WWE Hits a Home Run With Draft
First, let me do some self-back patting. In case you missed it, I went five for six with my draft predictions yesterday. Not bad, if I do say so myself.
WWE praise may be scarce these days, but I have to give it to the powers that be over in Titanland for what may have been the biggest and best WWE drafts to date last night. Not only was every move newsworthy, but every one made a lot of sense and worked toward what should be WWE's single most important goal these days - freshening up an incredibly stale product.
I didn't even have a problem with the most controversial move of the night - Jim Ross leaving Raw.
Let's go over all the changes, in what I consider to be their order of importance.
1. Jim Ross to Smackdown/Michael Cole to Raw: This was the biggest shocker for me, as well as for most fans, I imagine. But it's not necessarily a bad thing, and in the long run could be a big shot in the arm of WWE.
My major beef with this move was Ross' reaction to the news. If he truly did not know ahead of time about the switch, then it's natural for him to be taken off guard and have some mixed feelings about leaving the show that he has been such a big part of for more than a decade. But it made Smackdown look second rate to have Michael Cole beaming about coming over to Raw, and Ross reacting like he just got news of a relative's death. Lawler, too, looked upset about losing Ross and having to work with Cole. While Raw is clearly the A-brand, the announcers should have seemed excited, not devastated, by the move. If WWE writers didn't fill the announcers in on the switch ahead of time, shame on them.
Nonetheless, I don't have a problem with the two new announce teams. For better or for worse, we all know that Vince McMahon has been looking for Ross' replacement on Raw for a long time. I'd much rather have Cole in that role than Mike Adamle or anyone else WWE would likely choose from. Cole is a comfortable, familiar voice, and has become a more than capable announcer.
Rather than exile Ross to WWE.com as they did Joey Styles, this move allows fans to continue to hear the best announcer in the business - just at a new home. I don't look at this so much as blow to Raw as I do a huge coup for Smackdown, which now has the potential to feature one of the best announce teams in history. I think real-life friends Ross and Mick Foley will be a great fit together, especially on Smackdown, which tends to feature longer matches than on Raw. As a wrestling product, it plays to the best of Ross' abilities. Plus, it will be fun to hear JR call some Undertaker matches.
2. Triple H to Smackdown: Kudos to WWE and to Triple H for pulling the trigger on this gutsy move. The Game has been featured exclusively in Raw's main event scene since the inception of the brand split six years ago, and this move was long overdue. It was also clear that a babyface Triple H and Cena could not co-exist on one brand.
It would have been easy for WWE to send Cena back to Smackdown, but they made the wise move of keeping WWE's top star on their A-brand, and giving Smackdown's roster the rub of showcasing a legit WWE icon in Triple H. A Hunter-Undertaker feud is one of WWE's few fresh WrestleMania-level main events. I imagine this means either Cena wins the WWE title this Sunday and keeps it on Raw, or Batista wins the world heavyweight title from Edge and brings it to the red brand. However they sort out the world title situation, this was a great move. What's more, it should prevent another lame DX reunion in the near future.
3. Batista to Raw: Watching the staredown between John Cena and Batista at the end of the Raw gave was a rare "mark out" moment for me. I only pray that WWE has the sense to hold off on having what I believe would be the first ever-significant match between the two until WrestleMania, or at least SummerSlam. "The Animal" was shifted to Smackdown soon after he won his first world title in 2005, so he's never really been featured as a main event attraction on WWE's A-brand. There are a lot of possibilities for fresh match-ups, including a rivalry between Batista and Rey Mysterio - one of the few feuds I was looking forward to on Smackdown that never came to fruition.
4. Jeff Hardy to Smackdown: The "Rainbow Haired Warrior" clearly has a world title run in his future, but it would have been tough for Hardy to rise to the top if he had to share space there with mega-babyfaces like Triple H, John Cena, and Shawn Michaels. Competing in Smackdown, Hardy instantly becomes one of the top babyface behind only Triple H - who I assume will turn heel over the next year - and the Undertaker, who won't be around for a little while.
