Official Inaugural SmackDown Live/Draft Thread: 7/18/2016

[Ember's Flame]

As if the WWE Draft on SmackDown Live’s Tuesday night premiere on USA Network July 19 wasn’t big enough, the WWE Universe will also be able to watch a special WWE Draft Center Live second screen experience at 8/7 C — exclusively on WWE Network — as well as a SmackDown Live Pre-Show at 7/6 C across all digital platforms...

www.wwe.com/article/smackdown-live-pre-show-draft-center-special






Draft rules revealed: Everything you need to know about the WWE Draft

With this Tuesday's WWE Draft on the premiere of SmackDown Live on USA Network fast approaching, WWE.com answers the biggest questions of the WWE Universe with a breakdown of the official rules, regulations and procedures for one of the biggest nights in WWE history — including a major update that will change the face of NXT as well.

The rules for the WWE Draft are as follows:

- RAW has the first overall pick
- Since SmackDown Live is a two-hour show and Raw is three hours, for every two picks SmackDown Live receives, Raw will receive three picks
- Tag Teams count as one pick unless a Commissioner/General Manager specifically only wants one member of the team
- Six draft picks will be made off the NXT roster

The list of current WWE Superstars eligible for the WWE Draft will be as follows:

Male Superstars

AJ Styles
Alberto Del Rio
Apollo Crews
Baron Corbin
Big Show
Braun Strowman
Bray Wyatt
Brock Lesnar
Cesaro
Chris Jericho
Darren Young (w/ Bob Backlund)
Dean Ambrose – WWE Champion
Demon Kane
Dolph Ziggler
Erick Rowan
Jack Swagger
John Cena
Kalisto
Kevin Owens
Mark Henry
Neville
Randy Orton
Roman Reigns
Rusev (w/ Lana) – United States Champion
Sami Zayn
Seth Rollins
Sheamus
Sin Cara
The Miz (w/ Maryse) – Intercontinental Champion
Titus O’Neil
Zack Ryder

Tag Teams

Breezango (Fandango and Tyler Breeze)
Enzo and Cass (Enzo Amore and Big Cass)
Gallows and Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth)
Shining Stars (Epico and Primo)
Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel and Heath Slater)
The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor)
The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley)
The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) – Tag Team Champions
The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso)
The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)

Female Superstars

Alicia Fox
Becky Lynch
Charlotte – WWE Women’s Champion
Dana Brooke
Eva Marie
Naomi
Natalya
Paige
Sasha Banks
Summer Rae

[LuisTX]

Too bad they won't take this opportunity to add some legitimacy to their draft by making it a huge stand-alone special like the NFL does with their draft. Doing stuff like renting out a concert hall, selling tickets, having all the superstars in the back suited up and the GMs giving them RAW/SmackDown team jerseys with their names on the back and having them make an in-character speech on their draft position. And make it a big behind the scenes thing with Shane and a team of people on phones and computers, same for Stephanie, trying to figure out their draft picks, maybe switching picks for whatever reason. Basically, doing it like the Draft Day movie. But no matches, not using it as an excuse to have a special and give even less time for in-ring action than they already do.

[That 80s Guy]

--
I agree, there needs to be an official Draft thread, where we can update our own fantasy picks and explanations. That type of stuff.

[Escape The Rules]

This is probably the first show WWE has done that I've actually looked forward to since WrestleMania. Everything in between has been terrible. Should be a good show!

[tylerbreezee]

So like Reigns is gonna be on Smackdown? How are they gonna logically keep him on Raw considering Stephanie is running Raw and loathes him lol They really screwed up on that one if they wanted him to be on Raw. And they're gonna draft Orton but not even have him show up? Stupid as hell. They shouldn't have announced it'll be his first time on WWE since being injured. They should have just said he'll be Jerichos guest. 

[tylerbreezee]

Also, anyone thing we'll get to see the superstars reactions in the locker room when they announce who gets drafted?

[Mox]

Crossing fingers for Ambrose, Owens, Zayn and Sasha on Smackdown.

[marino13]

I hope SD is for those that like classic style indy wrestling. Less story lines and more action. Talents like...

Rollins, Styles, Zayn, Owens, Joe, Balor, Ziggler, Cesaro, & Neville.


And I hope the other is for fans of WWE style. More story driven slower style. With...

Cena, Roman, Bray, Sheamus, Enzo/Cass, Orton, Lesnar, Kane, Taker, Big Show, Social Outcasts, Corbin, & Miz.



Talent like Ambrose, New Day, Rusev, Crews, Del Rio, Ryder, & Harper can fit in with either.

[Deleted]

WWE just posted the draft rules on their website. 

They are as follows:

- RAW has the first overall pick

- Every two picks for Smackdown = 3 picks for Raw since Raw is a longer show

- Tag Teams count as one pick unless a Commissioner/General Manager specifically only wants one member of the team

- Six draft picks will be made from the NXT roster

What do you guys think about that?

[J-MANN: Tag Team Champion]

First pick of Raw: Seth Rollins.

[Deleted]

Interesting rules. Honestly, I'm so ing hyped for the brand split - it's unreal.

[J-MANN: Tag Team Champion]

Hopefully AJ Styles and the Club get drafted to Smackdown.

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2016 17:11:29 GMT -5 JP said:

Interesting rules. Honestly, I'm so ing hyped for the brand split - it's unreal.

Me too. Kinda screws up my entire mock draft with bad guy™ but it's whatever.

I'm going to be streaming throughout the whole thing, feel free to hop in the chat and mark out with me!

[Ember's Flame]

Biggest news: RAW has 1st pick. For every two picks Smackdown has..Raw will get three. Also...6 NXT Talents will be drafted!!!!

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2016 17:12:21 GMT -5 J-MANN: Tag Team Champion said:

Hopefully AJ Styles and the Club get drafted to Smackdown.

I hope so, too. I'm assuming Cena will be Smackdown as well, so I'm guessing they'll try and keep that feud going for a while. Maybe, maybe not.

[Ember's Flame]

The Draft thread has been updated with the rules

[J-MANN: Tag Team Champion]

Can't wait to hear the crowd boo when Roman gets drafted lol..

[The Kevstaaa]

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2016 17:14:37 GMT -5 J-MANN: Tag Team Champion said:

Can't wait to hear the crowd boo when Roman gets drafted lol..

I'm curious to see if Roman is there for the draft since the suspension won't be over yet.

[Deleted]

Jul 17, 2016 17:14:37 GMT -5 J-MANN: Tag Team Champion said:

Can't wait to hear the crowd boo when Roman gets drafted lol..

Roman Reigns has been drafted to...

The Edge and Christian Show That Totally Reeks of Awesomeness.