2008 WWE Draft
2008 WWE draft | |
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2009 → |
The 2008 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) draft, the sixth
Background
The
On June 24, WWE announced on its website that a supplemental draft would take place on June 25 at noon ET.[5] The supplemental draft, like the previous year, was conducted randomly, with each brand receiving random draft selections.[9] Wrestlers affected by the televised draft were exempt from the supplemental draft.[10] Because professional wrestling is scripted, outcomes are usually predetermined. Unlike years past, during this draft, many employees in WWE were not told whether they were scripted to change brands.[11]
Aside from the Million Dollar Mania contest, the draft was announced to help increase the
Selections
There were 28 selections conducted in the draft overall. 11 selections were conducted on television, while 17 selections occurred during the supplemental draft. The Raw brand earned five televised selections through their representatives winning five different matches, while they received six supplemental selections. In total, the Raw brand drafted 11 representatives: five on television and six through the supplemental draft. The SmackDown brand earned five television selections through their representatives winning five different matches, while they received seven supplemental selections. In total, the SmackDown brand drafted 12 representatives: five on television and seven through the supplemental draft. The ECW brand earned one televised selection through their representative winning one match, while they received four supplemental selections. In total, the ECW brand drafted five representatives: one on television and four through the supplemental draft. The 28 included two commentators, two Divas, and 24 male wrestlers (two inactive wrestlers and 22 active wrestlers).
Televised draft
Matches
During the program, representatives from the Raw, ECW and SmackDown brands were involved in matches that determined which brand received a draft pick. Overall, there were 9 matches, in which Raw won four, ECW won one, SmackDown won three and one resulted in no winner.
No. | Results | Stipulations |
---|---|---|
1 | disqualification[b] | Tag team match for 1 announcer-only draft pick |
6 | John Cena (Raw) defeated Edge (SmackDown) | Singles match for 1 draft pick |
7 | Montel Vontavious Porter (SmackDown) defeated Tommy Dreamer (ECW) | Singles match for 1 draft pick |
8 | John "Bradshaw" Layfield (Raw) defeated Kofi Kingston (ECW) | Singles match for 1 draft pick |
9 | Edge (SmackDown) won by lastly eliminating John Cena (Raw)[c] | Tri-branded 15-man Battle royal for 2 draft picks |
Selections
Pick No. | Brand (to) | Superstar (Real name)[d] |
Role | Brand (from) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Raw | Rey Mysterio (Oscar Gutierrez) |
Male wrestler | SmackDown | |
2 | SmackDown | Jeff Hardy | Male wrestler | Raw | |
3 | Raw | CM Punk (Phil Brooks) |
Male wrestler | ECW | Money in the Bank contract holder
|
4 | ECW | Matt Hardy | Male wrestler | SmackDown | WWE United States Champion Re-signed with the SmackDown brand in 2009, following his kayfabe release from ECW. |
5 | SmackDown[b] | Jim Ross | Commentator | Raw | |
6 | Raw[b] | Michael Cole (Michael Coulthard) |
Commentator | SmackDown | |
7 | Raw | Batista (David Bautista) |
Male wrestler | SmackDown | |
8 | SmackDown | Umaga (Eddie Fatu) |
Male wrestler | Raw | |
9 | Raw | Kane (Glenn Jacobs) |
Male wrestler | ECW | ECW Champion
|
10 | SmackDown | Mr. Kennedy (Ken Anderson) |
Male wrestler | Raw | |
11 | SmackDown | Triple H (Paul Levesque) |
Male wrestler | Raw | WWE Champion
|
Supplemental draft
Pick No. | Brand (to) | Employee (Real name)[d] |
Role | Brand (from) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12 | ECW | Mark Henry | Male wrestler | SmackDown | |
13 | Raw | Jamie Noble (James Gibson) |
Male wrestler | SmackDown | |
14 | SmackDown | Trevor Murdoch (William Mueller) |
Male wrestler | Raw | Never appeared on this brand as he was released from his contract |
15 | SmackDown | Big Daddy V (Nelson Frazier, Jr.) |
Male wrestler | ECW | Never appeared on this brand as he was released from his contract |
16 | Raw | Deuce (Jimmy Reiher, Jr.) |
Male wrestler | SmackDown | |
17 | SmackDown | DH Smith (Harry Smith) |
Male wrestler | Raw | Never appeared on this brand as he returned to FCW and was later drafted to ECW the following year without appearing on SmackDown
|
18 | ECW | Hornswoggle (Dylan Postl) |
Male wrestler | SmackDown | Alliance with Finlay |
19 | ECW | Super Crazy (Francisco Islas) |
Male wrestler | Raw | |
20 | Raw | Chuck Palumbo | Male wrestler | SmackDown | Never appeared on this brand as he was released from his contract |
21 | SmackDown | Brian Kendrick | Male wrestler | Raw | Split of Paul London and Brian Kendrick |
22 | Raw | Matt Striker (Matthew Kaye) |
Male wrestler | ECW | |
23 | SmackDown | Maria (Maria Kanellis) |
Female wrestler | Raw | |
24 | SmackDown | Shelton Benjamin | Male wrestler | ECW | |
25 | ECW | Finlay (Dave Finlay) |
Male wrestler | SmackDown | Alliance with Hornswoggle |
26 | SmackDown | Carlito (Carly Colón) |
Male wrestler | Raw | |
27 | Raw | Layla (Layla El) |
Female wrestler | ECW | |
28 | Raw | Kofi Kingston (Kofi Sarkodie-Mensah) |
Male wrestler | ECW |
Aftermath
Jim Ross, one of the draftees, was unaware he was to switch brands during the draft. After the draft, Ross was on the verge of quitting his job as a commentator for WWE, as he was angry at the fact he was leaving the Raw brand, where he had commentated for over ten years. Ross stated on his official blog that he was about to quit WWE, but he decided to continue to work for the company and make the best of working on SmackDown.