5. Rey Mysterio to Raw: This one was also a bit of a surprise, because I assumed that, with its stronger Hispanic numbers, WWE would want to keep Mysterio on the Smackdown brand. But the move to Raw instantly sparks some interest in Mysterio as a big player a again - a identity that he desperately needs to hold on to after suffering so many setbacks due to injury in the last two years. A Mysterio-Michaels feud could be amazing. Pairing him with Jericho or Cena would also feel fresh, and provide for some good action.
6. C.M. Punk to Raw: It was clear that Punk was not about to waste his Money in the Bank title shot on ECW, so the only question was where the "Straight Edge Superstar" would land in the draft. On Raw, Punk has the opportunity to cash in his title shot against the likes of John Cena, Batista or Randy Orton over the next few months - all fresh match ups. Feuds with Shawn Michaels and Chris Jericho should also be a lot of fun. I'm not totally confident that Punk will be a top player on Raw anytime soon, but even as an upper midcarder, it's a significant improvement over his role in the Bermuda Triangle of WWE - ECW.
7. Mr. Kennedy to Smackdown: It's hard to believe that Kennedy was only on the Raw brand for a year, because he too was in desperate need of a change of scenery. For much the same reasons as Hardy needed a smaller pond in which to swim, Kennedy should benefit from this move, especially as he is likely about to get the biggest push of his career.
8. Umaga to Smackdown: We all saw this one coming. Umaga was about as stale as a character could get on Raw, so it was pretty much a necessary move. Without a mouthpiece or some character development, I'm skeptical about how much of a difference he could make on Smackdown, but he does instantly become one of the brand's top heels.
9. Matt Hardy to ECW: The C-brand's only pick of the night should benefit ECW, even if it doesn't do the same for Matt Hardy's career. This move was obviously less about taking care of ECW or Matt Hardy, and more about keeping Matt and Jeff on separate brands. With C.M. Punk and Kane gone, Matt instantly becomes ECW's biggest star. He's certainly capable of doing some great work there, but it is destined to be the proverbial tree falling in the woods with nobody there to hear it. The upside is that, with its new affiliation with Raw, Matt should be regularly featured on Monday nights. I guess this makes Chavo Guerrero the favorite to win the U.S. title this Sunday.
10. Kane to Raw: With the expected Raw-ECW talent exchange, I imagine the Big Red Machine will still be featured regularly on ECW, while also defending his title on Monday nights. I imagine Kane will become a fixture in Raw's midcard, which is a good fit for him in this stage of his career. It could also give the ECW title some much-needed exposure.
Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not comment on WWE latest hot-shot angle involving Mr. McMahon. I’m willing to give the angle some time to play out, but I wasn’t blown away with what I saw last night. I liked the earnestness of Triple H and Cena, as they broke character to save McMahon. But he was so clearly not pinned under the scaffolding that the whole thing looked rather camp.
If the angle was a means to get put an end to McMahon’s Million Dollar Mania and take the chairman off of TV for a while, then I’m all for it. But if the plan is to pick up where last year’s limo explosion angle left off and make McMahon the central figure of WWE’s top storyline, then I have to question that logic. What’s more, with a supposed “dream match” between Cena and Triple H just six days away, that should have been the main focal point of the final segment. They could have saved this angle for next week.
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Comments (41)
As many of you know, I was “drafted” to Smackdown Monday night in the “random lottery”. Obviously that means I will be leaving Monday Night Raw and my long time partner Jerry Lawler.
I am not happy about this surprise development.
I also contemplated calling it a career Monday night and not going to Houston to tape SD.
After speaking with my wife and thinking on this matter until 6 a.m. Tuesday morning, I have decided to do the right thing for the fans who care and the talent who care and begin my new assignment.
