The Official WWE / NXT Discussion Thread *May Contain Spoilers*

[milamber]

<p>The draft show started off really exciting but when downhill fast. I had to look up the results on the internet because half of them weren't on the main show <img alt="" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p>

Smackdown got flogged, except for having a Ranallo/Saxton/Graves announce team. I just hope the writing and booking are good enough to compensate. Hopefully they will get some NXT talent on there soon.</p>

[Jaysin]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="milamber" data-cite="milamber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>The draft show started off really exciting but when downhill fast. I had to look up the results on the internet because half of them weren't on the main show <img alt=":rolleyes:" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/rolleyes.png.4b097f4fbbe99ce5bcd5efbc1b773ed6.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png"><p> </p><p> Smackdown got flogged, except for having a Ranallo/Saxton/Graves announce team. I just hope the writing and booking are good enough to compensate. Hopefully they will get some NXT talent on there soon.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Smackdown's announce team is Ranallo, JBL, and Otunga. </p><p> </p><p> Graves and Saxton are on Raw with Cole.</p>

[milamber]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Smackdown's announce team is Ranallo, JBL, and Otunga. <p> </p><p> Graves and Saxton are on Raw with Cole.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Serves me right for skimming articles. Don't like those combinations.</p>

[smurphy1014]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="milamber" data-cite="milamber" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Serves me right for skimming articles. Don't like those combinations.</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Agree. Would rather have Graves and JBL swapped. And no Otunga.</p>

[Questlove]

All of this has actually made me less excited to watch WWE. It's very obvious they're making it up as they go along and have no actual long-term plan.

[milamber]

<p>Now that my disappointment is fading I'm cautiously optimistic about the future of the brand split, even though the shows are a bit lopsided right now.</p><p> </p><p>

We still have Nikki and Harper injured. The Cruiserweight division will be bolstered by guys like Cedric, Ibushi & Gran Metalik from the CWC. Itami, Samoa Joe, Asuka, Bayley, Aries, Nakamura and The Revival will be called up from NXT by Wrestlemania. And they haven't announced any of the new Championships yet because of Battleground.</p><p> </p><p>

The talent is there, WWE just needs to get better at using them as quickly as possible.</p>

[crownsy]

<p>Well, we shall see but my thoughts post draft were simple: Smackdown looked like two incompetent Fantasy Football draft GM's surprised the other side wasen't just hitting auto pick.</p><p> </p><p>

Seriously, if you just look at the picks, Raw's roster is far superior, and they were taking good picks while Smackdown reached for nearly every pick outside the top 4.</p><p> </p><p>

Now, obviously I get that Raw is the longer show, and needs a stronger midcard so the Roster is going to be better in general, but the way they tried to tell the story as "Dawww shucks! they get two picks to our one, and they keep taking our pick leaving us to scramble" was so stupid. </p><p> </p><p>

Guys, it's called a draft board. Mabye mock one up before the draft so I don't have to keep watching the same stupid gimmick of you "ripping up" your pick card then making some seemingly crazy pick.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>

Anyway, that gripe aside, I think it's a big mistake to split the Women up, though I am excited to see Bliss and Carmella get some chance on smackdown. At least they made a nod to this in the last draft hour. Shane essentially said "Well, we were going to snag the Women's division and make it a focus, but once they grabbed Charlotte at 2, way higher than we thought, we had to scramble."</p><p> </p><p>

Which, ok, at least gives a reason for why Smackdown pretty much ignored the Women's division until after Raw had the two best women and then after Lynch let Raw hammer even more picks there. It still makes Shane look like a Boob though. "Awww shucks, I never planned for my Sister being good at this and drafting the only Champion who's title isn't on the line at Battleground. opps."</p><p> </p><p>

And, if you were so concerned about getting a strong tag division shane, another one of his characters major talking points in his interview why did you not draft the New day at some point? They were out there for a long time, just sitting there. </p><p> </p><p>

Overall, we shall see, but the Draft played out pretty meh. I also don't like the low picks used on Owens and Cesaro. Now both guys gave the "I'll show them!" promo after, so i get you were going for the disrespect angle, but Owens and Cesaro falling to the late rounds on Raw when Smackdown is picking scrubs made no sense.</p>

