'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The WWE 2021 Draft is reportedly on the horizon.
With the return of live fans and touring beginning in July, WWE is reportedly looking to freshen up Monday Night RAW and Friday Night SmackDown with a "reset" of sorts for the respective brands.
The dates of this year's draft have reportedly been set as the August 30, 2021 edition of Monday Night RAW and the September 3, 2021 edition of Friday Night SmackDown.
Trending
But which WWE Superstars will be heading to either RAW and SmackDown? Which shows will draft WWE's champions and their respective championships?
These questions will soon be answered. However, it is not uncommon for WWE Champions to switch brands whilst holding a championship. Championships have largely become non-brand specific in recent history.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at five times WWE Superstars swapped brands while holding a title.
#5 John Cena drafted to RAW from SmackDown as WWE Champion (WWE Draft 2005)
One of the most memorable instances of a WWE Champion switching brands with their championship occurred on the first night of the 2005 WWE Draft lottery.
Unlike previous years, the 2005 WWE Draft took place across several weeks as opposed to being a single night event.
Each week resulted in Monday Night RAW and SmackDown receiving one pick in the Draft lottery.
The first night of the 2005 Draft Lottery took place on the June 6, 2005 edition of Monday Night RAW. Chris Jericho hosted a special edition of The Highlight Reel to open the show and reveal the newest addition to Monday Night RAW.
After much suspense, hype and fan-fare, it was revealed that SmackDown's WWE Champion John Cena had been drafted to the red brand. It was arguably the biggest acquisition in Monday Night RAW history and is still widely discussed and talked about to this day.
#4 Matt Hardy drafted to ECW from SmackDown as United States Champion (WWE Draft 2008)
WWE's ECW revival from 2006 to 2010 is often best forgotten about.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon had hoped that a revival of Extreme Championship Wrestling as an alternative third brand could replicate the success of the respective ECW One Night Stand pay-per-views of 2005 and 2006.
However, by 2007 WWE's version of ECW was largely seen by many as a developmental brand on cable television. The show largely featured younger, less developed and lesser known talents beginning their WWE main roster journey.
But with a desire still for television ratings and guiding some of the younger talents, veterans and well-known talent were occasionally drafted into "the land of the extreme."
One such example was Matt Hardy during the 2008 WWE Draft. After being engaged in a lengthy program with MVP, Matt Hardy finally defeated his long-term rival at Backlash in April 2008 to become the United States Champion for the first time.
As part of the Draft later that year, Hardy was drafted to the ECW brand. This meant, as champion, the WWE United States Championship briefly became exclusive to ECW. However this all changed the following month when Shelton Benjamin defeated Hardy for the United States Championship at The Great American Bash.
As Benjamin was a SmackDown superstar, the United States Championship once again became exclusive to WWE's blue brand.
#3 Maryse drafted to RAW from SmackDown as Divas Champion (WWE Draft 2009)
WWE often has a habit of switching championships of equal status during Drafts, Superstar Shake Ups and the like. This isn't limited to WWE's male divisions either.
During the 2009 Draft, WWE switched the Divas Championship from Friday Night SmackDown to Monday Night RAW and the WWE Women's Championship from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown.
This meant that SmackDown's Divas Champion Maryse was drafted from the blue brand to the red brand.
Maryse was the second ever WWE Divas Champion in WWE history. The French-Canadian WWE Superstar defeated former champion Michelle McCool on the December 26, 2008 edition of SmackDown. This marked Maryse's first reign as Divas Champion.
Maryse would then go on to become the longest reigning WWE Divas Champion in history with a recognized reign of 212 days as Divas Champion on Monday Night RAW. She would eventually drop the championship to Mickie James at Night of Champions in 2009.
Maryse's record would eventually be broken by AJ Lee in 2014 with an incredible reign of 296 days as Divas Champion.
#2 Kevin Owens drafted to SmackDown LIVE from RAW as United States Champion (WWE Superstar Shake-Up 2017)
The WWE United States Championship has switched from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown and vice versa several times throughout WWE history.
One such example came during the 2017 WWE Superstar Shake Up. Instead of doing an annual draft, WWE began opting to favor a "Superstar Shake Up" instead, beginning in 2017.
Across two episodes of Monday Night RAW and SmackDown LIVE, it would be revealed which WWE Superstars had been selected to move from RAW to SmackDown and from SmackDown to RAW.
During the April 11, 2017 edition of SmackDown LIVE it was revealed that WWE United States Champion Kevin Owens had been moved from Monday Night RAW to SmackDown LIVE during the Shake Up.
Owens brought with him not only the United States Championship but also a new look and attitude. The former Universal Champion had trimmed his trademark beard and now wore a suit, referring to himself as "the new face of America."
Kevin Owens briefly lost the United States Championship to Chris Jericho at the WWE Payback pay-per-view in May. But Kevin Owens quickly won the United States Championship back two days later on May 2, 2017 edition of SmackDown LIVE.
#1 Triple H drafted to SmackDown from RAW as WWE Champion (WWE Draft 2008)
The WWE Championship has switched brands on several occasions throughout WWE history.
One such instance of the WWE Championship switching from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown came during the 2008 WWE Draft.
The main event of the 2008 WWE Draft edition of Monday Night RAW saw a tri-branded 15 man over-the-top rope battle royale take place. Five WWE Superstars from Monday Night RAW, Friday Night SmackDown and ECW on Sci-Fi respectively battled it out.
The last remaining WWE Superstar would not only win the match, but would also earn two draft picks for their brand. The match was won by Edge, representing Friday Night SmackDown, last eliminating John Cena, who was representing Monday Night RAW.
This meant that SmackDown won two coveted WWE Draft picks. The first pick saw Mr. Kennedy drafted from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown. However, the biggest shock was yet to come.
In a stunning twist of fate, WWE Champion Triple H was drafted from Monday Night RAW to Friday Night SmackDown. This meant that the WWE Championship would also move from the red brand to the blue brand, becoming exclusive to Friday Nights.
This briefly left Monday Night RAW without a World Championship until RAW Superstar CM Punk successfully cashed in the Money in the Bank contract on World Heavyweight Champion Edge to successfully bring the World Heavyweight Championship to RAW.
Ex WWE writer blasts Liv Morgan HERE
