The WWE Draft is over and done with, with some shocks and a lot of good picks. Let's run through this monumental event, pick by pick. We finish with the WWE Network half of this draft.
(Note: For this portion of the draft, I've left out my analysis for most of the picks. Most of these picks weren't incredibly important, sorry guys).
Round 7, Pick 1- Raw selects Golden Truth
Grade: C
Round 7, Pick 2- Smackdown selects The Usos
Grade: B
Smackdown scores one of WWE's top teams in the seventh round, a major steal.
Round 7, Pick 3- Raw selects Titus O'Neil
Grade: C+
Round 7, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Kane
Grade: B-
Smackdown scores again, getting a solid veteran late in the draft.
Round 7, Pick 5- Raw selects Paige
Grade: B+
This is a great pick. Paige is one of WWE's youngest, having accomplished a lot in her short WWE career. Great value as well.
Round 8, Pick 1- Raw selects Darren Young
Grade: C
Round 8, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Kalisto
Grade: B
Smackdown continues to get stronger, picking up a former two-time US Champion late in the draft.
Round 8, Pick 3- Raw selects Sin Cara
Grade: C+
Round 8, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Naomi
Grade: C-
Round 8, Pick 5- Raw selects Jack Swagger
Grade: B-
Round 8, Pick 6- Smackdown selects The Ascension
Grade: C
Round 9, Pick 1- Raw selects The Dudley Boyz
Grade: B+
Raw's tag division continues to add talent with one of wrestling's most successful tag teams.
Round 9, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Zack Ryder
Grade: C+
Round 9, Pick 3- Raw selects Summer Rae
Grade: D
Round 9, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Apollo Crews
Grade: B
The blue brand adds depth with one of WWE's top up and comers.
Round 9, Pick 5- Raw selects Mark Henry
Grade: C
Round 9, Pick 6- Smackdown selects Alexa Bliss
Grade: B-
Smackdown needed talent in their women's division, calling up a talented youngster from NXT in the form of Alexa Bliss.
Round 10, Pick 1-Raw selects Braun Strowman
Grade: D
Braun Strowman is a very dangerous man, but seems to lack direction without his leader.
Round 10, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Breezango
Grade: D+
Round 10, Pick 3- Raw selects Bo Dallas
Grade: C-
Round 10, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Eva Marie
Grade: C
Round 10, Pick 5- Raw selects The Shining Stars
Grade: C+
Round 10, Pick 6- Smackdown selects The Vaudevillains
Grade: C+
Round 11, Pick 1- Raw selects Alicia Fox
Grade: C
Round 11, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Erick Rowan
Grade: B-
Erick Rowan has been on the main roster for a few years, and has proven himself. He should work well with his leader Bray Wyatt.
Round 11, Pick 3- Raw selects Dana Brooke
Grade: D+
Round 11, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Mojo Rawley
Grade: F
The lowest grade of this draft goes to Smackdown's insanely dumb decision to take Mojo Rawley from NXT. Mojo is a fine competitor, but has no come anywhere close to proving he can be a main roster contributor.
Round 11, Pick 5- Raw selects Curtis Axel
Grade: B+
The son of Mr. Perfect is one of WWE's most underrated wrestlers, and provides some quality depth to Raw's roster.
Round 11, Pick 6- Smackdown selects Carmella
Grade: C
NXT's Carmella is Ms. Irrelevant in the 2016 WWE Draft. It's a questionable move to take the Princess of Staten Island without her boys, Enzo and Cass, but she's a talented wrestler in her own right and offers solid depth.
Overview
Raw's grade: B+
Raw got off to a somewhat rocky start, but ended up the winner in this draft. They've selected a very deep roster, with a talented main event scene, a quality tag division and some great female wrestlers. The most impressive aspect of their draft was how well Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and GM Mick Foley worked together. They didn't panic, made all the right moves, and that's what counts.
Smackdown's grade: B-
Smackdown got off to a great start, but couldn't keep up the momentum throughout the rest of their draft. There were too many questionable picks for this to be considered a success, and it seemed like Commissioner Shane McMahon and GM Daniel Bryan look sight of their draft board several times. The main event scene is fantastic, but the tag and women's divisions are weak to the point of non-existent.
Non-Kayfabe Thoughts
There was a lot of hype heading into this draft, and many pessimists saw this becoming a major train wreck. While the 'E avoided an awful draft, they failed to deliver anything truly amazing. The creative team made a ton of mistakes, putting Sami and Kevin on the same brand, giving Smackdown a poor roster and failing to give Raw enough crusierweights for their new belt. The biggest failure was the NXT call-ups, as wrestlers like Mojo Rawley and Nia Jax, neither of whom are ready for this opportunity, were drafted ahead of wrestlers like Bayley and Shinsuke Nakamura. Although there is hope for the future, this was not the strongest start.
Show Grade: 6/10
I hope you've enjoyed. Catch you next time.
