10-08-2019, 11:45 PM | #1 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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The Draft
With the draft coming up on Friday, the word continues to be that they're going to be pretty strict about keeping cross-brand stuff to a minimum at the behest of the networks who don't want to cross-promote another network, especially FOX who are pushing for a stricter sports presentation.
It's certainly an "I'll believe it when I see it" thing. I think the second SmackDown ratings sag, Vince will dive back into the usual bag of tricks of trying to bring in legends or convince the network to let him use the whole roster, because clearly the Wild Card Rule worked wonders! But I digress. Let's assume they're actually going to stick with it. Who's going where? It stands to reason that SmackDown is going to get a lot of "star power", but I don't think Vince will completely neglect his baby (Raw) especially since USA is still paying them big bucks too and they've got an extra hour to fill. All that said, here's what I came up with with how I can see it shaking out. Champions I thought for sure that Seth and Becky were going to the blue side, but with them still having their titles I'm no longer as certain. There's still time for them to do some fuckery with the belts over the two nights of the draft, but I'm actually starting to think Vince really would love to push Charlotte as the face of the women's division on FOX. Becky might've gotten the moment with The Rock on the premiere, but Charlotte won the first match. Similar logic would apply to Seth, this is Vince's chance to get Roman back into the top spot on the new A show and I think he'll take it. So the way I see it going down, the Universal/Raw Women/Raw Tag and WWE/SD Women/SD Tag champs are exempt from the draft and assigned to those brands automatically. SD will need a singles champion to put out there when Brock's not around, so that's where AJ winds up and I think they might load up the babyface side on the brand to give him a steady diet of challengers. The logical counter then would be Shinsuke to Raw. As for the two floating championships, if they're going to become brand-specific I see the Women's Tag belts and most of the female teams going to Raw. One because there's more time to fill, two because they just started a feud between the Kabuki Warriors and Becky. The 24/7 title goes to SmackDown for comedy segments involving FOX personalities. Notable People If my theory that Brock/Seth/Becky/Charlotte end up draft exempt is right, I see Roman getting the rub for being the #1 draft choice to SmackDown. Raw's logical counter for their first pick would be Daniel Bryan or The New Day, my money is on the latter. I feel like they're going to want to nip the idea of any sort of Kofi redemption story in the bud immediately and so they'll get him as far away from Brock as possible. Rusev and Lashley have started a feud on Raw that has Heyman's fingerprints all over it, so they'll be on the red brand. Rollins and Rusev are part of Team Hogan at Crown Jewel so if there's any credence to not wanting to do cross-brand stuff, I see Orton and Corbin ending up there too. For similar reasons, Rey Mysterio and Braun Strowman end up on SmackDown. You have to figure that FOX will want the Cain Velqsquez/Tyson Fury stuff on their show so moving them there would make sense. Rey's someone I saw going to SmackDown anyway because he's so recognizable. The Fiend stays on Raw because after that god awful non-finish at HIAC it sure seems like he's gonna have another match with Seth. Kevin Owens ends up on SmackDown, but admittedly if he got sent to Raw right after spending months and months trying to get Shane off of SmackDown that would be fucking hilarious. The Miz goes to Raw because he's got a show on the USA Network that will need promotion once the new season launches. Sasha and Bayley both end up on SmackDown, giving the A Show 3/4ths of the Four Horsewomen. Post-Draft Rosters Just threw these together fairly quickly: Raw Men's Roster: Ali Apollo Crews Big E Bo Dallas Bobby Lashley Bray Wyatt Buddy Murphy Curtis Axel Dolph Ziggler (Raw Tag Team Champion) Epico Colon Erick Rowan Erik Gran Metalik Heath Slater Ivar Kalisto King Corbin Kofi Kingston Lince Dorado Luke Harper Matt Hardy Mike Kanellis No Way Jose Primo Colon Randy Orton Ricochet Robert Roode (Raw Tag Team Champion) Rusev Sami Zayn Samir Singh Seth Rollins (Universal Champion) Shinsuke Nakamura (Intercontinental Champion) Sunil Singh The Miz Xavier Woods Women's Roster: Alexa Bliss Asuka (Women's Tag Team Champion) Becky Lynch (Raw Women's Champion) Billie Kay Ember Moon Kairi Sane (Women's Tag Team Champion) Lana Mandy Rose Nikki Cross Peyton Royce