Could The WWE Take A Page From The NFL?

[Rampage Bentley]

Draft time is coming up, and I don't know about you, but I think it's gotten pretty stale. Now that we have "Supershows" it seems even more pointless to just swap guys from brand to brand. I don't think it should be done away with, though, I'd just like to see it modified to something a little more like The NFL draft...

With The WWE Network in the works, it's inevitable that FCW is going to be getting it's own show... How about, instead of burying the guys coming up by treating them like crap on NXT, you draft them to the big shows and treat them like future mega-stars? Starting after Mania, even start running some vignettes on RAW and SmackDown for some of the "top picks."

As for the already established guys, you can still do trades to switch 'em up... and even run storylines for the guys whose "contracts are up" trying to decide what show they're going to go to.

You can still even use matches to determine who picks first (or at all) and shows could even win "franchise tags" to keep certain established guys from leaving...

Discuss...

 

[Azane]

With the Supershow mentality, this actually isn't a bad idea.
It'd be a great way to promote newer stars, although the major issue I see is that it could "hold talent back" until draft time yearly and this could hurt development, on the other hand, we'd see an injection of talent coming right after WM.

I actually really like this idea on just the preliminary thought, it's definitely better than Cena drafted then back that basically mocked the entire process they run now.

 

[Richard Blonoff]

That isn't a horrible idea. Its solid, it could at the very least get some future stars names out there. The only drawback I see is that they are having a lot of trouble getting the WWE Network launched and have already pushed it back to late in the year and some rumors are going around that it may not happen at all

 

[NoBloodEra]

I really like the idea. For a long time now, I have been wondering in what situations would it be good to bring up some of FCW's stockpile of talent they have. After recently going to one of their shows while I was in Tampa on holidays a couple weeks ago, I really like the way most guys carry themselves. This would be a perfect way to bring them up and have them be involved on either RAW or SD right off of the bat. They would get so much more air time, and will not have to be showcased on NXT for a year. I am completely on board with this concept/idea! GREAT POST

 

[Jdulemba1001]

As long as the FCW show is up and running, and WWE Network is in all markets this is a great idea. The only drawback I see is that if they do the draft on RAW and WWE Network is not available in all markets, in places where it isnt noone will care because they havent seen the talent perform. The people who have seen FCW will love this.

 

[IHW]

I love the idea.
It is alot better then just "randomly" drafting 8 or 9 guys on a 3 hour Raw.
They could build to the draft if they use this idea and make it bigger than what it ever has been.

 

[3:16]

I think it would be a good idea to bring in the FCW guys into the picture. That way you can also bring in some of their storylines and feuds as well. Start making bringing in new "faces" and "heels" to give both shows a major facelift. Not the NXT though cause I think that the talent on NXT is kind of lacking.

 

[Honkey_Kong]

They should do the draft like the NFL, I agree. In fact, they should also as shows for their WWE network, have a combine weekend. Then not use time from raw and smackdown for the actual draft but make a special weekend show where GMs from each show get like 20 minutes between picks. And make it live, with commentators and interviews filling the gaps.

 

[MattRhys20]

Just get rid of the Draft altogether. The brand divide doesn't exist nowadays. Apart from Cena and Y2J every Superstar turns up on both shows. Just get away with it, combine the two titles, have an Undisputed Champion and have him defend it on both shows. Like the good old days

 

[DirtyD79]

Just get rid of the Draft altogether. The brand divide doesn't exist nowadays. Apart from Cena and Y2J every Superstar turns up on both shows. Just get away with it, combine the two titles, have an Undisputed Champion and have him defend it on both shows. Like the good old days

I actually think the past few years WWE has been slowly phasing out the brand split. The tag team belts were unified and the women's championship was dropped and combined with the Divas championship plus The Supershows and pay per views feature talent from both brands.

 

[willross]

I could see them going with the regular draft if they do not completely unify the brands by the end of the summer and then a winter draft of FCW guys on WWE Network....

Very original idea, kinda lmao

 

[cyhh2002]

I think it's a wonderful idea to draft wrestlers from FCW but it probably won't happen. Even though the RAW Supershow features both RAW and SmackDown talent, the house shows are still brand-exclusive.
I'm pretty sure the WWE will have it's usual draft with interbrand matches determining eight draft picks while the online supplemental draft will probably have maybe 16 Superstars swapping brands.

 

[TWJC: The Beginning]

Not a totally bad idea.

the pros:
could make someone a star. I say could because all the vignettes, all the hype, all the stories in the world don't make you interesting if you suck.

It's something new. Might generate interest

the cons:
no one knows who most of these people are and won't give a shit. the key difference between the NFL draft and what you are proposing is that people know who the players in the draft are. College football is probably more popular than the NFL except in places like Dallas or Boston where the Cowboys and Patriots are huge. However, in the south, in california, in missouri, in michigan, in ohio (cept those crazy Chiefs fans), college football is king.


In other words, you'd have to do a hell of a job at making people care about these kids.



The WWE drafting unknown guys and trying to hype them up is more similar to the MLB draft. Most people don't know who they are and it will still take them a few years to truly develop. Every once in a while you have a stephen strasburg or bryce harper come along, but usually you don't. I do, but I'm a baseball nerd.


Basically I think that in some situations this could work, but it won't. People don't know who these guys are and no amount of hype will change it.

 

[Rampage Bentley]

Not a totally bad idea.

the pros:
could make someone a star. I say could because all the vignettes, all the hype, all the stories in the world don't make you interesting if you suck.

It's something new. Might generate interest

the cons:
no one knows who most of these people are and won't give a shit. the key difference between the NFL draft and what you are proposing is that people know who the players in the draft are. College football is probably more popular than the NFL except in places like Dallas or Boston where the Cowboys and Patriots are huge. However, in the south, in california, in missouri, in michigan, in ohio (cept those crazy Chiefs fans), college football is king.


In other words, you'd have to do a hell of a job at making people care about these kids.



The WWE drafting unknown guys and trying to hype them up is more similar to the MLB draft. Most people don't know who they are and it will still take them a few years to truly develop. Every once in a while you have a stephen strasburg or bryce harper come along, but usually you don't. I do, but I'm a baseball nerd.


Basically I think that in some situations this could work, but it won't. People don't know who these guys are and no amount of hype will change it.

I definitely see what you're saying. One of the things that would have to happen, as I said in the original post, is that WWE Network would have to take off and FCW would have to have it's own television show.

That way there would be at least some exposure on these guys, and the promos and vignettes would be more for the casuals who only watch RAW and SmackDown.