WWE Draft 2011: Analysis and Aftermath of Last Year's Event
On April 26, 2010, the WWE landscape would be changed like never before. Or did it?
In arguably the worst Draft events to ever take place in WWE history, the night consisted of eight Superstars and Divas swapping nights in an attempt to recreate magic the previous years had set before. It wasn't able to reach its highest potential by a long shot, and its lackluster results would certainly pay the price as 2010 progressed.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: having Superstars bounce from brand to brand lessens the value of the Draft, and that was a major factor as to why the WWE 2010 Draft can be deemed so forgettable. Maybe it was the downfall of ECW two months prior, or maybe the significant loss of top stars before the annual event due to injury or retirement, but the WWE can basically blame itself for its poor amount of attention.
As I look back at last year's event, I will provide analysis on each victim that switched shows in the main draft on RAW that fateful Monday, and the futures that awaited them. Since this specific Draft set very low standards, I can guarantee this year's annual event will be a huge step up and improvement.
Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling for more of GSM's writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps, and more. Follow me on Twitter @GSM2ndComing.
Kelly Kelly Drafted to SmackDown
1 of 9Analysis
Usually, the first Draft pick of the night is a top star to start off the show on a good note. Examples include a returning Rey Mysterio in 2008 and then-United States Champion MVP in 2009, where both were drafted to the RAW brand.
The first hour of the show began with a promo including Randy Orton, Sheamus and then-WWE Champion John Cena regarding a No. 1 Contenders Match occurring later that evening. A Divas tag match followed, with Lay-Cool from SmackDown earning the first Divas-only Draft pick.
There are only so many Divas on the RAW roster, so there wasn't much surprise as to who we would see be sent packing to the blue brand. In fact, the only one who seemed shocked was commentator Jerry Lawler, due to his obsession with the Diva that's so nice, she was named twice.
Aftermath
Kelly Kelly's role on RAW prior to the Draft was not significant, as she was purely eye candy. Many speculated that her move would indicate a championship push for Kelly.
Sadly, Kelly would go on to earn only one Women's Championship match while on the brand, that she would come up short in needless to say. Since then, she has been basically playing the same role on SmackDown as she did on RAW, with as many wins as losses against the same two opponents.
Big Show Drafted to SmackDown
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Analysis
The brand versus brand match saw SmackDown's CM Punk take RAW's Evan Bourne, where the Second City Saint would be aided to victory by a fellow Straightedge Society masked member who ran through the crowd. This win would bring Big Show back to Friday nights.
Now only an hour earlier, ShoMiz, the team of Big Show and The Miz, would drop their Unified Tag Team Championships to The Hart Dynasty. Following the match, the world's largest athlete would lay a knockout punch on the United States Champion, turning face in the process.
Aftermath
His move was being rumored before the Draft took place, so it came as no surprise. Upon his arrival on the blue brand, Big Show would immediately target the World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger.
Unable to win the prestigious title at the Over the Limit and Fatal Four Way events, Show would be reduced to lackluster feuds with CM Punk and the Straightedge Society, Cody Rhodes and becoming team captain of SmackDown at WWE Bragging Rights.
All of these rivalries saw Show emerge victorious, but at what cost?
John Morrison Drafted to RAW
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Analysis
In RAW's first victory of the night, Ted DiBiase and Santino Marella emerged victorious in a 15-Man Battle Royal to earn their respective draft picks. John Morrison would be the first of three to be sent packing to Monday nights.
John Morrison had a strong start to his run on SmackDown in 2009, competing in numerous high profile matches against the likes of Jeff Hardy, CM Punk, and Rey Mysterio. However, following his Intercontinental Championship loss to Drew McIntyre in December that year, his high speed momentum went downward, especially with his lackluster tag team partnership with R-Truth at WrestleMania.
Aftermath
Morrison would be expected for great things on Monday nights, but his push wasn't immediate upon his arrival, being downgraded to just another mid-card wrestler on the roster with many other top stars already crowding the spotlight.
His much-need chance to shine came in September 2010, with strong victories against Sheamus, Chris Jericho, and an amazing Falls Count Anywhere match against WWE Champion The Miz. Although it has taken a backseat as of late due to a weak bout at WrestleMania 27 and heat with colleague Trish Stratus, his recent inclusion in the Steel Cage WWE Championship Match at Extreme Rules signals he will be taken more seriously as the athletic competitor he is once again.
R-Truth Drafted to RAW
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Analysis
Following the drafting of his close friend John Morrison, R-Truth would find himself drafted to Monday nights as well. With nothing else left to do on SmackDown, this move was easily predicted.
Aftermath
Unlike Morrison, Truth would experience a very strong push at the start of his tenure on RAW, immediately engaging himself in a feud with Ted DiBiase. Following his first pay-per-view victory over DiBisae at the Over the Limit pay-per-view, R-Truth would win his first title in the WWE by defeating The Miz to become the new United States Champion.
However, his 15 minutes of fame would be short-lived, as Truth would drop the U.S. title back to The Miz three weeks later and be demoted back to worthless mid-card wrestler in the process. He would make occasional appearances on Monday Nights for matches against CM Punk, Wade Barrett and Sheamus.
His biggest push came only last week, where Truth's heel turn finally came to fruition unpredictably. Ironically enough, it would be due to his actions on former tag team partner John Morrison.
