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The 2024 WWE Draft is shaping up to be one of the most important drafts in the company's history. It is the first such event completely under Triple H's new era. The Game has already introduced several new title belts for champions on both brands.
SmackDown's edition of the WWE Draft will set the stage for some of the bigger changes fans will see over the next four days.
The rules have already been announced ahead of SmackDown, but there have been some confusing decisions made around those announcements. The following four mistakes were made already with the WWE Draft.
#4. Scheduling conflicts with the next event
There have often been issues when picking the date for the annual WWE Draft. Over the last few years, the draft has taken place in the middle of the build for premium live events and the awkward timing has made the feuds awkward and decreased the likelihood of title swaps at that show.
This year's event was planned to piggyback on the second night of the NFL Draft. Due to that decision, the current feuds for Backlash are also in a strange spot. There was roughly a month between WrestleMania 40 and Backlash but in the past, WWE has waited six weeks between events.
March hasn't had a big show over the last few years, leaving the Elimination Chamber as the last notable event before WrestleMania. WWE could have planned to have the Draft after Backlash or scheduled it for a different weekend.
Those decisions were made many months ago but could have been planned better to avoid strange booking decisions.
#3. The use of GMs and WWE Legends
One nostalgic thing that is usually done during the WWE Draft is the use of WWE Legends. It gives the fans a quick pop as the former star announces a current draft pick.
RVD, Teddy Long, and JBL all did this in past years. It was already announced that Legends will again factor into this year's proceedings.
Instead of simply announcing the participation of stars from the past, that honor should have been given to Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis.
They are the GMs of RAW and SmackDown respectively, so it should have fallen to them to get the pops from the live crowd. They can do more than announce names and break up fights.
#2. Surprises and omissions from WWE Draft pools
Just like mentioning that WWE Legends will be a part of the draft, the rules release also included some strange additions and omissions. One huge revelation with the draft pools is Braun Strowman.
The Monster of All Monsters has been out of action for nearly a year due to a serious neck injury. When the guidelines were released earlier this week, Strowman was included in the draft pool for RAW.
Having him as a surprise would have been a huge moment, but maybe he was announced because another big surprise is in store. The unknown picks from NXT will be interesting but not on the level of big returns like Strowman.
Seth Rollins is injured but included in the pool for SmackDown. Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair are also injured but not included. It was nice to see The Visionary included but inconsistent with other injured performers omitted.
#1. Champions are protected
The biggest changes coming out of annual drafts are often when Champions changed brands. In the 2024 WWE Draft, current titleholders are protected, meaning they aren't eligible to be selected.
One year, Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch switched brands. Last year, it was Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair who changed homes. In the past, when major Champs switched brands, the reactions were among the biggest of the entire event.
Part of the reason for renaming the titles was to take away the brand names, making title exchange segments less awkward. Had Champions been included, then they could just join their new brands without the renaming of titles. Being protected, however, takes some unpredictability away from the fans.
