WWE Draft Thread

[$heriff Tom]

Figured i would start a new thread on this, as a supplemental portion is slated for noon today, and this is something we can revisit down the line. Plus, in a couple of years, these threads will be fun to peer upon through the archives scroll to see what came of this stuff.

As of now, here is who went where. Things are already a-muddle though, as CM Punk, who was drafted to Raw, wrestled in the opening tag match on ECW last night with absolutely no explanation.

Raw

Rey Mysterio
CM Punk
Michael Cole
Batista
Kane

Smackdown

Jeff Hardy
Jim Ross
Umaga
Mr. Kennedy
Triple H

ECW

Matt Hardy

[cactusjames]

I expect Ross to go back to Raw in this, I'm betting Vince and Gerwitz are pulling a rib on him. I wouldn't be suprised to see HHH sent back to Raw, but with Steph having another kid soon, the schedule is probably really appealing to Hunter.

As for Punk, I told you that would happen, ECWs are going to be taped on Raw, no way you've seen the last of Punk on that show.

Honestly, I'd like to see some Divas change shows, with both shows having a womens title soon, a little shakeup would be nice to see some new tandems and matchups. And I hope London and Kendrick go to the same show Miz and Morrison will be on, those would be some solid tag matches. And I expect MVP to be moved here, especially if HHH is really staying on fridays.

As long as JR and Cole switch, how fresh is it that Cole will be calling Batista and Mysterio matches on Mondays? Not too big of a change in that regard, plus Cole is so fake and forced with his calls, he just doesn't care about wrestling, he's too wraped up in the fucking kids magazine and the website.

[cactusjames]

OK so I'm watching, I'll post draftees when I know of them. No one drafted monday can be redrafted so there goes my last post. Picks are every 5 minutes too so give me some time:

Mark Henry to ECW
Jamie Noble to Raw
Trevor Murdoch to Smackdown
This ones for you Tom, Big Daddy V to Smackdown
Deuce goes to Raw. Really pushing the singles acts of disbanded teams
DH Smith goes to Smackdown
Hornswoggle goes to ECW
Super Crazy goes home to ECW, nice! Hopefully not to be a jobber, though.
Chuck Palumbo goes to Raw
Brian Kendrick to Smackdown, more Tag rifts.
Board favorite Matt Striker goes to Raw
And the first Diva goes, Maria goes to Smackdown. So much for her and Punk getting back together
The Gold Standard Shelton Benjamin goes to Smackdown
Finlay goes with Hornswoggle to ECW
Carlito goes to Smackdown
Layla goes to Raw
The final pick, Kofi Kingston goes to Raw

[MSBNYY]

If that's a rib on Jim Ross, assuming he had absolutely no idea what was going on, that's a VERY funny rib. Personally, I'm happy Punk went to Raw. I hope that stays.

[$heriff Tom]

Nothing much interesting out of that draft. I thought V was a Smackdown guy anyway.

[$heriff Tom]

Guys, enough with JR. He has moved. Its not a rib.

[cactusjames]

Yeah cause getting ratings on my MyNetwork is a top priority, appearntly JR and Foley do just that. It's a dumb move, they always fuck with JR, it's fucking sad. The guy busts his ass and does a great job and he gets shitted on. He thought about retiring monday night, I would have. I hate Cole and have no desire to ever watch Raw with the volume up again. It will be muted and I'll listen to Nirvana while watching instead, better than the fucking cornballs they have on Raw now.

[MSBNYY]

I wonder if there will be complaints over the loss of Ross on Raw.

[cactusjames]

There have been, from fans and from himself on his blog. He said he's gotten letters of fans curious regarding the details. It's a malarky move. I would have retired, gone to TNA and steal Velvet Sky from Helms. JR can't do that, but that's what I would have done.

I seriously feel bad for JR.

[$heriff Tom]

I dont. He is paid very well to work 5 days a month.

Bottom line, Cole is the guy the WWE expects to have announcing the A-shows for years to come. So they want him calling Raw. Its no secret for years they wanted to replace Ross, they tried to get Goldberg from UFC, bought in failed experiment Adamle, etc. The WWE has a right to have whoever they want to call their shows, call their shows.

Look, I am a Ross fan too, but who cares. I get to hear him and Foley together. I watch both shows anyway, most people do. People are making a big deal about nothing. Sure, let him quit, save Vince the six figures, and go make barbecue.

