WWE: The Draft (Rules, Rosters, etc.)

[C.S.]

UPDATED: FULL DRAFT RESULTS

 

From WWE.com:

 

Round No. 1
1. Seth Rollins - Raw
2. WWE Champion Dean Ambrose - SmackDown Live
3. WWE Women's Champion Charlotte - Raw
4. AJ Styles - SmackDown Live
5. Finn Bálor - Raw from NXT

 

Round No. 2
6. Roman Reigns - Raw
7. John Cena - SmackDown Live
8. Brock Lesnar - Raw
9. Randy Orton - SmackDown Live
10. WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day - Raw

 

Round No. 3
11. Sami Zayn - Raw
12. Bray Wyatt - SmackDown Live
13. Sasha Banks - Raw
14. Becky Lynch - SmackDown Live
15. Chris Jericho - Raw

 

Round No. 4
16. United States Champion Rusev (with Lana) - Raw
17. Intercontinental Champion The Miz (with Maryse) - SmackDown Live
18. Kevin Owens - Raw
19. Baron Corbin - SmackDown Live
20. Enzo & Cass - Raw

 

Round No. 5
21. Gallows and Anderson - Raw
22. American Alpha - SmakDown Live from NXT
23. Big Show - Raw
24. Dolph Ziggler - SmackDown Live
25. Nia Jax - Raw from NXT

 

Round No. 6
26. Neville - Raw
27. Natalya - SmackDown Live
28. Cesaro - Raw
29. Alberto Del Rio - SmackDown Live
30. Sheamus - Raw

 

Round No. 7 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
31. Golden Truth - Raw
32. The Usos - SmackDown Live
33. Titus O'Neil - Raw
34. Demon Kane - SmackDown Live
35. Paige - Raw

 

Round No. 8 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
36. Darren Young (with Bob Backlund) - Raw
37. Kalisto - SmackDown Live
38. Sin Cara - Raw
39. Naomi - SmackDown Live
40. Jack Swagger - Raw
41. The Ascension - SmackDown Live

 

Round No. 9 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
42. The Dudley Boyz - Raw
43. Zack Ryder - SmackDown Live
44. Summer Rae - Raw
45. Apollo Crews - SmackDown Live
46. Mark Henry - Raw
47. Alexa Bliss (from NXT)

 

Round No. 10 Picks (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
48. Braun Strowman - Raw
49. Breezango - SmackDown Live
50. Bo Dallas - Raw
51. Eva Marie - SmackDown Live
52. Shining Stars - Raw
53. The Vaudevillains - SmackDown Live

Round No. 11 (announced during WWE Draft Center Live on WWE Network)
54. Alicia Fox - Raw
55. Erick Rowan - SmackDown Live
56. Dana Brooke - Raw
57. Mojo Rawley - SmackDown Live from NXT
58. Curtis Axel - Raw
59. Carmella - SmackDown Live from NXT

Undrafted
Heath Slater

 

http://www.wwe.com/2016-wwe-draft-results

____________________________________

 

With the Draft coming up, I thought it would be a good idea to create a separate thread to discuss the rules, eligible wrestlers, draft picks on this week's Smackdown, and the ramifications beyond that.

 

From WWE.com:

 

Draft rules revealed: Everything you need to know about the WWE Draft

 

With this Tuesday's WWE Draft on the premiere of SmackDown Live on USA Network fast approaching, WWE.com answers the biggest questions of the WWE Universe with a breakdown of the official rules, regulations and procedures for one of the biggest nights in WWE history — including a major update that will change the face of NXT as well.

The rules for the WWE Draft are as follows:

• Raw has the first overall pick
• Since SmackDown Live is a two-hour show and Raw is three hours, for every two picks SmackDown Live receives, Raw will receive three picks
• Tag teams count as one pick unless a Commissioner/General Manager specifically only wants one member of the team​
• Six draft picks will be made off the NXT roster​

The list of current WWE Superstars eligible for the WWE Draft will be as follows:

 

Male Superstars

• AJ Styles
• Alberto Del Rio
• Apollo Crews
• Baron Corbin
• Big Show
• Braun Strowman
• Bray Wyatt
• Brock Lesnar
• Cesaro
• Chris Jericho
• Darren Young (w/ Bob Backlund)
• Dean Ambrose – WWE Champion
• Demon Kane
• Dolph Ziggler
• Erick Rowan
• Jack Swagger
• John Cena
• Kalisto
• Kevin Owens
• Mark Henry
• Neville
• Randy Orton
• Roman Reigns
• Rusev (w/ Lana) – United States Champion
• Sami Zayn
• Seth Rollins
• Sheamus
• Sin Cara
• The Miz (w/ Maryse) – Intercontinental Champion
• Titus O’Neil
• Zack Ryder

