Official Raw is Draft Thread (6-23-08): Place your bets!

[Mr. Nerfect]

Pretty interesting shake-up. I'm really interested in the aftermath. WWE.com could play a major part in that. Now that it is RAW's top title, the ECW Championship should be renamed the "RAW Championship," at least until it ends up back on ECW.

Theodore Long needs to make a statement on losing his World Champion, and what he plans to do about it. The US Title wasn't good enough to headline his show when they lost John Cena in 2005 -- is it good enough now?

If I were Joey Styles, I'd ask Jim Ross and Vince if I could run an angle where it would be reported that Jim Ross has given his notice to the WWE, unhappy he was drafted, and that he may not be on SmackDown! doing commentary.

How is Vickie Guerrero going to react to the US Title basically being a confirmed ECW title now? Is Big Show going to win the RAW Title from Kane, and make it the SmackDown! Title? Is SmackDown! big enough for three World Champions?

The WWE needs to voice those questions, if only to promote Night of Champions the week's television.

[NeanderCarl]

Originally Posted by Noid If I were Joey Styles, I'd ask Jim Ross and Vince if I could run an angle where it would be reported that Jim Ross has given his notice to the WWE, unhappy he was drafted, and that he may not be on SmackDown! doing commentary.

Which would lead to what? Enough of the announcer angles already. They cannot be resolved in the ring, which is what the business is all about. It's just wasted TV time.

"JR's gone... again!" won't sell a single PPV, won't especially encourage very many people to watch SmackDown, and won't make a blind bit of difference when he's back behind the desk three weeks later.

Fuck it, they needed to take him and Lawler out of their comfort zones anyway.

[PorkSoda]

There will obviously be a supplemental draft because they do it ever year. Keyboard is mental, so obviously everyone goes insane.

Triple H will most likely still be on Raw. Remember when he got moved but still stayed on Raw a few years back? He pissed until he got his way-hay!

American Woman!

[Mr. Nerfect]

Originally Posted by Class Act Carl Which would lead to what? Enough of the announcer angles already. They cannot be resolved in the ring, which is what the business is all about. It's just wasted TV time. "JR's gone... again!" won't sell a single PPV, won't especially encourage very many people to watch SmackDown, and won't make a blind bit of difference when he's back behind the desk three weeks later. Fuck it, they needed to take him and Lawler out of their comfort zones anyway.

Yes, they did need to be taken out of their comfort zones. To be honest, I think it will either make both better, or will make Jerry Lawler so unbelievably bad that he needs to be released.

As for that angle I suggested, it plays off JR's attitude. It talks about why JR is as upset as he is that he was moved from RAW to SmackDown!. What does he have against the blue brand? Commentators are how people relate to the action, and having a grumpy commentator will effect that. The more in-depth the WWE goes with it (without giving it major TV time, of course), the more people sympathise or dislike JR for it. The commentators are a major part of the dynamic a show creates.

It won't be a ratings boost, or anything, but it creates a story for SmackDown!. "Who will be calling SmackDown! this week?" is a question that piques interest, much like "Who will Ted DiBiase's partner be at Night of Champions?" or "Who will be drafted next?" Real marks care about those sort of aspects of the show, and not looking after your commentators, referees, lower card talent and mid-card talent can effect people's level of attachment to the show.