Sarah Logan Sonya Deville SmackDown Men's Roster: AJ Styles (United States Champion) Akam Aleister Black Andrade Angelo Dawkins Braun Strowman Brock Lesnar (WWE Champion) Cedric Alexander Cesaro Chad Gable Curt Hawkins Daniel Bryan Dash Wilder (SD Tag Team Champion) Drake Maverick EC3 Eric Young Jey Uso Jimmy Uso Karl Anderson Kevin Owens Konnor Luke Gallows Mojo Rawley Montez Ford Otis R-Truth (24/7 Champion) Rey Mysterio Rezar Roman Reigns Scott Dawson (SD Tag Team Champion) Shelton Benjamin Sin Cara Titus O'Neil Tucker Viktor Zack Ryder Women's Roster: Bayley Carmella Charlotte Flair(SD Women's Champion) Dana Brooke Lacey Evans Liv Morgan Naomi Natalya Sasha Banks Tamina Zelina Vega Injured Reserve (Exempt from draft, brand to be decided upon return) Drew McIntyre Elias Jeff Hardy Jinder Mahal Lars Sullivan Nia Jax Ruby Riott Samoa Joe Sheamus --- During the last draft, Raw got 3 picks for every 2 SmackDown picks because of the extra hour. I don't see that happening this time. Not sure if everyone listed will be part of the draft but that worked out to 47 picks per brand. SmackDown doesn't really need a roster that big but a whole bunch of those guys are geeks who will be relegated to chasing the 24/7 title anyway. |
10-09-2019, 12:43 AM | #2 |
Posts: 52,478
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Side note .. it seems like they're playing it off like the Network Execs are making the picks. I had been wondering how they were going to handle that given there were no GMs, but a faceless anonymous person making picks is kind of weird.
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10-09-2019, 01:02 AM | #3 |
Hey Mister!
Posts: 54,946
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10-09-2019, 01:44 AM | #4 |
Loque Ja
Posts: 87,815
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I couldn't even read a post that long about the draft.
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10-09-2019, 03:11 AM | #5 |
TPWW's #3 Peep
Posts: 20,891
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It feels like the last draft was only two months ago.
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10-09-2019, 04:05 AM | #6 |
Posts: 52,478
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168 weeks and 1 day ago but who's counting?
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10-09-2019, 06:56 AM | #7 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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They’d made it sound like personalities from the networks will be making the picks. Could live in a world where Tim Allen and Joe Buck are announcing picks for SmackDown while Ted Danson and Andy Samberg make picks for Raw. Fucking weird.
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10-09-2019, 07:02 AM | #8 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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Lol, I’d call it less passion and more mind-numbing boredom on a Tuesday. Whatever they do I’ve no doubt they’ll fuck it.
Of course I got bored midway through writing and stopped to wonder if it was even worth finishing, because I had no doubt people were gonna see it and be like TL;DR |
10-09-2019, 07:05 AM | #9 |
Posts: 60,894
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I think FOX gets Seth, Becky and AJ, but they will still be on Raw until they lose their belts. Charlotte, Bryan and Roman will stay on SmackDown. I think Braun also heads over. Raw gets Owens, Ali, Buddy Murphy, Harper & Rowan.
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10-09-2019, 07:30 AM | #10 |
Posts: 52,478
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Samberg screws over fox for not renewing Brooklyn 99 like NBC did
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10-09-2019, 08:07 AM | #11 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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I’d guess a lot of the picks are made via pre-tapes, doubt a bunch of celebrities are flying in to do this in person.
Wouldn’t be surprised if the draft happens offscreen (in kayfabe) and throughout the night it’s FOX people unveiling the Smackdown roster. Which would of course mean Monday’s portion of the draft is kinda pointless since you already would know who went there via process of elimination. But hey who needs logic? |
10-09-2019, 08:21 AM | #12 |
Posts: 52,478
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they should do women/tag teams on SD with 2 hours and Men on Raw with 3
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10-09-2019, 08:54 AM | #13 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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laughing imagining it just ending up being names out of a hat.
