What was the best draft?

[ChitownKnight]

I think 2005 had the best pick of all time (Cena to Raw) and I liked the month long setup, but 2008 was my favorite show and I think both brands were better after

[froggyfrog]

The original in 2002 where they didn’t smarten anyone up to where they were going, broke up basically every tag team, and shoot pissed off most of the roster

[chronocross]

2005 for me, but 2009 in second place for me as that was the year where CM Punk was drafted from Raw to SD and had the summer feud with Jeff Hardy.

[Celexa Bliss 54]

Most were pretty awful, tbh. Objectively, I'd say 2005 was probably the best in terms of how the picks actually impacted their shows. 2008 and 2009 weren't terrible, either. I think 2007 had the most missed potential, but I can't blame all of that on WWE. 2004 was lackluster, at best. 2011 is the worst of the original drafts, and 2010 is right above it.

Of the second brand split, I think the 2017 "Superstar Shakeup" was the best executed. The 2016 Draft left me underwhelmed, even if the rosters ended up working pretty well in the end. I barely remember the 2018 and 2019 Shakeups, and every draft since the fall 2019 one has been generally pointless. I read the results of the draft that concluded last night and... what was the point? They switched what, like ten people, total? Not including the NXT call-ups, who they really didn't need a draft to call up. I just don't really understand the purpose of assigning most of the roster to the show they were already on. And in kayfabe, who was making the picks? Genuinely asking, since I didn't watch, but I know they actually had General Managers this year. Why don't they just say that the week of the draft, they're going to allow talent to renegotiate their contracts, then make an announcement of who is staying on their current show? Then throughout the night, Pearce and Aldis can be shown making deals with talents to either stay on their show or jump ship. Make it a big deal with Pearce saying that Seth Rollins has chosen to remain on Raw. Nick Aldis can look like a conquering hero when he announces that Cody Rhodes has agreed to sign with Smackdown, ensuring they keep the WWE Championship. Just parading out legends to read a list of names... that ain't it.

[sarkerpolseng]



The one where Tazz was upset because ECW needed some kids.

[4real]

2005 was the first one I thought of. Excellent start with the Cena pick and the month long build. Raw had both champions for a few weeks and we got an awesome ppv out of that (Vengeance). I was a total idiot and never saw Batista to Smackdown coming at all.

[welshpenguin]

The Cena one was the first I thought of so judging by the other posts that’s 2005.