The WWE, as we know it, is about to undergo a major facelift.
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Foley and Bryan will participate in the WWE Draft Tuesday as the “Raw” and “Smackdown” brands split.
Traditionally the flagship show of WWE, RAW is going to have certain advantages going into the WWE Draft. This will put five hours of WWE programming over two days on US, necessitating distinctive rosters, storylines and writing teams to keep fans engaged and active viewers of both programs.
According to Wrestlezone, Undertaker will not be included in the draft as he is due to appear at next year’s Wrestlemania in Orlando, Florida. “It changes not only your life and your career but it just changes everything about the dynamic of WWE in general”. How will the WWE Draft 2016 affect the future of Smackdown?
How will that affect the draft and the first episode of SmackDown Live? Prediction = Becky Lynch to pick up a much needed victory against a fresh new Natalya to kick off her bid to continue leading the Women’s Revolution. “I found out on WWE.com that I was being drafted and was like, ‘Oh, all my friends knew before I did.’ That’s how secretive it is”. The way the storyline has it going, Xaiver Woods will be broken off from the tag team.
In recent years, the superstars who represented each brand faced off against each other with the victor getting to make that draft selection.
Since the Big Dog’s suspension does not end until July 21, it means he will not be at the WWE Draft. “It’s opportunity – there are more slots and there are more players”. Both the NXT women has had an incredible year on the roster and this opportunity presents the best chance to move up into the main roster.
Tag teams and stables, with the exception of The Club and The Wyatt Family, can be drafted as a team unless the brand commissioner or general manager decides to choose one member.
I believe that whoever is winning on Sunday (either Reigns or Ambrose) will be drafted to SmackDown tonight, and Rollins will be drafted to Raw.
SmackDown will get to pick second and since it will only be a 2 hour show, they get 2 picks for every 3 that RAW receives as it is a longer, 3 hour, show. It’s also possible they use some veteran cruiserweight talents to help with the roster and to put some familiar faces on TV, such as Brian Kendrick or Tajiri. Who could be the top pick made by Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley?
It would be history repeating itself, as then-Raw general manager Eric Bischoff did the same thing with Triple H after the brand split in 2002 when Undisputed WWE Champion Brock Lesnar became exclusive to SmackDown. Of late, however, fans have grown exhausted of fixed wrestling contests and it is now showing on the ratings of the two major WWE shows – Raw and SmackDown.
How will the firm split affect WWE titles such as “World Heavyweight Champion?” But I don’t see it going down that way. But it’s hard to make a 70-year-old Vince McMahon change his ways.
Foley looks to take the same competitiveness that he had in the Monday Night Wars and take it into his more authoritative role. The trio are clear fan favorites with the crowd, getting the fans to cheer catch-phrases genuinely for the first time since a young Dwyane Johnson went to make movies. “You are looking at every little aspect of everything there is”. There are no limitations on who can be selected. “But being No. 17 is a slap in the face to me”. I could envision a similar scenario where Stephanie or Shane only wants Kofi and Big E, but Xavier Woods gets left behind. “Everyone wants to be champ, and you can’t trust anybody”. “Irrelevant, if you will”.
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WWE fans get ready for change because the franchise will not be the same come Tuesday. With the ultimate babyface GM on SmackDown, it was surprising not to see another heel authority figure with Stephanie (HI ERIC BISCHOFF). Bemused, the WWE Universe were told to switch over to the WWE Network to find out what happened. This appearance will let him be back just before the Battleground event.
