2016 WWE Brand
Extension Draft
Note: this draft was done before WWE announced the rules for the draft. Also, we handpicked our general managers. Daniel Bryan was chosen early last week. Looks like I might already have one precision right!
RAW (World Heavy Weight, US
Title) – Highlighted in Red: Chosen by Phil Munton
Smackdown (WWE Title,
Intercontinental Title) – Highlighted in Blue: Chosen by Louie Simoes
Men
1) Seth Rollins: How can you not choose Seth Rollins?! He was
the best before his knee blew out, he's the best now, and will be the best for
the future. His skills in the ring are great, second to none really. His mic
skills are great, and most of all he can be a great heel or face giving
flexibility to any scenario given to him.
Future: Multiple WHW Championships
2) Dean Ambrose: If Seth Rollins in #1 then Dean Ambrose
was #1A. There was no other choice that made sense here. Currently, he is the
WWE Champion and I see him as a consistent main eventer going forward.
Future: Multiple runs with the WWE Championship
3) A.J. Styles: Why Styles? Because he is PHENOMENAL! (Sorry
but I had too) No matter what promotion he has worked, he has been a star.
Nothing will change in the WWE, so long as they let A.J. be the phenomenal one
he is.
Future: Multiple WHW Championships, Faction leader
4)Finn Balor: This may have been a shock pick here at #4,
but the potential upside of this pick was too good to risk losing him. Finn
Balor has blazed an amazing trail in NXT and I see that continuing on
Smackdown. While this may ruin any potential feud with A.J. Styles over the club,
I see many championship reigns in his future.
Future: Intercontinental Champion and WWE Champion
5) New Day: Quite possibly the best all-around entertaining
group in WWE. They continually bring the enjoyment into any feud where, let's
face it, the WWE has booked terribly. New Day will continue to be a great trio
that can go against anyone in the ring and on the mic.
Future: Multiple time Tag Team Champions, US title for Xavier
6) Kevin Owens: Easily, the best pick left on the board
at this point. To leave him on the board beyond this pick would have been an
insult to his talents. Easily, one of the best wrestlers at cutting promos and
just as talented in the ring, he makes a great foundation for Smackdown’s
future. He has a bright future.
Future: Intercontinental Champion, Potential Tag Team
Champion and WWE Champion.
7) Roman Reigns: The only way to have Roman come back is as a
heel, and that's exactly what he will be for my promotion upon his return. He
has all the raw skills, the look, the history to become a mega star, but he
must be a heel to become a future HOF.
Future: Multiple WHW Championships, US Champion
8) Enzo Amore and Big Cass: This tag team has been a
bright spot for WWE programming for quite some time. They are way over with the
crowd and have been having great feuds with everyone they’ve engaged with. They
never held the NXT Tag Team Championships, but many runs with the WWE Tag Team
Championships are in their future!
Future: Multiple time WWE Tag Team Champions
9) Sami Zayn: I know a lot of people look at this pick and
think that's pretty high for a guy that is recently up from NXT with minimal
success since that call up. One thing about Sami is he is over, and will always
be over no matter what crowd you put him in front of. He is over because of his
passion, work inside the ring, and heart. He may not be the biggest, but he
makes the best out of every situation.
Future: US champion, Tag Team Champion, possible WHW champion
at least once.
10) Wyatt Family: One of the best acts in WWE recently,
it’s time for the Wyatt Family to run rough shod over a brand. Bray Wyatt has
been an overlooked talent for too long. Injuries have hampered a bit of his
momentum, but the feud with The New Day has revitalized the Wyatt Family and it
is great to see. They should be one of the focal points on Smackdown.
Future: Multiple Tag Team Championship and potentially a
WWE Championship (Bray Wyatt)
11) Cesaro: Cesaro is the most under utilized wrestler in
WWE. He has the ability to headline, but consistently is maxed out as a mid
card. When he was tagging with Tyson Kidd, Cesaro was putting up his best work.
The teamwork and connection between them showed inside the ring. He still has
some way to go on the mic, but is still solid.
Future: Tag Team Champion (with Sami Zayn), WHW champion, US
champion
12) Samoa Joe: Samoa Joe adds an instant main event level
talent to the main roster. On top of that he has name recognition that few in
NXT have. He could also, allow for a second world championship by converting
the NXT title into a main roster championship. Only time will tell, but I see a
bright future for Samoa Joe.
Future: Intercontinental Champion, Potentially WWE
Champion.
