The WWE Draft returns on Friday night, and all eyes are on SmackDown as they hold the coveted first overall pick in this new era of professional wrestling – the much-discussed “WWE Renaissance Era.” But who will they choose?
The Draft has seen a wild evolution since its debut in 2002, with everything from bingo cages to surprising world champion switches. Here’s a nostalgic trip through the top picks from each Draft:
- 2002: The Rock Era Begins (SmackDown)
- The first Draft saw SmackDown lay claim to “The People’s Champ,” The Rock, instantly solidifying their brand.
- 2004: The Great Bingo Cage Gamble (SmackDown & Raw)
- This wacky Draft used a bingo cage to determine picks, with SmackDown nabbing Rene Dupree and Raw getting Shelton Benjamin. However, trades like Triple H to Raw for Booker T and The Dudley Boyz shook things up.
- 2006-2008: Brand Battles (ECW, Raw & SmackDown)
- The arrival of ECW spiced things up. In 2006, they drafted Rob Van Dam from Raw and Kurt Angle from SmackDown. 2007 saw The Great Khali go to SmackDown, while The Boogeyman scared his way into ECW. Rey Mysterio became Raw’s top pick in 2008.
- 2009-2011: Top Picks Galore (Raw & SmackDown)
- The trend of multiple top picks began in 2009, with Raw nabbing MVP and Big Show. SmackDown countered in 2010 by drafting Kelly Kelly and (again) Big Show. Daniel Bryan became the top pick for SmackDown in 2011.
- 2016: Raw Gets Aggressive (Raw & SmackDown)
- Seth Rollins became Raw’s number one pick in 2016, while SmackDown countered with Dean Ambrose.
- 2017-2019: The “Superstar Shake-Up” Era
- These weren’t traditional drafts, but roster shuffles. In 2017, champions like Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens switched brands, keeping things fresh.
- 2019 & Beyond: The Draft Returns (Raw & SmackDown)
- The Draft returned in October 2019 with Becky Lynch as Raw’s top pick and Roman Reigns staying with SmackDown. This trend continued in 2020 and 2021, with champions Drew McIntyre (Raw) and Roman Reigns (SmackDown) being retained through the Draft.
- 2023: Bloodline Reigns Supreme (SmackDown)
- SmackDown kept the dominant Bloodline by making them the top pick in 2023. Raw countered with the highly anticipated arrival of Cody Rhodes.
Who will SmackDown choose with the #1 pick this year? Will Raw make another surprising move? Tune in on Friday night to find out!
WWE DRAFT 2024 Night 1:
First Round Picks WWE DRAFT 2024
Full Draft Results from Night 1 Here: https://newssaurus.com/2024-wwe-draft-night-1-who-moved-to-raw-smackdown/