How to go about the WWE Draft now that it's been announced...

[Crashnburn]

Originally Posted by loopydate What I posted was the draft list from last year. The previous draft, when it was Vince (SmackDown) vs. Flair (RAW), when they were first starting the brand extension, they each got to pick ten guys, while the rest of the wrestlers were "randomly" assigned brands.

That's probably what I was thinking of.

[Kane Knight]

Well, they need to add a couple big names (Though they're probably mostly gonna get traded right back for jobbers)...

[olympic hitman]

Originally Posted by Kane Knight The easiest way would just be to book Smackdown like a viable show again. It was winning in the ratings before they killed it to make Raw look like the dominant brand.

Yes, this is true. Back in 2002 when the rosters were first seperated, SmackDown completely kicked RAW's ass[although RAW wasn't as bad then as current SD now].

I remember the ladder match Edge had with Eddie Guerrero on Smackdown back in 02 or 03[can't remember which], but, it was AWESOME, with Edge doing his Edge-cution DDT off the top of the ladder

At that moment, Smackdown rocked. Lesnar[Undisputed Champ], Rock, Hogan, Jericho,Storm and others were on SD[even HHH was on SD initially, before going back to RAW].

I think SmackDown can be as good or better than RAW again. We just need more top talent shifted to Smackdown; I would love seeing Christian vs. Cena, Christian vs. Guerrero, and Christian vs. Kurt Angle. Christian has emerged as one of my fav future talents and I think sending him to SmackDown might make him a main-eventer.......

Anyway, back to topic: The draft can only mean good things. It means Vince realizes that he finally has to switch things to make WWE interesting as a whole again. I just hope that don't stop the shaking things up part once they arrive on USA Network. If they are having another draft, it may just be an attempt to impress USA long enough to sweeten the deal[and probably up the money amount ] and then they might go back into the dumps again Hopefully, I'm wrong and Vinnie Mac will keep his product interesting all-the-time, seeing as it would benefit us the most.......just wishful thinkin' though

[PureHatred]

You're mistaken on your timeline. After the brand split, Y2J and Storm were on Raw. Triple H was on Smackdown for ONE show after last year's draft, and then traded back for Booker T and the Dudleyz.

I think you're thinking of when Smackdown first debuted and the entire roster was on both shows.

Also, the shake up has nothing to do with USA. The deal has been finalized and the money is already a done deal. You don't renegotiate TV contracts after they've been finalized and announced to the public. That's just not how things work.

A better product would lead to better ratings (which could then turned into better sponsors) and better buy-rates for your pPV. But your network isn't going to turn around and ay you more until after the first contract is finished. In the case of Spike, maybe not even then.

[The CyNick]

Ive been reading that they might do Cena for Batista.

I've always thought that would be the easiest thing to do. It accomplishes the most important goal, which is to create new programs on top, and it also makes the draft lottery seem huge, because the two top guys would be moved. Which is the opposite of last year, where nothing of significance happened.

Cena is the guy they really expect to carry the company, and RAW is clearly the brand they favour, and this is never going to change, so it makes sense to have Cena over there. It also makes sense to put the WWE title, which has all the history back on the show where it will actually get pushed.

I personally wouldn't move Eddie from SD. SD has the heavy Latino aspect to it, so I wouldn't change that.

Trading champions isn't going to address the problem that SD needs more talent. Ive said this before, but I think in terms of major players at leats 3 guys have to go to SD from RAW and at most 2 should come back to RAW.

[Somebody's Gotta Die]

Originally Posted by The CyNick Ive been reading that they might do Cena for Batista. I've always thought that would be the easiest thing to do. It accomplishes the most important goal, which is to create new programs on top, and it also makes the draft lottery seem huge, because the two top guys would be moved. Which is the opposite of last year, where nothing of significance happened. Cena is the guy they really expect to carry the company, and RAW is clearly the brand they favour, and this is never going to change, so it makes sense to have Cena over there. It also makes sense to put the WWE title, which has all the history back on the show where it will actually get pushed. I personally wouldn't move Eddie from SD. SD has the heavy Latino aspect to it, so I wouldn't change that. Trading champions isn't going to address the problem that SD needs more talent. Ive said this before, but I think in terms of major players at leats 3 guys have to go to SD from RAW and at most 2 should come back to RAW.

Cena for Batista is a good idea since I'd like to see the WWE title on RAW and the WCW/World title on SmackDown!...

Yep, keeping Eddie on SmackDown! would be a good idea, I guess... Cena definitely isn't the guy they should be counting on to carry the company... There are much better workers that can get equally over since Cena's gimmick will soon be stale, either way...

Major changes are indeed needed, though... Hopefully there are no trades involving breaking up tag-teams, sending cruisers to RAW or anything useless with the divas... The trades could reflect the future of the two brands for the next 12 months...

