Looking at the post-draft Raw and Smackdown rosters
The WWE draft that took place Monday and Tuesday has changed the company’s landscape, and it just might be a change for the better as far as giving some talented mid-carders an opportunity to get to the next level.
With Shawn Michaels’ retirement, Triple H and The Undertaker likely going on extended hiatuses and Batista expected to leave the company next month, there is a void at the top of the card, especially on Smackdown.
Assuming WWE will be without the aforementioned four stars for a while, here’s a breakdown of the top guys on the Raw and Smackdown rosters (listed in alphabetical order):
RAW
Faces: Evan Bourne, John Cena, John Morrison, Randy Orton, R-Truth
Heels: Ted DiBiase Jr., Edge (assuming he has turned), Ezekiel Jackson (when he returns from injury), Chris Jericho, The Miz, Sheamus
Analysis: Cena and Orton obviously are the marquee babyfaces on Raw, but with Michaels and Triple H gone, Morrison appears to have the No. 3 spot sewn up (yes, WWE does have an organized pecking order). That’s a good place to be on the flagship show. Of course if Edge hasn’t really gone heel, that knocks Morrison down a notch. If Edge is a heel, it would give Raw three of the most entertaining bad guys in the business (with Jericho and Miz being the other two). I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miz in the WWE title mix before the end of the year. The surplus of top-level heels – which includes Sheamus, who is getting a major push – means that DiBiase will likely remain in a mid-card spot.
SMACKDOWN
Faces: The Big Show, Christian, Matt Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Kane, Kofi Kingston, MVP
Heels: Shad Gaspard, Drew McIntyre, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Jack Swagger, Dolph Ziggler
Analysis: For fans who are tired of seeing the same guys in the world title programs, Smackdown looks like the show for you. Raw has the four biggest active stars in the company in Cena, Orton, Edge and Jericho, which means that Smackdown is now the land of opportunity for a number of guys, beginning with world heavyweight champion Swagger. Punk, even though he doesn’t have the belt, will have a chance to be the top heel on the show. McIntyre and Ziggler are now closer to the top than they were before the draft. Gaspard and Rhodes will likely have mid-card roles. When looking at the babyface side, Mysterio appears to be the top guy, but Christian, Kingston and MVP all have a much better chance of making an impact that they did on Raw. Big Show will always be in the top mix, but he doesn’t cut it as the lead babyface. Ditto for Kane. Hardy has a loyal following, but he may be end up being the No. 7 babyface.
THE NXT FACTOR
NXT rookies who have a shot at landing a spot on Raw or Smackdown: Wade Barrett, Daniel Bryan, Justin Gabriel, David Otunga, Heath Slater, Darren Young
Comments
If only this was the WWE R-Truth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrmj3o-LMhY&feature=related
Posted by: Yogi | April 28, 2010 8:38 PM
-Raw has really loaded up the depth chart now. I imagine Monday Night War II has something to do with this.
-I don't really percieve Edge as a full-fledged heel right now; I just figured Edge was making a statement to interject himself into the WWE Championship picture.
Posted by: Matthew | April 28, 2010 10:01 PM
Question(s):
Where do you see the tag-team division going now that an actual team has the belts?
The only formal teams are SES and Croft & Barretta...
And other then the guys you mentioned, do you see any of the lower/mid card guys making a surprise impact
Posted by: eee | April 28, 2010 10:11 PM
You forgot Hornswoggle!!!!!!
Posted by: Ken Raining | April 28, 2010 10:40 PM
Questions-
Out of those that haven't yet won a World Title, who can you see winning one now?
The roster names that weren't mentioned, any of those in line for a US or IC title run?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Maybe McIntyre. Morrison is probably on the wrong show to win a world title.
Posted by: Russ | April 28, 2010 11:04 PM
i really hope christian finally gets the title, and have you seen matt hardy's tweets lately? either hes gonna get pushed like crazy or hes about to get fired
Posted by: alex | April 28, 2010 11:41 PM
ECW got the shaft again.
Posted by: Christopher | April 29, 2010 12:23 AM
I think Matt Hardy will be lucky to be the #7 babyface on SD. If I were a betting man, I'd say he'll be graciously wished well in his "future endeavors", the day after this ?season? of NXT ends. Note to other WWE "Superstars": If you are doubting your job security, try to become a Pro in the next NXT. (yes, I just wrote next NXT. Sorry.)
