WWE Draft 2016: Rebuilding ‘Raw’ and ‘SmackDown’ With These Picks
SmackDown: #4, Charlotte
There’s virtually no continuity to the women’s ranks from month to month, but Charlotte sure has the makings of a constant force, regardless of her pedigree (which is all the more reason to hope her antic father recedes back into the shadows sooner than later). It’s impossible to picture the next five years of female competition without Charlotte setting the pace.
Raw: #5, Sasha Banks
You can call Charlotte the future of the women’s division if you want, but I’m investing in Banks. And based on the constant “We want Sasha” chants you hear on TV, the WWE universe is doing the same. From her string of memorable matches in NXT to her current undefeated run on the main roster, it’s only a matter of time before she’s holding the Women’s Championship – and from there, the sky is the limit. She’s already got the chops, the attitude and the character, so you’d better get ready to bow down to the Boss.
SmackDown: #5, Finn Bálor
He’s keeping us on our toes about an inevitable main-roster callup, but Bálor is no Breeze (sorry, Tyler). His arrival will have an immediate impact on both brands’ moving parts, but moreover, his entrance theatrics and broad appeal (pun partially intended) will ensure him plenty of screen time to keep eyes glued to the tube and merch flying off the shelves.
Raw: #6, Becky Lynch
She’s been a revelation on the main roster, and her feud with Charlotte over the Women’s Championship has arguably been the most cohesive and compelling in all of WWE. Sure, she’s come up short so far, but that’s what good babyfaces do, because it only makes their inevitable triumph that much sweeter. Plus, the prospects of her working matches with Sasha Banks on Raw for the next year are enough to make any wrestling fan giddy.
SmackDown: #6, Brock Lesnar
I don’t care if he’s only contracted to appear on my show twice a year. Or if his stock has suddenly sagged after a lackluster WrestleMania. For that matter, I’m indifferent to how the recent personnel shakeup shifts Lesnar’s positioning in the main-event picture. He is the Beast, he’s the most compelling crossover athlete in company history and he comes with a sidekick who happens to be the best talker in the biz and one of wrestling’s most beloved rebel businessmen. I couldn’t live with myself watching him stalk his latest prey on a rival broadcast.
Raw: #7, Cesaro
The Swiss Superman has overcome bad booking and even worse luck – most recently, a shoulder injury that had him on the shelf from November until earlier this month – yet the past year has proven he’s a top commodity, the rare wrestler who relies less on a gimmick and more on his sterling in-ring work to get himself over with fans. Maybe he wins the Intercontinental Championship this Sunday at Payback, but even if he comes up short, every roster needs guys capable of working overtime, and Cesaro is certainly up to the task. He can keep the breakaway suits, too. Those are awesome.
SmackDown: #7, Paige
You just get the sense that, even when she’s not battling for a belt, Paige is always going to be on the precipice of her next shot. She’s still so young, and has so much room to grow creatively as a vixen or villain. Having her on your squad is akin to signing an elite sixth (wo)man who can effortlessly fit into the starting configuration when her number’s called.