Last night, WWE held a tri-brand draft. Wrestlers participated in matches with the winner’s brand getting a random computerized draft pick. At the end of the night, there were ten wrestlers who would change shows, with a supplemental draft to be held beginning at noon on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 on WWE (dot) com. Based simply on what happened Monday night, we will analyze each pick’s impact to the show that they left, the show that they will be going to, and to the wrestler’s career.
Pick #1 – The Great Khali goes from Raw to Smackdown
The Impact of Khali leaving Raw – The Great Khali leaving Raw means that WWE Champion John Cena’s toughest challenger is leaving. Even though Cena had proven himself against Khali and was moving on to a different challenger, the specter of Khali being around would always have served as a potential challenger to Cena. Khali was the top heel on Raw and his leaving elevates guys like Randy Orton and lower level heels like Carlito because there is an empty space at the top. Until Triple H returns and then turns heel, Khali leaving is a big coup for Randy Orton.
The Impact of Khali going to SD – Smackdown has a heel champion, but Batista’s “Do or Die” match at Vengeance might change that. If it does, then Batista will have to deal with Khali as his first new challenger. If Edge is somehow able to retain his title, Batista, as SD’s top face, will still have to deal with Khali as Khali will single him out, having already feuded with the Undertaker and Kane. Beyond that, there isn’t much else that Khali can do on SD, unless he becomes champion.
The Impact to Khali – If Khali had stayed on Raw, he would have had to eventually turn to a good guy so that he could feud with Umaga, Viscera and Raw newcomer Snitsky. Going to SD means that once he is done with Batista, he will have to turn so that he can feud with Edge and Mark Henry. If neither happens, Khali, who is on his fourth new show since his arrival in WWE in April of 2006, will become someone who creative might not be able to find anything for.
Pick #2 - The Boogeyman goes from SmackDown to ECW
The Impact of Boogeyman leaving Smackdown – Boogey was in limbo on SD. His little person counterpart was feuding with Finlay’s little person counterpart and Boogey was just standing around watching. Boogey has not had a significant victory since he returned from his injury and he was not going to have one anytime soon. He was on a quick descent down the rankings with no net to catch him. SD loses nothing with Boogey leaving.
The Impact of Boogey going to ECW – ECW is shown on the Sci-Fi Channel and who better to star on Sci-Fi than the Boogeyman. He is a perfect fit for the network and for ECW, if ECW was what it had been. Today’s ECW comes through the courtesy of McMahon Vision, and all freaks are welcome. Boogeyman is where he belongs, and no matter what he does, he is home.
The Impact to Boogeyman – Boogey was never going to compete for a title, and moving to ECW changes nothing. He will have his requisite feud with Kevin Thorn, provided Thorn does not get moved on Wednesday, and then he will terrorize whoever is available. He will continue to be what he was, a freak who is kept around for comedy spots and shock value.
Pick #3 – King Booker goes from Smackdown to Raw
The Impact of Booker leaving Smackdown – SD’s loss is Raw’s gain. During his brief title reign, Booker T established himself as a man who could carry the brand as atop star. His new persona as “King” has given him new direction as an annoying, cowardly heel. With Edge and Khali on SD, Booker would be no better than a #3 heel and he deserves better than that. Leaving SD is the best thing that could happen to him and he will be missed by the SD roster.
The Impact of Booker going to Raw – SD’s loss is Raw’s gain. With Khali gone, Raw is in need of top heels. Randy Orton does not have enough to sustain a feud with Cena, even though he is being positioned for a feud with Triple H. Booker T is a strong worker and can establish his character well enough to be the perfect foil for John Cena. Their feud should be as good as Cena-Edge, and like Edge, Booker is good enough to get a title run and give Cena a break before putting the title back on Cena. This pick is huge for Raw right now.
The Impact to Booker – Booker is not getting any younger, and like RVD, he got his long overdue title run and it is unlikely that he will get another one. He has already positioned himself for life after the ring with his training school, but for the time being, and until creative sees fit to turn Triple H, Booker will be no worse than the #2 heel on Raw and will be a constant thorn in the side of Cena. He will be allowed to go out near the top, should he decide to retire soon.