It has been explained to me that the WWE’s Smackdown tenure on My Network is a high priority within the corporation. Allegedly, my presence is needed in that effort.
Many are speculating about when I learned of this development…the same time those of you were watching at home. I should have detected something with the demeanor of certain individuals either thru their plastic, poker faces or the perceived smirk that I thought I might have seen on some of their faces during the day.
As far as going to Connecticut each week to do Smackdown post production, that’s not going to happen. Either Mick Foley can handle it or the WWE can install a DSL line in my home to facilitate the work.
I will miss working with the King as the wrestling biz is one in which a guy can count his legit friends on one hand…even after a 30 plus year career. King has been like a brother to me….albeit an “older brother”. ;) We will remain friends no matter that our team has been corporately imploded.
I believe that I have been strongly loyal to the WWE no matter the hands that were dealt to me over the years. In my tenure there I have earned a good living of which I am thankful. I will fulfill my commitments that I have made because unlike many in the business, my word is still my bond.
I can’t predict how long my Smackdown tenure will be, but I can promise that no matter how long or short it is that I will do my utmost best while sitting at ringside. I am not the kind of man who will “phone in” a damn thing.
My sincere thanks to all of you who have supported me on RAW over the years. I hope I was able to provide you a memory or two. Hopefully, we can create new memories now on Smackdown.
Based on my professional experiences, I look at each broadcast as potentially my last, which helps keep me motivated. So with that said we begin another chapter in my crazy life in the unpredictable world of ‘rasslin.
I still plan on attending RAW in my home market of OKC next Monday and I hear that tickets are still available. Any one have any extras?
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
Small correction:
"Lawler, too, looked upset about losing Ross and having to work with Lawler".
I think the second "Lawler" should be a "Cole".
Apart from that: A good read, as always.
Wow. I sympathize with Ross in losing a gig in which he was comfortable and got to work with one of his best friends. But I think he'll warm up to his new job before long. I can't think of any good reason for WWE brass not to have filled in JR ahead of time. Not only was it disrespectful to Ross, but it made Smackdown look bad by having all the announcers treat it like the plague.
If WWE writers didn't fill the announcers in on the switch ahead of time, shame on them.
This seems to be the case, according to JR himself:
http://www.jrsbarbq.com/2008/06/24/jr%E2%80%99s-post-draft-thoughts/
Dang. I should read the other comments before I comment myself, seeing as andy already posted this. Sorry for spamming. Feel free to remove my last comments.
JR gets the screws to him way too much for a man in his position. Yes its good for Smackdown since they need JR with the move to MyNetwork. But to not tell him ahead of time is pretty messed up on WWE's part. Just another chapter of WWE abusing Ross...sad. They knew he did not want to go to Smackdown and did it anyways. Jim Ross at his stage in his career should be able to tell WWE where he wants to call the action. Or at least be told ahead of time that they feel he is needed on Smackdown. You honestly think HHH was drafted to the "B" show without being told ahead of time? This Monday's Raw is ironically sponsored by JR's bbq joint since it will be live from Oklahoma City. Hey at least they can't beat up or do the usual abuse JR in his hometown angle.
I re posted this since it fits more in this blog.
I was very happy with Raw last night. I agree with pretty much all of the moves. Its about time (and I hope it sticks) that HHH is moved to Smackdown to start some fresh feuds with Edge and La Familia, Undertaker, Kennedy,MVP etc.
Hardy, some feel, was demoted to Smackdown because of his mistake earlier this year. I did not see it as that at all, he will do fine on Fridays. I was very happy until HHH was moved though bc Hardy will now have to compete with him on Fridays for the World title feud.
Punk on Raw...I see a Jericho IC Title feud...and I like it. Maybe an HBK match on Raw or ppv, more likely on Monday night then a big show like SummerSlam.
Batista on Raw is great too, since its been 3 years and he can possibly continue a feud with HBK and also have the much anticipated feud with John Cena.