Tag Teams

• Breezango (Fandango and Tyler Breeze)
• Enzo and Cass (Enzo Amore and Big Cass)
• Gallows and Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
• Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth)
• Shining Stars (Epico and Primo)
• Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel and Heath Slater)
• The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor)
• The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley)
• The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) – Tag Team Champions
• The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso)
• The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)

Female Superstars

• Alicia Fox
• Becky Lynch
• Charlotte – WWE Women’s Champion
• Dana Brooke
• Eva Marie
• Naomi
• Natalya
• Paige
• Sasha Banks
• Summer Rae

 

http://www.wwe.com/article/wwe-draft-rules-2016

 

Some quick thoughts:

 

• Raw getting 3 picks for every 2 on Smackdown [corrected] kinda makes sense with the time difference, but I don't know if I like it, because it screams that Raw is still the "A-Show."
  
• Eva Marie is on the main roster? (Sasha's partner?)
  
• Will any tag teams get split up? I hope not. Doesn't sound like it anyway, even though there's a provision in the rules for it.
  
• I wonder what the "major update that will change the face of NXT" will be, unless that is referencing the six NXT draft picks mentioned below that?
  
• Guesses on the "NXT Six"? My predictions (in no particular order): 1. Finn Balor. 2. American Alpha. 3. Bayley. 4. Nia Jax (I think this is rumored somewhere). 5. Samoa Joe (not too sure on this one). 6. Hideo Itami (another wild guess).

[El Dragon]

So, thoughts.

 

Raw doesn't get 2 for every 1, they get 3 for every 2. So, 6 out of 10, roughly. It makes sense, but I'm curious what direction that goes.

 

No guys out with injuries are eligible, save Neville, which means I assume Neville is ready to come back.

 

Only 2 "teams" eligible to break up in obvious means are the Lucha Dragons and Wyatts.

 

I'm hearing the NXT thing is 6 "talents", not 6 picks. Which means I'm feeling Balor, AA, Bayley, Joe, and Aries.

[C.S.]

Raw doesn't get 2 for every 1, they get 3 for every 2. So, 6 out of 10, roughly. It makes sense, but I'm curious what direction that goes.

Thanks. Corrected my original post.

 

Only 2 "teams" eligible to break up in obvious means are the Lucha Dragons and Wyatts.

Where is this from?

 

BTW, Lucha Dragons aren't even listed as a team in the WWE.com article, which is strange.

 

But yeah, your guesses sound logical. Neither split would set the world on fire, but I'd rather stale predictability than, say, Enzo and Cass getting broken up for the sake of a shocker.

 

I'm hearing the NXT thing is 6 "talents", not 6 picks. Which means I'm feeling Balor, AA, Bayley, Joe, and Aries.

Aries would be such a waste of a pick IMO. He reeks of "indy" and would be lost in the shuffle on the main roster within seconds. A guy like that is perfect for NXT and should stay there forever.

[El Dragon]

Aries could fair just fine on Smackdown, assuming the talk of it being more the "smark" show built around Cena and, possibly, AJ is true.

[Loss]

I definitely think Aries should be on the main roster. He won't threaten the main event scene or anything, but he's the perfect guy to pair with new guys who are still learning to work on house shows. Aries should feud with Cass. He's a much better name to fill a working vet spot than some names I've seen tossed out.

[Johnny Sorrow]

They aren't breaking up Enzo and Cass.

[Loss]

I didn't say they were. It's possible for wrestlers in tag teams to have singles feuds.

[Lee]

Saying you only want one guy out of a team is a pretty weird thing to do, even in a kayfabe sense. I suppose it's fine if they're doing it to give us Bully Ray, but imagine the burial it'll feel like if Steph decides she wants Aiden English but Shane can have Simon Gotch. Why not just take both?

 

Having said that, it'd probably raise a chuckle if both sides were inexplicably desperate to get Jey Uso with neither wanting custody of Jimmy.

[Loss]

If they do it like they've done before, they won't draft the low-level guys on TV. They'll only pick the top 10 or so and the rest will be randomized in a lottery and announced online after the show.

[The Chief]

Are there any notable omissions on the list? I noticed the WWE.com Fantasy draft had Ryback

 

Calling it now, Xavier Woods gets split from New Day and turns heel a la Miz in 2009.

 

And for sheer WTFery, we get repackaged Usos on separate shows.