[Rone Rivendale]

<p>All those planted Bayley Section signs and no Bayley.</p><p> </p><p>

WWE are the worst kinds of troll.</p>

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Rone Rivendale" data-cite="Rone Rivendale" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>All those planted Bayley Section signs and no Bayley.<p> </p><p> WWE are the worst kinds of troll.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Prob a last minute decision by ol' vinny mac. as others said above, If you draft her, then the pop at BG for Sasha picking her "secret" ally is diminished. </p><p> </p><p> I imagine in typical Vince fashion these days, picks were changing up until 2 minutes before they were made lol.</p>

[Blackman]

Wow, amazing promo by Cesaro during the post-SD! draft show (which is really worth the watch btw: lots of interviews).

[iruleall15]

Soooo.. whata going on with Heath Slater?

[thecoolestjedi12]

I'm glad Alexa bliss and American Alpha are on SD, not so exicited about the rest of the roster, they seem not as stacked as Raw

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="thecoolestjedi12" data-cite="thecoolestjedi12" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I'm glad Alexa bliss and American Alpha are on SD, not so exicited about the rest of the roster, they seem not as stacked as Raw</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> It's just so, so top heavy.</p><p> </p><p> You have Cena, AJ, Ambrose Orton and Wyatt - Ok, excited about the M/E</p><p> </p><p> Then they went so stupid "off the board" picks for the next few rounds so that Raw could fill out it's midcard, which I get but the story of Shane and Bryan apparently never doing a draft board and accounting for "but what if our pick isn't there? was so, so stupid.</p><p> </p><p> "Gee Shane, you think we should play this out about 100 times, and have back up picks ready to go?"</p><p> </p><p> "No DB, we will just rip up our cards, have a panicked conversation, then pick someone WAY above where they should be picked"</p><p> </p><p> Again, get what they were doing with that from a practical standpoint, but it made Smackdown's leadership team look like the 10th guy in my Fantasy Football league who doesn't really watch Football and gets flustered when people start picking his favorite guys, and he starts to just pick random people. </p><p> </p><p> Like, for instance, what on earth is that Baron Corbin pick, and how do you justify it from a storyline perspective when Guys like Owens and Cesaro are dropping like a stone and still around?</p><p> </p><p> I liked the Smackdown American Alpha and "off air" picks after where they built up there own mid card, but the need for Smackdown to pick like morons from about pick 5-15 so that Raw could be ensured a good mid card came off so stupid viewing it live.</p>

[thecoolestjedi12]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="crownsy" data-cite="crownsy" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>It's just so, so top heavy.<p> </p><p> You have Cena, AJ, Ambrose Orton and Wyatt - Ok, excited about the M/E</p><p> </p><p> Then they went so stupid "off the board" picks for the next few rounds so that Raw could fill out it's midcard, which I get but the story of Shane and Bryan apparently never doing a draft board and accounting for "but what if our pick isn't there? was so, so stupid.</p><p> </p><p> "Gee Shane, you think we should play this out about 100 times, and have back up picks ready to go?"</p><p> </p><p> "No DB, we will just rip up our cards, have a panicked conversation, then pick someone WAY above where they should be picked"</p><p> </p><p> Again, get what they were doing with that from a practical standpoint, but it made Smackdown's leadership team look like the 10th guy in my Fantasy Football league who doesn't really watch Football and gets flustered when people start picking his favorite guys. </p><p> </p><p> Like, for instance, what on earth is that Baron Corbin pick, and how do you justify it from a storyline perspective when Guys like Owens and Cesaro are dropping like a stone and still around?</p><p> </p><p> I liked the Smackdown American Alpha and "off air" picks after where they built up there own mid card, but the need for Smackdown to pick like morons from about pick 5-15 so that Raw could be ensured a good mid card came off so stupid viewing it live.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> The real painful thing to ralize was how they let Ceasro drop down, even though Ceasro represents what Bryan and Shane want for Smackdown, which is good wrestling, I don't really expect Bray to do much even with a split, due to his history and I'm just so deflated now, it just seems like WWE wanted people to see Raw as the dominant brand, I'm gonna watch SD, but I'm probably gonna just look for Alexa Bliss and Alpha.</p>

[Jaysin]

Raw has always featured more stars than Smackdown, even in the previous draft split.

