Reviewing the 2010 WWE Draft's Impact

After writing a slideshow for B/R about the CM Punk-Big Show match at Night of Champions, I found myself thinking about why Big Show had been moved to SmackDown in April's WWE Draft.

At first, it seemed like Big Show would be given that one last major push to the title before he retires. However, that push has seemed to go to Kane.

Regardless, it got me thinking about what has happened to those that have switched brands in the past five months. Tonight actually marks exactly six months from the WWE Draft on the April 26 edition of RAW.

All 19 draft picks, both the ones announced during RAW and the ones announced on the Supplemental Draft, will be addressed.

Hopefully, this slideshow will silence all critics who are pushing for a draft to come soon and shake up the brands. SmackDown switching networks doesn't constitute a draft (although a trade would be nice to see again...)

Kelly Kelly to SmackDown

I remember when this pick was made and thinking that it was the least excited I ever was about a No. 1 pick since Alex Smith.

However, Kelly Kelly is always nice to watch, even when she was in the Divas tag team match this past Friday night on SmackDown. She just stood there the entire match and didn't do anything but look really good. She always has done that well.

She has shown some progress in the ring. Keep in mind, people, that despite the fact that she's been in WWE for four years, she's only 23 years old. Don't sell on her yet.

The Big Show to SmackDown

This was a great move for Big Show. It gave him a chance to be almost interchangeable for The Undertaker for whenever he cannot perform.

Big Show is pretty much around to promote his movie and be the big, dominant force that gets over other talent. With him being on SmackDown, he is able to show a lot of young talent some things.

John Morrison to RAW

Morrison has drifted in the area of a main event push for so long and hasn't been there yet. However, his recent matches with Chris Jericho and Sheamus prove that this may be the start of something important for Morrison.

Then again, maybe not.

R-Truth to RAW

I've never been a fan of R-Truth. I don't like the rapping gimmick. His moveset is very flashy but has no substance. He's too old to be taking singles titles away from the young guys.

I was there when R-Truth got "blown up" by pyro on the RAW before Extreme Rules. It was also the RAW before the draft. I hoped that it was sorta true.

He's old enough to go back to TNA, so just send him packing and let him suck up some space over on SpikeTV.

Edge to RAW

A lot of good that trade did...

Edge has had one heck of a year in 2010. He returns from injury to win the Royal Rumble, loses a great match at WrestleMania 26, gets drafted to RAW only to get buried and is then traded back to SmackDown.

All the while, he went from babyface to heel to face again.

Edge's career has been impressive, but when broken into chunks, it becomes rather clear that the direction for him has always been pretty screwed up. Most of his world title reigns have been very short, he has been injury prone and they keep trying to pass Edge off as a face.

Edge should be a heel again and stay that way from here on out. It's where he has shined the most in his career. Give him one more world title to give him an even 10. Let him wrestle out his contract and go out on his terms. Then, he can be a Hall of Famer whenever he chooses.

Kofi Kingston to SmackDown

Kofi Kingston seemed ready for his push finally. He was ready to win some gold on Friday nights. He did.

It was the Intercontinental Championship.

So much for vaulting him up the ranks...

Christian to SmackDown

The majority of the IWC rejoiced when this move was announced. This would be the chance for Christian to be given a world championship in WWE.

Then reality set in. Now, Christian is out due to an injury, and his window for a championship run is closing more and more. That is, if it was even still open.

Chris Jericho to RAW

Jericho is good no matter where you place him. We all got to see Jericho have fun on the red show and go through a great career crossroads storyline. He put on fantastic matches with Evan Bourne and John Morrison before going to SummerSlam and putting on a good show.

His quick elimination at Night of Champions was sad to see, and we can only hope that this isn't the last we see of one of the best that our generation has ever seen.

The Great Khali to RAW

I just don't like having him around anymore. I know that he is an attraction, but no matter where you place him, Khali is just that guy that can't work a serious match. He was put into Cena's Army for SummerSlam and then taken out later on. Thank heavens for that.

If it wasn't for his massive popularity in India, he would already be unemployed.

Chavo Guerrero to SmackDown

What a meaningless move to make, right? Well, it gave Chavo a place to hide for a while. When you're a guy of Chavo's stature, it's hard to hide on a comic relief-heavy show like RAW.

