USA supposedly feel the World Heavyweight Title will be seen at second rate and want Roman and the Bloodline on Raw. But the internal feeling is that they were ticketed to be back on SmackDown because FOX is the bigger money deal and their highest rated show.

On top of that, the draft is said to be happening because the networks again requested unique rosters and no cross-promotion. Same line of thinking that led to the last few drafts.

So it's really no secret why WWE always end up re-merging rosters within a few months, because they pretty much can't win otherwise. The networks want unique rosters but then get ticked off if certain stars don't appear.

Rock must need another year to get into shape.

That's all well and good, just don't call it a world title. Call it by any other name and do the same thing.

I still like the idea of a Heritage title (borrowing from NXT UK). Have the matches be 2/3 falls where you have to pin and submit your opponent. Use the Winged Eagle with updated wordage. That can be your “workhorse” champion that defends against all comers. Feels like a solid way to establish someone.

1 out of 2 falls ONLY.

Remember a few years ago when Vince went mad for 2/3 falls matches on Raw. They’d go multiple segments with falls either side of breaks.

Such good shit.

So with more time to consider this new belt situation I’ve come to this conclusion; we know that HHH has been using 3 x Booker of the Year Tony Khan’s playbook and having exhausted who he can bring back for a debut he’s turned to TK’s next best booking tactics, making big announcements and introducing new championship belts.

Like in previous years, the draft is split into two separate draft pools.

Eligible to be drafted on Friday:

* Becky Lynch
* Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair
* The Bloodline (Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa)
* Bobby Lashley
* Candice LeRae
* Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville
* Cody Rhodes
* Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY, Dakota Kai)
* Dexter Lumis
* Dolph Ziggler
* Drew McIntyre
* Edge
* Hit Row (Top Dolla, Ashante “Thee” Adonis, B-Fab)
* Imperium (WWE Intercontinental Champion GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser, Giovanni Vinci)
* Lacey Evans
* Matt Riddle
* Maximum Male Models (ma.cé, mån.sôör, Maxxine Dupri)
* The Miz
* Mustafa Ali
* Natalya
* The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin)
* Omos and MVP
* Shinsuke Nakamura
* The Street Profits (Montez Ford, Angelo Dawkins)
* The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar, Valhalla)
* Select NXT Superstars

Eligible to be drafted on Monday:

* Akira Tozawa
* Alpha Academy (Otis, Chad Gable)
* Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo
* Asuka
* WWE United States Champion Austin Theory
* Baron Corbin
* Braun Strowman and Ricochet
* The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland, Butch)
* Brock Lesnar
* Bronson Reed
* Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin
* Charlotte Flair
* Dana Brooke
* Elias
* Emma
* Johnny Gargano
* Judgment Day (Finn Balor, Damian Priest, Dominik Mysterio)
* Karrion Kross and Scarlett
* Undisputed WWE Tag Team Champions Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
* LA Knight
* WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez
* The LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde, Zelina Vega)
* The New Day (Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods)
* Nikki Cross
* Piper Niven
* SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley
* Rick Boogs
* Riddick Moss
* Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler
* Seth "Freakin'" Rollins
* Shotzi
* Tamina
* Tegan Nox
* The Usos (Jimmy Uso, Jey Uso)
* Trish Stratus
* Xia Li
* Select NXT Superstars

The Bloodline only being Roman and Solo with the Usos having to be picked separately is kinda strange but ultimately feels like a red herring. Probably one of those deals where Monday rolls around and Roman "demands" the Usos get drafted to his show. Can't imagine the full group being split up before they properly finish up their story.

Rhea not listed with Judgment Day is weird and feels more likely to be telegraphing a split, otherwise why was she not just drafted with the rest of the group? I assume she's going to SmackDown, yeah they could always do another "belt swap" angle but not sure I see it when Bianca's got a year-long title reign going with the Raw title lineage. Logic aside I hope they don't split Rhea and Dom up.

Street Profits remain the most likely team to be abruptly split - with Montez presumably being on Raw to stay with Bianca and Angelo going to SmackDown. But I think keeping them together and doing a proper breakup angle makes more sense.

I’d be completely okay with the new World Title being used to elevate someone new entirely. Even someone like a Bron Breakker or my outside pick…Apollo Crews. Is being plugged into mid-card stuff going to do that much for them? When someone has got the tools, you might as well present them as a big deal (as long as you are committed to them).

