Booker T revealed on the WWE Draft panel Monday night that a “blockbuster trade” was in the works between Raw and SmackDown. That trade was revealed by the one and only Triple H on the new WWE Backstage show live on FS1. It was announced that SmackDown acquired Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross for future draft pick considerations going to Raw in return. While not a traditional wrestling type of move, the trade of “players” for future draft picks is certainly not uncommon in the world of real sports, a feel WWE is certainly trying to capture within its programming.
Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross are much needed additions to the SmackDown women’s division, be it as a team or as singles wrestlers. Prior to the trade, SmackDown had just four women on the roster: Sasha Banks, Tamina, Carmella, Lacey Evans and Bayley.
Alexa Bliss heads to the show that she got her career started on. She comes back as a five-time women’s champion, a former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion and the first woman to be champion in both SmackDown and Raw not to mention, the first to win the triple crown of women’s titles. An unexpected duo, Bliss and Cross found great success as a team. However, Bliss has also done well in her career as a solo performer and was originally drafted to Raw as such.
As announced by @WWE COO @TripleH on @WWE Backstage, @AlexaBliss_WWE & @NikkiCrossWWE have been traded to @WWE Friday Night SmackDown.
In exchange #RAW will get future draft pick considerations. pic.twitter.com/DiZGFbloyy
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) October 16, 2019
Likewise, Cross could remain with her best friend and recent tag partner, or she could branch off on her own in the singles division. Cross has yet to really have that opportunity though she certainly has the talent to make a solo run work. And with SmackDown’s women’s division still on the smaller side, they will need women like Cross to shine, much as fans of hers know she is capable of doing.
Triple H mentioned that Bruce Prichard, new SmackDown executive as was announced earlier on Tuesday, was the man behind the move.
Future draft pick considerations will be heading to Raw when the time comes. This could be in a supplemental draft, or next year’s draft. What round those picks could come in remains to be seen.
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