The draft helped increased the television ratings of Raw, which was one of the main purposes of the draft. The television rating for the three hours was 3.40 TVR, as it earned 2.78 TVR for the first hour, 3.46 TVR for the second hour, and 3.95 TVR for the final hour. In its regular time slot, the show would have garnered a 3.7 rating.[21] Both ratings were higher than the week's previous rating of a 3.3 TVR.[22]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ Jeff Hardy, originally on the Raw brand, was drafted to SmackDown before this match took place.
- ^ a b c Picks No. 5 and 6 went to SmackDown and Raw, respectively, after the match resulted in a double-disqualification.
- Chavo Guerrero and Shelton Benjamin.
- ^ a b Not all employees use their real name when performing, their real name is listed underneath their stage name. Performers whose real name is not listed in parentheses indicates that they use their real name when performing.
References
- General
- Sitterson, Aubrey (2008-06-23). "A Draft Disaster (Televised draft and match results)". WWE. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- Vermillion, James (2008-06-25). "Supplemental Changes (Supplemental draft results)". WWE. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
- Specific
- ^ "WWE presents Monday Night RAW - June 23, 2008". WWE. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
- ^ "Monday June 23, 2008 (All times are US/Eastern)". USA Network. Archived from the original on 5 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
- ^ Burdick, Michael (2008-06-19). "Demolition Draftin'". WWE. Archived from the original on 22 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2008-06-23). "A Draft disaster". WWE. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ a b "WWE Supplemental Draft". WWE. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
- ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-05-26). "One last stand". WWE. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ Greg, Adkins. "It's all about the Mon-ey!". WWE. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
- ^ "Preview:2008 WWE Draft". WWE. Archived from the original on 21 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ Clayton, Corey (2008-06-25). "WWE Supplemental Draft Live Blog". WWE. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
The only information we have from Draft HQ is that the picks are completely random.
- ^ Clayton, Corey (2008-06-25). "WWE Supplemental Draft Live Blog". WWE. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
Also, we've learned from Draft HQ that all Superstars drafted on Monday are exempt from today's proceedings. So there will be NO draft-backs, so to speak.
- ^ Ross, Jim. "It's nice to be back in Oklahoma after a whirlwind few days". J.R.'s BBQ. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
I have read that I knew that I was leaving Monday Night Raw prior to the draft. Wrong. I had no clue as to the move….had no travel booked to go to Houston, including no hotel room there booked prior to Tuesday nor did I take an extra suit to wear Tuesday night as I thought I was coming home, as usual.
- ^ "WWE ratings still lead the pack". WWE. 2008-06-03. Archived from the original on 6 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ "WWE Entertainment To Make RAW and SMACKDOWN Distinct Television Brands". WWE. 2002-05-27. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
The creation of two distinct television shows provides the opportunity to create and promote new Superstars and more exciting storylines.
- ^ Ross, Jim. "J.R's Post Draft Thoughts". Jim Ross BBQ. Archived from the original on 27 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ Vermillion, James (2008-06-25). "Supplemental Changes". WWE. Archived from the original on 26 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
Also, with many of the champions changing brands, will the titles find themselves in their new homes permanently after Night of Champions?
- ^ Rote, Andrew (2008-06-29). "Worlds Strongest Extreme Champion". WWE. Archived from the original on 2008-07-04. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ Sitterson, Aubrey (2008-06-23). "A Draft Disaster". WWE. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-07-20). "The Great American Bash: Midas Touch". WWE. Archived from the original on 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-08-29.
- ^ "Trevor Murdoch Released". WWE. 2008-07-03. Archived from the original on 7 July 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-25.
- ^ "WWE releases six Superstars, referee Nick Patrick". WWE. 2008-08-08. Archived from the original on 13 August 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2008-06-25). "More on 6/23 Monday Night Raw rating". WrestleView.com. Archived from the original on 28 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
- ^ Martin, Adam (2008-06-17). "Final 6/16 Monday Night Raw rating". WrestleView.com. Retrieved 2008-06-26.
External links