 

With the right creative team, they can develop their own stars just like Heyman & co did with the Smackdown Six.

[TheCrippler]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="iruleall15" data-cite="iruleall15" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Soooo.. whata going on with Heath Slater?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> He is going to be Sasha's partner at Battleground!!! <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p><p> </p><p> I was thinking the same thing....maybe really do a "Social Outcast" angle with him? It really made no sense.</p>

[Blackman]

Honestly i cant grasp the negativity surrounding the draft. What did you expect? That picks were equal in quality? That is the whole point of the smackdown rebrand: giving opportunities to the lesser stars. If anything, im content with their picks. Ill just have to endure Eva Marie. :-D

[thecoolestjedi12]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Raw has always featured more stars than Smackdown, even in the previous draft split. <p> </p><p> With the right creative team, they can develop their own stars just like Heyman & co did with the Smackdown Six.</p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Fair enough, hopefully the creative team is good enough to make Corbin a star, revive Ziggler's career, and maybe make Bliss reach her potential of being one of the leading women in WWE, and polish Chad Gable</p>

[guyver3]

My biggest disappointment with the draft was how SmackDown didn't get anything to distinguish themselves. We all know that there's going to be 2 world champions and the US and IC titles would go to different shows but why does Raw need the tag team and women's champions if they're going to get the cruiserweight division too?

[crownsy]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Blackman" data-cite="Blackman" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>Honestly i cant grasp the negativity surrounding the draft. What did you expect? That picks were equal in quality? That is the whole point of the smackdown rebrand: giving opportunities to the lesser stars. If anything, im content with their picks. Ill just have to endure Eva Marie. :-D</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> Oh for sure, Not arguing that Raw SHOULDNT have the bigger and deeper roster as the flagship and three hours. Just came of really sloppy on how they got there.</p><p> </p><p> Things that would have made logical sense:</p><p> </p><p> 1. Give Smackdown the Women's champ or the New Day, particularly since Raw now has the Cruiser weight division, and the Tag titles and Women's championship aren't on the line at BG (or at least, i don't THINK the Wyatts-New day match is for the belts).</p><p> </p><p> Charlotte I get, and it was the only "wow, they out picked us!" moment that worked. The New day hung around FOREVER and then after the draft, Shane talked about how tag team wrestling on smackdown will set them apart, but Steph beat him to the New Day. Would be nice to have the titles then, you had a bunch of picks before they went 10th.</p><p> </p><p> It won't happen, but as it stands, Smackdown could come out of Sunday with no actual WWE belts. All it takes is Rollins or Reigns winning, and Darren Young upsetting the Miz.</p><p> </p><p> That's stupid, from a drafting prospective. Why not, for example, draft Darren young late in the draft and ensure you snag the IC title either way?</p><p> </p><p> 2. Given that you have a face heavy M/E with one really "True" heel in AJ, why not draft Owens over pretty much anyone you drafted from picks 5 - 15?</p><p> </p><p> same could be said for Cesaro, particularly given how DB and Shane talked about "real wrestlers" getting a chance on Smackdown. </p><p> </p><p> Again, i get that Raw picked him that low for a story line (his promo was indeed awesome) and I hope that works out for him, but I still think either him or Owens should have been on smackdown to even out the card a bit.</p><p> </p><p> All I'm saying is the way Smackdown got it's roster makes it look like the leadership team gave the draft zero thought beyond "Well, we'll just pick whoever" while Raw came of as well prepped, and smart in taking the people who hold titles early and often.</p><p> </p><p> Now, all that said, I am not convinced they don't somehow have the Women's Champ and Tag Champs float brands. Raw doesn't really have a strong tag division, long term (it's New day, Enzo and Cass, and the Club for all intents and purposes, with the Dudley's to job) and Smackdown obviously has a very top heavy Women's division (though I liked the Bliss and Carmella picks late to help with that). If that's what is going to happen, then it changes my opinion somewhat.</p><p> </p><p> What I don't want is Smackdown to get new belts for it's top champ, it's women's division, and the tag team division. But maybe that's the plan, give SD all new titles.</p>

