{"id":123965,"date":"2024-04-12T09:17:12","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T13:17:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=123965"},"modified":"2024-04-12T09:17:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-12T13:17:12","slug":"wwe-draft-2024-predicting-the-biggest-moves-we-could-see","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/04\/12\/wwe-draft-2024-predicting-the-biggest-moves-we-could-see\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE Draft 2024: Predicting The Biggest Moves We Could See"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Monday, April 8th, the return of the WWE Draft was announced. <em><strong>Monday Night Raw<\/strong><\/em>, <em><strong>SmackDown<\/strong><\/em> and <em><strong>NXT<\/strong><\/em> will all be vying to sign the best talent in the company.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Draft can be used as a chance to create new feuds that fans had never even considered, or build a future star by selecting them earlier than expected. With that in mind, we\u2019re going to take a look at some of the biggest potential moves in this year\u2019s WWE Draft.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Judgment Day to SmackDown<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Vzl3_AEINQs?si=ZE4K4eE5ZnawHkf5\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we\u2019re working under the assumption that <em>Monday Night Raw<\/em> will get the first pick in the 2024 WWE Draft, it would be a safe bet to suggest that they\u2019d pick the Undisputed WWE Champion, <strong>Cody Rhodes<\/strong>. With that in mind, <em>SmackDown<\/em> would need a world title.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Nick Aldis<\/strong> and co. would be wise to look at drafting <strong>The Judgment Day<\/strong> to the blue brand. Whether they take the entire faction or just the World Heavyweight Champion, Friday nights will need bolstering.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps <strong>Damian Priest<\/strong> will be the sole member of the group to move, putting the stable into disarray. However, we\u2019ve seen a precedent set in previous years that factions can be drafted as one pick. Therefore, expect Aldis to try and take all five members.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the World Heavyweight Champion and the WWE Women\u2019s World Champion on <em>SmackDown<\/em>, there\u2019s going to be some re-configuring done\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Bayley to Raw<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/b2rVEkNp7DQ?si=FjQM-3rRU3bLoCuy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned, with one Women\u2019s Champion moving to <em>SmackDown<\/em>, <strong>Adam Pearce<\/strong> would need to draft <strong>Bayley<\/strong> over to the red brand. \u2018The Role Model\u2019 would be a good pick for <em>Monday Night Raw<\/em> and would certainly present a good opportunity to tell some fresh stories.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">She could mix it up with stars that she\u2019s not yet encountered on <em>SmackDown<\/em> &#8211; depending on how the draft goes, of course &#8211; and separating her from her former <strong>Damage CTRL<\/strong> stablemates would allow for an intriguing tale.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A simple pick, but relocating Bayley to <em>Monday Night Raw<\/em> would be a wise move for the flagship show.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Jey Uso to SmackDown<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pGCt84XSjs8?si=1kLumXoI8gA80B-z\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After an underwhelming match at <em><strong>WWE WrestleMania 40<\/strong><\/em>, it\u2019s fair to say that \u2018Main Event\u2019 <strong>Jey Uso<\/strong> needs a new lease of life. This past Monday, he earned himself a World Heavyweight Championship shot against Damian Priest, which will undoubtedly help him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In keeping with the previous predictions, Priest will find his way to <em>SmackDown<\/em>. With their match likely to take place on <em><strong>WWE Backlash<\/strong><\/em>, it would make sense for Jey Uso to follow in those footsteps.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the (assumed) absence of the Bloodline, Jey Uso could thrive on <em>SmackDown<\/em> and the idea of him facing off against some of the blue brand\u2019s top stars should keep the fire burning for fans of \u2018Main Event\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He could easily find himself amongst the top players on <em>SmackDown<\/em>, perhaps even squaring off against the WWE United States Champion down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Ilja Dragunov to Raw<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CA3XFJ2Mn20?si=qr_pyMJDa5Y4HEqI\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On <em>Monday Night Raw<\/em> after <em>WWE WrestleMania 40<\/em>, fans were treated by a surprise appearance from the NXT Champion (at the time of writing) <strong>Ilja Dragunov<\/strong>. His bout against <strong>Shinsuke Nakamura<\/strong> gave the audience a taste of what to expect from him.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After his victory, it was confirmed that Dragunov would be eligible for the upcoming WWE Draft. It seems likely that he may lose the NXT Championship to <strong>Trick Williams<\/strong> at <em><strong>NXT Spring Breakin\u2019<\/strong><\/em>, leading to the continued feud between Williams and Hayes down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If Dragunov does lose his belt at the NXT PLE, it would be highly likely to assume that he will make his way to <em>Monday Night Raw<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The potential to see matchups such as <strong>Gunther<\/strong> vs. Ilja Dragunov on the main roster is mouth-watering, especially with <em><strong>WWE Bash In Berlin<\/strong><\/em> scheduled in August 2024. It\u2019s time to bring \u2018Unbesiegbar\u2019 Ilja Dragunov to the red brand.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Shinsuke Nakamura to NXT<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MYsPI2_5ZbM?si=OQp1Usr3rlONCHgq\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After the WWE Draft was announced this week, it was made clear that <em>NXT<\/em> will feature in some way. <strong>Ava<\/strong> appeared on the flagship show, to explain that some superstars may find their way onto <em>NXT<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With that in mind, it seems like a good opportunity to rejuvenate some of the stars that are floundering on the main roster. We\u2019ve already seen <strong>Baron Corbin<\/strong>, <strong>Dijak<\/strong> and <strong>Finn B\u00e1lor<\/strong> pop up on Tuesday nights and revitalise their careers, so there\u2019s proof that it can work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shinsuke Nakamura is someone that is in dire need of a new direction. His recent work with Cody Rhodes was odd, and felt as though he was a square peg being forced into a round hole.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Allowing Nakamura to return to <em>NXT<\/em> would shake things up, and enable him to get involved with fresh stories. Also, as a 2-time NXT Champion, his legitimacy on the brand has been more than earned.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potential matchups against the likes of Trick Williams, <strong>Oba Femi<\/strong> and the aforementioned Dijak are incredible prospects, which should only excite fans of \u2018The King of Strong Style\u2019. If not him, expect to see a handful of stars moved over to Tuesdays in the upcoming draft.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s bound to be an interesting few weeks, regardless of which moves may happen. If there\u2019s anyone that you think needs a specific move in the WWE Draft, let us know!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, it\u2019s not like WWE to make the Draft matter after around a month, but let\u2019s see if they stick to their guns this time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>More From LWOS Pro Wrestling<\/h3>\n<p><em>Header photo \u2013 WWE \u2013\u00a0<span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Stay tuned to the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/watch.wwe.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">WWE Network<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span><a class=\"editor-rtfLink\" href=\"https:\/\/www.peacocktv.com\/watch\/home\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Peacock<\/span><\/a><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On Monday, April 8th, the return of the WWE Draft was announced. Monday Night Raw, SmackDown and NXT will all be vying to sign the best talent in the company.\u00a0 The Draft can be used as a chance to create new feuds that fans had never even considered, or build a future star by selecting [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5065,"featured_media":123968,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2192,25,26,4,5,3],"tags":[160,2514,1724,118,8611,4994,8857],"class_list":["post-123965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wrestling","category-raw","category-smackdown","category-wwe","category-nxt","category-wwe-universe","tag-bayley","tag-ilja-dragunov","tag-jey-uso","tag-shinsuke-nakamura","tag-the-judgment-day","tag-wwe-draft","tag-wwe-draft-2024"],"modified_by":"Michael Joseph Sugue, Manager","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5065"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=123965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123965\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/123968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=123965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=123965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=123965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}