

[GD]

Looks like Lynch and Rollins are going to stay on RAW.

[xrodmuc316]

Interesting keeping Cody and Seth on the same show

[GD]

The giant screen looks "somewhat pixelated" up close.

[slik]

Looks like Lynch and Rollins are going to stay on RAW.

Guessing Street Profits to SD as well

[GD]

Can't believe they're still calling Pete Dunne "Butch" :nono:

[slik]

LA Knight (and LWO) both need to start winning matches, the crowd really is into both

[GD]

Ummm...did Belair just say that she's glad to be Smackdown women's champion?

[GD]

OMG! LA Knight looks good.

[screech]

Boring way to draft, imo. Need some pizzazz out there

[GD]

Boring way to draft, imo. Need some pizzazz out there

I miss the old draft lottery format. Felt more engaging like the Royal Rumble tumbler.

[Sepholio]

LA Knight (and LWO) both need to start winning matches, the crowd really is into both

nice

[slik]

LA Knight finally won a match!

[Sepholio]

RVD!

[slik]

Wish Michael Hayes was in a neon pink onesie

[GD]

Whoa! RVD :eek:

[Sepholio]

Street Profits to SD

[Sepholio]

Imperium to RAW, called that one.

[GD]

RVD looks great for his age.

[Sepholio]

Theory going to SD for sure now.

[Sepholio]

Edge to SD

[Sepholio]

Riddle staying on RAW

[slik]

Round Two:

SD - Street Profits

RAW - Imperium

SD - EDGE

RAW - Matt Riddle

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Is the draft fun to watch live? All they’re doing is reading names. That can’t be too exciting to see in person.

[slik]

Guessing this means another Roman/Edge feud

[slik]

Please keep Edge and Judgment Day on different shows

[GD]

Whoa! I thought Strowman was concussed.

[GD]

Ay lmao

[GD]

Strowman taking an awkward fumble.

[GD]

Holy $h!t at the dive by Dawkins :eek:

[GD]

Teddy Long revealing the Monday Night RAW draft picks feels wrong.

[GD]

Looks like Bobby Lashley is winning the United States Championship at Backlash.

[xrodmuc316]

Lashley to Smackdown is great, but that means Raw actually picked Riddle before Lashley lol

[Sepholio]

OC to SD, nice

[slik]

Round Three:

SD - Lashley

RAW - Drew McIntyre

SD - The OC, including AJ Styles

RAW - The Miz

[GD]

Wasn't aware that Mia Yim was still a part of the O.C.

[xrodmuc316]

Has Anderson and Gallows even been on TV since AJ got hurt? I forgot about them again!

[slik]

Teddy Long revealing the Monday Night RAW draft picks feels wrong.

agreed

[GD]

Zelina Vega looks great.

[slik]

SD main event roster significantly stronger than RAW thus far

[xrodmuc316]

Zelina is so small, she even makes Rey look tall!

[Sepholio]

hey nice AJ is all healed up

[Sepholio]

OC logo looks like The Shredder with a gas mask

[xrodmuc316]

Oh shit, I didnt know AJ was actually back from his injury!

[GD]

Whoa! AJ is back :eek:

[xrodmuc316]

Why doesnt Sarah Logan wear shoes?

[GD]

The Viking Raiders are so boring

[Sepholio]

AJ deserves one more run at the top at least

[Sepholio]

hey its the DX round

[slik]

Final Round already?
A lot of people getting drafted on twitter from the night 1 pool it seems

[GD]

lol at Shawn Michaels revealing the Smackdown draft picks :roll:

[xrodmuc316]

So Shawn is going to announce his own roster getting drafted to Smackdown? WWE is the absolute kings of missing the most obvious plot holes ever! Shawn shouldnt be cool about his roster losing people lol

[xrodmuc316]

How TF is Braun Strowman going to fit into a race car?

