The WWE Draft has been a way for Raw and Smackdown rosters to be divided up and refreshed since 2002. While the draft is not annual, it is the perfect way to reset storylines and develop brand identification. WWE has used the draft successfully as a way to reintroduce stars, debut rookies and shakeup the WWE landscape.
RELATED: 5 Things Fans Want From The WWE Draft 2023 (& 5 We Don't)
Triple H announced that the 2023 WWE draft would shake up the game. Part of the 2023 WWE draft was the announcement of a true brand split. This split would lead to a second World Heavyweight Champion being crowned. As we know now, Smackdown would use the first pick of the 2023 draft on Undisputed Universal Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns (and Solo Sikoa/Paul Heyman). While Roman Reigns going first was as predictable as any draft move in the history of the WWE Draft, the 2023 version would have some surprises for the fans as well.
10 Drafted The NXT Tag Team Champions
In one of the major surprises of the Smackdown edition of the 2023 draft was Shawn Michaels announcing that his NXT Women's Tag Team Champions were drafted to Smackdown. Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre call themselves the Unholy Union and their tag team has been hugely successful in NXT. The two former NXTUK standouts compliment each other like a tag team should. They should have an impact on the WWE Women's Tag Team Division. Most likely, the duo will be dropping the NXT tag titles before debuting on Smackdown. As a reigning champion, it was a surprise to see them drafted, but the two ladies are ready for the main roster.
9 LWO To Smackdown
The Latino World Order continues a second life in WWE after the initial 1990s WCW run. The LWO was drafted to Smackdown as the eighth overall pick. The entire faction joining Smackdown, away from their current feud with Judgment Day, who were drafted to Raw. Also surprising was Rey Mysterio being drafted with the LWO. This would seemingly end the Rey and Dominik feud as well. In one pick, Smackdown got the WWE Hall Of Famer Rey Mysterio, with Zelina Vega, Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde.
8 Return Of The OC
The Original Club (OC) returned on Smackdown, being drafted as an entire faction. The OC includes Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Michin and returning leader A.J. Styles. Styles had been out with injury for the last 4 months, and his return was a great surprise. The OC can be booked as a dominate Smackdown faction. In their first Smackdown interaction, they decimated the Viking Raiders and Valhalla. This would seemingly make the OC a face faction. The fans could get behind an OC versus the Bloodline feud throughout the summer. AJ Styles versus Roman Reigns is a good potential direction.
7 Trish Stratus Drafted
WWE Hall of Famer, Trish Stratus recently turned heel against Becky Lynch. This was after Stratus performed at WrestleMania 39. Yet, most fans didn't expect to see the iconic Stratus be drafted like a full time performer on WWE Raw. Does this mean fans can expect to see Stratus weekly on Raw? Most likely Stratus will continue her feud with Becky Lynch, but what happens after that? Can we see a modern day title run from Trish Stratus? Do we get more of Team Bestie explodes after Stratus admitted to attacking Lita? Can Stratus cement her legacy as a true GOAT of WWE?
6 Matt Riddle's Draft Spot
Matt Riddle returned after WrestleMania and has been feuding with the Bloodline since. Yet, even though he's wrestling on top of the card, his 8th overall selection in the Smackdwon edition of the 2023 draft was a little surprising. Riddle was drafted above former World Champions the All Mighty Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles, and The Miz. RIddle is a former 2 time WWE tag team champion and former United States Champion, yet his draft spot suggests WWE has larger plans for the Original Bro. We will see what WWE has planned for Riddle during his run on Raw.
5 Raw Women's Champion Bianca Belair Drafted To Smackdown
Pro Wrestling Illustrated's number one woman of 2022, being drafted to a different show comes as a surprise to fans. Belair was the third overall pick on Smackdown (behind the Bloodline & Cody Rhodes). Belair has been the face of the Raw Women's Division for over a year, after winning the title at WrestleMania 38.
RELATED: Ranking Every Pro Wrestling Illustrated No. 1 Female Wrestler Ever From Worst To First Her reign as Raw champion has already made her the longest running African American World Champion in WWE history. Switching from Raw to Smackdown for Bianca Belair was very surprising. Well until.......
4 Smackdown Women's Champion Rhea Ripley Drafted to Raw
Rhea Ripley would be the first overall draft pick of the Monday Night Raw edition of the 2023 WWE Draft. RIpley has been one of the biggest stars on WWE television in 2023, therefore her spot as number one overall isn't surprising, the show is. Ripley is the current WWE Smackdown Women's Champion. Ripley won the title from Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 39. This draft pick and the pick of Belair to Smackdown sets up an interesting situation. After the WWE 2021 Draft, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch would be in the same situation as Ripley and Belair. WWE planned a title exchange that went off script. What will happen this time?
3 Undisputed Tag Team Champions Drafted To Raw
Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens have been two of the most popular performers in all of WWE in 2023. The current Undisputed Tag Team Champions were drafted 5th overall on the Monday Night Raw edition of the WWE Draft to the Raw brand. The two Canadians are very deserving of their draft spot. Yet, the surprise being that part of their Undisputed tag titles includes the Smackdown tag team belts. Will Zayn and Owens have to give up those titles? Will they just be known as the Raw tag team champions? With a true brand split, both brands will need tag team titles, yet Zayn and Owens currently hold both sets of belts. Also, this pick essentially ends their exceptional feud with the Bloodline.
2 NXT Women's Champion Drafted
Indi Hartwell captured the NXT Women's Championship at WrestleMania weekend. Then she successfully defended the title at NXT Spring Break in a three-way match with Roxanne Perez and Tiffany Stratton. During the bout, Hartwell was legitimately injured. Rumors from the match suggest NXT officials considered putting the title on Stratton during the bout, yet Hartwell limped to ringside to finish the match and retain her title. That retention is what makes her being drafted to Raw as the biggest surprise of the WWE Draft Night one. Will Hartwell drop the title on NXT, will the title be held up? Could Hartwell defend the NXT title on Raw?
1 Austin Theory Drafted Number 2
The Austin Theory push is still going strong. Theory was the first male and second overall pick of the Monday Night Raw edition of the 2023 WWE Draft. Theory, the current United States Champion successfully defeated John Cena at WrestleMania 39.
RELATED: 10 Loudest Crowd Reactions At WWE WrestleMania 39Theory as the second pick, would be ahead of stars such as Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and the Usos. In comparison, on the Smackdown edition of the WWE Draft, Cody Rhodes went number two overall. Rhodes, of course, was in the WrestleMania main event. That main event spot seems to be destined in Austin Theory's future.
