Predicting the Top 10 Picks in WWE Draft 2023 on Raw and SmackDown

The WWE draft is one of the most exciting events in pro wrestling, with the movement of Superstars between brands setting up months of stories and rivalries for fans to invest in.

This year will be no different, and with Triple H in charge of WWE Creative, there is even more reason for fans to anticipate the two-night talent switch.

Though we do not yet know the dates of the 2023 draft, these are predictions for the top 10 picks and why fans should expect to see some of those names in the positions they are in.

Predicting the Top 10

The predicted top 10 picks are:

1. Roman Reigns (SmackDown)
2. Cody Rhodes (Raw)
3. Rhea Ripley (SmackDown)
4. Brock Lesnar (Raw)
5. Seth Rollins (SmackDown)
6. Bianca Belair (Raw)
7. Becky Lynch (SmackDown)
8. Bron Breakker (Raw)
9. The Usos (SmackDown)
10. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens (Raw)

A Fresh Start for Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins finds himself in an unenviable position in that he is clearly an established main event talent but with nowhere to go on Raw.

The Visionary has battled every top guy on the flagship show, from Bobby Lashley to Austin Theory, and has nothing left to prove on a brand without a world champion.

That Rollins has unfinished business with Roman Reigns dating back to the 2022 Royal Rumble, when he played mind games with The Tribal Chief to such an extent that the undisputed WWE universal champion snapped and got himself disqualified.

Rollins is the one guy Reigns has been unable to beat on a major stage, making his Shield teammate the perfect foil for The Tribal Chief in 2023.

The draft gives Triple H and the creative team the opportunity to bring them together and set up a big-time main event as soon as SummerSlam on August 5.

Rollins would also have the opportunity to have great matches with fresh faces on Friday nights, including a series with Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship that could be hellishly fun.

Taking The Visionary with SmackDown's third pick, just behind Reigns and Rhea Ripley, tells the fans that he is someone the blue brand will be built around for the foreseeable future. It's a role he has earned and one that should have been his for the last year or two.

The Future is Now with Bron Breakker to Raw

Tuesday night on NXT, Bron Breakker announced that the brand's top championship was a "curse" on his career.

He did not compete in the No. 1 Contender's match later in the show and does not have a rematch set up with Carmelo Hayes.

All signs point to Breakker being on his way to the main roster, with his arrival likely to take place during the draft.

The explosive powerhouse would do well on Raw, where the three-hour run time will allow him to have consistent television time and to work with other impressive heavyweights such as Bobby Lashley and Bronson Reed.

It would also provide the second-generation wrestler with a clearer path to the top of the card than SmackDown would, assuming Reigns stays at the top of the Friday night show.

Breakker has all of the tools necessary to be a mainstay in the main event for the next decade, and a recent heel turn has allowed him to showcase his intensity and aggression, as well as an angry promo style that was a staple of his father and uncle as the Steiner Brothers.

If the 25-year-old can put everything together and showcase it for WWE fans at the next level, Triple H is going to have a fun new piece to create stories, matches and moments for every week.

Separating Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns

If the plan is for Cody Rhodes to dethrone Roman Reigns, separating them for the time being and avoiding overexposure is best for business.

Let Rhodes work on his redemption story, and let Reigns defend his titles against other top stars we have not yet seen him do battle with.

Then, when Rhodes earns his next shot at The Tribal Chief, he can jump between brands to build their potential SummerSlam 2023 or WrestleMania 40 rematch.

Beyond that, not having The Bloodline around Rhodes every week washes away some of the disappointment left after the outcome of their last fight and prevents the constant reminder that The American Nightmare lost in the biggest match of his career.

Let things freshen up and reap the rewards when they meet again for what should be the culmination of the program.

Having Rhodes and Reigns stay on their respective brands as the top two picks reinforces the idea they are the top two stars in WWE and allows Triple H to build Raw and SmackDown around them, as he should.