[Sepholio]

rumors of DMG CTRL being done clearly BS

[GD]

Fuck yeah! Shinsuke Nakamura is off to RAW.

[GD]

Wait a minute...isn't that Kay Lee Ray?

[xrodmuc316]

LOL why?

[slik]

Round Four:

SD - Damage CTRL

RAW - Nakamura

SD - Alba Fyre/Isla Dawn

RAW - Indi Hartwell

[GD]

Oh snap! The Way on Monday Night RAW :eek:

[xrodmuc316]

Wait a minute...isn't that Kay Lee Ray?

Yeah they changed her name when they were changing all the NXT UK names, Imperium, Butch etc.

[Sepholio]

fuck you kross

[GD]

Katana Chance sounds so weird.

[xrodmuc316]

Well guess Kross is getting drafted to Raw Monday

[GD]

Can Heyman be more obvious?

[slik]

main-event scene for men's divisions, as of night 1:

RAW
Cody
Nakamura
Drew

SMACKDOWN
Roman
AJ Styles
Bobby Lashley
EDGE

[Sepholio]

more picks in the morning on SD recap or w/e on peacock

[GD]

main-event scene for men's divisions, as of night 1:

RAW
Cody
Rollins
Drew

SMACKDOWN
Roman
AJ Styles
Bobby Lashley
EDGE

FTFY :y:

[GD]

Quality tv main event.

[Ruien]

What happened to Bray Wyatt?

[GD]

What happened to Bray Wyatt?

He's out with an "injury".

[XL]

Really surprised by those NXT drafts.

[slik]

drafted Saturday morning:


WWE Raw

Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar w/ Valhalla)
Dexter Lumis
Candice LeRae
Maximum Male Models (ma.cé, mån.sôör & Maxxine Dupri)
Natalya
Apollo Crews
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
Zoey Stark
JD McDonagh


WWE SmackDown

Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante "Thee" Adonis w/ B-Fab)
Lacey Evans


Free Agents

Omos (w/ MVP)
Mustafa Ali
Dolph Ziggler
Von Wagner

[XL]

Too much movement for me as usual. If you move so many parts you’re basically just doing a palette swap.

[XL]

Also, why did Raw get 9 picks to SmackDown’s 2?

[Ruien]

Maximum Male Models will do better on Raw where there is time to do 'funny' skits.

[Ruien]

Hoping Otis goes to Raw now.

[XL]

Maximum Male Models are already on Raw. Their funny skits are “WWE.com Exclusives”. It’s Fashion Police/Breezango all over again.

[Ruien]

Well then nevermind.

[xrodmuc316]

drafted Saturday morning:


WWE Raw

Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar w/ Valhalla)
Dexter Lumis
Candice LeRae
Maximum Male Models (ma.cé, mån.sôör & Maxxine Dupri)
Natalya
Apollo Crews
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
Zoey Stark
JD McDonagh


WWE SmackDown

Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante "Thee" Adonis w/ B-Fab)
Lacey Evans


Free Agents

Omos (w/ MVP)
Mustafa Ali
Dolph Ziggler
Von Wagner

Anybody not drafted on the actual shows but then switching brands in some off air picks usually never debuts on the new show, and are then released after about 2 months.

Also, how does an NXT person not drafted get to be a free agent, didn't most of NXT not get drafted??? Von Wagner is doomed :rofl:

[Danny Electric]

They love a big guy in Saudi so can see Von Wagner making an appearance there. Or because he needs it he comes out to help Omos and is under the tutelage of MVP.

[GD]

I'm genuinely curious to see how they consolidate the WWE Undisputed Universal Championship. Considering their track record, they'll prefer the lineage of the WWE Championship but I wonder if they'll retroactively recognize Reigns' Universal title reign if they end up retiring the strap.

Also, why are they including superstars from Smackdown in the tournament for the World Heavyweight Championship if it is suppose to be exclusive to RAW?