Rumors are already on line that Jim Ross was very upset about the move to Fridays. While it sucks, get over it JR, its a business and its time to shake things up. JR/Foley sounds like a great team as does Cole/King.
Kennedy and Umaga were just floating around doing nothing on Raw. Undertaker/Umaga just has big $ feud and Kennedy/Edge can hopefully rekindle the feud that never had a chance to happen.
All in all...good moves...with the exception of Matt Hardy to ECW...but with ECW moving to Raw tapings its possible that he will eventually show up on Mondays.
Great draft. I got all my picks right, I got a big story that I was yearning for at the end of it, and it was just a damn good show.
I hope they end the ECW-SD exchange and just keep ECW seperate. People have probably realised that ECW guys won't be doing anything special on their own show and that it will be saved for Smackdown, so ending the exchange will allow them to build some long term storylines of their own.
The angle at the end was fine - and I TOLD you not to write off the Money Mania thing. I knew it could lead to something. As I said in a post futher down, I'm fully confident that they planned a big end to the draft just like they did last year, and that they planned it as soon as the giveaway was given the go ahead. This wasn't just a hot shot way to end it. It also had to be done on the 3 hour show because it's more heavily promoted and more people would have been able to see it. The giveaway has allowed them to talk about their brand in the mainstream, create some interest, as well as serve as the initial storyline arc for this thing with Vince.
Re: Batista - this also sets up an Orton-Batista feud that they started teasing at one of the recent PPVs (they all blend together).
SmackDown is the B show, and everyone knows it. Why should they have to pretend it's not.
J.R. contemplationg to quit after RAW last night?
He needs to stop acting like a little girl.
He's still working the same job for the same boss and he shouldn't be downplaying Smackdown! publicly at all by posting his unhappy feelings online... totally immature and unprofessional.
J.R. contemplationg to quit after RAW last night?
He needs to stop acting like a little girl.
He's still working the same job for the same boss and he shouldn't be downplaying Smackdown! publicly at all by posting his unhappy feelings online... totally immature and unprofessional.
J.R. contemplationg to quit after RAW last night?
He needs to stop acting like a little girl.
He's still working the same job for the same boss and he shouldn't be downplaying Smackdown! publicly at all by posting his unhappy feelings online... totally immature and unprofessional.
He has to change his travel schedules, he has to restructure his life, he is suddenly removed from the crew he worked with for years and years and even though he has been the voice of the company for just as many years, he was not told about this in advance? I think that is Ross' problem. Not his move to the B-Show, but the way it happened.
I think a brand extension with an A and a B show doesn't make sense, because the Champion on the B show would be a B Champion. And every other worker on the B show would be a B worker too...
I think all drafts were good, because RAW had too many ME and SD too many midcarders.
Whatever...."totally immature and unprofessional" is not telling your #1 announcer his professional life is changing completely until the last possible second, just to see the look on his face.
Pricks.
Didn't HHH get drafted to Smackdown at the very first draft only to be sent back to RAW within a matter of weeks?
I'll believe it when I see it.
Ah ha! No wonder they didn't tell Jim Ross ahead of time; he would've threatened to quit before the show took the air! [j/k]
My biggest complaint with RAW for the past 4 years has been how stale JR & King are. Since they had called all the action of the 1998-2000 boom, it makes it hard to believe them when they try to praise the current matches for being the "as big as any match that I can ever remember."
I hope WWE will give RAW and Smackdown! equal value, and just use ECW as a televised farm league.
Isn't interesting that the most important move of the night DIDN'T involve wrestling/wrestlers? Brilliant, Vince, just brilliant
I think it would be much more interesting if Cena and Bastita both lose on Sunday. Having RAW deal with having no World Champion while Smackdown has two could be a hot summer storyline.
