Roman Reigns was the first pick in the Draft 2023 as SmackDown chose The Bloodline and Cody Rhodes is heading to Raw.
The got underway as the Tribal Chief and his Undisputed WWE Universal Championship will be exclusive to the blue brand along with The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman, while the American Nightmare is set to takeover Monday nights.
Other picks in the first round saw SmackDown choose the Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair, while Raw took Becky Lynch.
The second round saw Michael P.S. Hayes and Rob Van Dam presenting as SmackDown chose the Street Profits and Edge, with Raw picking Imperium and Matt Riddle.
For the third round, JBL announced that SmackDown has selected Bobby Lashley and The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson and Michin), and Teddy Long revealed Raw has picked Drew McIntyre and The Miz.
D-Generation X members Road Dogg and Shawn Michaels oversaw the final round of picks for night one. SmackDown chose Damage CTRL’s Bayley, Dakota Kai and Iyo Sky, and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, with Raw choosing Shinsuke Nakamura and NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell.
WWE Draft night 1 picks for Raw and SmackDown
- The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa and Paul Heyman) to SmackDown
- Cody Rhodes to Raw
- Raw Women’s Champion Bianca Belair to SmackDown
- Becky Lynch to Raw
- The Street Profits to SmackDown
- Imperium to Raw
- Edge to SmackDown
- Matt Riddle to Raw
- Bobby Lashley to SmackDown
- Drew McIntyre to Raw
- The O.C. to SmackDown
- The Miz to Raw
- Damage CTRL to SmackDown
- Shinsuke Nakamura to Raw
- Isla Dawn and Alba Fyre to SmackDown
- Indi Hartwell to Raw
On Monday, huge names including Brock Lesnar, Asuka, Charlotte Flair and United States Champion Austin Theory will be eligible alongside Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, The Usos and Seth Rollins.
There are also ‘select NXT superstars’ on the list, although WWE hasn’t provided details of who will be getting called up from the developmental show.
Triple H previously teased: ‘I promise you this. When it is all said and done, this year’s draft will truly change the game.’
Roman Reigns’ destination is hugely significant for the company’s weekly shows after chief content officer earlier this week.
Its design has a lot in common with the so-called Big Gold Belt, which was introduced to WWE in 2002 with Triple H being awarded the title while Randy Orton was the final champion in 2013.
The key difference is a giant WWE logo included in the middle, which keeps it consistent with the recent vision for the top titles in the company to ensure there’s no doubt where the belt has come from.
As he confirmed on Raw, the new title belt will be exclusive to whichever brand does not land Roman, the current Undisputed WWE Universal Champion, in the draft.
We now know will be Raw, which will determine its new World Heavyweight Champion at Night of Champions on May 27 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The WWE Draft continues on Monday Night Raw (May 1) at 1am on BT Sport 1.
