WWE Draft Thread
Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 7:54 am
Well i know it isn't even mania yet but why not.
Who do you think is moving roster, who do you think should move rosters?
Well for me, the idea is more. Raw = more casual but also what can last 3 hours. Focused more on the entertainment aspect
Smackdown = for the hardcore fans more (i.e. this year) and focused more on ring work (also character work).
To Smackdown:
Shinsuke Nakamura (From NXT)
I don't trust RAW's booking team with him, they don't emphasise in ring work and physical charisma as much as smackdown does. Simple as that really, don't get me wrong, i think he could be an upper-mid carder on raw, but on smackdown he'd be a main eventer
Asuka (From NXT)
With Charlotte and Bayley on Raw, i think smackdown does need another woman, also Raw should be getting Kay+Royce and/or moon. Asuka's lack of promo isn't as big of a glaring issue, she'd be on smackdown to be almost a female lesnar and realistically you could do that on smackdown better than raw.
Kevin Owens
Yes the probable U.S Champion to Smackdown, in my opinion at least, he needs a reboot and smackdown also needs that type of heel (the monster variety with good promo work). At the end of the day, i think Joe actually may have replaced Owens on RAW potentially. He is the HHH guy right now whilst Owens has been treading water, even was Universal champion. He would take the US championship there also (Swapping with Corbin but more on that later).
Sami Zayn
He's not doing a lot on Raw, i thought he would have but he really hasn't been doing a lot outside of losing to Joe (albeit valiantly). This underdog daniel bryan build is a bit forced. On Smackdown he gets more structure at least, probably feuding with the mid card and top heels and really getting popular. Not to mention a potential Owens-Zayn program (for the US or WWE title).
Seth Rollins
If anyone needs a seachange its Rollins. They've bungled him so badly, he has face of the company potential but they need to get it right and fast. One way to start this again is Rollins v Ambrose down the line, just with the roles reversed. Have Ambrose have a slow-burn heel turn and have Rollins capitalise on his win against HHH (Should be decisive too, HHH is old).
Rusev
Rusev needs the move moreso than anyone else, he's basically being jobbing, on smackdown he's at least a midcarder and a monster heel again, he'd probably be able to prove himself on the mic more and more. He could put a compelling program with
Cesaro
Cesaro and Sheamus are great but i think Mania should be the last time they matchup together with a match at raw ending it all once and for all (Cesaro should go over i'd say). If he is to get a serious singles run, now is the time and smackdown is the place to do it. He could get a US title run or even be in WWE title contention sometime down the line.
Sasha Banks
Yep, heel Sasha Banks. Its happening soon enough, why not let it happen at mania. You'd immediately have as the top 3 woman. Heel Sasha, Face Lynch and Tweener/Monster Asuka. 3 completely different characters on the smackdown side of things.
Finn Balor
Not the first name to come to mind but it boils down to this, Smackdown has face authority figures. Who better to go against to go against them than a Heel Bullet Club (well I guess they'd be 'The Club' but same thing). It also feeds into Finn as a top heel which they probably already had in store eventually and could play to AJ as a top Face eventually since they're already planting the seeds there. Honestly a feud could continue in the sense that now you have the entire club against Shane and Daniel. The idea of the Club running roughshod and Shane and Bryan having to play catch-up is an interesting feud.
Gallows & Anderson
Same reasoning as Finn but also why not move them to clear up space for Dash and Dawson from NXT for Raw.
Emma
To save us all from the bad Raw segments really. But she can wrestle and wrestle well. Realistically it wouldn't be outrageous to say she would be the 4th best woman on that roster. If she got on that smackdown roster she could be used in title matches and secondary woman's feuds (probably the 2nd best heel after Banks).
To Raw:
John Cena
EVEN if he is part time, he's a draw regardless. Raw need draws and Raw needs Cena. The ratings aren't that different. Cena on smackdown has been great and if they give him that level of freedom, i can't see why they wouldn't
Randy Orton
Probably the most over guy on the roster today. The man can do no wrong and one of the few draws left right now. Now he could be one of the last main full time faces who draw.
Baron Corbin
Would almost be a shame for them to do this but Corbin would need to, Vince obviously likes him a lot and has had him protected a fair bit, with him eliminating Strowman at the Rumble and doing pretty well there. I'd have him leave Smackdown with the IC title also.
Apollo Crews
They obviously like him, but he's been one of the few guys who have been irrelevant on smackdown. Seriously he's done absolutely nothing of note or significance. It is clear he was called up too early but maybe on Raw he gets more over (since flips and smiles etc). He'd get a better spot on the roster and probably positioned well in the mid card.
