With the Retro Review: The WWF Original Draft, there is no time than now to discuss many of the ideas we brought across to create a better, stronger WWE roster through re-introducing the draft.
I could write 10,000 words on this but I’m going to do my best not to. I’m going to cover five important points:
- Each brand must have an identity.
- There must be rules.
- NXT must have a purpose.
- Inter-brand matches must become rare.
- WWE.com connects everything
Each Brand Must Have an Identity
This means more than red and blue. Raw needs to feel completely different from Smackdown and vice versa. Raw must have its own writers, its own announcers, its own belts, its own filming style, its own WRESTLING STYLE, etc. When you watch Raw and then watch Smackdown, you shouldn’t say, “I just watched four hours of WWE television”. You need to say, “I just watched two different wrestling products.”
There Must be Rules
The first rule would be that each talent has a contract to their brand based on weeks. For example, Randy Orton has a 52 week contract with Smackdown. This means when the 52 weeks are up he is a free agent. He cannot wrestle for Raw or Smackdown until he signs a new contract and he can choose to sign wherever he wants.
Trades must be implemented again, this way there’s a reason for Big Show to show up on Raw. He just got traded for the Uso’s (for example).
NXT Must Have a Purpose
If Raw and Smackdown are two major league franchises battling each other for wrestling supremacy, NXT is the minor league. NXT is where free agents go to get noticed. To keep up with the competitive spirit of NXT, every “Season” is where in the end of the season, the top six wrestlers will get signed to contracts by Raw and Smackdown. Each brand gets three draft picks (these draft picks can also be traded). This gives a reason for there to be an NXT.
Inter-Brand Matches Must Become Rare
This includes Superstars. I know the original purpose was to see Raw vs. Smackdown vs. ECW (I think?) but it needs to stick to Raw guys fighting Raw guys, Smackdown fighting Smackdown and the only crossover is free agents on the show. It needs to mean something, like a Survivor Series match or Bragging Rights or Wrestlemania to see two wrestlers from opposite brands face each other.
WWE.com Connects Everything
Every wrestler’s contract must be placed on WWE.com There needs to be a five minute rundown show by Scott Stanford or Josh Matthews EVERY DAY to talk about news, rumours and interviews for what could happen. Who is Raw scouting on NXT? Will CM Punk leave Raw to goto Smackdown? Is it true Johnny Ace is trying to trade Jack Swagger? They need to bring the sports drama to the product.
