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I'm not going to lie and sugarcoat it, I'm not very excited for tonight's draft. The way the WWE has completely eroded the brand separations forthe most part over the past year makes me have little interest as to what brand wrestlers actually belong to. I didn't even realize it until I looked atthe rosters on WWE.com that HHH is actually a Smackdown superstar. He's been featured on Raw probably more than anyone else over the past three months. The Miz and Morrison seem to wrestle on all three shows every single week. Cena has been all over Smackdown. Just this past Friday, Kofi, Rhodes, and Dibiasewrestled on Smackdown without even a mention of them being Raw superstars. At least in the past, the announcers made an effort to say it was some type oftalent exchange. Now guys just come and go as they please. The Divas are seemingly mixed between shows at random.
Look, I have no problem with the brand separation if you are actually going to stick to it. I understand the reasons for it. It differentiates the shows, andit cuts costs as only certain talent has to travel to each show. If you are actually going to have three separate brands, fine. Go for it. Use tonight'sdraft to get back on the right path. But if you are going to keep swapping and mixing guys from different brands on different shows at random without a secondthought, then don't try to sell me that tonight's "draft" (more on that) means anything. If this is the path you're going to take, thenjust dissolve the brands and have all the talent available for every show. I think that has it's pros and cons. It would certainly lead to some new andmore compelling matches, but it would also really focus on the same main eventers every show and could hold younger talent down even worse than they currentlyare. So keep the brand separation, but do it right.
As for the "draft"... When the idea was originally created, I like it. It was a legitimate way to spice things up on the different shows. EricBischoff and Paul Heyman would come out to a podium and actually announce their picks like in the NFL draft. Getting the #1 pick was actually important. Itwas intriguing to see who the WWE valued and how they were moved in the draft. Now the draft has turned into a gameshow like mentality with a comical feel. Matches take place between talent from different brands. The winner of the match earns a draft pick for their brand. My question is, why exactly would thewinner want additional competition on their brand? Doesn't that just go against their goal of advancing up the ladder and becoming champion? Anyway,after the winner is determined, a video game-esque character screen appears with all of the talent in the WWE. The WWE then starts its own very of Press YourLuck, complete with cheesy game show music, and a wrestler at "random" is chosen to go to the new brand. It's just bad. There's no otherway to put it. If you want to keep the winner gets the draft pick stipuation, fine. But then have the GM of the show come out and make the pick instead ofthe random choice. At least it would give some legitimacy to the draft. Right now, it's just a joke.
The goal of tonight's draft is clear, establish Raw is the dominant 'A' show for the WWE. Last year's draft attempted to add some legitimacyto Smackdown with their move to My Network TV. HHH, Jeff Hardy, Jim Ross, and others made the trip to Friday nights, however, the show has not excelled likethey had hoped. This is for many reasons. First, it's on Friday nights. My Network TV shows nothing by crap. Why would they continue to have theirhighest rated show, and some of the last original programming they have, air in the worst time slot of the week? Move the show back to Thursdays and maybe wecan get a small resurgence of Monday Thursday Night Wars. My Network TV also does not have the reach thatThe CW has. Smackdown is available in far fewer homes than previously. The chance that My Network TV will go under this year is very real, so the WWE cannotafford to have their big names on a show and network that is seen as a failure. My guess is this is why we have seen the new partnership between the WWE andWGN with WWE Superstars. It can be a test run for a possible move for Smackdown. Just as the original ECW was tested on TNN before they aquired Raw.
Joey Styles has confirmed that 12 superstars will change brands tonight. I don't know if that means 12 draft picks, because 12 matches seems like a lot,but 12 superstars (talent) will get moved tonight. If I were Vince McMahon, here's what I would do tonight.
HHH to Raw
-This is a given. As I said, HHH is already basically a Raw superstar. The WWE is focused on making Raw the marquee show again, and HHH is the marquee starin the WWE (at least in his own mind ... weakening fan reactions would clearly say otherwise). His feud with Randy Orton over the WWE Title will continue.
Rey Mysterio to Smackdown
-It was a mistake bringing Rey to Raw last year. He has been completely lost in the shuffle. Smackdown has also lost a lot of the Latino audience which isone of their key demographics. Rey will take the Intercontinental Title with him.