Smackdown selects...Roman Reigns! Raw selects...Zack Ryder! Smackdown selects...Becky Lynch! Raw selects...Kalisto! Smackdown selects...oh would you look at that, Daniel Bryan! |
10-09-2019, 09:42 AM | #14 | |
It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,374
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Quote:
Idgaf about the draft because they won't stick to it they never have. They won't create any sense of competition within the brands because they are all overseen by one evil dumb fuck ruler who is hell bent on nobody touching his toys. HIS TOYS. |
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10-09-2019, 10:01 AM | #15 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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lol "all day"
I cancelled my Network sub months ago and the Fox premiere was the first full episode of non-NXT WWE I've watched in ages. After the clunker it was, I don't feel compelled to watch again anytime soon. Doesn't mean I don't hope it'll eventually become watchable/interesting again. |
10-09-2019, 10:53 AM | #16 |
It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,374
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Of course, I hope it gets better too. I guess personally I'm done with the abuse for now. I am delving into the alternative. So much other wrestling that seems to be heading the right direction for me.
As for the draft. Whatever happens I hope Roman isn't going to be pushed in a way that the fans turn on him. And also, it may not be a draft but you guys, don't you think that Shane is going to NXT? Don't we "need a McMahon to establish that brand"? Shane will come to take on Triple H no doubt which will result in Shane and Triple H at TakeOver Mania. |
10-09-2019, 10:57 AM | #17 |
Stickman
Posts: 15,119
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TLDR, but the lustre of the draft faded 10 years ago. I bet they are going to do cross over within 2 weeks anyways so who cares about the draft, it means nothing.
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10-09-2019, 11:03 AM | #18 |
It's a blood match!
Posts: 27,374
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10-10-2019, 02:21 AM | #19 |
Posts: 60,894
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Wish Tazz was on Raw commentary just for one week so he can be like "Come on! We need some picks!"
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10-10-2019, 02:43 AM | #20 |
Stickman
Posts: 15,119
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10-10-2019, 03:27 AM | #21 |
Trickster Demon
Posts: 59,746
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I predicted a while back most big names are headed to brand blue, whether they get used or not is irrelevant, as FOX is the top priority for WWE. More than RAW and more than ppvs (except Saudi shows and WM).
I think, as we've seen hinted at with Dio and Vic on commentary, RAW will become the place where new stars can be made (and then sent to SD the following year). It will also be where stars needing to be rehabbed will go. A RAW main-event scene of Rusev, Dolph, Drew McIntyre, Aleister, KO, Lashley, Sami and Shane doesn't seem implausible to me. I expect Cedric and Apollo to also be pushed. |
10-10-2019, 02:59 PM | #22 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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Apparently Rollins and Reigns are pre-designated as staying on Raw and SD respectively as they're opening with a match tomorrow to determine the #1 pick in the draft.
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10-10-2019, 03:59 PM | #23 |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,588
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Seems dumb to lock anyone before the draft since it pretty much implies it doesn't matter who's the #1 pick since Rollins and Reigns are the real top picks of their brand.
Same for if they are not actually locked in to their brand since it would be equally dumb to not just take whoever won that match as the #1 pick. |
10-10-2019, 04:12 PM | #24 | |
Posts: 52,478
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RAW still the A show |
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10-10-2019, 04:29 PM | #25 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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STAMFORD, Conn. – October 10, 2019 – A star-studded celebrity lineup of FOX and NBCUniversal personalities including Alex Rodriguez, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Christian Slater, Troy Aikman, Joe Buck and Jim Cramer will be part of the two-night WWE Draft airing live tomorrow on Friday Night SmackDown® at 8 pm ET/PT on FOX and continuing this Monday, October 14 on Raw® at 8/7c on USA Network.