13) Shinsuke Nakamura: Swagsuke is a sleeper pick. Whomever
watches NXT knows just how talented Nakamura is in the ring. WWE has not had a
great track record of pushing Japanese talents at all, but Nakamura is the real
deal and it will be hard for WWE to not notice that and belt him in the future.
Future: US champion, WHW shot, Tag Title Champion
14) Dolph Ziggler: Once pushed as a main eventer when the
brands were split previously, this could be just the thing that Dolph Ziggler
needs to revitalize his career. Recently, he feuded with Baron Corbin and that
helped neither man. Ziggler has loads of talent and getting him on Smackdown
could help WWE utilize his talents once again.
Future: Intercontinental Champion, Potentially WWE
Champion.
15) Rusev w/ Lana: This is the second time around for Rusev
with the US championship, and by far this time is his best work. He is a
fantastic heel that entertains on the mic, but is physical and strong inside
the ring. Very athletic for a man of his size and stature, plus having Lana by
his side helps add to the heel persona.
Future: longest US title reign, faction leader
16) The Miz w/ Maryse: Another former world champion who
has found himself further down the card recently. He is one of the few talents
on the roster who has the ability to make the crowd boo in a way that is
entertaining. Recently, he has received a push and is the current WWE
Intercontinental Champion. He is a solid ring worker and great talker. The
addition of his wife, Maryse, has given his character a boost as well.
Future: Intercontinental Champion, Tag Team Champion and
potentially WWE Champion.
17) John Cena: The face that runs the place (who also falls
to 17th in this draft because let's be honest his better days are behind him).
Cena is very polarizing, but no matter what, he gets a reaction, and to the WWE
that is the sound of $$$. He also is a great person to have on the roster to
help build the new and future talent. Great on the mic and will be until he
can't speak no more, he can make any feud better just by opening his mouth.
Future: US Title, one more shot to be 16x WHW champion
18) Brock Lesnar: The one in 21-1. The man who ended the
streak. The man who just recently returned to UFC on short notice and won.
Suplex City is relocating to Smackdown because even in a limited role, he bring
much needed importance and star power to Smackdown. Brock Lesnar is an exceptional
talent and when a new star rises, beating Brock Lesnar could help cement him in
the main event.
Future: Potential Wrestlemania Main event. Possible run
with WWE Championship.
19) American Alpha: The team of Jason Jordan and Chad Gable
work great for NXT. They have been over with every single crowd (i.e. Dallas,
London, and Full Sail). Some tweaks in their in ring hot tags, and making Gable
look a little strong as to not get the snot kicked out of him almost every
match can make them a fantastic tag team for WWE.
Future: Multiple time Tag Champions, US champion for Chad
Gable
20) The Club (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson): With Finn
Balor on Smackdown this pick was a no-brainer. Gallows, Anderson and Balor go
back to Japan before AJ lead the Bullet Club, Finn was the leader. With this
pick the plan should be to make him the leader again. With that said, The Club
should be made a force to reckon with on Smackdown.
Future: Mulitple Tag Team Championship reigns.
21) Chris Jericho: The Best in the World at being the guy I
need to help put others over, get into some mid card feuds that'll be
entertaining and well done. Unfortunately, Father Time is weighing heavily on
Jericho, but he can still boost any matchup. Also, maybe become the brains in a
trio tag team.
Future: Mid Card, Ring leader of a faction
22) Randy Orton: Bringing veteran experience and a great
work Randy Orton makes a lot of sense at this point of the draft. He
establishes star power and can work a heck of a program as well. He’s a former
world champion with the potential to have another reign.
Future: Upper-Midcard. Intercontinental. Potential World
Championship.
23) Alberto Del Rio: Another great option to help put over
the new faces for WWE, i.e. Cena and Jericho. That's all really.
Future: Mid Card
24) Sheamus: As recently as December 2015, Sheamus was the
WWE World Champion. In more recent times he’s been feuding in the mid-card, but
he still has potential to establish himself as a full on main eventer. He is
still very talented and entertaining. The roster is more rounded because of
this.
Future: Upper Midcard, Intercontinental Championship
25) Jimmy and Jay Uso: The Usos are a very serviceable tag
team that can help fill holes in programming, as well as if injuries plague the
division to help build or hold the belts.
