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WWE has announced that the 2021 WWE Draft will take place in October across two episodes of Friday Night SmackDown and Monday Night RAW. This year's Draft is taking place almost 12 months after the 2020 draft.
Night One of the 2021 WWE Draft will take place on the October 1st episode of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX. Night Two will then conclude the Draft on the October 4th episode of Monday Night RAW.
The WWE Draft sees the superstars of WWE assigned or reassigned to Monday Night RAW or Friday Night SmackDown as the rosters are shaken up.
Ahead of this year's Draft, let's look back at the first five picks of the 2020 WWE Draft and how the past 12 months panned out for these selections.
#5 The Hurt Business (WWE RAW)
The fifth and final pick in the first round of the 2020 WWE Draft saw The Hurt Business faction remain on Monday Night RAW. The group included then-United States Champion Bobby Lashley, MVP Cedric Alexander, and Shelton Benjamin.
The Hurt Business had quickly established themselves as a dominant force on RAW, feuding with RETRIBUTION, The Street Profits, and The New Day.
After being drafted to RAW, Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin struck gold as they captured the RAW Tag Team Championships at the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view.
This success continued as Bobby Lashley captured the first WWE Championship of his career during the March 1st, 2021 edition of Monday Night RAW.
However, Lashley and MVP kicked Benjamin and Alexander out of the faction after they dropped the RAW Tag Team Titles to The New Day.
#4 Seth Rollins (WWE SmackDown)
Former WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins was the fourth pick in the first round of the 2020 Draft, moving from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown.
After quickly taking a hiatus to attend to the birth of his first child, Seth Rollins returned to the brand in January 2021. The Messiah feuded with Cesaro, culminating in a match at WrestleMania 37 in which The Swiss Superman successfully defeated Seth Rollins.
The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion then transitioned into a feud with WWE Hall of Famer Edge. This led to a match at SummerSlam in August, which the Rated R Superstar won.
However, Rollins recently defeated Edge in a rematch during Super SmackDown at Madison Square Garden. It also appears that the feud between Edge and Rollins is yet to be over.
#3 Asuka - RAW Women's Champion (WWE RAW)
The third pick in the first round of the 2020 WWE Draft was then-RAW Women's Champion Asuka.
The Empress of Tomorrow carried the RAW women's division after Becky Lynch vacated the championship in May 2020 for her maternity leave.
In December, Asuka teamed up with Charlotte Flair to defeat Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler at the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs pay-per-view to capture the Women's Tag Team Championships.
However, the duo didn't hold the titles long as they dropped it back to Baszler and Jax at the Royal Rumble in January 2021.
Asuka then feuded with former NXT Women's Champion Rhea Ripley heading into WrestleMania. This led to The Nightmare defeating The Empress of Tomorrow on the grandest stage to capture the RAW Women's Championship.
Asuka is currently on hiatus from WWE television. She is rumored to be currently out of action with an undisclosed injury.
#2 Roman Reigns - Universal Champion (SmackDown)
WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns was the second pick in the first round of the 2020 Draft, remaining on SmackDown. He has continued to dominate Friday night.
The Tribal Chief is still the Universal Champion, a title reign that has lasted over 365 days. He has successfully defended his title against Kevin Owens, Daniel Bryan, Edge, Cesaro, and John Cena.
The Big Dog is currently scheduled to defend his Universal Title against "The Demon King" Finn Balor at Extreme Rules in an 'Extreme Rules' match.
Reigns is also scheduled to face off against Brock Lesnar at Crown Jewel in October 2021. The match will be for the Universal Championship if Reigns defeats Balor at Extreme Rules.
#1 Drew McIntyre - WWE Champion (RAW)
The first pick in Round One of the 2020 Draft was then-WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. Monday Night RAW selected him to remain on the brand.
Drew McIntyre lost the title against Randy Orton inside Hell in a Cell at the eponymous pay-per-view a few days later. However, McIntyre reclaimed the title weeks later on RAW, becoming a two-time champion.
The Scottish Warrior eventually dropped the title at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in February 2021 when The Miz successfully cashed in his Money in the Bank contract.
McIntyre's pursuit of the title led him to challenge then-WWE Champion Bobby Lashley at WrestleMania 37 Night One. However, McIntyre was unsuccessful in his pursuit of championship gold.
Drew McIntyre has had recent feuds with Jinder Mahal and Sheamus on Monday Night RAW as he moved to the mid-card of the red brand.