JR updated his blog:
Changes in one’s life take some adjusting to especially at my stage of the game. This week I received an unexpected change in my professional address. Within hours of writing an emotional blog, I am positively moving on. I am going to do all I can to make Smackdown the best program the WWE produces. Working side by side with Mick Foley should be fun. It will be entertaining I assure you. Mick is a great friend and a man I greatly respect. The Smackdown roster is loaded with exceptional talent and the WWE wants the brand to grow and I intend to do all that I can in my role to facilitate that growth.
The abruptness of the “trade” shocked me. I most likely responded in a non professional way in the eyes of some fans. That’s their prerogative and each has the right to their opinion, As do I. Not to be cliche, but wrestling has been great to my family and me. I owe it to the business to “man up” and to kick ass on Smackdown. That’s my plan. My emotions are what they are and I will not apologize for my candor or honesty. My feathers were ruffled…poor me. I still bring bona fide passion to every broadcast and fully expect to deliver come show time. As I write this I am in the midst of some travel delays, but I will definitely be in Houston and will be looking forward to “business picking up”. I will practice what I have preached and feel that after sleeping on this major change all things happen for a reason. Life is good. My tank has been re-fueled. Let’s have some fun. For those of you that were offended by my earlier rant I apologize. For those that think “old J.R.” can’t get the job done, I suggest you sit back and watch. I wish my good pal The King and Michael Cole great success but my professional priority is to help Smackdown kick ass. In more ways than one, “the game is on”.
Boomer Sooner!
J.R.
http://www.jrsbarbq.com
One idea that popped in my head was for Smackdown to be home to both titles for a while and ignite a brand rivalry that'll pay off months down the road.
Another benefit to bringing in Batista to Raw is to augment the Jericho/Michaels rivalry going on now. He was originally mixed up in that from what happened at Backlash but that aspect has fallen by the wayside this past month.
Good for JR. It's not a lot for Ross to ask WWE to install a DSL line in his home to do voice overs. Radio stations sometimes do that for DJ's. If they can do that, then I imagine Ross will quicly warm up to his new gig and the prospect of calling longer wrestling matches - something he had been clamoring for in recent months. I'm really excited about the change, and may lay off the fast forward button on my Tivo remote while watching Smackdown in the future.
Raw ratings breakdown:
Raw did a 3.4 rating for last night's 3 hour show.
Hours 1,2 and 3: 2.78, 3.46 and 3.95
for the usual 9-11pm timeslot Raw did a 3.7
I can't remember when was the last time WWE did nearly a 4 for its final quarter hour. It sounds like the show was a big success all around.
I see Punk cashing in the Money in the bank and regaining the ECW championship, which WWE will somehow find a way to send back to ECW (along with Punk). Everyone knew Punk was going to be drafted, but who would think he would be drafted just to go right back, could be a good wwe swerve.
I see Punk cashing in the Money in the bank and regaining the ECW championship, which WWE will somehow find a way to send back to ECW (along with Punk). Everyone knew Punk was going to be drafted, but who would think he would be drafted just to go right back, could be a good wwe swerve.
I see Punk cashing in the Money in the bank and regaining the ECW championship, which WWE will somehow find a way to send back to ECW (along with Punk). Everyone knew Punk was going to be drafted, but who would think he would be drafted just to go right back, could be a good wwe swerve.
I hardly watched Smackdown, but I may do so now because of these changes. Mission accomplished by WWE.
Did y'all ever think that Smackdown should become the 'A' show?
It is the one on network television with a higher potential viewing audience.
I think that as long as Vince is still an on-air character, the "A"-show will be wherever he appears.
But with this draft, things have certainly been evened out pretty much. With Ross, HHH and Jeff Hardy on Smackdown, the gap between the two shows has pretty much been closed. I just hope that Smackdown will continue to put more focus on the matches than on the storyline segments. (Which often dominate Raw.)
