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WWE has begun their latest “Draft” and as usual, it has led to a bit of a shakeup with a few surprises along the way, including champions being called up from NXT 2.0. Several more shakeups will happen this coming Monday Night on RAW, but let’s take a quick look at who went where last night on Smackdown, and this morning on Smackdown Lowdown, with our early reactions to it all.
We’ll start with the Smackdown Roster, and then go to RAW from there.
Drafted to Smackdown on Night one and this morning.
Roman Reigns.
Solo Sikoa
Paul Heyman
Montez Ford
Angelo Dawkins
Edge
Bianca Belair
The OC
Damage CTRL
Alba Frye & Isla Dawn
Hit Row
Lacey Evans
Bobby Lashley
Reaction – With Bobby Lashley going to Smackdown, I think any talks about him recreating the Hurt Business is done. All signs would point to him being the next challenger at some point over the early summer, to Roman Reigns World Heavyweight Universal Championship. If you recall, these two do not have much of a history, and it would give Reigns a fresh face at challenger.
The Street Profits moving to Smackdown shortly after Bianca Belair was sent there is also no surprise considering the real life marriage between Belair and Ford. Bianca has grown stale on RAW and badly needs a kickstart to her title run. Hopefully this fresh scene brings new challenges and helps get her going again.
As for Ford, he is ready for a major breakout run as a singles star. Despite Gunther moving off the brand, I can see the United States Championship ending up on the blue brand and once again giving him a belt to chase when Austin Theory hopefully arrives there as well.
Hit Row may get one last chance to be relevant before getting either sent back to NXT, or just fired again. They lost all steam they ever had after their original call up to Smackdown, a little over a year ago.
The Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman combination staying on Smackdown makes perfect sense as that is the crowd best suited for him. Also, it is easier to hide an absent Word Champion on a two hour show. If they split up the Uso’s, I’d imagine Jey will stay back and eventually feud with the Big Dog as well, as that storyline appears to be a sure thing.
The sole reason for the OC to come to Smackdown is a fresh setting for AJ Styles. I wouldn’t expect a single thing from the rest of them. Styles, is another face who can eventually challenge Roman Reigns, along with guys like Lashley and Ford.
In regards to the women coming to Smackdown. Damage CTRL, no matter the brand, is still a force that needed a reboot after RAW completely cut the legs off them at WrestleMania with a loss to legends who split up right after. Io Sky needs a serious run at Belair and the Smackdown Women’s Championship soon enough while hopefully this switch also signifies the return of Bayley’s weekly talk show.
Lacey Evans has had more reboot than a vintage 80’s sitcom. As sexy as she is, and trust me, she may be the sexiest woman alive, she hasn’t gotten any of the gimmicks over, and may join the likes of Eva Marie and Lana, as giant “what if’s”.
I love the call ups of Alba Frye & Isla Dawn and very curious to see what kind of run they get on Smackdown. The issue remains that they are still the current NXT Women’s Champions until this coming Tuesday Night when they defend against Kayden Carter and Katana Chance. Alba Frye & Isla Dawn need to be the next WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions on the main roster and will get a tag title shot before the summer is over.
Drafted to Monday Night Raw
Cody Rhodes
Becky Lynch
Imperium
Matt Riddle
Drew McIntyre
The Miz
Shinsuke Nakamura
Indi Hartwell
The Viking Raiders
Dexter Lumis
Candice LeRae
Maximum Male Models
Zoey Stark
JD McDonagh
Apollo Crews
Natalya
Sonya DeVille & Chelsea Green
Reaction – Well, the obvious is Cody Rhodes being the top babyface on the brand, but also, it makes you wonder if we don’t get that sure thing rematch we all saw coming between him and Roman Reigns? I can still see it happening down the road, but Rhodes will now need to win the MITB Ladder Match, or, the Royal Rumble, and switch brands. If not, this move makes no sense as the newly crowned World Championship that will be decided Memorial Day Weekend, is not the belt he came to WWE for.
As for NXT 2.0 call ups Zoey Stark, JD McDonagh, Indi Hartwell and Apollo Crews, all of these moves make perfect sense. JD McDonagh is an absolute beast, a natural heel, and can shake things up a bit on RAW as he will deliver some intense promo’s and great matches if used right. Apollo Crews has the distinct honor of the only man I know, who has been called up from NXT to the main roster what is now 3 separate times in his career. Perhaps the third time will finally be the charm for Crews, if not, he needs to go as the WWE is simply not for him.
Zoey Stark is pretty much Nattie Neidhart 2.0 with her entire package being in the ring, but a terrible look and zero promo skills. It’s ironic that Neidhart is on the way to RAW with her, as I can see some incredible matches between the two, that wrestling purists will love, maybe not so much sports entertainment fans.
Indi Hartwell to RAW makes zero sense, as she was a natural fit in NXT. Perhaps they will match her up with on screen love interest Dexter Lumis, who is also lost on the main roster. Both Lumis and Hartwell do not belong on the main roster, and this may be it for both despite the fact that Candice LaRea who was also drafted to RAW will be there to help. Not to mention, you’d have to believe that Gargano will also now reside on RAW.
The biggest steal for RAW was Imperium for the single reason that they now have Gunther. I love this move, and it gives Gunther a fresh crop of challengers for his Intercontinental Championship to run through like a hot knife though butter. He will keep mowing them down for as long as he wants, and this also sets up a possible Gunther vs Brock Lesnar feud down the road as well.
The moves of Matt Riddle staying put and Drew McIntyre arriving, gives them two serious threats to win the new Word Championship. If anything, the fact that Becky Lynch stayed put on RAW, guarantees you that Seth Rollins will remain on the red brand as well. For McIntyre, he did his best career work on RAW and this gives him a serious shot for another run as World Champion.
Finally, examining the moves of The Viking Raiders, Sonya DeVille & Chelsea Green, Maximum Male Models and Shinsuke Nakamura from Smackdown to RAW is not rocket science. They are taking names that had no chance getting decent air time on a two-hour Smackdown show, and giving them one more chance to make an impact of any kind on the three-hour show that RAW presents.
That’s it for night one of the WWE draft that is set to continue on Monday Night. Three moves that are sure things, in which you can 100% take to the bank to occur, are these.
Austin Theory to WWE Smackdown as they need a secondary champion behind Roman Reigns, and the Intercontinental Championship is now on RAW.
Seth Rollins will remain on RAW considering his wife Becky Lynch has been drafted to stay there.
Rhea Ripley, who already spent a ton of time appearing on RAW, will make it “official” when she is drafted there to join her Judgment Day teammates who are also a sure thing to stay put now that Rhea will be on her way Monday Night.
Johnny Gargano to RAW to join up with “The Family”, Dexter Lumis, Indi Hartwell and his wife Candice LaRea.
When Randy Orton is healthy again, there is no way in the world he won’t be tagging again with Matt Riddle, and also challenging for the new World Championship Belt.