Pick #4 – Chris Benoit goes from Smackdown to ECW
The Impact of Benoit leaving Smackdown – Benoit was not in line for a title run, with Batista at the top and Edge coming over from Raw. Benoit was probably going to get some matches against the new champ, but by losing his feud with MVP, he probably was going to be dropped down in favor of Matt Hardy. Benoit was going to be a man without a purpose SD.
The Impact of Benoit going to ECW - By going to ECW, he has an opportunity to move right to the top the way that Lashley did when he arrived. With RVD and Sabu gone, CM Punk is the top face on the show, and Benoit could take his spot easily and could help to put Elijah Burke and Marcus Cor Von over. The title picture on ECW is wide open as there is no clear top contender to the title. That all changes once Benoit arrives because he instantly becomes the #1 contender to the title and he should be wearing that belt before too long.
The Impact to Benoit – Chris Benoit deserves to be a champion, and on ECW, he can be. The title is vacant and there is no one on the show who deserves to be champion. That makes Benoit a logical choice to become the next ECW World Heavyweight Champion. Benoit should have a nice, long reign and should be near the top of the brand as long as ECW exists or until Benoit goes to another show.
Pick #5 – Torrie Wilson goes from Raw to Smackdown
The Impact of Torrie leaving Raw – Torrie Wilson was not a wrestler, she was eye-candy. Raw had the women’s title, but Torrie was never going to be a contender for that belt. She is basically Stacy Keibler with a Playboy spread and was only on Raw to look at. Her loss to Raw is minimal because the women who all wrestle for the women’s title are still on the show. Torrie will not be missed, except possible by Jerry Lawler.
The Impact of Torrie going to SD – Torrie Wilson was never going to win the women’s title, and on SD, she does not have to worry about it. Unfortunately for Torrie, SD already has Michelle McCool, Jillian Hall, and Cherry, women who bear some of the characteristics that Torrie has, so Torrie will not be original on SD. With the presence of Krystal and Ashley and no women’s title, Torrie will be just another woman on the show. JBL has already announced her as the next Mrs. Layfield, which means that he is no better than Lawler when it comes to the women, but that title will not carry a woman very far in WWE.
The Impact to Torrie – Torrie is going to a show that really has no use for her, which puts her in the exact same position that she was on Raw. Torrie leaving Raw and going to a diva-heavy show like SD puts her in danger of creative having nothing for her, which is a death sentence.
Pick #6 – Chris Masters goes from Raw to Smackdown
The Impact of Masters leaving Raw – Chris Masters had lost feuds to Super Crazy and Santino Marella, so Masters really not going to rise any higher than he already had, which wasn’t very high. Leaving Raw gives Masters an opportunity to re-establish himself on a new show. Masters will be wised less than Torrie Wilson on Raw, if such a thing is possible.
The Impact of Masters going to SD – There are two heel champions on SD, and Batista is the top face and matches between the two of them would not be very exciting and would not do very good box office. However, if Masters were to turn, he could challenge MVP for the US title and could have match-up of power feuds with Mark Henry and the Great Khali. That would be a bit interesting because of the chance that Masters could actually win those battles. Master will never challenge Edge or Batista fort he World Title, but Master has some possibilities on SD.
The Impact to Masters – Masters in a mid-card performer, and will not rise any higher. Masters is this generation’s Hercules Hernandez, and no matter which show he is on, he will be a mid-card performer. The change might do him good, but probably not.
Pick #7 – Bobby Lashley goes from ECW to Raw
The Impact of Lashley leaving ECW – Lashley was the top dog on ECW, even though most of his appearances were on Raw against Vince McMahon and Umaga. ECW is now without a champion with Lashley gone, and only Benoit as a likely replacement. Anyone else other than Benoit as the new champion would diminish the value of the title because only Benoit is ready, but as for now, ECW has no champion and is still in need of a talent infusion.
The Impact of Lashley going to Raw – Lashley is an instant title contender, but unfortunately for Lashley, Raw has a strong face champion in Cena. Lashley comes to Raw as the #2 face, only because HBK & HHH are not around. When they return, Lashley falls down the face list, and that is provided creative does not turn Booker. A Lashley turn would put him in the title hunt against Cena, but with Lashley deficient promo skills, that would be a series that would rely too heavily on Cena’s promo ability. Lashley, ECW’s #1 man, could possibly get buried on Raw.