Dolph Ziggler
He's popular but not nearly as much as he should given the fact he was in a near feud of the year with the miz. He still is very popular though so RAW could easily get him back up to scratch.
Hype Bros
Yep both of them, They like Mojo a lot, but neither has gotten a lot of love on smackdown at least. Mojo is pretty decent, annoying character but good enough in the ring.
Kalisto
This is more of a move to 205 than anything else. He should have been on 205 on its inception. He adds to the great depth of luchadors and probably becomes the #1 luchador.
Alexa Bliss
Most likely going to lose her title at mania, most likely to either a debuting Asuka or Lynch. Honestly she has been one of the better heels on the womans side. She'd be the 2nd biggest heel and 3rd best woman on that roster (at least until Ember Moon is ready to come up). She's sufficiently different enough from Charlotte as a heel.
Naomi
Is pretty over because of Total Diva's. Not the best wrestler but is exciting at least. May be able to be the 5th best woman's wrestler and 2nd best face.
The Miz
He deserves prime time really. On Smackdown he would be overshadowed for sure. The Miz on Raw with Maryse would be nuts. He could go into the new faction with HHH potentially, go after the IC title again or make that step up to main eventer. I think he could do it this time also so long as the chasing pack is strong (i.e. Cena, Orton, even Lesnar or Goldberg in a sense would be unique feuds, i'd actually be keen for Miz-Heyman promo battles). If given the freedom he's had on smackdown, he's a main event player.
Dash & Dawson (From NXT)
They deserve a call-up. Honestly they may be the top tag team in the world right now. I think with the Good Brothers on Smackdown, it clears up space for these two, who are of a similar ilk but have the greater potential to be special.
Kane
Again, casual appeal that could potentially draw off of Nostalgia.
Mickie James
Could do a lot more on raw than smackdown right now. A continued story with Bliss, going up against Bayley, going up against Charlotte.
The Ascension
Yeah they still exist. With Gallows & Anderson going as well as Sheamus & Cesaro breaking up, there needs to be at least more bodies. I mean they aren't going to be a top team but they don't need to be. Realistically the top 3 teams of D&D, New Day and Enzo & Cass will be the focal point (much like the woman).
Who do you think is moving roster, who do you think should move rosters?
Well for me, the idea is more. Raw = more casual but also what can last 3 hours. Focused more on the entertainment aspect
Smackdown = for the hardcore fans more (i.e. this year) and focused more on ring work (also character work).
To Smackdown:
Shinsuke Nakamura (From NXT)
I don't trust RAW's booking team with him, they don't emphasise in ring work and physical charisma as much as smackdown does. Simple as that really, don't get me wrong, i think he could be an upper-mid carder on raw, but on smackdown he'd be a main eventer
Asuka (From NXT)
With Charlotte and Bayley on Raw, i think smackdown does need another woman, also Raw should be getting Kay+Royce and/or moon. Asuka's lack of promo isn't as big of a glaring issue, she'd be on smackdown to be almost a female lesnar and realistically you could do that on smackdown better than raw.
Kevin Owens
Yes the probable U.S Champion to Smackdown, in my opinion at least, he needs a reboot and smackdown also needs that type of heel (the monster variety with good promo work). At the end of the day, i think Joe actually may have replaced Owens on RAW potentially. He is the HHH guy right now whilst Owens has been treading water, even was Universal champion. He would take the US championship there also (Swapping with Corbin but more on that later).
Sami Zayn
He's not doing a lot on Raw, i thought he would have but he really hasn't been doing a lot outside of losing to Joe (albeit valiantly). This underdog daniel bryan build is a bit forced. On Smackdown he gets more structure at least, probably feuding with the mid card and top heels and really getting popular. Not to mention a potential Owens-Zayn program (for the US or WWE title).
Seth Rollins
If anyone needs a seachange its Rollins. They've bungled him so badly, he has face of the company potential but they need to get it right and fast. One way to start this again is Rollins v Ambrose down the line, just with the roles reversed. Have Ambrose have a slow-burn heel turn and have Rollins capitalise on his win against HHH (Should be decisive too, HHH is old).
Rusev
Rusev needs the move moreso than anyone else, he's basically being jobbing, on smackdown he's at least a midcarder and a monster heel again, he'd probably be able to prove himself on the mic more and more. He could put a compelling program with
Cesaro
Cesaro and Sheamus are great but i think Mania should be the last time they matchup together with a match at raw ending it all once and for all (Cesaro should go over i'd say). If he is to get a serious singles run, now is the time and smackdown is the place to do it. He could get a US title run or even be in WWE title contention sometime down the line.
