April 15, 2009
SLAM! Wrestling's coverage of the WWE Supplemental Draft
By JON WALDMAN -- SLAM! Wrestling
Welcome to SLAM! Wrestling's coverage of the WWE Supplemental Draft.
Pick #1 - to Raw - Mr. Kennedy
Jon's Analysis: Interesting move, given the speculation that Kennedy's career is in jeopardy due to injuries. If he returns, he'll return big, but it's a crowded babyface scene on Monday nights. Look for a potential heel turn.
Pick #2 - to Smackdown - Shad Gaspard
Jon's Analysis: Looks like Cryme Tyme is headed to SD!, probably with all the other tag teams. Splitting Shad and JTG, if that's the direction, would be a huge mistake to say the least.
Pick #3 - to Smackdown - Alicia Fox
Jon's Analysis: Is DJ Gabriel long for this world without his dance partner? Interesting move here. Alicia has been working on her ring game so we might get some good results from this deal.
Pick #4 - to Raw - Primo Colon
Jon's Analysis: Well, scrap what I said before about the tag teams all being on SD! I guess the thought here is to have all teams "officially" positioned on both major shows so it doesn't look odd when they flip back and forth.
Pick #5 - to Smackdown - Mike Knox
Jon's Analysis: Knox fills the hole left by Vladimir Kozlov's departure to ECW (who by the way have no selections so far. I'm just saying). Knox could do well there. Look for Knox vs. 'Taker somewhere down the line.
Pick #6 - to ECW - Ezekiel Jackson
Jon's Analysis: In the WWE Chat room, Howard Finkel stated that, "Ezekiel Jackson needed to break away from The Brian Kendrick in my view, and I will go on record to say that ECW is a great place for him to go." Fink, I couldn't agree more.
Pick #7 - to Raw - Nikki Bella
Jon's Analysis: Are they separating the twins? Given the little reaction Los Bellas have received, it's not a bad idea.
Pick #8 - to Smackdown - Candice Michelle
Jon's Analysis: Another good move by WWE. Candice really ran her course on Raw. Hopefully she can finally return from her injuries and get better. SD! all the sudden has a group of very competent female wrestlers also.
Pick #9 - to ECW - Zack Ryder
Jon's Analysis: Let's assume this is another move to establish that the teams can be active on any show. Ryder solo doesn't work.
Pick #10 - to Raw - Chavo Guerrero
Jon's Analysis: Not exactly a shock. Chavito was destined to be on the same brand as Vickie. He won't be a top ranked heel by any stretch of the imagination, but he's a decent mid-level foil.
Pick #11 - to Smackdown - Ricky Ortiz
Jon's Analysis: Way, way too soon for Ortiz to move. He needs more seasoning on Tuesday nights, big time.
Pick #12 - to Smackdown - Layla
Jon's Analysis: This could be interesting. Layla is another woman with potential in the ring. Put her in a program with Maria and the two could grow together.
Pick #13 - to Raw - Hornswoggle
Jon's Analysis: If this means Finlay will be taken seriously again, then good move, but in all honesty, Hornswoggle has run his course and it's time to put the character out to pasture.
Pick #14 - to ECW - DH Smith
Jon's Analysis: This could be the pick of the Supplemental Draft. Let the Hart Foundation v.2.0 speculation begin again.
Pick #15 - to Smackdown - John Morrison
Jon's Analysis: Great move! It will be interesting to see if Morrison gets a heel or face reaction after what happened on Raw. Either way, expect him to wear the IC title around his waist soon.
Pick #16 - to Raw - Carlito
Jon's Analysis: O...kay... so maybe they are breaking up some teams. This is getting to be a very interesting draft.
Pick #17 - to ECW - Natalya
Jon's Analysis: Call this a roster correction. This is just to officially move Natalya to the same brand as Tyson Kidd.
Pick #18 - to Raw - Festus
Jon's Analysis: Now I'm really confused. One minute it looks like the teams are split to help establish that they can be on both brands, the next one is re-united. Now another is broken up? Festus really adds nothing to Raw unless they can retouch him and make him into a heel.
Pick #19 - to Smackdown - JTG
Jon's Analysis: And another team is now reunited. This is getting nuts.
Pick #20 - to Smackdown - Dolph Ziggler
Jon's Analysis: This one was spoiled already, but it's a decent pick. Now we just need a name change.
Pick #21 - to Raw - Brian Kendrick
Jon's Analysis: If Raw had a face Cruiserweight for Kendrick to work with, that would be one thing. As is, Kendrick becomes jobber fodder for the likes of Batista.
Pick #22 - to Smackdown - Charlie Haas
Jon's Analysis: This could be good, really good. SD! has longer matches so Haas will be able to showcase his skills better, plus there's the opportunity for a World's Greatest Tag Team reunion.
Pick #23 - to ECW - Hurricane Helms
Jon's Analysis: Well, I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. This is a fantastic move. Helms will be able to help the up-and-comers get ready for the big time while also being a spotlighted babyface in his own right.
One more pick to go...
Pick #24 - to Raw - Brie Bella
Jon's Analysis: Well, that's anticlimactic. The Bellas were better off separated; now we go back to Twin City for no real reason.
The Wrap-up
Jon: Well, the tag team division is the biggest loser here. Just when we thought WWE was heading in the right direction by merging the Raw and Smackdown belts, we find out the real reason - because they were slicing the ranks up. Hawkins and Ryder, Miz and Morrison, Jesse and Festus, Kendrick and Ezikiel... all gone. Los Colons, Cryme Tyme and Priceless are all that are left. That is not a division, even if you cross the brands.
Other than that, the biggest move today for the "right now" was Morrison's move to Smackdown. ECW lost their premier player, no questions asked. They did, however, gain a great future prospect in DH Smith, so long as he actually gets a chance to make the roster. Make no mistake though, this is likely Smith's last chance to get on WWE TV. Other than that, today wasn't quite as eventful as we may have hoped, but there were some other decent roster moves, including Hurricane Helms going to ECW and Ken Kennedy heading over to Raw.
Time will tell who the true winners and losers are, but all brands, regardless of their losses (particularly ECW's), got some new blood that on a week-to-week basis will help keep things interesting.
Thanks for staying with us for the Draft. Check back later tonight for wrap up thoughts from Matt Bishop.