WWE Draft 2023 Perfect Time to Launch 2 Long-Awaited Singles Runs

The upcoming WWE draft is the perfect opportunity to set future next-big-things in pro wrestling on must-see solo paths.

Yes, the draft will freshen up weekly programming on Raw and Smackdown. If used creatively with a side of risk-taking, it could even retool the main-event scene around Roman Reigns' unified titles.

But arguably more important than that is the opportunity to rip two future megastars from their current teams—Montez Ford and Dominik Mysterio.

It sounds polarizing at first, but what better function of the draft than to split up teams, create drama and let Superstars float on their own and potentially climb the ladder?

Let's start with Ford. Yes, his Street Profits duo with Angelo Dawkins is a big hit. But in a WWE where tag teams don't feel all that important usually, it's a tough sell to argue they should be kept together as opposed to a Ford solo run. Plus, things remain diminished for the division while the unified tag titles remain mostly wrapped up in the Bloodline saga.

This isn't just splitting a team for the sake of doing so, though. Ford is an amazing solo talent who has more charisma, character work and mic work than most Superstars in the company. Letting him shake loose of the tag division and do his thing while pursuing individual gold would be a treat for fans to watch.

Thinking back to some of the best Ford moments, like an impromptu dance with an infant in the crowd or his stunning high-flying moves, it has been apparent for a while he really has something to offer as a solo act.

It doesn't have to be a slingshot right into the main-event scene given the logjam there. But getting him after mid-card titles and picking up wins would be a good way to get things started. And hey, he'd be pretty fun with the Money in the Bank briefcase, too.

This wouldn't be a death knell for Dawkins, either. He's got some major upside of his own as a solo act, and it wouldn't be unrealistic to see him get after mid-card titles, too. It doesn't have to result in a Ford-Dawkins feud by any means, but that probably wouldn't be horrible, either.

Then there's Dominik. It's a bit of a tougher sell to break him off from Judgment Day. He's getting more heat from live crowds than most in recent history, but that's largely because of his despicable actions in a feud with his own father. His chemistry with Rhea Ripley only amplifies that, so there's a big risk in moving him off as a solo act.

But the other side of the coin? It's probably time to see what Dominik can do in a feud that doesn't involve his father. And getting him away from Finn Bálor (whose Demon inexplicably lost at 'Mania) and the "why is this still happening?" feud with Edge might just be for the better.

Maybe the solution is a small split, where Dominik winds up on the same brand as Ripley still. Think of it as cutting off the fat. Let him take center stage in feuds with his current character, give him a ton of mic work and let him showcase that he can indeed work with anyone of any size in a variety of stories.

The fun thing about Dominik is that his groundswell of almost-stunning momentum right now means he doesn't need to be in a title feud to keep this rolling. His heat isn't just going to fade, especially not if he keeps the same strong character work going.

Looking at the landscape of WWE, this is probably the perfect time to let these two fly solo. With both top titles on Reigns and the mid-card titles being used to elevate fellow next-big-things, there are plenty of opportunities to feud with huge names like Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley and whoever else walks through the door, such as Logan Paul.

Allowing Superstars to blossom on their own should be a function of the draft. Granted, this requires WWE to actually honor its draft and brand split, too, but that could take up far more time than we have here. If nothing else, fans can cautiously trust that this Triple H-led creative can and will get it right and also avoid other pitfalls of the past, such as breaking up teams for no good reason.

With Ford and Dominik, good reasons abound. They are blatantly some of the next big stars in pro wrestling and overdue for solo runs. The draft is a vehicle to get those journeys started in earnest in a way that keeps fans engaged.