2009 WWE Draft

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On Raw Monday night, the main part of the 2009 draft was held with a supplemental draft held today on the WWE's website. Figured I'd give some thoughts about the moves. (In brackets is the wrestler's former band.)

Moved to Raw (Gained: 15; Lost: 13; Total: +2)
One of the goals, apparently, for the draft was to beef up Raw. I think that was accomplished, but they also sacrificed a few top guys so as to not make things too one-sided.

• MVP (Smackdown): Since the rumours indicated that Rey Mysterio was moving to Smackdown to increase the Hispanic numbers there--as they went down after he was drafted to Raw last year and Raw's Hispanic numbers didn't rise much--and Mysterio is the Intercontinental Champion (Raw's secondary singles belt), it seemed obvious that US Champion (Smackdown's secondary singles belt) MVP would be moved to Raw. Hopefully, this will also give MVP a bit of a push with a bigger audience/platform.
  
• Big Show (Smackdown): A surprising move in that it wasn't rumoured or predicted (that I saw). I've been hoping that moving Vickie from general manager of Smackdown to GM of Raw would distance her from Edge, maybe this is a move to help that by having her "lover" join her.
  
• Matt Hardy (Smackdown): I wish they'd given the Hardy feud more time, but this is obviously a means of separating the brothers. Fair enough. With MVP a face and Hardy a heel, will they, once again, get into a feud except on opposite sides?
  
• Triple H (Smackdown): A move that's been expected since Trips was drafted to Smackdown last year. Does this indicate that Edge will take the belt off Cena at Backlash--otherwise, Raw will have both belts. Although, this could be the first step in unifying the belts.
  
• The Miz (ECW): I (like most) expected Miz and Morrison to be separated, although I thought Miz would go to Smackdown and Morrison to Raw since Morrison seems like the one they're pushing more. *shrugs* I did NOT like Miz turning on Morrison. I would have preferred the two to remain close friends in story to really build up to an eventual feud over a world belt since they both look like they'll be there in a few years.
  
• Maryse (Smackdown): The Divas Champion and the Womens Champion switch brands for whatever reason. The WWE seems intent on pushing Maryse, so putting her on Raw makes sense that way.
  
• Mr. Kennedy (Smackdown): Kennedy spent most of the year injured, so he barely wrestled on Smackdown after being drafted there last year. Still unclear if he'll return soon according to interviews with him.
  
• Primo (Smackdown) and Carlito (Smackdown): Unified tag champs on the A show makes sense. Also allows for a feud with Rhodes and Dibiase to happen without worrying about cross-brand stuff.
  
• Nikki Bella (Smackdown) and Brie Bella (Smackdown): Where the Colons go, so do their ladies.
  
• Chavo (Smackdown): Someone needs to push Vickie around... which is sad, because Chavo is very good in the ring. His match with Mysterio a few weeks back was pure gold. The WWE is wasting Chavo.
  
• Hornswaggle (ECW): I have no idea what the thinking behind this is.
  
• Festus (Smackdown): Does this suggest that Jesse will be released soon? Festus is big and can work in the ring well enough, so it's odd he HASN'T been given much of a singles push yet.
  
• The Brian Kendrick (Smackdown): It looked like they were down on Kendrick with words of heat backstage over his smoking too much pot. This could be a good move.

Moved to Smackdown (Gained: 15; Lost: 18; Total: -3)

• Melina (Raw): If Maryse goes to Raw, Melina must go to Smackdown...
  
• CM Punk (Raw): A change of scenery for "Mister Money in the Bank" could help. He was a little stagnate on Raw for the last while despite some good matches with William Regal. Put him in some matches with Jericho and Edge... could work.
  
• Kane (Raw): Partly a "trade" for the Big Show, partly putting him a good position for a feud with the Undertaker if he decides to retire within the next year, I assume.
  
• Chris Jericho (Raw): The biggest name to move to Smackdown, not quite at Triple H's level of popularity and all of that, but given that Smackdown often gives more time for actual wrestling, I think Jericho will fit right in. If there's some way to turn him face, so we can get a feud between him and Edge... that would be fantastic.
  
• Rey Mysterio (Raw): As I mentioned, an effort to increase the Hispanic ratings.
  
• Alicia Fox (ECW): A means of further distancing Edge and Vickie since Alicia Fox was the wedding planner Edge cheated with before his wedding? If so, I approve this move.
  
• Cryme Tyme (Raw): The Colons are a top-tier tag-team, while Cryme Tyme is not. So, this is a move to make things "equal" while also giving Raw the better end of the deal.
  
• Mike Knox (Raw): After a lame feud with Mysterio, Knox hasn't done much on Raw. Not sure this is a good move, but who knows.
  
• Candice Michelle (Raw): Not making much of an impact on Raw, she wanted the move and, hopefully, this will lead to something interesting.
  
• Ricky Ortiz (ECW): A step up it seems. I've seen a bit of his work on ECW and he's decent. Not sure this was necessary since ECW and Smackdown travel together, allowing for a lot of crossover, but we'll see.
  
• Layla (Raw): I guess they figure her being Regal's valet hasn't worked that well. *shrugs*
  
• John Morrison (ECW): As I said, I assumed they'd move Morrison to Raw, but he should thrive well here. Strangely enough, I would love to see him get into a feud with Jimmy Wang Yang after the infamous tag match from last year between Miz/Morrison and Yang/Moore that had some fantastic trash-talking. Have Morrison help Yang move up a bit since Smackdown looks like its a bit heel heavy now. Or, maybe, have him face off against R-Truth... some good possibilities.
  
• Dolph Ziggler (Raw): A gimmick that just doesn't work. Who knows if he'll even show up on air.
  
• Charlie Haas (Raw): Same thing.

Moved to ECW (Gained: 6; Lost: 5; Total: +1)

• Valdimir Kozlov (Smackdown): Despite every attempt to make him seem like a big deal, no one gave a fuck about Kozlov--which is a shame since I kind of dig him. He's got a much more mat-oriented style, which most consider boring. ECW is wrestling-heavy and will allow him to get better.
  
• Hurricane Helms (Smackdown): Injured, but ECW puts him in a position to help train younger guys.
  
• Natalya (Smackdown): She's been appearing there for a while with Tyson Kidd and wit DH Smith moved to ECW, too, maybe the new Hart Foundation faction will finally happen.
  
• DH Smith (Raw): After a seemingly failed attempt to talk his way into Legacy behind the scenes, it's possibly back to Plan A of the new Hart Foundation.
  
• Zack Ryder (Smackdown): If you split Ryder and Hawkings up, you may just be able to tell them apart. Give them new gimmicks, maybe one of them will get something going ala Kendrick and London... granted, that only worked for Kendrick.
  
• Ezekiel Jackson (Smackdown): Splitting him from Kendrick should be good. Allow Jackson to show what he can do and dominate a bit. ECW is a good place for him to get experience and work his way up.

Overall, nothing that really bothers me. Some moves I really like, some that I'm indifferent to. Not many big surprises, but a few smaller ones. Really, a lot of interesting possibilities for the future, which is what you want to come out of the draft.

Later