WWE Draft 2011: Potential Picks; Champions on the Move?

WWE is just one day away from their annual draft.  While the WWE drafts of the past have usually had a large build-up, this year’s draft seems to have popped up out of nowhere.  While this is likely due to Edge’s abrupt retirement which has left SmackDown without a big face for the main event scene, I still can’t help but feel the same way I did in the days leading up to WrestleMania, unexcited.

However, I do think that the draft has the potential to shake things up in a new and exciting way for WWE.  There has been talk about  the several moves that WWE is very likely to do as well as some ideas on what WWE should do.  I hope that WWE combines the two and uses this draft to move the superstars around who truly need to be moved.

This will be the first draft in years to be aired on a regular two-hour episode of Raw as opposed to a three-hour special.  If WWE sticks with its regular format, with each match featuring a superstar from Raw and SmackDown and the winning brand getting a pick, I don’t see how they’ll be able to have more than five or six picks, unless WWE does what it did last year and have a battle royal or some other match worth more than one pick.  But we can definitely count on the Supplemental Draft to shake things up just as well.

WWE has several things they need to accomplish with this draft.  First, they need to fill the hole on SmackDown that was left by Edge.  Second, they need to freshen up feuds by making superstar pairings that we have yet to see.  Finally, they need to move superstars around to make them more relevant and give them the recognition that they are not currently getting.

Here are the superstars and divas that I think would make the biggest impact on a new night, as well as my predictions for how the picks will go down.

Pick No. 1: Wade Barrett to Raw

It should come as no surprise to anyone that one or more members of The Corre will be moving from SmackDown to Raw to complete the break-up that has been teased for weeks.  I was never really a fan of The Corre.  Maybe it was because they were nothing more than an excuse to keep the older members of Nexus together so Undertaker could avenge being buried alive, which never panned out.  Maybe it was the lack of just about everything else: charisma, relevant storylines, a theme song that lasts for more than a month, whatever, The Corre just sucked from the start.

With Barrett back on Raw, he’ll be able to climb back up into main-event territory.  John Cena’s got some time to kill before he has to worry about The Rock again; I think a feud with Wade Barrett without a group of other superstars would be a nice change of pace.

Pick No. 2: Sheamus to SmackDown

Moving Sheamus to Raw will accomplish several things.  The main thing that this move will do is even out the secondary titles on Raw and SmackDown, with Wade Barrett taking the Intercontinental title to Raw. 

This move would also give Sheamus a fresh start on a brand new show.  Sheamus hasn’t faced many of the superstars on SmackDown, so we would have the chance to see a Sheamus/Kofi or Sheamus/Christian feud.

The biggest aspect of this move would be to solidify Sheamus as one of the top heels on SmackDown.  Right now, Smackdown has Alberto Del Rio as the top bad guy, but who is second in line?  I would say that it is Cody Rhodes right now, but can we see him in the main event?  Probably not.  I might even see him getting moved over to Raw.

Sheamus would add depth to the Heel side of the roster and could help keep the main events on SmackDown different from month to month.

Pick No. 3: Layla to Raw

We’ve all been waiting for LayCool to break up for a long time now.  WWE has been dropping subtle hints for a few months, but have really pushed the break-up down our throats in the past few weeks.

Frankly, I think that LayCool is long overdue for a break-up.  They had a good thing going for a while, but things started to go downhill after they were knocked out of the Diva’s title picture. 

This break-up should make things better for both Layla and Michelle McCool.  We’ve already seen them as the Diva’s champion(s) while together, but now that that particular angle has been played out, they must go out on their own if they want to be a part of the title picture again.

In the end, I think it will work out for both Layla and McCool.  And I’m sure someday down the road we will see a Layla vs. McCool match, possibly even for the Diva’s championship.

Pick No. 4: Jack Swagger to Raw

Let’s face it, Swagger has been only getting face time on Raw as of late anyway.  Since March, when he was announced as Michael Cole’s trainer, Swagger has become a frequent member of Raw.  With his current match at Extreme Rules in the works, he’s been getting even more time on WWE’s flagship show.  Just move him over already.

With the move back to Raw, and with possibly one good feud to kick it off, I could easily see Jack Swagger back in the main event or even the title picture.  I think that Swagger would be able to get more heat as a heel against the likes of John Morrison or John Cena than he would on SmackDown.