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="guyver3" data-cite="guyver3" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>My biggest disappointment with the draft was how SmackDown didn't get anything to distinguish themselves. We all know that there's going to be 2 world champions and the US and IC titles would go to different shows but why does Raw need the tag team and women's champions if they're going to get the cruiserweight division too?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> They fear the challenge of filling the 3 hour show.....Smackdown has a lot of veterans in John Cena, Randy Orton, The Miz, Dolph Ziggler, AJ, and Alberto Del Rio. These are the guys that are going to bridge that mid card into Main Event status.</p><p> </p><p> RAW has a bunch of current stars in Seth,....Roman....., The New Day, Kevin Owens, Sammi Zayn, and Finn Balor. I say RAW is the youth movement compared to Smackdown. I know RAW has Big Show and Chris Jericho but honestly they are not going anywhere near a title so they are going to be teaching RAW's midcard.</p>

[djthefunkchris]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="guyver3" data-cite="guyver3" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>My biggest disappointment with the draft was how SmackDown didn't get anything to distinguish themselves. We all know that there's going to be 2 world champions and the US and IC titles would go to different shows but why does Raw need the tag team and women's champions if they're going to get the cruiserweight division too?</div></blockquote><p> </p><p> If it goes like it did in the past, they will have two different titles for those as well... The Tag belts were unified, but they can make a brand new one. Same with the Woman's.</p><p> </p><p> Or... they could have anyone be up for them from either brand, going back and forth between the two brands... especially when the draft comes up again "Time to shake things up!"</p><p> </p><p> The only reason I can see Raw keeping them permanently is because of the extra hour they have, that they didn't before.</p>

[Jaysin]

I don't know. Maybe it's just because I'm still feeling genuine excitement from Raw and Smackdown, but I'm quite optimistic about WWE for the first time in a pretty long time.

 

Smackdown has guys like Apollo, Corbin, American Alpha, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Kalisto, and Zack Ryder who can all elevate to the upper midcard or even main event slot some day.

 

I'm not a fan of the Ascension, but now that the tag ranks are split maybe they'll do something worthwhile with them even.

 

Smackdown currently has the WWE title and the IC title.

 

Battleground they have a chance to gain the US as well since Ryder is facing Rusev.

 

Plus, Finn is on the same show as Gallows and Anderson.

[thecoolestjedi12]

The Bullet Club reunion will be too sweet! I'm excited to see how NXT people do on SD and also what they do to rebuild Kalisto after the US title run he had

[K-Nection]

<blockquote data-ipsquote="" class="ipsQuote" data-ipsquote-username="Jaysin" data-cite="Jaysin" data-ipsquote-contentapp="forums" data-ipsquote-contenttype="forums" data-ipsquote-contentid="25169" data-ipsquote-contentclass="forums_Topic"><div>I don't know. Maybe it's just because I'm still feeling genuine excitement from Raw and Smackdown, but I'm quite optimistic about WWE for the first time in a pretty long time. <p> </p><p> Smackdown has guys like Apollo, Corbin, American Alpha, Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Kalisto, and Zack Ryder who can all elevate to the upper midcard or even main event slot some day. </p><p> </p><p> I'm not a fan of the Ascension, but now that the tag ranks are split maybe they'll do something worthwhile with them even.</p><p> </p><p> Smackdown currently has the WWE title and the IC title. </p><p> </p><p> Battleground they have a chance to gain the US as well since Ryder is facing Rusev. </p><p> </p><p> Plus, Finn is on the same show as Gallows and Anderson. <img alt=":D" data-src="//content.invisioncic.com/g322608/emoticons/biggrin.png.929299b4c121f473b0026f3d6e74d189.png" src="<___base_url___>/applications/core/interface/js/spacer.png" /></p></div></blockquote><p> </p><p> I'm in the same camp as you. I'm actually optimistic that they have to make stars now because they don't want to happen what happened last year where they had a bare Wrestlemania card.</p><p> </p><p> Apparently Simon Gotch and Sin Cara got into a backstage fight backstage....</p><p> </p><div class="ipsEmbeddedVideo"><div><iframe width="200" height="113" src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/eupXEuWckLA?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="" title="Backstage Fight At WWE Draft! Cesaro Shoots On Brand Split! | WrestleTalk News"></iframe></div></div>