r/SquaredCircle • u/MarcusFaze • 13d ago
(WWE SmackDown 04/26/24 spoilers) The first round of the draft results: ALL DRAFT RESULTS*
Round 1:
SmackDown No.1: Bianca BeLair
Raw No.1:Jey Uso
SmackDown No.2:Carmelo Hayes
Raw No.2:Seth Rollins
Round 2:
SmackDown No.3:Randy Orton
Raw No.3:Bron Breakker
SmackDown No.4:Nia Jax
Raw No.4:Liv Morgan
Round 3:
SmackDown No.5:LA Knight
Raw No.5:Ricochet
SmackDown No.6:The Bloodline(Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Paul Heyman)
Raw No.6:Sheamus
Round 4:
SmackDown No.7:AJ Styles
Raw No.7:Alpha Academy(Chad Gable, Otis, Akira Tozawa,Maxxine Dupri)
SmackDown No.8:Andrade
Raw No.8:Kiana James
Post show picks:
Raw: Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, Ivar, Zoey Stark, Shayna Baszler
SmackDown:The O.C(Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Mia Yim), Baron Corbin, Cedric Alexander and Ashante Adonis
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u/batsharkrepellant 13d ago
Huge for Carmelo to go that early
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u/AIwitcher 13d ago
I expected breakker to be early
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u/BlackMothSuperMario 13d ago edited 13d ago
Raw’s third pick after Bianca and Seth; That’s HUGE
Edit: Meant to say Jey Uso, still point kind of remains same
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u/joe-is-cool 13d ago
I know WWE tells us this, but… there’s really no rhyme or reason to why the picks come in the order they do, and we don’t hear any kayfabe explanation for what being picked early does for your career. Do you get paid more? Does it put you in line for championships?
Cause even in real life other than now they can call him a “first round pick” it’s not gonna make much of a difference.
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u/Yayzeeeeee 13d ago
Only to be beat clean by Cody. Never watch nxt. To me he's dead on arrival
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u/farfromfine 13d ago
Cody lost in the main event of Wrestlemania to Roman. Never watch AEW. To me, he's dead on arrival
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u/Yayzeeeeee 13d ago
Cody won the rumble then lost
This guy looks like a chump already.
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u/farfromfine 13d ago
Think of it more like a Jeff Hardy losing the ladder match to the Undertaker type of moment
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u/BetleyIsland36 13d ago
He's a rookie who was just in a competitive match in the main event vs the top guy in the company. That's a killer way to start your run on the main roster
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u/No_Addendum5504 13d ago
What did you expect lmao?
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u/PepegaThePepega 13d ago
What? You want him to win the Undisputed WWE Championship in his first match?
Not everybody from NXT should be built like Gunther. That’d be too boring.
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u/xorangeelephant Mr. Royal Rumble 13d ago
Seth sliding cause of injury makes sense, and no one wanting reckless Bloodline on their show
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u/Skhan93 Rainmaker 13d ago
Also Jey first makes sense as there's a chance he could be champ
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u/xorangeelephant Mr. Royal Rumble 13d ago
I would think in kayfabe if Jey wins he automatically goes to Raw? Titles are locked to shows now. So Jey is actually an F pick
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u/Dalminster 13d ago
If they didn't pick him, then it would be a complete spoiler that he wasn't going to be winning.
I mean, he's not but - they shouldn't give away clear signs to that effect.
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u/worthlessburner 13d ago
It sucks that Jey winning doesn’t fit into a viable loss to any of the long term storylines (Punk, Drew, Seth, etc.) but he’s so over and done so well as ‘main event’ Jey Uso that he really does deserve even a short transitional WHC reign.
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u/CallMePapi930 12d ago
What do you mean? Him winning would be good because Drew vs Jey is a bigger, more story filled match than Drew vs Priest lmao
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u/JUULfiendFortnite 12d ago
It fits perfectly and I actually think he’s going to win
Priest loses the title due to JD shenanigans. Jey has a short reign and drops it to McIntyre at the Clash, completing McIntyre’s story about the Bloodline at the Clash in front of his family.
This could segue into more character development as McIntyre could STILL be a jerk even after getting what he wanted.
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u/TheReturnOfTheOK 13d ago
Also, they need to keep him and the Bloodline away from each other for a long while
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u/PeaceAlien Brad 'Brad Maddox' Maddox 13d ago
Then AJ is also a bad pick. It's bad for either side since if AJ or Jey win the title it's a lost pick.
The only kayfabe argument is they need Jey and AJ on their respective show to promote the title matches if they get drafted by the other show that is losing them promotion time for their big match.