[cactusjames]

Sorry, there's no compariosn between the two, JR and King are a legendary annoucning team, not cause WWE decided to put them in the hall, because they are the best. Put Ross and King in TNA and that shits on Tenay and West. There's no comparison between them and Cole and whoever. This is far from a, "won't notice the change" sort of move that is infamous in pro wrestling. They want Cole to call the A show, let Ross retire or die in the spot, he's earned that much. And if they want to replace Ross so bad, do it with a good annoncer, not Michael f'n Cole. Seriously, that's the A announcer? WWE obviously doesn't know how to bring in good announcers who care about wrestling. Look how good Foley is is place of Coach, look how horrible Adamle is. Cole is in the same boat. These are guys who don't know the product, don't know the subtlties to wrestling and obviosuly aren't fans of their jobs. Dig up Gordon Solie, he'll call a better match dead than Cole does now. The A show got downgraded and you think it's a good move? Forgive my language, but that's poppycock. Pure crazy talk.

[$heriff Tom]

Well, you're wrong, and irregardless of the fact its not changing. It is what it is. Do you even watch Smackdown anyway? Or, like Balls, are you talking out of your ass about something you dont know?

First off, Smackdown has a LOT more wrestling on it than Raw. A good point that has been made is that most of Raw JR is sitting there with his mouth shut as long promos are cut in the ring. Smackdown has been known as the "wrestling show" of the two, and this actually plays to Ross' strength, which is calling matches.

And Cole, while not Gordon Solie or even Jim Ross, is fine at what he does. He has been around for ten years, calling a good Smackdown show, and the WWE wants him as the lead dog. Get on with it, move on.

[cactusjames]

Do I really need to answer if I watch Smackdown or not? I've been wearing an Edge shirt almost as long as Cole's been annoucning Smackdown. I've enjoyed Cole one time only, when DX gave him a wedgie and proper introduction into the company,. a good hosing down in his nice fancy suit. He's fake, you find forced annoucning to be good? Sorry, the A show's annoucning shouldn't be servicable, it should be top notch. You get that from JR, not Cole.

Yeah I'm biased, Ross is synonomous with Raw. I agree, Smackdown is the better wrestling show, but that should mean the way matches are booked on Raw should change, not the annoucning.

It is funny though, the most racist man in wrestling, you're beloved Freebird is off suspension and getting his way over on Smackdown. Raw is the B show now, and it's fucking sad. It's interesting, but totally one sided and don't understand the logic.

[$heriff Tom]

Updated list (thanks to Havoc on the PWtorch board)

Here's an updated list of todays moves

To Raw:
* Jamie Noble (from Smackdown)
* Deuce (from Smackdown)
* Chuck Palumbo (from Smackdown)
* Matt Striker (from ECW)
* Layla (from ECW)


To Smackdown:
* Trevor Murdoch (from Raw)
* Big Daddy V (from ECW)
* DH Smith (from Raw)
* Brian Kendrick (from Raw)
* Maria (from Raw)
* Shelton Benjamin (from ECW)
* Carlito (from Raw)


To ECW:
* Mark Henry (from Smackdown)
* Hornswoggle (from Smackdown)
* Super Crazy (from Raw)
* Finlay (from Smackdown

[MSBNYY]

Nice. Like all the people moving to Raw, don't care about the losses from Raw except HHH and Ross. Sucks that Finlay is being demoted to ECW.

[$heriff Tom]

Finlay is probably going to help fill the role they wanted Benoit to handle before he went bonkers, which is helping to mentor the young talent. I have a feeling ECW will become more a feeding ground.

By the way, ECW just lost Kofi Kingston to Raw. And that, my friends, wraps up the supplemental portion of the draft.

[cactusjames]

Or you could have just read my list, as I posted Kofi when it happened. You're welcome.

[$heriff Tom]

I am one of many message board people who do not go looking for information in the middle of a thread.

Also, you guys should stop wasting time whining about Jim Ross and get on 24/7 and watch the Hennig / Bockwinkel 60 minute draw. You do that yet, James?

[MSBNYY]

Maria and Layla switching is also kind of cool. Once Maria dropped the dummy gimmick, she became like every other diva, and they are all interchangeable with few exceptions. I think the only divas whose characters I like at this point are Beth Phoenix, Katie Burchill, Mickie James and Melina. The others are hot, but all the same.

[$heriff Tom]

Agreed on Maria. She is still beyond awful in the ring, so if she is going to stand around and shimmy in a bikini, the new atmosphere and folks to play off of makes sense.

Beth is my favorite WWE diva, and up there with fave female grapplers period. And I am a big Katie Burchill fan, I have been following her for a while, so its cool to see her getting her shot. Michelle has sorta won me over, she has a quirky-good wrestling style, I like her submission based style. Maryse is just a fun watch.

[MSBNYY]

Do you mean Candice Michelle, or Michelle McCool?

I can't stand Candice Michelle, aside from her looks, which rule. To me, she falls into the dime a dozen category.

Michelle McCool is ok, but doesn't stand out enough to get on my good list.

Even Melina isn't what she used to be.