Sasha Banks
Yep, heel Sasha Banks. Its happening soon enough, why not let it happen at mania. You'd immediately have as the top 3 woman. Heel Sasha, Face Lynch and Tweener/Monster Asuka. 3 completely different characters on the smackdown side of things.
Finn Balor
Not the first name to come to mind but it boils down to this, Smackdown has face authority figures. Who better to go against to go against them than a Heel Bullet Club (well I guess they'd be 'The Club' but same thing). It also feeds into Finn as a top heel which they probably already had in store eventually and could play to AJ as a top Face eventually since they're already planting the seeds there. Honestly a feud could continue in the sense that now you have the entire club against Shane and Daniel. The idea of the Club running roughshod and Shane and Bryan having to play catch-up is an interesting feud.
Gallows & Anderson
Same reasoning as Finn but also why not move them to clear up space for Dash and Dawson from NXT for Raw.
Emma
To save us all from the bad Raw segments really. But she can wrestle and wrestle well. Realistically it wouldn't be outrageous to say she would be the 4th best woman on that roster. If she got on that smackdown roster she could be used in title matches and secondary woman's feuds (probably the 2nd best heel after Banks).
To Raw:
John Cena
EVEN if he is part time, he's a draw regardless. Raw need draws and Raw needs Cena. The ratings aren't that different. Cena on smackdown has been great and if they give him that level of freedom, i can't see why they wouldn't
Randy Orton
Probably the most over guy on the roster today. The man can do no wrong and one of the few draws left right now. Now he could be one of the last main full time faces who draw.
Baron Corbin
Would almost be a shame for them to do this but Corbin would need to, Vince obviously likes him a lot and has had him protected a fair bit, with him eliminating Strowman at the Rumble and doing pretty well there. I'd have him leave Smackdown with the IC title also.
Apollo Crews
They obviously like him, but he's been one of the few guys who have been irrelevant on smackdown. Seriously he's done absolutely nothing of note or significance. It is clear he was called up too early but maybe on Raw he gets more over (since flips and smiles etc). He'd get a better spot on the roster and probably positioned well in the mid card.
Dolph Ziggler
He's popular but not nearly as much as he should given the fact he was in a near feud of the year with the miz. He still is very popular though so RAW could easily get him back up to scratch.
Hype Bros
Yep both of them, They like Mojo a lot, but neither has gotten a lot of love on smackdown at least. Mojo is pretty decent, annoying character but good enough in the ring.
Kalisto
This is more of a move to 205 than anything else. He should have been on 205 on its inception. He adds to the great depth of luchadors and probably becomes the #1 luchador.
Alexa Bliss
Most likely going to lose her title at mania, most likely to either a debuting Asuka or Lynch. Honestly she has been one of the better heels on the womans side. She'd be the 2nd biggest heel and 3rd best woman on that roster (at least until Ember Moon is ready to come up). She's sufficiently different enough from Charlotte as a heel.
Naomi
Is pretty over because of Total Diva's. Not the best wrestler but is exciting at least. May be able to be the 5th best woman's wrestler and 2nd best face.
The Miz
He deserves prime time really. On Smackdown he would be overshadowed for sure. The Miz on Raw with Maryse would be nuts. He could go into the new faction with HHH potentially, go after the IC title again or make that step up to main eventer. I think he could do it this time also so long as the chasing pack is strong (i.e. Cena, Orton, even Lesnar or Goldberg in a sense would be unique feuds, i'd actually be keen for Miz-Heyman promo battles). If given the freedom he's had on smackdown, he's a main event player.
Dash & Dawson (From NXT)
They deserve a call-up. Honestly they may be the top tag team in the world right now. I think with the Good Brothers on Smackdown, it clears up space for these two, who are of a similar ilk but have the greater potential to be special.
Kane
Again, casual appeal that could potentially draw off of Nostalgia.
Mickie James
Could do a lot more on raw than smackdown right now. A continued story with Bliss, going up against Bayley, going up against Charlotte.
The Ascension
Yeah they still exist. With Gallows & Anderson going as well as Sheamus & Cesaro breaking up, there needs to be at least more bodies. I mean they aren't going to be a top team but they don't need to be. Realistically the top 3 teams of D&D, New Day and Enzo & Cass will be the focal point (much like the woman).