5 Past mistakes that should be avoided at the WWE Draft 2021

The WWE Draft 2021 begins in less than 48 hours. The first night of the Draft will take place on Friday Night SmackDown, and will conclude on Monday Night RAW.

NXT won't be included this year either, with the new direction of the brand distancing itself from the old version of it. The WWE Draft has been filled with criticism over the years for moves that shouldn't have been made, or major missed opportunities.

We've seen cases where established tag teams have split up because of the Draft, as was the case with Big E and The New Day in 2020. There have been several mistakes made in it since 2002, and here are some of the big ones that should be avoided this year:

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#5. The WWE Draft shouldn't be in favor of one brand

The biggest difference between the WWE Drafts post-2019 and before is the establishment of SmackDown as the company's "A-show". Ever since the Blue brand's first episode, it was always presented as a step below Monday Night RAW - the company's flagship brand.

So what was it that changed? The answer is simple - money. Global media broadcasting revenue is WWE's biggest source of revenue. As per the company's corporate website, their revenue in 2020 was $868.2 million.

FOX Sports pays WWE $200 million a year for broadcasting rights of SmackDown. The deal is for five years (starting from 2019) and will add up to $1 billion once it's done.

That staggering annual fee was enough for Vince McMahon's company to prioritize the Friday night show. With higher ratings, bigger stars, and the biggest matches, it's only expected that this year's Draft will favor SmackDown.

However, with reports of WWE being requested to treat both main roster brands "equally", it only makes sense that they should have a balanced Draft that doesn't necessarily favor one brand.

There's only one problem - this is far easier said than done. If you were to look at it from WWE's perspective, they have to cater to two different broadcasting networks (USA for RAW and FOX for SmackDown), which means that there will be a lot of back-and-forths between the company and the broadcasting giants.

However, this may benefit both brands with more balanced picks. Realistically, it remains to be seen if a balanced WWE Draft is possible.

#4. A lack of surprise moves in the WWE Draft 2021

One of the best parts about the WWE Draft is surprises. We don't mean surprises specifically with regards to the picks, but in the shows in general. Although there is a lot of hype about the RAW after WrestleMania, SummerSlam, etc, one can make a case that the Draft includes the one or two most important episodes in the calendar year.

Here's why - the direction of each brand is set for more than a year, and it's where the build for long-term storylines for The Show of Shows begins as well. When there are major surprises in the Draft, they can shake up the landscape of their respective brand for a year or more.

Surprise picks in the WWE Draft are always welcome. It can be the superstar who hardly ever changes brands jumping ship, or it can be superstars who don't seem like a fit for the other brand changing as well - among others.

Although the company has to be careful with their picks, a few surprises need to happen on both SmackDown and RAW in the Draft episodes.

#3. Splitting up of top tag teams in the WWE Draft

There are certain occasions when splitting teams up in the WWE Draft can work. Take for example The New Day's split in 2020. They were a month shy of completing six years together, but the Draft resulted in Big E staying on SmackDown, while Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods moved to RAW.

Luckily, there was no chair shot to the back nor was there any backstabbing. This allowed the faction to quietly reunite when Big E won the WWE title and moved to the Red brand in September 2021.

However, there are more cases where the company has incorrectly split tag teams in the Draft. Take, for example, The Dudley Boyz in 2002. It marked the start of a singles run for both Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley, but it was clear that they were better together.

They would reunite later in the same year as well. In 2021, there are no tag teams that should be split by the Draft. Perhaps T-Bar and Mace of RETRIBUTION could, but it doesn't feel necessary either. 2020 and The New Day's split via the WWE Draft was perfectly timed because Big E was ready for singles stardom at that point.

#2. Another free agent storyline post-WWE Draft

The WWE Draft doesn't just happen within two hours of SmackDown and three hours of RAW. Usually, the program tends to extend, with other "lower-tier" superstars getting drafted towards the end.

Carmella was the 59th and final pick of the Draft when it was re-introduced in 2016, and she went on to prove a lot of people wrong in the process. However, that year's sole free agent was Heath Slater.

The storyline was utilized brilliantly, and despite a plethora of talent on both RAW and SmackDown, it was Slater who quickly became WWE's most popular star in August and September.

It culminated with him and Rhyno becoming the first-ever SmackDown Tag Team Champions. While Slater was never going to get a sustained push, he benefited from being left off in the Draft.

Last year, the company had numerous free agents on the roster, including Chad Gable. WWE should avoid having any free agents or a free agent storyline this year. It will feel repetitive and unoriginal if done over and over again.

#1. The WWE Draft shouldn't move superstars who have momentum on one brand

There have been numerous cases over the years where the WWE Draft has resulted in moves that shouldn't have been made. Although there isn't always a rational explanation for it, some superstars are more suited to a certain brand than others.

Compare the runs that AJ Styles has had on SmackDown and RAW. He is a superstar suited to the Blue brand and his accomplishments over the years have put him in an elite territory with the likes of Edge, Kurt Angle, Eddie Guerrero, The Undertaker, Rey Mysterio, etc.

When looking at the current roster for an example of superstars with momentum, look to United States Champion Damian Priest. He has had incredible momentum on RAW, and the company has handled him well throughout 2021.

Does this mean that he should move to SmackDown in the Draft this year? Absolutely not. When certain superstars are thriving in one brand, it doesn't make sense to change what's already working.

Although there are exceptions, moving a superstar to another brand while they still have momentum can be a recipe for failure. Hopefully, that doesn't happen in the WWE Draft this year.