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6.25.2008

Supplemental Draft: All Shook Up...Again

At noon the WWE decided to right the wrongs, or really just fix the WWE Draft. The Draft was fine, they just forgot the lower card guys, and several of the solid mid-carders. Well this was certainly exclusive to the mid-card with very few exceptions, and it largely favored ECW and "SmackDown!"

Through the first seventeen selections of the Supplemental Draft "Raw" received six Draft picks. ECW received four and "SmackDown" took seven. While some of the picks seem to be well thought out, some seem to be more of a throwing darts at the wall.

Here's the pick by pick selection:
1-To ECW-Mark Henry
Mark Henry to ECW should have been done a while ago. Now that it is set in stone I wouldn't be surprise to see the big sweaty Texan walk away with the ECW Champion. Kane will be busy on "Raw" as will Big Show on "SmackDown" so it only makes sense that Henry gets a run, even a short one with his brands strap.

2-To "Raw"-Jamie Noble
While Jamie Noble seems as though he'd be a good addition to any roster it doesn't appear that he'll have much to do on "Raw" unless he gets into a feud with, or forms a tag team with Rey Mysterio. Hopefully I'm wrong about that, but it doesn't seem that way.

3-To "SmackDown"-Trevor Murdoch
Trevor Murdoch to "SmackDown" is a pick that I love. Trevor needs his distance from Cade, especially now with Cade about to get a push to the moon with his old mentor Shawn Michaels. Trevor can stand out on "SmackDown" where characters rule, and I think a run with the United States title isn't out of reach. If that is "SmackDown" gets that title back.

4-To "SmackDown"-Big Daddy V
Big Daddy V to "SmackDown" is pick that I don't really understand. Here's a guy that hasn't been seen on WWE TV in quite some time, so why blow a pick on him? Maybe he's lost the weight that the E wanted him to lose, but let his return be a shocker. Either way I do believe that when the weather turns Big Daddy V will be a focal point of his brand.

5-To "Raw"-Deuce
I don't know where to go with Deuce now that he's on "Raw." My guess would be not much in that character. Maybe he'll get some kind of major makeover and then a push. In his current character I don't see much outside of the lower mid-card for him.

6-To "SmackDown" DH Smith
DH Smith to "SmackDown" is a move that may or may not depending on the logic of the move, ruin the World Tag Team Championship match at NOC. Every report was that DH Smith would be the partner of Ted Dibiase, and he still may be, but I don't see tag champs on different brands. Now though that he and Nattie are on the same brand I don't see why TJ Wilson wont be called up soon.

7-To ECW-Hornswaggle
The 7th and 14th pick go hand in hand. "Father & son" Hornswaggle going 7th and Finlay going 14th to ECW almost lock in a WWE Tag Team title change this weekend at NOC. They've been setting up the match for a Finlay/Swaggle win anyway, but now with them on ECW it may be a guaran-damn-tee.

8-To ECW-Super Crazy
He is Super. He is Crazy. He is an ECW Original anyway so why did this take so damn long? You didn't have anything for him on "SmackDown" so you moved him to "Raw." You fell out of love with him on "Raw" so you jobbed him out. Why do that when you can send him to ECW where he can fit, and where he can have an actual spot and help the ECW guys get over on their way up? Perfect fit, maybe the sleeper selection of this draft.

9-To "Raw"-Chuck Palumbo
With the words sleeper and Draft in the same sentence I now feel it my duty to do my best Roger Goodell impression. With the 9th Selection of the 2008 Supplemental Draft Monday Night "Raw" selects, career mid-carder, from "SmackDown", Chuck Palumbo. Ho-hum, meh, gay, whatever, who cares he'll be working dark matches from here on out. No heat for Palumbo, from the crowd or the web-show. Sorry Chuck.

10-To "SmackDown"-Brian Kendrick
Brian Kendrick moving to "SmackDown" may be a great move for Kendrick, but unless Paul London follows Paul London may not have a job much longer. London has had heat for some time with the office and now that he has no partner, no ready angles or titles to chase he may say goodbye. Kendrick can work well with almost anyone and I look forward to seeing his new "SmackDown" run.

11-To "Raw"-Matt Striker
I don't know what Matt Striker can or will do on "Raw" but I'd like to see him resume his managerial role for almost anyone. Matt can talk and he can work, but his work has rarely had a chance to speak for itself. Either way I do firmly believe that he can be a nice addition to "Raw" and if booked correctly could become a huge asset to the brand.

12-To "SmackDown"-Maria
Selections 12 and 16 are ones that incorporated the divas. The Women's Championship as of selection 16 hasn't changed brands so there really is no reason to shuffle around Divas. With Maria on "SmackDown" I guess she now has more silly comments and interviews, and Layla can fit right in with the Diva heels on "Raw" and keep right on dancing.

13-To "SmackDown"-Shelton Benjamin
Shelton Benjamin to "SmackDown" just means that "SmackDown" is golden. Benjamin is a guy who just needs to shatter the glass above him and ascend to the next level. Benjamin sorely needs a championship and a strong, strong run and "SmackDown" may just be the place for that.

14-To ECW-Finlay
See 7

15-To "SmackDown"-Carlito
By far the coolest selection of the Draft is Carlito to "SmackDown," at least at first glance. Then when you think about it, nothing really changes for him except the scenery. Triple H is on "SmackDown" now also, but with a fresh set of faces Carlito may find his niche again and become a star again.

