2011 WWE Draft.

The time has come for the annual WWE draft, where superstars are shuffled around and the landscape of Raw and Smackdown can change drastically.

Edge's sudden retirement (and might I add, unexpected) caused the draft to happen a few months sooner than anticipated. I always enjoy the draft and the fact that the talent gets shuffled around, providing both brands with a somewhat even range of superstars. Although I do think that Smackdown, more often than not, receives the short end of the stick. This year, the draft was unpredictable and surprising. I personally thought that the draft episode should have been a three hour episode and that a few more superstars should have been drafted. With that being said, the show was still a fairly solid broadcast, with ratings up from last week's show. I'm going to give my thoughts on the televised draft picks and a few moments from the broadcast...

Draft Pick #1: John Cena moves to Smackdown
Determining Match: Battle Royal (Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown)
It was nice to see Smackdown come out on top for once. It was the typical battle royal scenario but I truly enjoyed Kofi Kingston and Evan Bourne getting some time to shine during the end of the match. They are truly talented and deserve to be more than mid-card jobbers.

I was completely shocked with seeing Cena get drafted to Friday nights (before the shocking twist at the end of the show). I figured that it would be a strong decision that would help pull in more ratings for SyFy and the WWE. Cena came out to a humongous pop, cut a high energy promo that hyped both Smackdown and his upcoming title bout this Sunday. I always enjoy Cena cutting a promo, whether fans love him or hate him, he is a true entertainer.

Now onto R-Truth. I really don't like him at all anymore. His character development has been atrocious, his antics simply unexplainable, and his interactions with superstars/fans just plain awkward. I sincerely hope that they do something with him soon. He can be an upper card performer if they truly pushed him in the right way. With his awkward interaction with Morrison last week and his smoking on television, he is clearly losing whatever fan base he had. I don't like the thought of him being heel in any way, he entertains the kids in the audience and was always such an upbeat and positive performer. Now, not so much.

We also saw another promo for Awesome Kong (or Kharma, as she will be known in the WWE). I still have no details as tow hen she will debut but I'm thinking soon. Either way, when she comes out, she will plow right through each and every diva, showing that women's wrestling is more than ditsy blondes and slap fights. Hopefully she will get to feud with either Natalya or Beth Phoenix right away, they are really the only other diva's that could stand up to Kong in any way.

Draft Pick #2: Rey Mysterio moves to Raw
Determining Match: Eve vs. Layla
In typical d-bag fashion, Michael Cole, yet again, interrupts the diva's match with his ranting. This is another reason why no one has any respect for the women of the WWE. Like I have said before, they deserve just as much respect and attention as the male competitors.

I'm just thanking my lucky stars that I don't have to watch another Cody Rhodes versus Rey Mysterio match. I find them incredibly boring and Rey falling a little flat. Here's to hoping that this transition will breathe some new life into him.

Draft Pick #3: Randy Orton moves to Smackdown
Determining Match: Sheamus vs. Kofi Kingston
I was impressed that Smackdown received such a huge boost. They seem to be somewhat undervalued as a brand, playing second fiddle to Raw. It's good to see the SD roster being beefed up a little bit with some big time talent.

The match that I waited for for half of the show was Jim Ross versus Michael Cole. Seriously, I cannot stress enough how much I despise him. You could just feel the tension between Cole and the fans, especially when he stomped on Jim Ross's trademark hat. I don't understand how the creative team is letting Cole run amuck like this and for quite some time. Whe does he constantly get to cheat to win? Why are they letting him come out on top all the time? I can;t wait until Sunday and I hope that he FINALLY gets what is coming to him in the country whipping match.

Draft Picks #4 and #5: Sin Cara and Mark Henry both move to Smackdown
Determining Match: Dolph Ziggler vs. Randy Orton
I'm being continually impressed by Ziggler as he continues to show that he deserves to be in the spotlight.

The stipulation was announced for the Randy Orton and CM Punk match at Extreme Rules, a last man standing match. I enjoy watching both men compete and I am hoping that they let them actually do a little bit of damage to each other and have a real last man standing match. But I guess we'll see this Sunday...


Draft Picks #6 and #7: Big Show and Alberto Del Rio move to Raw
Determining Match: Wade Barret vs. Rey Mysterio
With Del Rio being moved to Raw and The Miz staying put, this gives us even more reason to believe that Christian will be winning the title this Sunday. There is no way that they will let one show have the two biggest titles in the company. Christian has always been one of my favorite competitors and is getting the shot that he deserves, guaranteed this match will be dedicated to his best friend Edge. I am looking forward to being thoroughly entertained this Sunday, can't wait to see him compete.

Draft Pick #8: John Cena moves back to Raw
Determining Match: 6 man tag team
What the eff happened? I kind of liked the idea of Cena joining the blue team,  maybe giving the broadcast new life. This completely threw me for a loop but makes total sense. It goes back to my original thoughts of Del Rio being drafted to Raw and his match this Sunday. No way would the WWE allow one show have two major titles. It makes sense to keep John Cena on Raw, which made his draft to Smackdown and subsequent re-draft to Raw all the more surprising.


To see the full draft results, click here.