WWE Draft 2012 Suggestions

WWE Draft 2012 Suggestions

and Predictions

With the WWE Draft set for Monday April 23rd 2012, hosted the second time in Detroit, Michigan, here are some suggestions, as well as a few predictions too of who could and should move.

Raw to Smackdown

Zack Ryder

Outdated on Raw, clogged by Eve, John Cena and Kane, as well as other stars, Ryder can't survive as he is already peaking on the red brand. Needs to be ferried over to remain something, even though its not much.

Alex Riley

Riley  had a chance and WWE royallly ruined it, just because. Upsetting people backstage didn't help. No other choice is feasible than to move over if he wants his career to have a chance to begin.

Michael McGuillicutty

Saddled on Superstars, wasted as a talent, Mikey needs the move to enforce his position. Then WWE need to get behind him with a solid push as new talent. US/IC title is not out of the question. Another shot at tag titles can also become a solid move.

Mason Ryan

Fell down in estimations for the Universe and its company, reinvesting over the blue brand would support his stride.

David Otunga

The draft seperates and re-creates new beginnings, supposedly. So the shock factor here would do that. Smackdown also allows Otunga to have matches whilst editted, Raw, cannot mask any inaccuracies.

Kelly Kelly

The epitome of inaccuracies. It's all been said before. Kel's only hope is to go to Smackdown and play with the barbie's while Raw maintains the Women's division. This move is the most crucial to the division itself, if any order is to be re-invoked (which it should.)

Curt Hawkins

Makes up the numbers.

Tyler Reks

Makes up the numbers.

R-Truth

Breath of fresh air will be needed to regain stride as vocal powerhouse created the exact last year on the draft 2011. Has a real chance to develop further if WWE allow it. No smoking indoors, neither.

Evan Bourne

Only move left to save his career, as well as only option to do something. Would be out of place on Raw with the rest of the crew. With WWE making a Bourne V Swagger US title feud, Marella can lose to Swagger allowing Bourne to pick it up on Smackdown. 

Jack Swagger

Is he still employed? Needs to go back to Smackdown as Raw will be overstacked. Distant memory. Will soon regain US Championship and then use it on Smackdown.

The Miz

The most neccessary and the only one with the biggest potential to re-enhance his place in main events and re-establish contendership at the top. Alongside Orton and others, Miz has the power to achieve success outside of the John Cena clogging up Raw situation.

Brodus Clay

Takes up too much TV time on Raw, and used sparringly when it has the time for a bit of entertainment. Though takes minds of the bad product when Raw plays out. In the mass hype, and if going to be a charcter who develops wrestling with his stripper gimmick, Clay will more than likely go. Prefered on Raw at this time. Naomi and Cameron would also move. Though WWE does not count them as seperate moves, which it should, to establish name value and prominence.

Eve

Does she need to move? No. Though if more than one diva moves, Eve will need to be that +1. If Kelly Kelly goes, she can play with Eve on Smackdown and both can develop further. Otherwise both will be swallowed up and drowned out, even if they are in main events.

Rey Mysterio

Does he need to move? Again, No. WWE have move Rey to Raw so many times, then once injured, need to move him to the other brand to establish some name worth. WWE could take the risk and keep him Raw for this year and hope he delivers those goods upon safe return. Either way, the result has no impact if he moves or not, however.

Dolph Ziggler

Is in a pool of convoluted mess over on Raw. Moving to Smackdown may be vital, though could also be harmful. Depends how WWE play with him. If becoming a tag team contender, or re-build towards world title, then this would be the best change over. Ziggs, however, has moved a lot. If WWE 'don't know what to do with him' could be last straw harming the golden camel's back.

Smackdown to Raw

Sin Cara

Given the current situation and the reason people move in the draft to capitalise on their lost momentum, Cara's announced move would get him back in the spotlight. Problem is he’s on Raw and this is live. Double edged sword it may be, though if Cara is to re-stamp his name, he needs the move.

Aksana

Would do well from the move as fan favourite. On fire with the public, and possible to add to the crumbling ladies, learning as she goes along, while adding interest in angles, can only enhance her potential.

Thoedore Long

Now up for public consumption, Long, without a role, drafted to Raw, under the thumb of neanderthal Jonn Laurinaitis would be the ultimate TV embarrassment to keep both with a place.

Hornswoggle

Obvious. Without Long, has no place. Humourous angles and now a voice, has more chances to make WWE's 'entertainment' futher along. Santino is also on Raw...

Christian

Needed. One last chance to be  put into the title race, with fresh options on opponents, is beneficial, even if McMahon doesn't see that.

Daniel Bryan

Choices to move or stay are made for both cases. Unless pushed strongly, Bryan, if moved, must be catapaulted to a serious contender and away from Sheamus, in order to bypass the memorable 18 second match at Wrestlemania. Making up for it instantly is vital to WWE, not for Daniel Bryan, but for WWE. With the only 'Real' wrestler left in the company, WWE need to keep its audience from slipping. Failing to understand that Bryan is the man everyone is watching, could cost the 'E everything, even if they smirk and snort their noses at the very suggestion in comment.