[Simple Fan]

Impact is still the best all around show.

[erickman]

Also, why did Raw get 9 picks to SmackDown’s 2?

3 hour show

[XL]

Yeah I guess. Didn’t they used to do 2 Raw picks for every SmackDown on the TV picks.

[Lock Jaw]

Smackdown pulled the free agent names but decided to say "nah, we're good"

[XL]

Anybody not drafted on the actual shows but then switching brands in some off air picks usually never debuts on the new show, and are then released after about 2 months.

Also, how does an NXT person not drafted get to be a free agent, didn't most of NXT not get drafted??? Von Wagner is doomed :rofl:

I guess they had an NXT pool rather than the full roster being available. Seems Shawn didn’t know that though. And Von Wagner should go undrafted. He’s the shits.

Omos going undrafted is a weird one. Bet he’s just in the pool for tonight.

[Evil Vito]

Also, why did Raw get 9 picks to SmackDown’s 2?

On the televised portion of the draft, SmackDown took a bunch of stables which amount to 17 people drafted vs. only 10 for Raw.

The totals including the supplemental draft made it 21 for SmackDown and 24 for Raw.

You can fudge the numbers a bit more if you exclude managers but regardless, it's sorta sensible why Raw got more supplemental picks + it being a longer show.

Of course this is all headcanon anyway.

[Evil Vito]

Omos' "free agency" was supposedly negotiated by MVP - he wanted him to be able to appear on both brands. Which begs the question of why they couldn't just have Heyman negotiate The Bloodline for both shows which seems to be who the networks both wanted anyway.

Ali and Dolph being free agents is kinda hilarious, not just because it makes them look unimportant but it effectively pigeonholes them further as guys who are just there to be a "hell of a hand", since they can presumably just be brought to any show and plugged in to have a solid match wherever but not do anything of substance.

[Evil Vito]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It was all smiles at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWENXT?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWENXT</a> Watch Party as <a href="https://twitter.com/WWEApollo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWEApollo</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ZoeyStarkWWE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZoeyStarkWWE</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/jd_mcdonagh?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jd_mcdonagh</a> heard their names called as the newest members of the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWERaw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWERaw</a> roster!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WWEDraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WWEDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/HIKoDf8gas">pic.twitter.com/HIKoDf8gas</a></p>&mdash; WWE (@WWE) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWE/status/1652394822798376960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

lol, Apollo celebrating a call-up to a place he's already been

[Sepholio]

Should make a stable out of the guys who don't get drafted and have them tear shit up because they feel underappreciated. Dolph and Ali are a great start for said hypothetical faction.

[XL]

Yeah my thought was given the storyline they’ve had on Raw that Ali and Ziggler become a team and get “drafted” together.

[XL]

On the televised portion of the draft, SmackDown took a bunch of stables which amount to 17 people drafted vs. only 10 for Raw.

The totals including the supplemental draft made it 21 for SmackDown and 24 for Raw.

You can fudge the numbers a bit more if you exclude managers but regardless, it's sorta sensible why Raw got more supplemental picks + it being a longer show.

Of course this is all headcanon anyway.

Yeah that’s definitely you rationalising it :lol:

Like Raw had the option to draft those factions too.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Yeah my thought was given the storyline they’ve had on Raw that Ali and Ziggler become a team and get “drafted” together.

Definitely fine with that.

[erickman]

so what has the game to say

[Sepholio]

lol brand split doesnt apply to Lesnar.

[erickman]

brock the free agent

[GD]

Cringing over another women's championship exchange.

[slik]

Brock Lesnar will remain a free agent

RAW - Rhea Ripley

SD - Austin Theory

RAW - Seth Rollins

SD - Charlotte Flair

[xrodmuc316]

Austin Theory the first pick for Smackdown

[Sepholio]

lolol Reigns gonna win the new belt too oh man

[GD]

ngl the World Heavyweight Championship design is growing on me.