[Butch]

This is the way I would carry the Draft out (if we were sticking to 6 choices)


TO RAW

John Cena - takes his title belt with him
The Undertaker
D-Von Dudley
Bubba Ray Dudley
Mark Jindrack
John Heidenreich


TO SMACKDOWN

Batista - also takes his title belt with him
Shawn Michaels
Christian
Tyson Tomko
Tajiri
The Hurricaine

[Mr. Nerfect]

First off, I thinkt he WWE should have a cruiserweight/women's wrestler floodgate policy, where any male wrestler 220lbs or under is immediately drafted to SmackDown! (The Hurricane, Tajiri, Simon Dean, Maven & Steven Richards), and any female with wrestling training (Dawn Marie, Miss Jackie & Michelle McCool) are immediately drafted to RAW.

I'd then have five picks.

RAW Picks:
1. John Cena
2. Rene Dupree
3. Charlie Haas
4. Booker T (& Sharmell Sullivan)
5. Hardcore Holly

SmackDown! Picks:
1. Rob Conway
2. Batista
3. Shawn Michaels
4. Rosey
5. William Regal

Seeing that Tajiri is drafted to SD!, as is William Regal (meaning the World Tag Team Champions are now on SD!, MNM are drafted automatically to RAW.

WWE Division:
1. John Cena (Face)
2. Triple H (Heel)
3. Chris Jericho (Heel)
4. Chris Benoit (Face)
5. Christian (Heel)
6. Kane (Face)
7. Booker T (Face)

IC Division:
1. Shelton Benjamin (Face)
2. Christian (Heel)
3. Chris Jericho (Heel)
4. Viscera (Heel)
5. Val Venis (Face)
6. Chris Masters (Heel)
7. Charlie Haas (Face)
8. Hardcore Holly (Face)

WWE Tag Team Division:
1. MNM (Heel)
2. La Resistance (Rene Dupree & Sylvain Grenier, Heel)
3. The Dudley Boyz (Face)
4. Tyson Tomko & Viscera (Heel)
5. The Shane Twins (Face)
6. Adrenaline (Chris Cage & Tank Toland, Face)
7. Hardcore Holly & Charlie Haas (Face)
8. Mark Jindrak & Garrison Cade (Heel)
9. The Thrillseeksers (Face)
10. The Heart Throbs (Heel)

Women's Division:
1. Trish Stratus (Heel)
2. Victoria (Face)
3. Christy Hemme (Face)
4. Lita (Heel)
5. Jillian Hall (Face)
6. Alexis Laree (Face)
7. Dawn Marie (Heel)
8. Stacy Keibler (Face)
9. Michelle McCool (Face)
10. Miss Jackie (Heel)
11. Melina Perez (Heel)

World Heavyweight Division:
1. Batista (Tweener)
2. Kurt Angle (Heel)
3. The Undertaker (Face)
4. Eddie Guerrero (Heel)
5. Rey Mysterio (Face)
6. Rob Van Dam (Face)
7. Shawn Michaels (Face)
8. The Big Show (Face)
9. John Bradshaw Layfield (Heel)

US Division:
1. Orlando Jordan (Heel)
2. Marty Jannetty (Face)
3. Rey Mysterio (Face)
4. Rob Van Dam (Face)
5. Rob Conway (Heel)
6. Maven (Heel)
7. Kenzo Suzuki (Heel)
8. Heidenreich (Heel)
9. Gene Snitsky (Heel)
10. Luther Reigns (Heel)

World Tag Team Division:
1. William Regal & Tajiri (Face)
2. Maven & Simon Dean (Heel)
3. The Hurricane & Rosey (Face)
4. The Basham Brothers (Heel)
5. Rey Mysterio & Rob Van Dam (Face)
6. The Rockers (Face)
7. The FBI (Nunzio & Frankie Kazarian, Heel)
8. Scotty 2 Hotty & Shannon Moore (Face)
9. Kaientai (Funaki & Akio, Heel)
10. Evillains (Just two random guys from OVW playing supervillains, Heel)

Cruiserweight Division:
1. Paul London (Face)
2. Chavo Guerrero (Heel)
3. Rey Mysterio (Face)
4. Psichosis (Heel)
5. Super Crazy (Face)
6. Nunzio (Heel)
7. Frankie Kazarian (Heel)
8. Shannon Moore (Face)
9. Scotty 2 Hotty (Face)
10. Marty Jannetty (Face)
11. Funaki (Heel)
12. Akio (Heel)
13. Spike Dudley (Heel)
14. Billy Kidman (Heel)
15. Simon Dean (Heel)
16. Maven (Heel)
17. Steven Richards (Face)
18. The Hurricane (Face)
19. Tajiri (Face)

Tha wouldn't be the final roster. You could have William Regal & Tajiri traded back to RAW, as well as maybe Simon Dean & Maven. But I think tose would be decent outlines for a draft.

[Ruien]

You forgot to put Edge in the WWE division.