The WWE has revealed the rules for the upcoming WWE Draft set to air on Smackdown Live, Tuesday, July 19th. While the rules aren’t necessarily WWE Network news, I will post them here for the sake of those not wanting to hop from site to site. More importantly, however, is that we now know how NXT will be changed thanks to the brand extension.
Six draft selections will be made from the NXT roster. This doesn’t mean six individuals, mind you, as the rules below state that a tag team will be counted as one selection unless otherwise specified. It’ll be interesting to see if a rule is added where champions can’t be selected, otherwise, in kayfabe, why wouldn’t they choose the champions? That is something to consider.
Anyway, a few acts seem extremely likely. Bayley, Finn Balor, American Alpha are the most notable. Then, of course, we have rumored names or big names like Samoa Joe, The Revival, and Shinsuke Nakamura. However, I think it is important to look at a few names who weren’t used at the last NXT tapings. Warning, very very minor spoilers ahead:
Neither Nia Jax nor Tye Dillinger were used at the tapings, unless they filmed vignettes or segments that will air with the TV. As a result, both seem very possible. I’ve seen people be critical, stating that it wouldn’t make sense for one of those two to be picked over a Samoa Joe or a Nakamura, and while that makes sense, let’s not forget that whomever makes the selection, either the commissioner or the General Manager, has a personality of their own. So maybe they like someone’s attitude, or dislikes someone’s attitude. Maybe they see potential and just need to unlock that potential. Maybe they’re friendly with that person. A lot of different possibilities are available. With villain and good guy personas, a draft doesn’t come down to just stats.
Needless to say, NXT’s landscape is likely to change dramatically. That is a good thing, though. NXT thrives on new talent. While I don’t agree with a lot of comparisons between NXT and the original ECW, one comparison I will use is that both seemed to do better when they got gutted for talent. It caused the need for better creative and new talent to get showcased. And that can be very exciting for the viewer.
The official rules from WWE.com are listed below:
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
As always, stick to WWE Network News for the latest WWE Network news, rumors, reviews, and more!