It has also given him a chance to work with younger talent more, where he is best used for now. We even get treated to an occasional match on TV, such as the one against Kaval a few weeks ago on SmackDown.

It isn't all a silver lining for the Mexican Warrior. Rumors state that he is the man dressed as the Swagger Soaring Eagle. Let's just hope that Vickie Guerrero doesn't become wheelchair-ridden again...

Cody Rhodes to SmackDown

Easily the move of the draft. This was exactly what Cody needed. The "Dashing" gimmick may be annoying to some people, but you can't look at Rhodes and not see a rising star.

Rhodes can continue to float in the mid-card pool, gain momentum and will one day be a WWE Champion. Mark my words.

Natalya to RAW

It seemed as if we were finally going to see Natalya wrestle when she moved to RAW. Up until about two months ago, it looked like we were wrong. Now, Natalya is getting the push that she seemed to be ready for from the start.

A Divas Championship is just a matter of time for her future. What are they waiting for?

I want Natalya to run through the Divas Division before Beth Phoenix returns and we get treated to a fantastic match around WrestleMania time.

Chris Masters to SmackDown

At least moving to SmackDown stopped the whole dancing pecs thing. Chris Masters is actually a good physical wrestler. For anyone who has watched SmackDown in the last few months, you may have spotted this man in a great contest with Kane. Masters knows how to deliver a good match if you book him the right way.

Initially, Masters had his Masterlock Challenge and seemed unstoppable. Now, Masters almost never locks in the move. Masters could use some legitimacy again.

Ezekiel Jackson to RAW

This move easily floated past everyone until about a week ago, when Ezekiel Jackson was placed onto Team RAW at Bragging Rights. The last ECW Champion in history went from the extreme brand to SmackDown but was hardly pushed before injuring himself six months ago.

Big Zeke is poised to show his power on RAW. While he may just be used as more muscle, he may be the new Sheamus in 2011. Let's see.

Goldust to RAW

Goldust has been one of the more overlooked superstars in the WWE since his original stint with the company. In all, Goldust has been employed by WWE on five separate stints, four as Goldust.

The Bizarre One was once looked upon as one of the best workers in wrestling but now is used more for comic relief and to help younger superstars get better.

Recently, however, he was placed into a feud with Ted DiBiase over his Million Dollar Championship. They even had a match at Bragging Rights. Despite it being an unsanctioned title, it is a nice feeling to see the Golden One carrying around some gold once again.

Hornswoggle to SmackDown

This isn't how it was supposed to go...

This draft pick was supposed to lead to Hornswoggle being sent the way of the dodo bird and the Hardy Boys in the WWE: extinct.

Now, Teddy Long is hanging out with him, painting him blue for Bragging Rights and trying to teach him how to talk.

I can see the place that comic relief has in wrestling, but I've had way too much of my fill of this guy.

Rosa Mendes to SmackDown

God, she's hot...

You tend to forget about Rosa Mendes entirely. She has the occasional stretch backstage that gets seen in the background of a scene, and that's about it. Why is she stretching? It's not like she's going to wrestle tonight...or this month...

It's official. I want to start a petition for WWE to include scenes of Rosa Mendes doing stretches every two to three episodes of SmackDown.

Finally, a Diva that is good at what she does.

The Hart Dynasty to RAW

These men were drafted to RAW together, meaning that Natalya still would have the privilege of not needing to use the steps to get into the ring for another few months. These men won the Unified Tag Team Championships on the night of the draft but weren't members of RAW until the next day.

Their four belts soon became two big pennies with centurion helmets on them. Now, the team has lost the belts for over a month, and a breakup seems to be on the horizon.

Perhaps this will give D.H. Smith and Tyson Kidd some new personality. Maybe they can be known for themselves and not for who they come from. I mean, Tyson Kidd isn't even a Hart. He just was the last student of the dungeon.

MVP to SmackDown

This certainly looked like it would be the sleeper of the draft. The once "Highest Paid Man in SmackDown History" had become the last draft pick and way off anyone's radar.

MVP had a chance to go to back to SmackDown and reclaim some of the acclaim he had. MVP had one of the longest United States Title reigns in the championship's long history. Now, MVP would be lucky to be on TV in consecutive weeks.

It's been much of the same for MVP, although he has been placed in important matches in recent weeks. With the youth movement going on in WWE, Montel Vontavious Porter could go down as, perhaps, one of those superstars who deserved championship opportunities that just never came.