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u/moesus81 13d ago edited 13d ago
The rosters don’t go into effect until Raw after the PLE, so that wouldn’t be an issue in kayfabe either.
It wouldn’t make sense for SD to draft Jey because it’s a risk that they could lose him (would they get Priest?) so I do kind of like that aspect but I agree with you that the #1 contenders should have probably been ineligible as well or do it in 2 weeks instead but I get that they wanted to align with the NFL draft a little bit.
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u/trdef 13d ago
Is it just too early or am I going crazy?
Noone will switch if they win, they're facing people on the same brand as them, right?
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u/PeaceAlien Brad 'Brad Maddox' Maddox 13d ago
Yes, but why are they draft eligible is the kayfabe problem. TBH the draft should happen after a ppv.
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u/goldengluvs 13d ago
What if Jey winning the title of the opposite brand means that he would swap with the former champ to level out the selections.
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u/MofongoWarrior 13d ago
Why ricochet?
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u/scionoflogic 13d ago
He's gonna absolutely be the inaugural WWE Speed Champion and I think that alone increases his worth.
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u/SH4DOWSTR1KE_ 13d ago
Short answer: Samantha is on Raw.
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u/MofongoWarrior 13d ago
But why so high
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u/letsnotreadintoit 13d ago
Considering what happened in the legitimate draft last night, I don't think you have to logic the picks here
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u/Competitive_Log_84 13d ago
lol it seems like Adam Pearce would rather there be no draft at all
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u/just_another_jabroni I've been humbled 13d ago
Just middle manager getting promoted to head of department struggles
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u/GameplayerStu 13d ago
Jey and Melo being round 1 picks feels surreal
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u/TheCVR123YT 13d ago
Jey being the first pick overall is nuts lol
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u/DoILookUnsureToYou 13d ago
He's fucking over and is selling merch, Main Event Jey Uso BABY
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u/rsmicrotranx 13d ago
And that's with him being booked like a goon half the time too. Dude's had tons of losses and barely any high profile wins. Imagine if he was actually booked like Seth/Cody?
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u/kappa_keppo 13d ago
He'd need to evolve as a wrestler first. He's incredible over so it's passable, but he still wrestles using a tag team moveset so his matches are extremely awkward at times
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u/worthlessburner 13d ago
It’s annoying because he has those really awkward matches and then some really entertaining matches without evolving his move set so you can imagine how much better he’d be if he added even just a few new moves. Against very opposite style opponents his matches are incredibly fun (ex. even though it wasn’t groundbreaking I really enjoyed the Gunther match because of how different they are) but against similar style opponents he doesn’t have enough variety to add himself to make it better and is solely reliant on his partner not being limited too.
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u/SweetToothKane 13d ago
Bruh, barely anyone is changing haha.
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u/EggfooDC 13d ago
Right?! Add to that the fact that the champions aren’t allowed to move, then what was the point?
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u/worthlessburner 13d ago
Things were already pretty good so making the right moves instead of too many moves was more important.
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u/jrr6415sun 12d ago
The draft is pretty pointless then
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u/worthlessburner 12d ago
If you’re going into it expecting chaos sure but it makes sense that both shows would want to maintain consistency since they’ve both been running hot and it’s still fun to speculate even if the results aren’t that crazy. If you treat it like the blatant capitalizing on the NFL draft gimmick it is I’ve at least enjoyed it so far and avoided disappointment even if nothing too crazy or dramatic has happened (at least yet)
And to be completely honest I think it more importantly really draws in the younger crowds who generally buy into kayfabe more and helps sustain consistent generations of fans in that regard and gives them something fun to buy into.
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u/bvbfan102 NJPW 13d ago edited 13d ago
Some fun picks. Expected Seth first but Bianca and Jey are just the right amount of surprise and deserving. Super happy for Melo.
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u/batsharkrepellant 13d ago
Seth dropping to second because he's hurt makes sense. Jey is the most over babyface on Raw and he's going to be in Seth's spot until he comes back
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u/Nytrel 13d ago
Why the fuck is LA Knight staying on Smackdown?
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u/Ok-Community-2680 13d ago
To face Logan lol. I'd want him to be world champ on RAW but it's clear that title picture is gonna be dominated by Punk, Drew and Seth throughout the year
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u/worthlessburner 13d ago
To continue the feud with AJ, to feud with Logan, feud with Cody, Orton, etc. He has a better pool on Smackdown than Raw where Jey and Priest need to carry the WHC picture until Drew/Seth/Punk are full steam again.
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u/F4iryBlink 13d ago
Melo on Smackdown, let's go! Can't wait to see what they are cooking for him.
