Tonight starts the 2024 WWE Draft on SmackDown and will conclude on Monday. All of the Superstars seem to be on edge to find out where they will end up, this includes NXT.
According to information received by Corey Brennan of Fightful Select, the following is known from talking to sources backstage.
As of Wednesday, talent that Fightful had spoken to had not been told about how the draft would work, what brand they would be going to or any other details, besides the upcoming bookings that were set in their talent relations app. WWE did not provide any insight into the method as to whether a few stars would be drafted to specific brands or if a full re-draft would take place. Talent found out when the social media post hit what day they’d be drafted to. By Friday morning, several talent did not know which brand they’d be headed to, but expected to find out that afternoon.
We did learn that the change of title designs and branding was done specifically to give the company a lot more flexibility than in the past. Women’s and tag team titles are no longer referred to as “Raw” or “Smackdown” titles or given brand specific color schemes, which we’re told in part was to avoid awkward title trades like we’ve seen in the past when champions end up on the opposite brands than their championships. Then it was reiterated that the champions were locked into the brands they’re on anyway.
The women’s tag team champions are eligible to be drafted so the champions have a “home brand,” as the titles float.
NXT names were intentionally hidden from the pools in order to create a surprise factor. There’s a “draft party” being held for fans at the WWE Performance Center.
For NXT, some are not too optimistic. In speaking to several talent and other sources within NXT, Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has learned that there is a fear that NXT may be ‘picked dry’ in the Draft, as the brand has been in years prior. There is also concern about many talent not knowing if they are being called up to the main roster, with no talent Brennan spoke with being aware of their status as of Friday morning. This has led to the concern that WWE will be calling talent up without a plan, which has been a heavy criticism of NXT callups in recent years.
As for talent being drafted to NXT from the main roster, there have also been reservations about how some talent may take the move as a demotion. One source did note their belief that there are several main roster talents who would benefit from a run on NXT. Sean Ross Sapp was told by sources on the main roster, that the NXT brand should have plenty of star power to utilize for their CW debut.
The BetOnline AG odds have Bloodline and Randy Orton predicted as the first two picks tonight.
