SmackDown ‘won’ the 2021 edition of the WWE Draft

The WWE Draft has come and gone, with wrestlers moved from one brand to another. In professional leagues such as the NFL or NBA, media personalities give out hot takes about which organization “won” their league’s annual drafts. The same could be said about WWE. Looking at the two groups of wrestlers on both shows, SmackDown jumps out as the “winners” of the 2021 WWE Draft.

Both Monday Night Raw and SmackDown boast strong levels of star power. It’s hard to argue against the likes of Big E having mainstream appeal; especially seeing how he was involved with both a major NCAA college football game and Tyson Fury versus Deontay Wilder on the same day. Plus, with names like Bianca Belair, Alexa Bliss, Damian Priest, and Finn Balor on the brand, there will be plenty of reasons to watch.

But there’s something interesting about the potential within the SmackDown roster. Just like professional team that is looking to rebuild with a new roster, Friday’s show features a list of names that can become breakthrough components to WWE.

Of course, there’s Roman Reigns at the top of the ladder, but his current run has helped lead to better work from others. Jey Uso was elevated to a main event status when Reigns’s title run first kicked off, and he’s played a part in some splendid work from Kevin Owens, Edge, Rey Mysterio, Montez Ford, and others. One must wonder if he’ll continue that type of run that builds up other names now a part of SmackDown. Imagine a feud with Kofi Kingston, which would go over huge with SmackDown viewers, and the WWE Universe as a whole.

The women’s division can’t be left out of this conversation. Charlotte is one of the best performers in the industry, regardless of gender. If she’s given the opportunity to work with individuals like Shayna Baszler, Naomi, Toni Storm, or Shotzi Blackheart, fans should see some great work from everyone involved. Plus, there’s Sasha Banks who is a star and attention-grabber in everything that she does both in and out of the ring.

Plus, there must be a discussion about the wildcard that is Hit Row. Bringing up Isiah “Swerve” Scott, Top Dolla, Ashante Adonis, and B-Fab in one swoop gives SmackDown a boost in a way that Raw cannot match. Hit Row was the top act on WWE NXT and fans want to see them presented as a top act on SmackDown. The group is getting preview videos in advance to create buzz for their first appearance, which should draw a lot of attention when it happens. Hit Row versus the Bloodline? Yes please!

The WWE Draft is a troupe that hasn’t lived up to the previous versions for years. But there are still aspects of the 2021 edition to look forward to. SmackDown’s new roster features multiple talents that fans should be intrigued in seeing if WWE utilizes them in the correct fashion. Only time will tell after October 22.