MVP to Raw
-MVP is ready for the big show. I think this move is overdue. Plus, he will bring the US Title with him since the IC Title will be going to Smackdown.
CM Punk to Smackdown
-Mr. Money in the Bank has done everything there is to do on Raw. In the past year, he's won two MITBs, the Heavyweight Title, the Intercontinental Title,and the Tag Team Titles. It's time for a fresh start on Smackdown, and I believe Michael Hayes will make very good use of him. Also, with bothheavyweight titles now on Raw (Cena isn't going to Smackdown), Punk can cash in the MITB, most likely at Backlash after the Last Man Standing Match betweenEdge and Cena, and take the World Title back to Smackdown.
Edge to Raw
-I'm a little torn on this pick, but here's why I say it. Maybe I'm wrong, but it feels like Edge has been on Smackdown forever. He could use achange in scenery. Plus, with Vickie Guerrero becoming the new GM of Raw, it seems like a logical move. The WWE needs a new top heel after Randy Orton, soEdge fits in nicely.
Chris Jericho to Smackdown
-I will be sad to see Jericho leave Raw, but just as with CM Punk, I think his run has come to an end on Raw. With Edge moving to Raw, Jericho will instantlystep in as the top heel on Smackdown. It will also lead to new feuds with The Undertaker, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, CM Punk, and others.
John Morrison to Smackdown
-Miz and Morrison has run their course. Morrison has proven (to me at least) that he has tons of potential in every aspect of the business. I can envisionMorrison sliding into the #2 heel on Smackdown spot right behind Jericho.
Evan Bourne to Smackdown
-Bourne is the most entertaining superstar in the WWE. It's time to get him on a show where more than 1.5 million people can see him each week. Bournewould get lost in the mix on Raw, but matches against Punk, Mysterio, Kendrick, Jericho, and others will be great.
Christian to Raw
-He has served his pennance in ECW, and he made the best of it with some great television matches. Despite being in ECW, the fans have still taken to himstrongly, making him the most over guy by far in ECW. Bring him back to Raw where there will be instant storylines with him and Edge, whether they pair themor have them feud.
Jim Ross to Raw
-Michael Cole FTL. It just hasn't work. Cole was given the chance, but he just is not cut out to be the lead announcer on a live show. Put him back onSmackdown, or even better yet, ECW, where he can have all of his mistakes corrected in post production. If Raw is the 'A' show, then Jim Ross needs tobe leading the announcing.
Umaga to ECW
-ECW needs to be addressed in some manner in the draft. Umaga went from being one of the top heels in the WWE two years ago to completely forgotten aboutsince returning from his injury. I would move him to ECW where he can once again establish himself before moving back up to the bigger shows.
Maryse to Raw/Melina to Smackdown
-I know this will make for 13 changes, but just as they have to address ECW, they also will do at least one move with the Divas. Melina has been a disastersince returning from her injury. I don't know why the WWE continues to push her so strongly. Maryse on the other hand has been a pleasent suprise in thering, and she's not too bad to look at either. Make the switch here to get some juice back into the divisions.
So there are 13 moves I would make tonight. I know all of them will not happen, but I strongly suspect at least a few of them will. We will then have theSupplemental Draft on Wednesday at Noon on WWE.com. Of course, no "major" names will be moved in the supplement draft, but a lot of midcard talentwill move. I think there were a total of 18 picks last year. This is where Divas will move and ECW talent will be addressed. Here are just a few of mysuggestions:
-R-Truth to ECW
-Santino to ECW
-Hurricane Helms to ECW
-Natalya to Raw
-Katie Lea to Smackdown
-Kofi to Smackdown
-Cryme Tyme to ECW
-Charlie Haas to ECW
-Michael Cole to Smackdown
-Jerry Lawler to Smackdown
-Matt Striker to Raw
-Jamie Noble to Smackdown
I would really try to differentiate the three shows in the following ways:
Raw - Marquee show for major stars based around storylines and angles
Smackdown - The wrestling show for actual professional wrestling fans. With Michael Hayes calling the shots, I have high hopes.
ECW - Developmental/proving ground for young talent.
I don't think anyone would have a problem if this is the way the brands were split up.