Future: Tag Title champs one more time
26) Bobby Roode: Recently signed to a WWE NXT Contract so
this pick is highly unlikely, but his work in TNA cannot be ignored. He was top
talent there as both a fan favorite and as a bad guy. Bringing him up and
establishing him, could help WWE have more top talent quickly.
Future: Tag Team Champion and Intercontinental Champion.
27) Zack Ryder: Long Island Iced Z is underrated, and proved
recently he can be versatile. In NXT, he has been teaming up with Mojo Rawly as
the Hype Bros, and it has been reenergizing his career. Since then he has won
the IC title at Mania, and been floating from NXT to the main roster, but now
that the spilt is happening it gives a chance for someone like Ryder to make
his name again.
Future: US title, tag champion
28) Austin Aries: A former TNA World Champion who is
helping to enhance talent on the NXT Roster. With the expanding rosters, solid
workers are desperately needed to fill out both shows. Austin Aries has long
been underrated by the WWE. However, his work enhancing talents in NXT should
be enough for WWE to know that a move to the main roster will benefit not only
Austin Aries, but the talent as well.
Future: Midcard Wrestler, Potential run with the
Intercontinental Championship.
29) Kota Ibushi/Baron Corbin: Now I want Ibushi but I know he
won't be signed until after the classic, so I chose Corbin. Yes the dreaded
winner of the Andre the Giant Battle Royal, who once crowned never goes
anywhere for the next year, but with the brand split comes new horizons for
all! Corbin will become a top heel someday of only as a flash in the pan, but
he has great size and demeanor and that is more than the rest of the roster has
that is remaining.
Future: possible US title, tag team or faction with Jericho.
30) Neville: He may be the man that gravity forget, but
Smackdown should not forget him. He is a heck a of a talent with a boatload of
potential upside. His promos are still a little raw but his in-ring talent
cannot be denied. He’s on the mend and should be back soon. He should have a
bright future especially with WWE spotlighting smaller talents now.
Future: Possible Intercontinental Title Run, (If revived)
Potential WWE Cruiserweight Champion.
Women
1) Sasha Banks: The best female talent available on the
main roster. Her feud with Charlotte is going to show that her run with the WWE
Women’s Championship should have started months ago. Also, this will lead to an
eventually show down with a certain NXT talent that should be called up very
shortly. Be prepared to see some great matches in the women’s division very
soon.
Future: Multiple Time Women’s champion
2) Bayley: It's honestly way over due for Bayley to get the
call up to the big show. She has been the best women's performer in the entire
company for the past year. Amazing skills in the ring, and is over with every
single crowd on the planet.
Future: Women's champion multiple times
3)Paige: One of the youngest female champions in the
history of WWE and the only person to hold both the NXT Women’s Championship
and the WWE Divas championship simultaneously. While I am disappointed on
missing out on Bayley, Paige is a phenomenal talent who has plenty to offer in
this division.
Future: WWE Women's Championship
4) Charlotte: Current champion who has been very serviceable
in the depleted women's division. She is part of the Four Horse Women and to be
honest they are the best thing the WWE has for the women.
Future: Women's champion multiple times
5) Becky Lynch: As the fourth member of the Four Horsewomen,
Becky always seems like the overlooked member of the group. She is very
talented in the ring and has become quite popular. She is bound to become a WWE
Women’s Champion.
Future: WWE Women’s Championship reign.
6) Naomi: She's banged up, but is one of the lost athletic
women in the WWE. Hasn't been pushed properly before, but has the potential.
Future: Women's champion
7) Carmella: With Enzo and Big Cass already on the Smackdown
roster, taking Carmella was a no- brainer. She is one of the most polished
talents on the NXT roster and moving her to the main roster makes too much
sense. The unfortunate part of this is that it will end the BayMella tag team ,
but they could re-unite in the future!
Future: Potential WWE Women’s Champion.
8) Auska: The queen of NXT, but she has that strong style
that will help bring more viciousness to the women's division. No mic skills
but her visuals tell a great story.
Future: Multi-time champion
9) Nikki Bella: If Nikki is able to make a comeback; she can
be an intergral part of the women’s division. She no longer needs to carry the
whole division This is good for both her and the WWE as she can prolong her
career by wrestling less. This is a risky pick since her return is uncertain,
but a gamble that was always worth taking.
Future: Potentially a run with the WWE Women’s
Championship.
10) Emma: Before her injury, Emma was being pushed into the
spotlight more, and I feel it's very deserved. She is a great heel that has the
look and the skill.
Future: Women's champion, also a faction leader.
