WWE Draft Results: Why SmackDown Is the Clear Winner After Brand Split
On the heels of the 2016 WWE draft, there are many questions about the futures of Raw and SmackDown. But no question is more hotly debated than which brand actually won the draft.
As is typical among fans based on the internet, it is easy to look at the Raw roster, with its plethora of "internet darlings," and profess the flagship show the winner. Too often, those fans judge with their hearts, seeking out their favorite wrestlers and refusing to see past them.
Does Raw, the new home to Finn Balor and an expansive roster that nearly doubles SmackDown's in size, take home the draft prize?
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In short, no.
There are issues facing that brand and the way its roster was built that the Tuesday night show does not have to confront. Sure, it is more star-studded than SmackDown. But with only three hours of television to work with each week, fitting everyone on the show in a meaningful way will prove much easier said than done.
The sharp criticism and general disdain one of its prized draftees showed for Raw suggests even the wrestlers themselves understand the issues facing the red brand:
SmackDown has none of that. A youthful roster with proven commodities holding down the main event positions until they are ready to make the leap, a hot, new live setting and renewed energy about the brand once considered the B-show have helped it emerge from July 19's company-altering split with reason to be excited, for it is the real winner of the WWE draft.
| Dean Ambrose | AJ Styles |
| John Cena | Bray Wyatt |
| Randy Orton | The Miz |
| Becky Lynch | Maryse |
| American Alpha | Baron Corbin |
| Dolph Ziggler | Natalya |
| The Usos | Alberto Del Rio |
| Kane | Naomi |
| Kalisto | The Ascension |
| Zack Ryder | Alexa Bliss |
| Apollo Crews | Breezango |
| Mojo Rawley | Eva Marie |
| Carmella | The Vaudevillains |
| Erick Rowan |
Former Champions and Breakthrough Competitors
Most look at SmackDown as lacking depth behind the main event stars. Sure, the blue brand picked up John Cena, Randy Orton, Dean Ambrose and AJ Styles. But beyond that, they argue, there is little in the way of talent currently capable of carrying the brand in the event of catastrophic injury.
Bleacher Report's Steven Rondina cited that lack of depth during a Twitter exchange as the reason he believed Raw was victorious:
Upon further review, though, that argument loses credibility.
Should any of the four aforementioned stars suddenly go down with an injury, SmackDown has more than enough talent to fill the void.
Beyond the elite are four former world heavyweight champions, beginning with Alberto Del Rio. It was not all that long ago—in 2013, to be exact—that the Mexican-born star carried the SmackDown brand as its lead babyface. The world champion at the time, he was the cornerstone of the then-Friday night show and a legitimate MVP candidate for WWE.
Dolph Ziggler, The Miz and Kane all have world titles on their resumes and runs at the top of the card to their names.
While it would take some time to rebuild them into consistent main event attractions, pairing them with a Cena or Orton and booking them strongly throughout would instantly rejuvenate them.
Then there is the wild card of SmackDown's draft, a character destined to be a main event talent but whose booking over the last two years has left plenty of doubt in WWE Creative's ability to fully understand him. That would be Bray Wyatt.
The Reaper of Souls has flirted with main events since his arrival, and the lighter crop of bona fide main event stars, coupled with Cena's lightened schedule, could finally help him reach the proverbial promised land.
With the writing staff not spread so thin, working with an immense roster to satiate hours upon hours of television each week, it will be able to focus in on those aforementioned stars and prepare them should SmackDown need someone to step into an open main event position due to injury or hiatus.
Fresh Faces
One of the biggest issues facing Monday Night Raw is the logjam of talent it created for itself via the draft.
Sure, it scored Balor, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Sami Zayn, Chris Jericho and a plethora of other talented Superstars. But there are only so many slots available for those men to excel in. Even if Jericho disappears tomorrow, there are still those Superstars who will be left out.
Unfortunately for them, they will be no better off than they were before the draft, workhorses relegated to the midcard because of a lack of opportunities to advance their careers.
