WWE draft analysis - top 12

As widely expected, the Raw brand dominated the WWE Draft. Raw garned major star power in WWE champion Triple H, Big Show, Matt Hardy & U.S. champion MVP. Smackdown garnered Rey Mysterio and CM Punk but otherwise suffered a major loss of wattage. The imminent downgrading of Smackdown home network MyNetworkTV to non-network status clearly influenced WWE management to lower Smackdown's importance to the company.

As for how the Draft will help or hurt the wrestlers themselves... I'll go one by one.


RAW


MVP (a minor plus): He's been locked into Smackdown as a heel for years. An intro to Raw as a babyface should take better.

Triple H (a major plus): A dominant presence no matter what, now dominant on the flagship show.

Maryse (a major minus): Raw fans don't know her or how to react to her, could lose title to a man named Santina.

Matt Hardy (a major minus): The feud with Jeff Hardy is cut short just as it was getting good. Now Matt's lost.

The Miz (a major minus): Potential jobber fodder in the making on such a loaded brand roster, loses Dirt Sheet.

Big Show (a minor plus): Top line status with Vickie Guerrero storyline to continue.


ECW


Vladimir Kozlov (a minor plus): A second chance to establish himself after Smackdown push died, probably his last chance.


SMACKDOWN


Rey Mysterio (a major plus): Reconnects with his Hispanic, kiddie fan base. Will be major star on stripped-down brand.

Melina (a minor minus): Should at least get a feud with Michelle McCool, otherwise I don't see the point.

Kane (no difference): The man has been moved around so often, it truly doesn't mean anything.

Chris Jericho (a major plus): Gets out of Randy Orton heel shadow, should have time to establish serious heel creds on SD.

CM Punk (a major plus): Only Undertaker, Jeff Hardy & maybe Rey Mysterio will be ahead of Punk on the SD babyface totem pole.

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