Fixing The WWE Draft

The 2024 Draft Did not live up to expectations. Triple H moving the draft to the actual sports draft season was a smart move that made WWE seem connected to the sports world. Bringing back legends to announce draft picks also made the draft feel even more authentic. However, WWE isn't a sport. It's sports entertainment, which, at its best, allows WWE to play out athletic competition in the most entertaining way imaginable.

WWE needs to take this approach to the draft and attempt to level up from it instead of imitating it. WWE doesn't have a college program of superstars waiting for their big break. The NXT developmental brand exists, but if the draft pool were just NXT, there would either be a very short draft or a very small pool of NXT talent left in the NXT developmental system. Also, the NFL, NBA, and other sports teams don't announce who's staying on their original teams in the draft. Not only would it not be practical, but it would also be very boring. It is also very boring when the WWE does it.

This year in WWE, about 21 superstars changed brands, and 16 of them were televised. Of those 16 changes WWE made, three feel like big deals based on presentation. Nia Jax, Carmelo Hayes, and Braun Strowman made immediate and exciting impacts on their new brands. But why can't the rest of the picks be like that? This element of WWE is part of what makes the WWE draft more entertaining than a traditional draft. In the NFL, a newly drafted Eagles player isn't going to Angle-Slam Jerry Jones before he announces the Cowboys draft pick, but in WWE, anything is possible.

Unless WWE stops adhering to brand restrictions and becomes one roster, a whole draft is only necessary when WWE intends to make massive roster changes. WWE obviously didn't do that this year, and I don't blame them because they have good rosters set up right now. WWE should return to a Superstar Shakeup model. I suggest the Free Agent Frenzy. Instead of trying to imitate the draft, imitate the free agent process.

Starting the Day after Wrestlemania, all superstars will be free agents until the end of April. During this period, every superstar will be wondering what brand they will end up on. WWE won't have to waste time telling fans who is staying on their respective brands because it will be evident at the end of the Free Agent Frenzy. WWE can instead put all their time into the Superstars' switching to a new roster.

Debuts are among the genre's most entertaining features. A great debut can be a moment that is remembered for decades. WWE could have definitely used some more memorable debut moments in the last couple of years. The week after Wrestlemania could also use some more excitement to keep people tuned in to WWE. The night after mania and the next month of the Free Agency Frenzy would be their chance to make memorable debuts and set up their stars for successful futures in entertaining storylines on their new brands.

This new change to the draft would also increase the unpredictability element of WWE that makes it so exciting. The Free Agent Frenzy would be so unpredictable because the picks announce themselves with debuts. Plus, the free agent period lasts for most of April, so fans wouldn't know when and who would be switching brands next. The Free Agent Frenzy would eliminate all the mundane elements of the draft and focus strictly on the most exciting parts. Isn't that what Sports Entertainment is all about?