-Henry
(Note: For this portion of the draft, I've left out my analysis for most of the picks. Most of these picks weren't incredibly important, sorry guys).
Round 7, Pick 1- Raw selects Golden Truth
Grade: C
Round 7, Pick 2- Smackdown selects The Usos
Grade: B
Smackdown scores one of WWE's top teams in the seventh round, a major steal.
Round 7, Pick 3- Raw selects Titus O'Neil
Grade: C+
Round 7, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Kane
Grade: B-
Smackdown scores again, getting a solid veteran late in the draft.
Round 7, Pick 5- Raw selects Paige
Grade: B+
This is a great pick. Paige is one of WWE's youngest, having accomplished a lot in her short WWE career. Great value as well.
Round 8, Pick 1- Raw selects Darren Young
Grade: C
Round 8, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Kalisto
Grade: B
Smackdown continues to get stronger, picking up a former two-time US Champion late in the draft.
Round 8, Pick 3- Raw selects Sin Cara
Grade: C+
Round 8, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Naomi
Grade: C-
Round 8, Pick 5- Raw selects Jack Swagger
Grade: B-
Round 8, Pick 6- Smackdown selects The Ascension
Grade: C
Round 9, Pick 1- Raw selects The Dudley Boyz
Grade: B+
Raw's tag division continues to add talent with one of wrestling's most successful tag teams.
Round 9, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Zack Ryder
Grade: C+
Round 9, Pick 3- Raw selects Summer Rae
Grade: D
Round 9, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Apollo Crews
Grade: B
The blue brand adds depth with one of WWE's top up and comers.
Round 9, Pick 5- Raw selects Mark Henry
Grade: C
Round 9, Pick 6- Smackdown selects Alexa Bliss
Grade: B-
Smackdown needed talent in their women's division, calling up a talented youngster from NXT in the form of Alexa Bliss.
Round 10, Pick 1-Raw selects Braun Strowman
Grade: D
Braun Strowman is a very dangerous man, but seems to lack direction without his leader.
Round 10, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Breezango
Grade: D+
Round 10, Pick 3- Raw selects Bo Dallas
Grade: C-
Round 10, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Eva Marie
Grade: C
Round 10, Pick 5- Raw selects The Shining Stars
Grade: C+
Round 10, Pick 6- Smackdown selects The Vaudevillains
Grade: C+
Round 11, Pick 1- Raw selects Alicia Fox
Grade: C
Round 11, Pick 2- Smackdown selects Erick Rowan
Grade: B-
Erick Rowan has been on the main roster for a few years, and has proven himself. He should work well with his leader Bray Wyatt.
Round 11, Pick 3- Raw selects Dana Brooke
Grade: D+
Round 11, Pick 4- Smackdown selects Mojo Rawley
Grade: F
The lowest grade of this draft goes to Smackdown's insanely dumb decision to take Mojo Rawley from NXT. Mojo is a fine competitor, but has no come anywhere close to proving he can be a main roster contributor.
Round 11, Pick 5- Raw selects Curtis Axel
Grade: B+
The son of Mr. Perfect is one of WWE's most underrated wrestlers, and provides some quality depth to Raw's roster.
Round 11, Pick 6- Smackdown selects Carmella
Grade: C
NXT's Carmella is Ms. Irrelevant in the 2016 WWE Draft. It's a questionable move to take the Princess of Staten Island without her boys, Enzo and Cass, but she's a talented wrestler in her own right and offers solid depth.
Overview
Raw's grade: B+
Raw got off to a somewhat rocky start, but ended up the winner in this draft. They've selected a very deep roster, with a talented main event scene, a quality tag division and some great female wrestlers. The most impressive aspect of their draft was how well Commissioner Stephanie McMahon and GM Mick Foley worked together. They didn't panic, made all the right moves, and that's what counts.
Smackdown's grade: B-
Smackdown got off to a great start, but couldn't keep up the momentum throughout the rest of their draft. There were too many questionable picks for this to be considered a success, and it seemed like Commissioner Shane McMahon and GM Daniel Bryan look sight of their draft board several times. The main event scene is fantastic, but the tag and women's divisions are weak to the point of non-existent.
Non-Kayfabe Thoughts
There was a lot of hype heading into this draft, and many pessimists saw this becoming a major train wreck. While the 'E avoided an awful draft, they failed to deliver anything truly amazing. The creative team made a ton of mistakes, putting Sami and Kevin on the same brand, giving Smackdown a poor roster and failing to give Raw enough crusierweights for their new belt. The biggest failure was the NXT call-ups, as wrestlers like Mojo Rawley and Nia Jax, neither of whom are ready for this opportunity, were drafted ahead of wrestlers like Bayley and Shinsuke Nakamura. Although there is hope for the future, this was not the strongest start.
Show Grade: 6/10
I hope you've enjoyed. Catch you next time.
-Henry
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