For the first time, executives from FOX and USA Network have direct influence over the WWE Draft as it will determine the Superstars competing for either Raw or SmackDown. Additional celebrities include: FOX MLB Analysts Kevin Burkhardt and Frank Thomas; Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Tony Gonzalez from FOX NFL Sunday; FOX NFL Analysts Ronde Barber, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman and Daryl Johnston; Big Noon Kickoff Analysts Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer; FOX NFL Kickoff cast including Charissa Thompson, Michael Vick and Peter Schrager; FOX College Football Analyst Joel Klatt; as well as stars from NBCUniversal including Dulé Hill (Psych, Suits); James Roday (Psych); Marcus Lemonis (The Profit); Margaret Josephs and Melissa Gorga (Real Housewives of New Jersey); Football Night In America Analysts Rodney Harrison and Chris Simms; and Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe and Kyle Martino from Premier League Live. WWE Draft Rules More than 70 Superstars, including Tag Teams, have been placed into this year’s WWE Draft pool. 30 Superstars will be eligible to be drafted tomorrow night while 41 Superstars will be eligible on Monday night. Since Friday Night SmackDown is a two-hour show and Monday Night Raw is a three-hour show, for every two SmackDown picks, Raw will get three. Tag Teams will count as one pick unless FOX or USA Network specifically wants to pick one Superstar from the team. Any undrafted Superstars will immediately be declared free agents and able to sign with the brand of their choosing. |
10-10-2019, 04:56 PM | #26 |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,588
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I get why they did it but still really dumb to split the eligible roster the way they did and make it public since it takes away a lot of the mystic or surprise over picks. Then again the Draft and Superstar Shakeup has already shown it doesn't really work well as a two-night thing.
At least this time RAW doesn't get a whole division locked to themselves to go on top of the extra pick per round like last time. |
10-10-2019, 05:48 PM | #27 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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In fairness, if they didn’t have pools there would be no real point in night 2 of the draft since everyone important would’ve been taken.
But it’d have been better to just do it all on Smackdown and the rest on the Network like last time |
10-10-2019, 06:06 PM | #28 | |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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Here are the pools:
Quote:
-The Usos, Ember Moon, and some others are not in the draft pool -Sami Zayn is considered a full-fledged manager -A bunch of cruiserweights are moving to Raw/SD -Harper and Rowan aren’t considered a tag team |
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10-10-2019, 07:22 PM | #29 |
Trickster Demon
Posts: 59,746
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It sounds like an overcomplicated mess.
Why the fuck can't WWE do anything simple and smoothe |
10-10-2019, 08:05 PM | #30 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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I feel like that “tag teams can be picked individually” rule doesn’t accomplish anything other than making the person who doesn’t get picked look like crap.
That said, they’re pretty much telegraphing it by the numbers. 30 picks tomorrow yet only 29 entities listed in the draft pool. Just eyeballing it I’d guess the team getting split would be Nikki and Alexa |
10-10-2019, 10:29 PM | #31 |
Posts: 60,894
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Nah, Alexa and Nikki are being drafted as a team. Unless they decide to change their mind. I can’t see the writers making this good. Unless they knew EXACTLY what they wanted to do, but they don’t.
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10-10-2019, 11:02 PM | #32 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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“Unless they change their mind”
Well given Vince’s track record |
10-10-2019, 11:10 PM | #33 |
Let me talk to ya
Posts: 11,749
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Will be a surprise if the keep the OC together. Seems like every time the put the Good Brothers with AJ or Finn they always do a shake up or draft to split them. Hopefully they keep them together this time.
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10-11-2019, 12:17 AM | #34 | |
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Fox is all sports and USA is all "entertainment" |
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10-11-2019, 12:22 AM | #35 |
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Jim Cramer making a pick
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10-11-2019, 12:24 AM | #36 |
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10-11-2019, 12:45 AM | #37 |
President of Freedonia
Posts: 58,165
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Looking at the pools I feel better about guessing Becky and Seth staying on Raw. The way they're structuring this looks like Roman is competing to make himself the #1 pick, which would leave Becky as the lay-up choice for Raw.
Moreover, unless they do another wonky stip match on Monday that will get SmackDown the top two picks or something, Brock and Seth in the same pool means they probably have to be picks 1 and 2, and we all know FOX wants Brock. So yeah, I think Vince is gonna try his damndest to make Roman and Charlotte the faces of FOX. |
10-11-2019, 01:24 AM | #38 |
I am the cheese
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Looking over the roster in the OP...this is by far the weakest roster in the companies history
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10-11-2019, 01:49 AM | #39 |
Triple A
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10-11-2019, 02:47 AM | #40 |
Former TPWW Royalty
Posts: 66,588
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Pouring one out in memory of Vince's dumbass idea.
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