Posted by: Eric Corbridge | April 29, 2010 12:46 AM
Hahaha Christopher I laughed at that one haha nice nice xD
Posted by: cowboysmb3dw28 | April 29, 2010 2:44 AM
Hey Kevin,
Did you leave out the Masterpiece, Chris Masters out of the draft discussion ? Why is it that he never seems to get a push?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Because outside of a pair of dancing pecs (and that gimmick may already has run its course) he has nothing going for him, in my opinion.
Posted by: Jamie | April 29, 2010 3:17 AM
Hey Russ, answer to "who hasn't won a world title but is closes to it", I believe The Miz is at the head of that line. He's the most complete superstar of all non-world title winners. And it isn't even a close race.
Hey, is anyone else surprised Vince allowed Ted Dibiase to be called "Junior" on TV? We know how much Vince hates "junior" and taking it out of his superstar's names e.g (Rey Mysterio (jr), Chavo Guerrero (jr) and till now Ted Dibiase)
Posted by: Jason | April 29, 2010 7:44 AM
Kev, you really described Smackdown for those tired of the same faces correctly.
I will argue on two points:
1. Never count Triple H out as I think, he will still make an impact in the last 4 months of 2010 (due to its injury and film shooting). Edge should remain as a top babyface with Orton and Cena at least some more time.
2. I think that Rhodes will be a upper heel compared to Ziggler. His loss to Hornswoggle incites me even more.
Swagger surely could now keep the title more longer with the top faces gone (waiting for the 'Gong' to resonate.
Please could you inform me a bit more of Undertaker's plan after retirimg HBK? [injury, time-off,....anything please]
RESPONSE FROM KE: I believe he will be taking time off just as he did last year.
Posted by: KnightKIJ | April 29, 2010 8:54 AM
Both shows look good to me raw has the stars and im eager to see how that will play out sd has mostly midcarders waiting to burst to the mainevent level the release of shelton benjamin confuses me more when you see the sd roster
Posted by: Wyman TaylorII | April 29, 2010 9:18 AM
With Smackdown leaving the network it's on,is it possible,WWE doesn't want to really work hard to keep ratings on Friday nite at a decent level? With the Monday nite wars,this might explain a lot?
RESPONSE FROM KE: I think you are right that keeping the Raw ratings up (which has little to do with TNA, I think) take priority over SD right now due to SD being a lame duck show
Posted by: richard | April 29, 2010 9:21 AM
Matt Hardy is essentially the male Mickie James at this point. He still has a strong residual fan following but WWE's promotional machine has passed him by. Suspect chances are greater than 50/50 we won't see him in WWE this time next year.
Posted by: Everett W. | April 29, 2010 9:28 AM
Well I for one am super excited to see Morrison on Raw. I hope he gets a big push to the top.
Posted by: Cheryl | April 29, 2010 11:50 AM
I think wwe should start developing better wrestlers and hold on to them instead of letting them go over character utilization disputes i.e. jeff hardy bobby lashley batista maria mickie james rvd victoria candace michelle kurt angle possibly carlito and shelton benjamin and so on. i dont understand their logic of get rid of the top people and keep the garbage
Posted by: Ryan | April 29, 2010 2:09 PM
I really hope WWE doesn't blow this opportunity to really elevate some new guys. The ones they need to push are Kofi Kingston and John Morrison as top priorities, R-Truth and the Miz. Sheaums seems to be getting over as a bad guy now that he doesn't have the belt and a great program with Triple H. McIntyre doesn't seem to be over at all. He's just there.
I'd also love to see Evan Bourne get to a decent level, at least on par with Rey Mysterio.
Posted by: rob | April 29, 2010 9:02 PM
I don't know, I don't know. All the big names are dropping like flies. First HBK retires, then Hunter goes out, Taker is always out after WM, now Batista quitting. RAW is getting less and less interesting to me. Let's hope the infusion of Edge will do something to get the ball rolling again, because honestly I don't think that Cena and Orton cannot carry this show.
Posted by: Jeff | April 30, 2010 7:58 AM
I am sad that we lost john morrison and Edge But we did get Kofi and i really dont get why we have MVP he is WORES then the people that left to go to raw.......What would have been nice is if John Cena would have got drafted to us :))
Posted by: Cena all the way | May 1, 2010 9:02 AM
Punch him out!
Punch him out!
Big Show is the face of Smackdown
Posted by: Anonita | May 1, 2010 2:05 PM
Jericho is going down to the mid-card now
Posted by: Andy | May 2, 2010 10:44 AM