[Woof]

Does anybody else feel like they kind of missed a golden opportunity to run the draft on the Network rather than Smackdown? I know *why* they're doing it this way, because they want to get eyeballs on that debut live episode, but in a world not driven by USA's need for WWE to sustain them a show dedicated totally to the draft NFL-style would be a great Network special. You get your panel of experts to discuss each pick for a couple of minutes after it's made, maybe toss in some interviews with guys after they get drafted. You could fill a good four hours on something like that and it'd draw, because sports nerds who are also wrestling nerds eat that shit up. Instead we're gonna get picks sandwiched around meaningless matches and backstage skits like we did 14 years ago. There's a real opportunity here to do something cool and they're probably gonna drop the ball in terms of how they present it. I'm looking forward to seeing who winds up where, but I really feel like the draft itself could be special and it's not likely to be.

[WingedEagle]

It'd be a phenomenal Network special, but seeing as how the entire driving force behind the draft / brand split and Smackdown Live is to build television ratings it just wasn't in the cards.

[Matt D]

They can do the nontelevised picks on the network.

[Stiva]

Are there any notable omissions on the list? I noticed the WWE.com Fantasy draft had Ryback

 

Calling it now, Xavier Woods gets split from New Day and turns heel a la Miz in 2009.

 

And for sheer WTFery, we get repackaged Usos on separate shows.

 

I could also see this and i'd be interested because there's one Uso who I think could be a good singles worker but I can't remember which one it is.

[El-P]

I could also see this and i'd be interested because there's one Uso who I think could be a good singles worker but I can't remember which one it is.

 

Cracked me up.

[greenmistguy90]

I'm really intrested to see how they do it

 

I think they should get a gm for superstars and main event and let them pick there own rosters

[The Chief]

 

Are there any notable omissions on the list? I noticed the WWE.com Fantasy draft had Ryback

 

Calling it now, Xavier Woods gets split from New Day and turns heel a la Miz in 2009.

 

And for sheer WTFery, we get repackaged Usos on separate shows.

 

I could also see this and i'd be interested because there's one Uso who I think could be a good singles worker but I can't remember which one it is.

 

 

LOL, incredible

[C.S.]

I hope they don't split up New Day, but I could see a GM wanting one of the three. All of them could conceivably be singles stars. I hope it doesn't happen though (yet anyway).

[jcmmnx]

Man they are going to need at least 3 or 4 NXT women if they are going to have them on both shows. I'm guessing Bayley and Nia will be two of the six NXT names. I feel like Alexa would do better on the main roster where her looks would help her get over more, and she wouldn't have the expectations of all the great Horsewomen matches to live up to. I could also see Carmella benefitting from being on the MR in the same way. Asuka is at the point where it doesn't feel like anyone can believably beat her in NXT, and I really want to see her wrestle Sasha and Becky.

[cm funk]

With Heyman not being listed with Brock like the other managers......I wonder if he's going to be one of the GMs

[Hawkeye12]

Does anybody else feel like they kind of missed a golden opportunity to run the draft on the Network rather than Smackdown? I know *why* they're doing it this way, because they want to get eyeballs on that debut live episode, but in a world not driven by USA's need for WWE to sustain them a show dedicated totally to the draft NFL-style would be a great Network special. You get your panel of experts to discuss each pick for a couple of minutes after it's made, maybe toss in some interviews with guys after they get drafted. You could fill a good four hours on something like that and it'd draw, because sports nerds who are also wrestling nerds eat that shit up. Instead we're gonna get picks sandwiched around meaningless matches and backstage skits like we did 14 years ago. There's a real opportunity here to do something cool and they're probably gonna drop the ball in terms of how they present it. I'm looking forward to seeing who winds up where, but I really feel like the draft itself could be special and it's not likely to be.

They are doing a Draft Center on the Network at the same time as Smackdown to do just that, with a pre and post show of thirty minutes.

[Strummer]

Bryan is SD GM and Foley Raw. And good Christ Shane and Stephanie have the most awkward interactions

[hammerva]

Okay did they really think that Mick Foley would get even at least half the reaction that Daniel Bryan did during these announcements because Foley is almost a non factor in this segment in terms of fan reactions

 

The Cruiserweight division on RAW kind of worries me. It isn't like RAW is now going to be the wrestling show. Do we really need to see guys like Kota Ibushi and Cedrick Alexander in 4 minute match filled with awful commentary from JBL and Cole

[Matt D]

They need to do long matches in hour one to kill time.

[MikeCampbell]

Okay did they really think that Mick Foley would get even at least half the reaction that Daniel Bryan did during these announcements because Foley is almost a non factor in this segment in terms of fan reactions.

 

 

Yeah, this seems almost like a no-win situation for Mick. His return gets hugely overshadowed by the return of Daniel Bryan. I don't think there's any way that he can be a babyface in this role. The GM has to, ostensibly, follow her orders and directives. So, either he turns heel as her henchman or he tries to play babyface, but gets her residual heat because he's following her orders, or he plays babyface as the poor sap working for this evil shrew of a boss, and he gets heat for not having the sack to stand up to her.