WWE Draft 2011 Review: Changing the WWE Landscape

The April 25 edition of Raw (which was telecast in India on May 6, by the way) saw a momentous change in the WWE roster, as Edge’s surprise retirement forced the WWE to hold its annual inter-promotional draft a couple of months in advance. The Draft has always been wild as hell, and this time was no different. Here are the major changes that took place in the draft, with some insights into how things might change in the WWE as a result of these huge shifts:

1. Alberto Del Rio (SmackDown to Raw):

This man has made an impact like very few others in his rookie year in the WWE, coming within an inch of winning the World Heavyweight Championship on several occasions. And now, he will be on the Red Brand, bringing his wrestling ‘finesse’ to a show which has increasingly been criticized for not promoting the true art of wrestling. Also, an opponent of Del Rio’s calibre would be a major threat to the WWE Champion, regardless of whoever it is. And finally, this draft would may make possible the clash which was recently voted by an offline survey as ‘the most awaited rivalry of the season’ and that is Alberto Del Rio vs John Cena!!

2. Rey Mysterio (SmackDown to Raw):

Nine years ago, one of World Championship Wrestling’s most entertaining stars made his debut on WWE SmackDown. In spite of standing 5-feet-6 and weighing just 175 pounds, he went on to revolutionize high-flying like never before. That man is known all over the world as Rey Mysterio, and has, in a way, symbolized the SmakDown roster for almost a decade. He has main-evented countless shows and won his two World Heavyweight Championships for the blue brand, and has also been a part of two successive teams that won the coveted Bragging Rights trophy for SmackDown. Mysterio coming to Raw will be a huge jolt to the SmakDown locker room, and the show will never be the same without Mr. 619.

2*. Sin Cara (Raw to SmackDown):

SmackDown might have lost Rey, but that void might very well be filled by WWE’s newest acquisition. After creating waves in various wrestling circuits across the world with his daredevil manoeuvres, Sin Cara will be joining the SmackDown locker room. Sin Cara bears an uncanny resemblance with Mysterio in terms of high-flying abilities and the Hispanic lucha libré style of wrestling, and hence would be the ideal replacement for WWE’s biggest little man.

3. Randy Orton (Raw to SmackDown):

The absence of Edge created a major void in the main event scenario on SmackDown. But the draft lottery is designed to solve exactly these kinds of problems. And the SmackDown solution lies in this man, WWE’s Apex predator. Randy Orton’s transfer to SmackDown will mark the end of his storied feud with CM Punk, but it would also throw him right in the middle of the World Heavyweight Championship scenario. And everyone remembers what a great run The Viper has had on SmackDown, especially his epic rivalry with the Undertaker in 2005-06. This might just be the return of the sick and twisted self of Orton, whom people just love to hate.

4. Big Show (SmackDown to Raw):

One half of the WWE Tag Team Champions and the largest athlete in the world, The Big Show moved to Monday Nights as a result of the draft. Though thsi puts the Raw locker room on notice, this would mean a serious drop in the resistance provided against The Corre by the rest of the SmackDown superstars.

The other major draft alterations were as follows:

Raw to SmackDown	SmackDown to Raw
Mark Henry	Jack Swagger
Daniel Bryan	Drew McIntyre
The Great Khali	JTG
Sheamus	Kofi Kingston
The Usos	Natalya
Ted DiBiase	Tyler Reks
Alex Riley	Beth Phoenix

The 2011 WWE Draft has changed the landscape of the company in a major way, and the results of this will be felt in a few weeks. Whatever happens, the fans are sure to get to watch some really unexpected events in the days to come..