The Impact to Lashley – Lashley falls in line behind Cena and waits for HHH & HBK to push him further down. Lashley will have to hope that Cena sustains an injury in order for his career, which was just recently at its zenith, to stay at a reasonable level. With Cena around, Lashley has little hope for success.
Pick #8 – Ric Flair goes from Raw to SD
The Impact of Flair leaving Raw – Flair was just a guy who put others over, and his latest project was Carlito. Carlito had not learned what he was supposed to from Flair, so it is time for Flair to start teaching elsewhere. Flair was not an impact player on Raw, and he is not going to leave a whole on the show. Raw will not be hurt by his departure.
The Impact of Flair going to SD – Flair is not the performer that he once was, so SD is not getting the top of the line. He does give JBL someone new to gush over with his commentary, but that is about all. Flair will feud with the young guys like MVP, and will have his occasional squash match against the giants on SD or the young heels like the Miz where Flair will get his rare victory. Smackdown gains just another talent.
The Impact to Flair – Flair should have retired long ago, but still feels that he can go. He has now been “demoted” to SD from the #1 show, so he has to feel that WWE is pushing him towards retirement. Flair will be allowed to wrestle as long as he feels that he can, but his move to SD indicates that WWE feels that he should think hard about whether or not he should continue.
Pick #9 – Snitsky goes from ECW to Raw
The Impact of Snitsky leaving ECW – Snitsky was just a monster on ECW, squashing the originals for no real reason. He was never going to get near the title, even though there were rumors that he would be Lashley’s next challenger. Snitsky served no real purpose on ECW, and his leaving will allow more TV time for guys who can actually wrestle.
The Impact of Snitsky going to Raw – Snitsky was rumored to be Lashley’s next challenger, and he might still get to battle Lashley, who also was sent to Raw. Beyond Lashley, Snitsky must fall in line behind Umaga as the Raw monster, so anything he can do, Umaga can do with better in ring skills and the presence of Armando Alejandro Estrada to do his talking. Snitsky will be wasted on Raw.
The Impact to Snitsky – Snitsky has had different freakish gimmicks during his tenure in WWE, yet none of them have generated much success to Snitsky. Leaving ECW, where he was one of a kind to go to Raw where he is one of many means that creative might also run out of ideas for him. No big loss.
The Final Pick – Mr. Kennedy goes from SD to Raw
The Impact of Kennedy leaving SD – Everything that I said about Booker, except for being King and having a title run, applies to Kennedy. SD’s loss is Raw’s gain. This is a guy that was destined to be the next top star in professional wrestling before his injury. He was showing signs of potentially turning, and he would have pulled it off as easily as he had when he was the top heel. SD will have to work really hard to replace Kennedy. This is huge.
The Impact of Kennedy going to Raw – Kennedy will be the only heel above Booker T until HHH returns, but with Hunter facing Orton, Kennedy will be positioned against Cena immediately. This is a guy who can match Cena on the mic and can perform in the ring, so his matches, and eventual title run, will elevate both Kennedy and Raw. This is the guy who could give Cena an extended break from being champion, because he, like Booker, deserves to be champion. Kennedy will be the top heel in WWE before very long and Raw has him.
The Impact to Kennedy – If the top guys belong on the top show, then Kennedy is where he belongs. He is now and will continue to be one of the top guys in WWE, and they would be wise to book around him. With Cena as the top face and Kennedy as the top heel, the WWE could do much worse. These two young guys will carry WWE for the next few years.
As we wait for the supplemental draft to occur on Wednesday, these men all have new addresses and their shows will experience the changes. Some will benefit from their new employees, and others will suffer, but it will all be interesting.
Send comments, complaints or questions to me @ ericej@netzero.net
Eric E. Jenkins is an author who has written a semi-biographical book covering the last 30 years in professional wrestling through the eyes of a fan entitled “Reflections of a Professional Wrestling Fan: My 30 Years ‘In’ the Business”. He is currently writing “Dead Too Soon”, a book chronicling the careers of and paying tribute to many of the wrestling stars who passed away very young.
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