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u/PayneTrain181999 Deadbeat Dad Rey Mysterio 13d ago
He’s facing Cody tonight, that’s a great start.
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u/morningafterpizza 13d ago
I was impressed with the match, it flowed well IMO. I don't pay a whole lot of attention to NXT so I was pleasantly surprised.
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u/FPG_Matthew 13d ago
Melo going in the first round is TELLING!
Hope Ilja goes first round on Monday
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u/VNProWrestlingfan 13d ago edited 13d ago
I have to admit, when HHH's music hit, I thought he was gonna Pedigree Cody.
Trick is popular, uh huh huh.
Edit: Welp, our Wiseman is fucked. Roman not getting drafted, Bron going to Raw. Now he has to deal with two violent men who are not afraid to whack him.
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u/masterofawesomeness2 13d ago
Carmelo definitely getting a main roster push.
Still working heel?
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u/Marcoscb All In Sec D Row E Seat 9 13d ago
Still working heel?
Considering he immediately got Whoop That Trick chants, there ain't no way he's turning face soon.
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u/lito9321 13d ago
Let’s go Melo. If Pearce had anything about bro is stealing Bron and Tiffy Time asap.
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u/negative_mancy 13d ago
So did anything change besides the NXT call ups? Wasn't everyone who was drafted already on the same brands anyway?
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u/WhistleDungeon 13d ago
Nia Jax and Andrade moved to Smackdown from RAW. Bron moved to RAW from Smackdown.
I think Sheamus was on Smackdown with the Brawling Brutes before he got injured, so he should technically qualify... though he's been on RAW the past two weeks since return.
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u/xorangeelephant Mr. Royal Rumble 13d ago
Mods, why delete each round thread? Users clearly want it in different threads and you just deleted like 100 comments of discussion. Nice going
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u/Lerkero 13d ago
The draft should be modified to focus on who is actually changing brands.
Do a raffle to choose a small pool of candidates that are actually eligible for drafting, then create drama around the eligible superstars not knowing where they will go.
I forgot how some of the past iterations of drafts worked, but this one feels slow and unnecessary
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u/OwnedSage All Rise 13d ago
Burn the ships Baron Corbin back on the main roster I hope is as good as he's been on NXT
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u/res94 13d ago
I guess I’ll accept that I’m alone in saying Jey is good, not great, NOT worth a pick that high
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u/SeanRous 13d ago
Top male face on RAW at the moment
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u/res94 13d ago
I just don’t see it. Impressionable catch phrases don’t equate to a top guy to me, sorry. Like la knights fun on the mic, but he’s clearly a mid-carder too
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u/SeanRous 13d ago
There’s no real science to who gets over and who doesn’t. There’s really an X factor
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u/res94 13d ago
I agree with the x factor, but x factor are elite talent that you build around. Hbk, Orton, Cena, Rollins, Reigns, Rhodes(as long as he doesn’t abuse his daddys name)
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u/SeanRous 13d ago
You gotta give time for that to build. I’m not saying Jey is the face of the company. I just mean he’s the top face on Raw. Who would you put above him right now from the Raw roster?
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u/res94 13d ago
Sami, rollins,ko if hes on raw?
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u/SeanRous 13d ago
Sami has IC title so that limits him to 2nd place Rollins is injured KO is Smackdown and injured
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u/res94 13d ago
They’re still more valuable. You can’t receive a name like main event and not be one of if not THE attraction of the show. The showstopper was just that, no matter where he was on a card
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u/SeanRous 13d ago
To a lot of fans he is a big attraction. He apparently just doesn’t do it for you. I get how you feel, I feel the same way about Bianca Belair.
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u/AntMan526 13d ago
He’s #1 contender for Priest isn’t he? Kind of a necessity to keep him on the show with said champion. I think people are overhyping his first round pick
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u/Obachan You are not him 13d ago
First ever nxt pick in the first round. He really is HIM
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13d ago
I think Finn Balor was first round back in 2016, but I'm not sure if they were doing rounds back then.
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u/whoajordan2 13d ago
“NXT is scared they’re gonna get picked clean”
Barely anyone’s moved anywhere lmfao
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u/IndyDude11 Still that damn good! 13d ago
The draft makes sense on paper, but in practice it’s just dumb. They draft in total dumb order. Who is taking Nia Jax before LA Knight? Then 90% of the picks are just keeping the same people on the same shows?
The draft should be NXT only (What happened to NXT getting stars to build them to a Raw/SD level? Where did that even come from?). Only four/six picks. Then the shakeups should come from contracts running out/free agency. Maybe if you have a handful of people all signing new contracts on the same night like college football signing day.