16-To "Raw"-Layla
See 12

17-To "Raw"-Kofi Kingston
The Fakin' Jamaican is making his way to the WWE's flagship show. I don't think it will be long now until Kofi gets a run with the WWE Intercontinental Championship. He's a rising star with a good following and the office seems to have faith in his work. It is a good move for Kofi (SOS), a good move for "Raw" and one that wasn't heavily expected.

The Supplemental Draft was much better than the Draft we saw on "Raw." There were some lemon's drafted, but there is really no real way around that. What happens now remains to be seen. The only confusing part about this though is that this was held AFTER the tapings for "SmackDown" so "SmackDown" can in no way utilize their new talents until next week.

That explanation is simple, but builds to another question. The explanation is, after Night of Champions each brand gets a reboot. The question is, why hold the Draft before the PPV? Why not directly after? It adds nothing having one title lost at the PPV so it can go to another show. That simply means John Cena or Batista will be a World Champion, and we basically know it will be one of those two guys, or the longshot of CM Punk cashing in his case and bringing one to "Raw."

Next week from Sunday through Friday lots of questions that need to be answered will be answered, hopefully. It all remains to be seen, but honestly I can say that this years Draft was nothing to shit on because it did alot for each brand and evened the score.

Last year "SmackDown" had a mass exodus and "Raw" had a huge number of superstars brought over. This year there was a big difference. "SmackDown" pulled in twelve including Jim Ross. "Raw" got ten including Michael Cole, and ECW pulled in five. Not exactly even, but considering that ECW is only an hour in length it makes sense that they'd get half of what "Raw" got.

"Raw" new superstars-Mysterio, Punk, Michael Cole, Batista, Kane, Noble, Deuce, Palumbo, Striker, Layla

"SmackDown" new blood-J Hardy, JR, Umaga, Kennedy, Trips, Murdoch, Daddy V, DH Smith, Kendrick, Maria, Shelton, Carlito

ECW new breed-Matt Hardy, Mark Henry, Hornswaggle, Super Crazy, Finlay


14 comments: on "Supplemental Draft: All Shook Up...Again"

Anonymous said...

Perhaps they'll do a rapid makeover and reintroduce Deuce as Jimmy Snuka Jr. to be Ted DiBiase Jr.'s partner. Or do I even have the right greaser here?

D.J.B. said...

Good call MG. Makes sense. I think you have the right one, but to be completely honest I don't remember.

Anonymous said...

Kickass. Glad you wrote this article the way you did. I had no idea it was going on, but this was a nice way to get it out there.

I like alot of the picks right now, and the way the the article was written it makes good points.

Best draft...maybe ever. I don't really remember the 2002 draft.

leorocker180 said...

I def agree with metal god that Duece will prob be repackaged as snuka jr. (which he is) and be dibiase's partner......but....if you stop to think about it long term.......it will make more sense for cody to turn on Holly and be Ted Jr.s partner after all since they been having tension on-screen anyway.....this will then give cody a run as a cocky heel which i think will work well for him.....then eventually once Duece grows his hair out (which he seems to be doing) he can debut as the Snuka jr. and the third member of this stabel.....which hopefully eventually will also include Joe Henning Curts son.....and who better to have them fued with in order to establish themselves as major heels....well non-other than the american dream himself Dusty Rhodes....who has always been great for sympathy and will feel betrayed by his son........you know Dusty would be working his ass off to get cody and his posse over....hopefully that is what happens

Anonymous said...

I doubt Snuka JR becomes Ted Jrs partner ... Snuka SR and Ted SR hated each other!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, just wow, the completely f'd over ECW. They better have bigger plans for Shelton to take him off the only show that he ever gets any decent air time to show his talent. I don't like anything that's happened in this draft (except Cole to RAW), WWE better have something up their sleeve.

Anonymous said...

SD actually has a good roster, so hopefully the matches deliver.

Shammy_D said...

I think it's kinda naive to that that the new draft won't effect smackdown. Remember it 'supposed' to take place on friday and you can't tell me the office didn't know who was going to be moving. There is no reason why it couldn't have been booked with the new roster.

D.J.B. said...

I agree Shammy. Read the spoilers though. They don't hype any of the supplemental guys. There is an abundance of guys all over the show, and I'm sure the names will be mentioned today or tomorrow for Friday at Titan in the Post-Production proceedings.

Anonymous said...

be honest, does the draft really matter? specially now that hunter is on smackdown

Evitman said...

I agree with Metal God and Leonel, but why stop there if we are fantasy booking. Why not:Deuce(Snuka Jr), Ted DiBiase, Jr., Joe Henning, & Cody Rhodes together. And why not Ric Flair mentoring them. Anybody know where I am going with this? If they were ever going to pull the trigger for it, now is the time.

Regarding Hunter, if they were going to put J.R. on Smackdown because the success of My Network is a major concern, they needed Hunter on Smackdown.

Anonymous said...

The thing is, Bukkake Devil, WWE isn't smart enough to go with an idea such as that. Not that that idea is automatically money in the bank, but it would be a nice touch. WWE hardly has ideas like that though. Hopefully they prove me wrong though.

Anonymous said...

Best. Draft. Ever.

Could the "E" actually be making smart moves?! GASP!

I'm legit excited about all the picks.

Anonymous said...

I'm just pissed they took Trips from Raw. Everything else seems like gold. They needed to get either Cena or Hardy over to Smackdown for all the little kiddies, guess they thought Hardy would be better for it and they're probably right.