A guy like Crews has a great look, an interesting background, can work, is quite young and isn’t completely useless as a talker. He’s done the mid-card thing, he’s worked with a bunch of the guys coming up, he can play a face or a heel. There’s no real “hunger” for it, but that could be a shock that jolts people into paying attention.

You can tie it into him getting advice from Roman at some point too.

I think the problem you are going to face with the belt is the new champion feeling less than, especially if they’ve lost to Roman in a big way already. While establishing the champion, maybe they should be an unknown quantity, so you can play with the idea that this guy could hypothetically be the spoiler for Roman Reigns down the line. Someone fresh also allows you to pivot off a bunch of stories with the talent on that roster who have likely already mixed in the upper levels. What’s Seth going to do as champion? Feud with Bobby Lashley?

Montez Ford, Dominik Mysterio, Chad Gable and Damian Priest are other names I’ll throw out there for the spot.

From the existing main event roster, I can see the path forward with Cody (this isn’t good enough for me), Edge (I finally made it again) or even a miracle return from John Cena or Randy Orton. I can kind of get behind Bobby Lashley too. Or Logan Paul if his new deal allows it. But I think a good pick would be Sami Zayn, especially if they can get it done in Saudi Arabia, because the “feel good” can carry it through.

Seth and Drew are bad picks imo. They’re just not hot enough in the spot and it feels like it’s been done. I know Seth’s thing is that Roman hasn’t beaten him properly, but it still feels a little flat. I’m fine with him as the other guy in the decider.

If the belt is truly around to stay, Cody is a mistake too. And they also need to come up with fresh stories around it that don’t revolve around The Bloodline and what they’re doing.

I could really get behind Bron Breakker in the spot. He’d be like Finn Balor in 2016. Just smash him over and become “the guy” on Raw. He can defend the belt at NXT Battleground. If crowds boo him, roll with it. If they cheer him because he’s fresh, run with that too.

Have Rhea win it.

This is my problem for every draft when they split teams up.

Street Profits are listed as a team, yet they will get drafted one at a time. Zero logical reason to only draft one when you can draft both.

Yep. And they’ve doubled down this year by splitting some teams in the pool and not others only for the inevitable splitting of some of the teams.

I always hate how they split teams like that. The only thing that slightly smooths it over in my mind is if the wrestlers have the agency, so drafting them as singles forces that split in the team. But then it takes the pressure off the other show to draft the other person.

It would not shock me to see Montez Ford end up on Raw and Angelo Dawkins end up on SmackDown.

The only splits I can see are Roman & Solo Sikoa being separate from The Usos (there’s #1 right there) and Rhea Ripley being separate to Judgment Day. I think it’s pretty likely we’ll get The Usos and Judgment Day on Raw.

Judgement Day going to SD, will end up feuding with The Bloodline. Imperium to Raw. They are protecting Gunther almost like Roman. Lets him have a run at the new world title instead of having to feed him to Reigns.

I haven't watched Smackdown in forever. Hopefully they produce a good show.

Night 1:

Guessing Roman, Cody, Seth, Theory, Omos, Becky for SD in and Drew, Edge, Imperium, Nakamura, Bianca to RAW.

I'm genuinely excited for this show. I hope they stick to the roster split this time around.

Kind of weird they are going up against the NFL draft if the rosters are not going into effect until May 8th anyways.

So this confirms the fate of the World Heavyweight Championship.

I'm already wrong lol

Also, why would the Smackdown fans cheer for Raw picks?? :rofl:

lol Bianca and Rhea title swap time.

LOL why, every fucking year!

Looks like Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley are going to exchange the belts.

Round One:

SD - Roman/Solo/Heyman

RAW - Cody

SD - Bianca

RAW - Becky Lynch

Looks like Lynch and Rollins are going to stay on RAW.

Interesting keeping Cody and Seth on the same show

The giant screen looks "somewhat pixelated" up close.

Guessing Street Profits to SD as well

Can't believe they're still calling Pete Dunne "Butch" :nono:

LA Knight (and LWO) both need to start winning matches, the crowd really is into both

Ummm...did Belair just say that she's glad to be Smackdown women's champion?

OMG! LA Knight looks good.

Boring way to draft, imo. Need some pizzazz out there

I miss the old draft lottery format. Felt more engaging like the Royal Rumble tumbler.

nice

LA Knight finally won a match!