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The 2020 WWE Draft is all wrapped up and it lived up to the hype. With several Superstars changing brands, WWE has the opportunity for some exciting fresh feuds in the months to follow.
The two-day event saw 84 drafts which included Superstars and teams being chosen by RAW and SmackDown. RAW enjoyed three picks for every two picks of SmackDown. The roster was divided into two pools to distribute main-event wrestlers evenly on both days.
The WWE Draft is always a highly anticipated affair for multiple reasons. Not only does it freshen up WWE programming, but it also gives fans a peek into the company's mindset about a superstar.
A high pick indicates that the Superstar is viewed as a valuable asset and is slated for big things, whereas a low pick could spell trouble for a Superstar's future. Like in every draft, some superstars were drafted much higher or lower than was expected.
Speculations were rife as to what would be the pecking order following the draft. The top few picks of both nights were as expected with World titleholders being the main attraction. In the span of two days, however, some Superstars would have felt slighted. Despite being promising talents, they were featured as an afterthought and would rightly feel that they should have been picked earlier in the draft. Here is a look at a few such superstars:
#5 WWE Intercontinental Champion: Sami Zayn
Night Two - Pick #17 of 30
Sami Zayn returned from a five-month hiatus to reclaim his Intercontinental championship at last month's Clash Of Champions. Zayn overcame Jeff Hardy and AJ Styles (both of whom were drafted ahead of him) in a triple-threat ladder match to claim the gold.
What makes his pick shocking is the fact that he still holds the Intercontinental Championship. Being drafted below the likes of King Corbin and Elias tarnished the prestige of the Intercontinental Championship.
The only champion to be drafted below him was the 24/7 Champion, R-Truth. The RAW (now SmackDown) tag team champions, The Street Profits, were the last champions to be chosen before Sami Zayn. The Street Profits were picked #4 on night-two. The discrepancy is wide.
Sami Zayn is a highly-talented wrestler in the ring and his character skills are matched by few of his peers. With the WWE rosters being shuffled up, one hopes that he is not just a transitional champion and is allowed time to build himself and his championship back up.
#4 Murphy: Drafted on WWE's Talking Smack
Night One - Supplementary Draft
Murphy broke away from Seth Rollins spell and attacked The Messiah on a recent episode of RAW. The Disciple made the feud with the Mysterios even more personal when it was revealed that Aalyah Mysterio and Murphy had sparked a budding friendship. With so many intriguing variables, it finally looked like Murphy was going to don a more prominent role on WWE television.
This idea was given a blow during night one of the WWE Draft. Murphy was not even a featured pick during SmackDown. The Australian was revealed to be moving to SmackDown in the supplementary draft that took place during Talking Smack.
The feud with Seth Rollins and the Mysterios is set to continue a little while longer with all of them finding themselves drafted to SmackDown. Seth Rollins was the #4 pick overall while the Mysterios #14. This makes Murphy's draft position seem even more underwhelming.
Being featured on the main show with the commentators hyping up the impending drama between Murphy and his rivals would have greatly benefited his standing in the company. Alas, it was not to be.
#3 Aleister Black: Drafted to WWE SmackDown
Night Two - Pick #29 of 30
Earlier this year, it seemed like Aleister Black was slated for a big push in WWE. Coming out strong in multiple feuds and looking formidable, Aleister Black's fall started around the time Paul Heyman was removed from his RAW Executive Director position.
WWE rumors circulated saying that the people Paul Heyman invested in were in trouble. Aleister Black was one of these projects. The fact that he was the penultimate draft on night-two seems to confirm these rumors.
Vince McMahon does not seem to be too keen on Aleister Black. Dave Meltzer stated on the Wrestling Observer Radio:
"When Heyman got replaced, I was kind of told, I mean, not soo much the Viking Raiders as that obviously came from the injury but, Aleister Black and Andrade were like the two guys who were really going to be in trouble because Vince McMahon doesn't necessarily see a lot in them as compared to what Heyman saw in them."
Aleister Black's recent heel turn failed to reap dividends as he repeatedly lost clean to Kevin Owens on WWE programming. Hopefully, the move to SmackDown can be the start of revitalizing his career in the business.
#2 Keith Lee" Remains on WWE Raw
Night Two - Pick #13 of 30
Keith Lee's pick may not be as low as the others in this list, but it is certainly low when one takes into consideration his caliber. WWE recently had him feuding with WWE Champion Drew Mcyintre (Pick #1, Night One) and Randy Orton (Pick #3, Night Two). By those standards, Keith Lee's position in the draft appears terribly weak.
Even fellow behemoth Braun Strowman was moved to as pick #6 on Night Two. If WWE is serious about building up Keith Lee as a legitimate threat to the WWE Championship, then they missed a trick during the draft.
Drafting the Limitless Keith Lee as one of the initial picks of the draft would have substantially built his character. Instead, Keith Lee was portrayed as just another mid-carder who seems to be lost in the shuffle.
Promising NXT call ups in the past have had the rug pulled out from under them in the past. Robert Roode, Richochet, and The Revival are a few such examples. Keith Lee is a treasure and belongs in the main-event picture. Hopefully, this draft is just a minor blip in what will become a legendary career.
#1 Andrade: WWE's Free agent
Night Two - Undrafted
Of all the WWE Superstars that were left undrafted after the completion of the Draft, Andrade's name sticks out like a sore thumb. This is perfectly in-line with what Dave Meltzer had quoted on Wrestling Observer Radio.
In addition to the quote previously featured in this article, Dave Meltzer had added:
"It appeared that Zelina Vega is splitting up from Garza and Andrade, and I could see Garza kind of being forgotten, but if there is a split, then Andrade. You know, feels like he's going to be the one that just, like they are going to do Garza vs. Andrade. It's probably going to be Garza that goes over, and Andrade is the one that gets forgotten. "
Andrade was pinned by Angel Garza on Night Two of the WWE Draft before The Fiend laid him out with a Sister Abigail. This just added insult to injury as Andrade could not find any takers on either brand.
Andrade's hard-hitting in-ring prowess is a rare commodity. The former US Champion has seen his stock crash and burn in recent months, since Paul Heyman's removal.
Zelina Vega was drafted to SmackDown, but it appears that she may no longer be a manager on WWE television. Either way, Andrade, unfortunately, seems to be the unluckiest Superstar in WWE's 2020 Draft.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