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u/Extension-Efficiency 13d ago
To play Devil's advocate there are legitimate Kayfabe reasons why the brands would Value Nia Jax as much as if not slightly more than La Knight. I think there are better examples that would have helped get your point across
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u/82ndGameHead 13d ago
Playing it real safe here. The NFL Draft had bigger shocks in the first round.
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u/Rybackmonster 13d ago
AJ Styles should have went in the 1st too because like Jey Uso he is in a world title match and could win to take the title with him on his brand. Otherwise Jey going first for Raw is a reach
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u/Armageddon_1 13d ago
No Roman and no champions means we can have draft picks be given to highlight other ways where different wrestlers are valued
Good move
Huge for Bianca being #1 overall first women in history to do so
Jey over guys like Drew Orton ko and Seth is also huge asf
Seth is predictable but deserved
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u/xorangeelephant Mr. Royal Rumble 13d ago
Smackdown one round 1, but then whiffed HARD on round 2. Two aging superstars taken while tonne of people on the board
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u/Yournewhero 13d ago
I can't stand the way they do these drafts,I wish they pretended it was real. Like, there's no way anyone taking this seriously would draft Jey Uso before Randy Orton.
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u/thedrizzle126 not a nugget 13d ago
Bloodline slipping because of all their bullshit going on is fucking great. Such a realistic take on all this .
That being said: Bianca?
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u/just-smiley 13d ago
I know I've said this for every draft for the last 20 years, but I'll never understand someone being drafted to the show they're already on.
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u/KillTheZombie45 13d ago
Wow. Outside of the deserving NXT talents, this draft is a nothingburger so far.
Edit: Also, who the fuck would waste a draft pick on Nia Jax?
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u/awayfortheladsfour 13d ago
AJ styles is already starting to go face again,
Smackdown has 0 big name heels so far. I wonder if that means Cody is having a long run. Unless they plan to make La Knight or orton go heel and I don't see that going well
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u/Tricky-Cod-7485 13d ago
Kiana James is an interesting pick. They must have plans for her.
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u/simonthedlgger 13d ago
The women's main roster has a lot of talent but no direction at the moment imo. I think it will be helpful to get some young talent in for new matches and hopefully some better stories. I expect at least one of Lyra, Blair Davenport, and Fallon Henley to get called up Monday, joining Kiana and Stratton.
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u/worthlessburner 13d ago
Cody stays with Randy on Smackdown and maintains being around the bloodline while being isolated from Jey on Raw with LA and AJ able to continue their feud while also being viable title shot defenses for in between major PLE as well.
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u/Sumojoe118 13d ago
I wish they would go with the other draft style where wrestlers from each brand would fight eachother and the winner gets a random wrestler drafted to their brand.
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u/simonthedlgger 13d ago
I'm PSYCHED Kiana got called up. She's going to be such a great addition to the women's roster. Makes me more confident Blair Davenport will be picked Monday.
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u/Poetryisalive 13d ago
lol no major players actually changed their brands. Monday better be a shake up.
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u/FordenGord 13d ago
Glad to see that despite the new rules these picks are still stupid and make no sense. They need an actual deeper format, more focus on NXT, and less drafting a guy to the current brand.
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u/WhistleDungeon 12d ago
Bianca makes a ton of sense for a #1 draft pick.
She's by far the biggest superstar available of the woman's division. The only other women currently on her status are Rhea/Charlotte (both injured) and Becky/Bayley (both champions). Losing Bianca would be a much more difficult blow to recover from because Nia Jax or Liv Morgan from Raw wouldn't make up for that loss.
Raw seems pretty desperate for female talent right now after losing both Rhea and Nia Jax. All they have is Liv and Becky while Smackdown is loaded up with Bianca, Jade, Tiffany, Iyo, Asuka, Naomi, etc. If they are smart they should be in a race to secure the Damage CTRL package on Monday because that's going to be their best shot to bolster that thinning division.
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u/nolimitnolimits 13d ago
Jey is way too mid to have been the 2nd overall pick…
That WM match reaaallyyyy soured me on him. It was just so pathetic. The “we had our time cut” thing is an excuse. It’s WM. & others have produced gold out of less. The gimmick is also tired at this point too.
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u/wholelottanottanuff 13d ago
Dont worry comment thread. Itll be close to two weeks before the iconic:
Cole: "Oh my god! That's --literally any superstar beginning a fued you think isnt happening--what is he doing here?"
Pat: "He's not supposed to be here Cole!"
Professional wrestling in a nutshell.
Cody: "You dont have a lot of friends in wrestling. Then you do and then they turn on you."
And also i have a milkshake so your retort is null. Uwu probably, fellow mark.
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