I really think they're trying to balance out the shows a bit more so Smackdown and Raw are both A shows, that's the ultimate win-win for WWE, high ratings for both shows means high ratings for PPVs. Plus with a more star filled smackdown you'll get more smackdown matches on PPV(the last few have been majorly RAW)
"Plus, it will be fun to hear JR call some Undertaker matches" and think of this... we can hear from Michael Cole use the term "Vintage John Cena" for the five knuckle shuffle and "There's that move!" for the S.T.F.U.
Anyone got an idea what WWE's gonna do with the U.S. title? Matt Hardy and Chavo Jr. are both on the ECW roster and I don't see the need of a secondary title on ECW. Hopefully, the U.S. belt will return to Smackdown, where, with two hours of TV, the title could be utilized more.
Chavo will most likely stick with Smackdown if they decide to end the Smackdown/ECW merge bc he is a part of La Familia with Edge,Vicky and the Edgeheads. He really is not a part of the ECW title hunt and would not be missed if he left the land of extreme.
" Hunter-Undertaker feud is one of WWE's few fresh WrestleMania-level main events."
Kind of, but let me be a supergeek and remind you that they had a match at Wrestlemania X7. (a-thank you, Wikipedia!)
Smackdown will never be the "A" show until it goes live which isn't in the cards anytime soon. RAW is the flagship show, has been around 15 years, and will always be viewed as priority #1. We'll see how much changes a few months after the debut on Mynetwork TV. They are building up for it now but as we always see, ECW is a prime example, things will soon go back to RAW being the focal point.
Ouch ECW...losing the best feud on the show...Shelton goes one way and Kofi goes the other way...and damn Smackdown looks pretty loaded right now...interesting supplemental draft:
Drafted to ECW:
Mark Henry
Finlay
Hornswoggle
Super Crazy
Drafted to Raw:
Jamie Noble
Deuce
Chuck Palumbo
Matt Striker
Layla
Kofi Kingston
Drafted to Smackdown:
Trevor Murdoch
Big Daddy V
DH Smith
Brian Kendrick
Maria
Shelton Benjamin
Carlito
from last week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter:
“Here’s a scary stat. Every Smackdown world title match on PPV since 2006 has had either Batista, Edge or Undertaker in it. What makes that doubly troubling is that all three have been out during that period for long stretches of time with torn muscles. Even sicker, since the 2002 creation of the second world title, every Raw title match but two had either HHH, Cena or Orton in it. And in both of those two shows, HHH was in the actual main event as his matches were pushed bigger than the title match.”
“Here’s a scary stat. Every Smackdown world title match on PPV since 2006 has had either Batista, Edge or Undertaker in it. What makes that doubly troubling is that all three have been out during that period for long stretches of time with torn muscles. Even sicker, since the 2002 creation of the second world title, every Raw title match but two had either HHH, Cena or Orton in it. And in both of those two shows, HHH was in the actual main event as his matches were pushed bigger than the title match.”
Okay, here's everyone who has been in RAW title matches at PPVs since Sep. 2002 besides John Cena, Randy Orton, and HHH.
Rob Van Dam
Kane
Booker T
Shawn Michaels
Chris Jericho
Scott Steiner
Kevin Nash
Goldberg
Chris Benoit
Batista
Christian
Kurt Angle
Carlito
Chris Masters
Edge
Umaga
Great Khali
Bobby Lashley
Mick Foley
Jeff Hardy
And now everyone in SD title matches on PPV since Sep. 2002 besides Undertaker, Batista, and Edge.
Brock Lesnar
Big Show
Kurt Angle
Chris Benoit
John Cena
Hardcore Holly
Eddie Guerrero
JBL
Booker T
Mark Henry
Rey Mysterio
Randy Orton
Finlay
Bobby Lashley
Mr. Kennedy
Great Khali
Kane
Um, that's kind of not as bad as WO makes it look.
Add JBL to the RAW list as well.
I'm sure there's also a stat that from 1998 to 2001, every title match had one of Austin, Rock, HHH or Foley. Having the same main event players is nothing new, it's why they are main eventers, they make the money.