Edge Drafted to RAW
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Analysis
The third and final pick from RAW's huge battle royal victory would be none other than the 11-time World Champion, Edge. Being involved in a promo with then-World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger earlier in the night, not many viewers expected this move to occur.
With Cena, Orton, HHH and now Morrison and Truth as top faces on the Monday Night brand, it wouldn't make sense to add Edge to the long list. Later that evening, we would see the immediate heel turn of the Rated-R Superstar, spearing Randy Orton during the main event.
Aftermath
In my opinion, this would be the biggest fail in the WWE 2010 Draft. Edge's only shining moments on the brand happened within the month he was drafted while feuding with Randy Orton. Following Over the Limit, the Ultimate Opportunist would become an afterthought on RAW.
Following being involved in many insignificant matches in the next months, Edge would be traded back to SmackDown in October via the anonymous RAW General Manager, turning face in the process. This move would prove to be a huge success, bringing in hot rating for Friday nights and holding the World Heavyweight Champion for a lengthy period of time.
After competing in one last match against Alberto Del Rio at WreslteMania 27, Edge would ultimately retire from the WWE due to a life-threatening injury.
Kofi Kingston Drafted to SmackDown
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Analysis
Chris Jericho's valiant victory over Christian allowed SmackDown to earn another draft pick, this time bringing the up-and-coming Kofi Kingston to Friday nights. Kingston would make a major impact by storming the ring to deliver a much-needed Trouble in Paradise to Jericho.
Kingston's reign on RAW would be nothing short of epic, leaving the brand following a strong rivalry with Randy Orton. With SmackDown being more wrestling-oriented, he was destined to finally become World Heavyweight Champion.
Aftermath
Upon his arrival, Kingston would win his second Intercontinental Championship from Drew McIntyre at Over the Limit in May. His future would be looking extremely bright, until his loss of the title to Dolph Ziggler at the end of July.
Since then, Kingston would go on to lose many more matches than he would win, despite having another lackluster reign as Intercontinental Champion from January to March of this year. Maybe it was his mic skills, but his move to SmackDown did not end up what it was predicted to be in the long run.
Christian Drafted to SmackDown
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Analysis
World Heavyweight Champion Jack Swagger defeated RAW's John Morrison to bring Christian to Friday Nights. Seeing that he and Edge had the possibility to reunite with the Rated-R Superstar now both on Monday nights, Christian's move didn't please many people.
However, his gesture of having gold around his waist signaled a main event push for Captain Charisma. With Christian being taken for granted previously on RAW, this move showed it was now his time to shine in the spotlight.
Aftermath
Much like Kofi Kingston, Christian's drafting would not result in what it was expected to be. His tenure consisted of having random matches with Cody Rhodes, Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler, before entering a brief rivalry with Alberto Del Rio.
Unfortunately, Captain Charisma would sustain a torn pectoral injury that would sideline him from action for nearly five months. He wouldn't return until this year's Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, aligning himself with his close friend Edge once again.
Aiding the Rated-R Superstar in his feud against Alberto Del Rio, Christian would receive a big push on Friday nights. Following Edge's imminent retirement a few weeks ago Christian now finds himself in Edge's place in the World Heavyweight Championship Ladder Match at Extreme Rules.
Chris Jericho Drafted to RAW
8 of 9Anaylsis
The final draft pick came when Hornswoggle defeated Dolph Ziggler by count-out in basically what was a comedy match, thus giving RAW the advantage. When Jericho's music hit, I wasn't thoroughly surprised, given his many appearances on the brand over the past year.
However, it was shocking that adding Jericho to RAW would basically stack Monday nights with top level talent, with nearly no room to breathe. Fresh off his loss of the World Heavyweight Championship, Y2J's future did not look pleasant.
Aftermath
Chris Jericho would find himself as the brand's new top jobber, being engaged in numerous throw-away feuds with the Hart Dynasty, Evan Bourne and the Nexus over the summer. Come September, Jericho would ultimately leave the company to take time off, where he is currently competing on Dancing with the Stars.
This was the same man who was once headlining Monday Night RAW as World Heavyweight Champion but gets downgraded to losing to mid-carders? This would be the biggest mistake to come from the 2010 WWE Draft.
2011 Draft Predictions
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Overall, the 2010 WWE Draft would be known as one of the most disappointing events in WWE history due to its lackluster results. Hopefully, this year will be able to deliver more surprises and pick up the lack that was left behind last year.
Since I will not be able to provide a full slideshow on my predictions for this year's draft due to lack of time, I will simply let my previews be known here. Here are my personal 12 picks regarding the 2011 WWE Draft:
Ted DiBiase to SmackDown
Evan Bourne to SmackDown
Daniel Bryan to SmackDown
Randy Orton to SmackDown
Sheamus to SmackDown
Zack Ryder to SmackDown
Jack Swagger to RAW
Drew McIntyre to RAW
Wade Barrett to RAW
Kofi Kingston to RAW
Chris Masters to RAW
Michelle McCool to RAW
Thanks for reading, Bleachers! Make sure to leave your comments below on what you thought on the WWE 2010 Draft and its impact on this year's. GSM out.
Visit my website at Next Era Wrestling for more of GSM's writings, along with WWE/TNA news, recaps, and more. Follow me on Twitter @GSM2ndComing.
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