Swagger could even use his transition to Raw as an opportunity for a face turn.  At Extreme Rules and the weeks following, if Swagger were to turn on Michael Cole, he would get the fans' support and could become a real all-American.

I likely see a good feud with John Morrison in the future, that helps both superstars get that little push into the spotlight that they need so bad.

Pick No. 5: R-Truth to SmackDown

By this point in time, we all know that R-Truth has turned heel.  It happened at last week’s Raw where he attacked John Morrison after losing his spot in the WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules.  Regardless of the whole “smoking” situation, I think that R-Truth could be a very effective heel in WWE, if used correctly.

In order to be used correctly, I think he needs a change of scenery.  By sending him over to SmackDown, he will be able to start from scratch as a bad guy.  WWE will have their chance to put him in a feud with somebody new, which will allow R-Truth the chance to show us how good he can be as a heel.  We saw it in TNA with Ron Killings; now hopefully we see the same on SmackDown.

R-Truth will probably start off SmackDown with a bang, attacking one of the more prominent faces and solidifying himself as a bad guy.  From there, he’ll probably end up the same way he is on Raw, flirting with the main event, but hopefully this heel turn is what he needs to finally make it to the top.

Pick No. 6: Randy Orton to SmackDown

I think that everyone is predicting that this will be the biggest move of the draft.  With Edge gone, who else could fill the spot of top babyface on SmackDown?  Rey Mysterio, Big Show, Christian; they are all decent candidates, but none are as big of a superstar as Randy Orton.

Randy has worked well as a face on Raw, but he hasn’t been able to get the crowd completely behind him.  Part of this might be because the older fans only like him as a heel.  However, I’m sure that having John Cena, the number one face of the company, on the same show is not helping either.  By moving over to SmackDown, Orton can become the top dog, getting the entire fan base behind him.

If he jumps to SmackDown, I’m sure he’ll become the No. 1 contender in no time, and remain in the title picture for months and months.

Pick No. 7: the Miz to SmackDown

Am I crazy to be predicting so many champions to change brands?  Well, maybe.  But we’re not even sure that The Miz will be champion after next week.  Sure, it’s likely, but WWE will have a solution if they plan on keeping The Miz as WWE Champion.

The Miz has truly made a name for himself on Raw.  It was actually the WWE Draft that sent him to Raw and allowed him to grow into the WWE Champion he has become.  By moving to SmackDown The Miz will have all the tools he needs to become one of the biggest superstars of this era.

SmackDown would also be the perfect place for The Miz to finally turn face.  On Raw it would be way too difficult for The Miz to get over with fans, especially with John Cena on center stage.  There are a ton of fans behind him already, and if Randy Orton begins to fade back into the heel character that he plays so well, The Miz would have a perfect opportunity to get the entire WWE Universe behind him.

On SmackDown he can feud with Randy Orton, giving the SmackDown audience something that they have yet to see.  From there, I’m sure the evolution of The Miz will take steps we haven’t even thought of yet.

Pick No. 8: Alberto Del Rio to Raw

If The Miz goes to SmackDown and takes the WWE Title with him, I see no reason why WWE wont move Alberto Del Rio over to Raw with the World Heavyweight Championship.  Sure, it could be Christian who walks out of Extreme Rules as the champ, but I just don’t see that happening.

With Del Rio on Raw, he’ll be able to reach a much wider audience.  He is already the most hated superstar on SmackDown and with new opponents, especially John Cena, he could become the biggest heel in the entire company.

With Del Rio on Raw, it can also take some of the focus away from John Cena constantly being put in the title picture.  I’m sure there will be a long feud between Del Rio and Cena, but come WrestleMania 28 when Cena has to turn his focus toward The Rock, Del Rio can easily fill one of the spots for the World Heavyweight Championship.

I see Del Rio making an instant impact on Raw, stealing the spotlight from John Cena.  If Cena is going to hold a title between now and next year’s WrestleMania, he’ll win it from Del Rio and start a long feud that will culminate at SummerSlam, or maybe even Survivor Series.

Supplemental Draft Picks

To SmackDown:

• Daniel Bryan
• Evan Bourne
• Primo
• Ted DiBiase
• Tyson Kidd
• Zack Ryder
• Eve Torres
• Alicia Fox

To Raw:

• Brodus Clay
• Chris Masters
• Curt Hawkins
• Drew McIntyre
• Ezekiel Jackson
• Tyler Reks
• Beth Pheonix