[Sepholio]

they are gonna find a way

[xrodmuc316]

LOVE that Paul saying Roman would win that title if he was allowed lol

[GD]

That pop for Rollins was insane

[GD]

Cringing over another women's championship exchange.

I hope they let the women hold on to their respective championships. Maybe a name change that doesn't make them brand exclusive?

[GD]

I wasn't aware how "over" Rollins was. This is good.

[Sepholio]

<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/3o6ZtowXaSe8rrRnFe" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>

Rollins gives me serious Xerxes vibes.

[xrodmuc316]

Raw with a legitimate sellout tonight, while Dynamite is struggling to break 3000 fans. For the "love to see it" posters here, well do you love to see that? :rofl:

[Sepholio]

I love to see it

[Sepholio]

I dedicate this joint to Xrod for owning all the marks and sheep

[xrodmuc316]

So for as much as they showcase Raquel's back, am I the only one who thinks it just looks like a normal back? She is out there posing like Chris Masters used to, but I do not understand why.

[slik]

RAW - KO/Sami Zayn

SD - The USOs

RAW - Finn Balor/Damian Priest/Dominic Mysterio

SD - LWO (Rey, Wilde, Del Toro, Zelina, Escobar)

[GD]

Looks like HBK is gearing up to lose more NXT talents.

[Sepholio]

must be time for some NXT draftings

[Sepholio]

Brock said F your draft

[Supreme Olajuwon]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="zxx" dir="ltr"><a href="https://t.co/JoxySiku5T">pic.twitter.com/JoxySiku5T</a></p>&mdash; pussy (@LilNasX) <a href="https://twitter.com/LilNasX/status/1653203495753768960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Bad Bunny will not be at Raw tonight

[slik]

RAW - Raquel/Liv

SD - Asuka

RAW - New Day

SD - Brawling Brutes

[GD]

Eric Bischoff is back! :eek:

Poit shedding a single tear

[slik]

For a show that has like 15 minutes dedicated to the women each week, SD sure has a lot of top female talent on it

[Sepholio]

THE BISCH!!!!!

[slik]

RAW - Trish Stratus

SD - Karrion Kross/Scarlett

RAW - Ronda/Shayna

SD - LA Knight

[Blonde Moment]

Yes..... The theme is back

[slik]

Not looking forward to the inevitable Becky/Ronda feud on RAW

[GD]

Molly Holly is back!

[GD]

Not looking forward to the inevitable Becky/Ronda feud on RAW

Wish Veer would return to RAW and break Ronda's back so we wouldn't have to sit through the "inevitable Becky/Ronda feud" :smh:

[slik]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">WWE Raw is very babyface heavy -- Cody, Rollins, Drew McIntyre, Owens, Zayn, Nakamura, Riddle</p>&mdash; Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) <a href="https://twitter.com/SeanRossSapp/status/1653199890468446208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[slik]

If he re-signs I suppose Heel Drew vs Cody could be a WM40 feud

[Sepholio]

Road Doggy Dogg and Molly Holly

[Sepholio]

how tf is Dave ahead of me by like 4 mins when I'm watching live, this is weird

[GD]

I miss the old titantron entrance videos.

[slik]

RAW - Ricochet/Braun

SD - Shotzi

RAW - Bronson Reed

SD - Pretty Deadly

[GD]

Pretty Deadly are coming to Smackdown :yes:

[Sepholio]

I love the judgement day entrance

[slik]

I think Bronson Reed might be the top heel on RAW r/n by default

[GD]

I got the gist of the promo.

[Sepholio]

lol Dom is so over as a heel. Holy shit at the reaction every time he talks. Sounds like crowds from 20 years ago lol

[xrodmuc316]

Dom is a freakimg heat magnet

[GD]

Holy shit! The crowd is livid.