Cody Rhodes

If Bryan moves, Rhodes may stay on Smackdown, and vice versa. If not being pushed strongly as contender on Smackdown, then Rhodes must survive on Raw this time around. WWE crushed him previously, and along with the Big Show burial bonanza. Serious potential.

Jinder Mahal

Moving would give air to the  jobbing on Raw and may re-motivate him. Demoralised on Smackdown, Raw could give options if the company push without senselessly crushing 'for a laugh'.

Ezekiel Jackson

Bored on Smackdown. Draft to Raw and place on Superstars. delivers a massive sigh to everyone. No potential breaking through. Waste of TV time, currently.

Justin Gabriel

Removing from Smackdown is viable. High flyer on Raw, delivering a chance to add contrast and effectiveness to a live crowd is welcomed. WWE's jobbing principls would, however, destroy Gabe. However, needs this move to remain a name.

Wade Barrett

Earmarked to gain the briefcase at Money in The Bank at Wrestlemania 28, until injury, WWE see Barrett as someone who can still make it on his own. His time for a heavyweight title has dipped, though if WWE want him in it, a move could neccessitate his uprising. Only for Cena to crush it in one fell swoop. Nethertheless, Wade should move to have a comeback from injury with fresh chances. (Shouldn't everyone?)

Drew McIntyre

New gimmick, new place. Could move as a piss take to Max Waltham and all men of a certain 'disposition.' If moved, mustn't be a mockery to the basis of his character portrayal as sterotypical goof that the company enforce. As a wrestler, can't feasibly gain higher up the card. Consider giving gimmick to someone more 'affordable' and lucrative. (Even rehire Chris Masters?)

Yoshi Tatsu

Superstar's needs equal Raw and Smackdown members. Sadly, Tatsu has no booking preference. With the only Japanese charcter around WWE with intent right now, could seriously push wrestling rightly. Use him WWE. Can mould new options with fans.

Trent Barretta

Boring. Superstar's numbers. Needs to find his inner self. Lost lamb on product, requires stronger charcterisation only he can find.

Tyson Kidd

The comeback Kidd. The only chance for Ty to make his name once again. Everyone wants it. The WWE Universe need it. Severe potential for the 'little man.' Lets face it, all the 'big' bulky men have been letdowns, haven't they? The little men with the talent are the one's to resurface and claim 2012.

Natalya

The most crucial move for Raw. MUST move to join Phoenix on Raw, Allowed a maximum of one year to re-shape, crush, define and dominante the division while able to put others over and work them up with in ring training, makes the Women's division revalued. Equal to Phoenix will set the standard, shape and mould needed to encourage further fans to watch Women on screen for Wrestling, because, that is what they require, rather than the eye candy WWE thinks is an obvious business model.

Tamina

Sent to the home of the Women's division, on Raw, can blend into the mix. Should Vickie Guerrero not move, whether Dolph Ziggler does or not, Guerrero could turn and manage Snuka, or indeed fight against her. Tamina is a strong exclaimation point for opposition to Phoneix and Natalya.

Rosa Mendes

WWE feels it needs its eye candy. Then Ms.Mendes is able to provide that. This is her niche. Oh, and she's smoking hot. As manager, hot and a female can provide on all levels where needed. Occassional ladies action is not revoked, neither.

Epico

Moved with Primo, both can be seen as powerful tag champs and contenders to the division with their names as tightly compacted into the flurry of a division needing strong upkeep.

Primo

Moved with Epico, Primo has the chance to restructure many of their seeming inadequacies as nobodies, while possibly being allowed to be more 'heelistic.'

With WWE moving 8 and then 22 last year in the televised and supplemental drafts, last year meant they were valuable.

Whoever does move on this draft doesn't have to worry at all. Being a supershow, where the brand extension was shutdown and all talent can appear on both shows, the draft now becomes a pointless move that WWE are capitalizing on, but not understanding that the draft needs to support the boundries in place of Raw and Smackdown. It all becomes irrelevant.

Click this link to read about the brand extension closure - Ending the Brand Extension

Alternatively, check out last years draft here - Draft 2011

                                                                                     Supplemental Draft

                                                                                     Draft Predictions

WWE often forgets it's own procedures, as it moved Kane to Smackdown and Big Show to Raw. In December 2011 Kane returned to the Raw brand. Big Show was quietly moved over to Smackdown only 3-4 months into his Raw switch. Big Show, is a Raw superstar.

To save face WWE shouldv'e and need to strip him of the title, and make him earn it. They also need to disallow the title reign. It is not personal. It is professional. WWE have forgotten its own brand culture and wrestling principals as to why the sport has dissolved under their leadership. Regardless of a supershow, superstars cannot challenge, let alone win opposing brand titles.

© Max Waltham 14th April 2012