The draft is just days away and due to the endless permutations and combinations that are possible, everyone is buzzing about the same. WWE, to their credit, has kept the buzz alive with segments promoting the draft. The idea, as always, will be to pack both the brands with enough talent to keep the momentum going and give a product which the fans could enjoy.
Ahead of the drafts, we are going to have a mock draft, where we will take a look at the best picks for both the brands. This is the second piece in the two-part mock draft series and in this list, we take a look at the best picks for SmackDown.
Shinsuke Nakamura
What SmackDown needs at this moment is exposure. For so long, SmackDown was restricted as a B-show. And now, the idea is to raise it to the level of Monday Night Raw. If WWE needs to do the same, they need to make headlines with SmackDown. Bringing in Shinsuke Nakamura for the draft and letting him perform on SmackDown would do just that.
Nakamura is a star that will get over the main roster fans in no time. The popularity that Nakamura has in Japan will benefit SmackDown in the longer run as people there will start seeing SmackDown more seriously as their biggest star is performing there.
The Club
The Club, in a short span of time, has managed become relevant stars on the roster. So far, WWE has used Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows on two levels. Firstly as the muscle for AJ Styles, and secondly as a dominant tag team in the tag team division. Due to this, it wouldn’t be a problem if WWE does split The Club from AJ Styles even though it’s not an ideal situation.
If they are split from AJ Styles, Anderson and Gallows could still be a good tag team on the roster and have a few title runs. On the other hand, they could hang out with AJ and be a dominant stable.
AJ Styles
Having AJ Styles and The Club on two different brands is an idea that WWE could execute. However, this will take away the momentum that these three men have gathered so far. AJ Styles projects a sense of authority and power when he is around Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows, and this is a perfect recipe for a main event level heel.
Provided that the general manager of SmackDown is a heel, The Club could be a stable with close ties with the Authority, making them more powerful. At the same time, AJ Styles could go on to win his first WWE Championship with all the help that he is going to get.
The Usos
The Usos are not currently enjoying the best of runs. They are well out of the limelight but that does not mean that they are irrelevant. With the brand split, WWE is likely to have two tag team divisions and two tag team championships. The Usos can make use of this situation and re-establish themselves as a top tag team on the roster.
The problem that Usos faced is the rise of New Day and Enzo and Cass, but if they are not in the same brand, this makes Usos the top baby faces. Combine this with the heel tag teams like The Club and Wyatt Family, and we have a good angle for the Samoan brothers.
American Alpha
Following up on the point made in the last slide, the tag team division on SmackDown could make use of babyface teams as long as it doesn’t have New Day or Enzo and Cass. Chad Gable and Jason Jordan are two names that have been winning over the fans for a long time in NXT. They have the skills and are charismatic at the same time.
And with the clear lack of babyface teams, the path for Gable and Jordan becomes filled with fewer obstacles. Their journey towards the top could happen in just a matter of months. If WWE wants, we could also see the dream scenario of these two joining with Kurt Angle to be Team Angle 2.0.
Wyatt Family
The Wyatt Family vs. The Club is a dream match for most of us at this point of time. Both the stables are carrying tons of momentum on their backs and a head to head collision would be epic. While Bray Wyatt is that one superstar that WWE could have on the main event scene of the brand, his family member could go on to dominate the tag team scenario.
Bray winning a singles championship is something that WWE is yet to pull the plug on and it could happen perfectly considering that SmackDown would have a main event level championship after the brand split.
Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens is arguably ‘the’ best heel performer on the main roster. No matter which brand he goes to, Owens is going to excel beyond any doubt. Sami Zayn is a recurring character in the path of Kevin Owens so far and it would be great if WWE closes this chapter at Battleground and then lets Zayn and Owens free on two different brands.
It is time for them to move forward and create something new rather than sticking together. Owens could be a main event or an upper mid card star on SmackDown, but no matter where WWE books him to be, Owens will always have the fans behind him.
Dean Ambrose
Dean Ambrose, unlike most of the other superstars that are drafted to SmackDown, is a clear cut baby face. The lunatic side of his gets a cheer not matter what and it would be best if WWE keeps him away from both Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. Make no mistake about it; Ambrose is best when he is around his Shield buddies, especially Seth Rollins. However, he needs to create something on his own and SmackDown will be the best brand for this.
Ambrose could have some good feuds away from his Shield buddies and go on to establish himself as a top babyface in the brand.
Cesaro
The lack of pure baby faces in the main roster, as we mentioned earlier, is something that Cesaro could make use of. He certainly got the WWE Universe behind him. With the brand split coming up, the main event scene of both the brands would be depleted, thus opening the door for Cesaro.
The microphone skills of Cesaro is something that always comes under the scanner when he gets pushed and if WWE manages to find a way around it, Cesaro could be a main event level champion.
As far as feuds are concerned, Cesaro could go up against the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, AJ Styles, the Wyatt Family and the guy who is next on this list.
John Cena
WWE wants to make SmackDown on par with Monday Night Raw. For that, they need a big draw on the SmackDown brand, and there isn’t a bigger draw than John Cena on the roster despite his polarizing nature. Cena is that one superstar that appeals to the mainstream audience like none other while he also manages to evoke emotions among the loyal fan base.
They could easily build up SmackDown with Cena as the centerpiece while other superstars mentioned earlier could take their career forward as well. Cena in SmackDown opens up the possibility of some good feuds like Cena vs. Shinsuke Nakamura, the continuation of Cena vs. The Club and more.
Do you have your own picks for SmackDown? Let us know in the comments section
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