But Maria has become a major disappointment. I haven't watched enough of Neidhart yet to make an opinion. But I do tend to be partial to second generation stars, especially when I actually watched their dads wrestle. There's just something cool about that.

[$heriff Tom]

Michelle McCool. As to Candice, her looks used to be better, but she played around with her face and now it looks like a lump of clay. And she is beyond clumsy in the ring.

Melina was never that good, and she is now hurt cause she is just not that good. Natalya is a very good wrestler, I have seen her in better 20 minute matches than most guys, she is a good addition to the brand. And I am with you, I am also a fan of 2nd generation grapplers.

[MSBNYY]

I think I liked Melina because she was a little different than the others. They're all hot, but I enjoyed the character. Not so much anymore.

She may join Maria on the "divas I used to like but don't anymore" list.

[$heriff Tom]

Not a fan of the face turn? Melina became a fan favorite due to her squabble with Beth. At least she was showing "fire." Then she couldnt take a bump without hurting herself.

[MSBNYY]

It wasn't so much the face turn. I don't really care too much about that. I guess part of it was she didn't seem to be used as often since she got to Raw. I liked her with MNM, causing trouble.

[cactusjames]

I like the Maria move, I don't mind her in the ring, she tried to do different things, key word tries. I know she isn't Beth or Mickie, but I don't see her as awful as Layla, or other ones. So the move to Smackdown is fine by me because the SD womens division needs a star(who's a face), and someone who isn't boring to watch. To me, there's a big difference between being awful and boring in the ring. Maria tires so I give her credit. Plus it doesn't hurt the eyes to watch her so, I like it. And again, Layla, dog shit. She just gets heat and they want someone to feed to Mickie. I would have liked a move of Victoria to Raw instead, another girl who can go and could really work well with Beth and Mickie.

Melina doesn't bug me, I sort of see where you're coming from Balls, but I certainly don't think she's been useless since the MNM days. But yeah, she couldn't be blander in the ring. I also don't think the Diva's title will have stiff competition since really the only girls who can wrestle on SD are Victoria and Natalya. They need one other chick, maybe two who can go, I don't think Maria makes up for it, despite how bad I want to put it in her shitter.

[MSBNYY]

To me, Maria has BECOME boring. She used to be funny. That "dumb blonde" gimmick was awesome. I agree, the effort is there. And obviously, she's hot. They're all easy on the eyes.

But once she stopped with the dummy gimmick, she wore out here welcome.

As for Melina, it's not so much that she's been useless, but since that ended, she became one of the masses, and hasn't stood out.

I'm not a big fan of a second women's title either. I don't think enough people care enough about it to warrant that, and while the brand extension has its merits for the men, there aren't enough women to really make a second belt, or even a brand extension, necessary.

They already pretty much trade the belt back and forth.

[grover]

Tom can back me up on this that I was calling for ECW to be the show to get new, young talent used to the bigs before shipping them off to Raw or Smackdown before they even decided to bring the brand back. I hope that is the case, and I hope they continue to bring up their young talent and mix them with decent vets who would get lost in the shuffle on the two main shows.

[$heriff Tom]

First off, Maria's dumb gimmick was funny when it wasnt necessarily a gimmick. Her unintentional flubs when they just handed her a microphone and she didnt know what she was doing was the last good that came of it. Within a couple of weeks they started "scripting her" that way, and it crashed hard. And James, I sorta disagree with you on one thing - I dont think Maria can wrestle worth a damn. In fact, I think Layla has more promise in that department, she certainly seems more limber.

Grover, no doubt you were on ECW as a training ground, but with them adding Finlay, Hornswoggle, Mark Henry, Matt Hardy and Super Crazy, it doesnt seem the plan. They moved Kofi and Benjamin off the show, and Punk too. Apparently the cupboard is as bare as ever down in developmental, there are no potential Cena's down there, near as anyone can tell. There are murmerings of WWE plucking some ROH talent soon...

[cactusjames]

I don't know if Layla is more limber or not, but Maria has to get the nod in creativity, Layla is bland. She may sell better, I admit that, but Maria is trying to stand out, as Balls would say. She's not good at it, but Layla is good cause she wrestles the WWE style, Maria thinks a little out of the box. To me it's a double bladed sword for her, a curse and a blessing at once.

And I agree, ECW should be the triple A of WWE. But I don't think Finlay going there stops that, he's mostly an agent, even with his latest push. Matt Hardy adds the star power they lost with CM Punk, he's now a big fish in a small bowl. Mark Henry is the monster heel, Finlay is a role player but can work with guys like Bourne and still train the younger guys while still putting the kids in the seats to watch ECW for Hornie(tee hee hee). It's not like Finlay will win the ECW title, Henry maybe, Finlay I don't see it happening.