[slik]

I think Bronson Reed might be the top heel on RAW r/n by default

Or Gunther or Dominic

[xrodmuc316]

You think Malakai and Buddy about to have heat after Rhea murders Zelina in Puerto Rico?

[xrodmuc316]

Or Gunther or Dominic

The number 1 heel of Raw is always gonna be the 3rd hour :rofl:

[GD]

Monday Night RAW drags so much :(

[GD]

A Mojo Rawley reference in 2023 :lol:

[slik]

Monday Night RAW drags so much :(

Always

[GD]

Damb @ Iyo Sky :heart:

[GD]

It's Holla Holla time!

https://media.tenor.com/6bFS1V6uTFIAAAAM/teddy-long-wwe.gif

[GD]

Ricochet and Katana Chance on the same brand :o

[GD]

Holla Holla time has ended...

https://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4rrp0bOCB1r0sxr7o1_400.gif

[slik]

RAW - Otis/Gable

SD - Boogs

RAW - Katana/Kayden (NXT)

SD - Cameron Grimes

[slik]

Really boring/terrible draft pics IMO overall this year

RAW is missing too many male top heels
SD has too many male main-eventers
SD has too many female main-eventers
RAW doesn't have enough top female talent

[GD]

@slik Do you think RAW will be more bearable now with Ricochet on the red brand? I for one think it gives the show some much needed pizzazz.

[slik]

Ricochet helps for sure

I am sure it's not as bad a draft as I initially think too...I will let it play out

[slik]

Hope Orton is on RAW whenever he returns, so we can get Orton vs Rhodes

[GD]

Hope Orton is on RAW whenever he returns, so we can get Orton vs Rhodes

I can't wait for the Viper to coil again if you catch my drift.

[Sepholio]

did they seriously not call up Bron?

[GD]

On a serious note, there's something to be said about the commentary team on Monday Night RAW. Patrick and Graves just don't gel that well. Maybe it's Graves' over-the-top antagonizing shtick that I've become bored of.

[xrodmuc316]

Can anybody explain why Mia Yim was drafted with the O.C., and Zelina Vega was drafted with the LWO, but Raw only picked Rhea by herself, but then used a 2nd pick to draft the rest of the Judgement Day anyways?

Couldn't they just have drafted the Judgement Day with the first fucking pick and then had an extra pick later? Like seriously, what in the illogical fuck?

[XL]

Raw - Akira Tozawa, Garza & Humberto, Dana Brooke, Emma, Indus Sher, Johnny Gargano, Nikki Cross, Odyssey Jones, Piper Niven, Riddick Moss, Tegan Nox, Xia Li

SmackDown - Grayson Waller, Tamina

Free Agents - Baron Corbin, Shelton Benjamin & Cedric Alexander, Elias, Xyon Quinn

[XL]

Not sure I get the Free Agent status. These guys can go where they want? A double dose of Baron Corbin? Great!

[XL]

On a serious note, there's something to be said about the commentary team on Monday Night RAW. Patrick and Graves just don't gel that well. Maybe it's Graves' over-the-top antagonizing shtick that I've become bored of.

I think it might be that Kevin Patrick isn’t very good.

[Fignuts]

did they seriously not call up Bron?

They just started a big heel turn with him in nxt, plus I'd argue he needs more time in the oven.

[Sepholio]

They just started a big heel turn with him in nxt, plus I'd argue he needs more time in the oven.

I mean I get they started that heel turn and all but considering RAW looks to be extremely face heavy at the moment, a heel Bron coming up and tearing shit up seemed like a nice fit to me.

[XL]

Don’t try and apply too much logic to any of this, WWE didn’t. #FEDBAD

[XL]

They’ve already updated the rosters on WWE.com despite the fact they don’t go into place until 6th May.

[XL]

Anyway, one return I’m looking forward to is THICC GUNTHER. Seems far less imposing right now but he’s just got married so he’ll soon “let himself go”.