That is not something SmackDown has to worry about.
Whereas Cesaro, Zayn, Owens and Jericho have battled ad nauseam for the last two months across both brands, SmackDown has the opportunity to create new matches and feuds, courtesy of some of the young talent it currently possesses.
Both Apollo Crews and Baron Corbin figure to play key roles on the Tuesday night roster. While they are polar opposites in terms of their in-ring styles, they are both NXT alumni with huge upsides and pushes that began right around WrestleMania 32.
While those pushes stalled out, the products of too much talent and not enough time, they can resume their meteoric rises in short order on SmackDown.
Kalisto is another star whose initial push was hampered by inconsistent booking almost assuredly attributed to a lack of time. A former two-time United States champion, the masked luchador will have the chance to make like Rey Mysterio and break out on the show The Master of the 619 helped make famous.
The women's division may look lackluster on paper, but the arrivals of Alexa Bliss and Carmella provide it with a spark and youthfulness that will benefit it in the long run. Bliss, in particular, has been a star in the making and finally has the opportunity to prove herself on the big stage.
With American Alpha, The Vaudevillains, Breezango and The Ascension, the tag team division has the potential to steal many a show. Factor in the tried-and-true Usos, and SmackDown could feature a renaissance of sorts for the sport.
Focus on Superstars, Not Authority Figures
The presences of commissioner Shane McMahon and general manager Daniel Bryan will be huge to the early success of SmackDown. But unlike Raw, where commissioner Stephanie McMahon and general manager Mick Foley are certain to steal spotlight from the talent via a wacky "authority figures who hate each other" storyline, the focus of the blue brand will remain on the athletes in the ring.
With only two hours to fill, the show will continue its lightning-quick pace, packing as much in-ring action into that period as it can. That means less bickering between authority figures, less in-ring promo work and little room for nonessential ridiculousness.
Superstars such as Crews, Corbin, American Alpha and Becky Lynch will all benefit from increased in-ring time and the opportunities to get themselves over in that regard.
It will provide Del Rio with the chance to prove why he was once considered one of the best workers in the company and Ziggler the chance to re-energize himself and his on-screen persona.
The overall product will be much more enjoyable to watch and a true alternative to the sports-entertainment circus that plays out every Monday night.
The Mauro Factor
Anyone familiar with SmackDown since January understands how invaluable commentator Mauro Ranallo is to that show. He has an ability to get the Superstars over with the viewing audience in ways WWE Creative could only dream of. He knows the backgrounds of all involved and can relay them in a manner that appeals to the listener.
A team like The Ascension may not have much credibility with the audience right now, but Ranallo will present Konnor and Viktor in such a way that viewers will form some sort of connection with the former NXT tag team champions.
The same can be said for someone like Tyler Breeze, who has been treated as an undercard joke since arriving to WWE's big stage. Ranallo has the innate ability to put over both the ridiculousness of the Prince Pretty gimmick and the immensely talented professional wrestler behind it. Not since the height of Jim Ross' announcing career have fans been privy to that.
While Michael Cole may be a great shill for the WWE brand, Ranallo sells the men and women in the ring. And that is as key to the development of stars as anything the Hollywood types in the writer's room could accomplish.
Why SmackDown?
Raw has a roster loaded with talent, but it is difficult to foresee a situation in which the brand ever changes its tone. Of the two brands, the Monday night staple feels most destined to remain the same—a tired display of great wrestling but questionable booking and lack of focus.
SmackDown, on the other hand, has an excitement surrounding it that cannot be denied. From the youthful roster full of NXT projects to the seasoned veterans eager to break free of the talent logjam that had stunted their growths, the brand features the opportunity for fresh matches and stories that its competitor does not.
With franchise star Cena at home on the blue brand and WWE champion Ambrose as its figurehead, the brand is in much better shape than a single glance at its roster may suggest.
With four elite performers leading the way, another four previous world champions backing them up and an undercard of hungry stars following, SmackDown is the clear winner of the draft and the show to be most excited about in the coming months.
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