[Sepholio]

Wonder where Bray and Alexa end up? Rumored they are going to be working together again now and Road Dogg said that they've hired a new writer specifically to work with Bray and get all that streamlined so it should hopefully be a bit more focused. I'd guess RAW at this point considering Bray stuff could be a good time filler on a 3 hour show and they need some high level heels over there.

[Sepholio]

lol imagining a feud between Bray and Matt Riddle where Bray keeps doing progressively worse supernatural shit to him and none of it bothers Riddle because he's so high he thinks it's all in his head.

*Scary Wyatt stuff happens*

Riddle: Broooooo did you see that? This is such good shit maaaaaan

[Mr. Nerfect]

Bray should be drafted into the trash. But he’ll be on Raw because Bo is fucking Liv Morgan and she’s on Raw.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Just what WWE needs. Bray and Alexa.

[Mr. Nerfect]

They’ll probably turn some babyfaces on Raw heel. I wonder if The New Day are long for this world, or long for it as faces. Seth and/or Drew are prime candidates too. Plus they can always push Judgment Day, Imperium, Alpha Academy, etc. It’s fine. You’re going to have Gunther wrestling. Automatic top wrestling show.

[Mr. Nerfect]

I don’t get throwing talent into the draft pool and then not drafting them.

[Sepholio]

I mean maybe that's the way they relegate people to NXT now?

[Mr. Nerfect]

I thought about that, but you’ve got some NXT talent in there. But in theory I’m cool with that. But just draft them to NXT or whatever. I think Ziggler, Ali, Corbin and Elias are all good NXT adds though. Shelton & Cedric too, but they should just be on SmackDown with Lashley, I think.

[Evil Vito]

Genuinely I could see Corbin turning back into his sad, down on his luck character from a couple of years ago as he helplessly shows up on both brands begging to get signed.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

You think Malakai and Buddy about to have heat after Rhea murders Zelina in Puerto Rico?

It’s my understanding that when one wrestler murders another wrestler in Puerto Rico there are no consequences.

[XL]

Genuinely I could see Corbin turning back into his sad, down on his luck character from a couple of years ago as he helplessly shows up on both brands begging to get signed.

Yeah I’m sort of expecting a return to Bum Ass Corbin. Maybe Judgment Day pick him up when he’s at his lowest.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Corbin comes to the realization that neither show wants him because he is a bad guy. He takes to the streets to fight injustice and earn his way into WWE fans’ hearts.

[Mr. Nerfect]

Someone get the AI to come up with gimmicks for these guys.

[XL]

Yes. Then get Helms and Molly together and they can be a wrestling version of The Avengers. It’s probably about time for WWE to tap into the zeitgeist of 2012.

[Lock Jaw]

It’s my understanding that when one wrestler murders another wrestler in Puerto Rico there are no consequences.

#POTY

[Sepholio]

I thought about that, but you’ve got some NXT talent in there. But in theory I’m cool with that. But just draft them to NXT or whatever. I think Ziggler, Ali, Corbin and Elias are all good NXT adds though. Shelton & Cedric too, but they should just be on SmackDown with Lashley, I think.

Giving NXT draft picks and running it like that would just cause another issue though in that people would notice they always make shitty picks and never take a big star/team.

[xrodmuc316]

One last piece of WWE's nonsensical rules.

Indi Hartwell had to vacate the NXT Women's Championship since she got drafted to Raw.
The NXT Women's Tag Champions get to bring those titles to Smackdown with them.

????

[GD]

One last piece of WWE's nonsensical rules.

Indi Hartwell had to vacate the NXT Women's Championship since she got drafted to Raw.
The NXT Women's Tag Champions get to bring those titles to Smackdown with them.

????

https://media1.giphy.com/media/EldfH1VJdbrwY/giphy.gif?cid=82a1493bu5ya8rdfoa0if6v9g0qrzmfw81erq9q41hnzqz4s&ep=v1_gifs_related&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g