Update on WWE’s Current Plans for 2024 WWE Draft

As noted before, WWE recently announced the official set of rules for this year’s WWE Draft and the SmackDown draft pool for tonight’s 2024 WWE Draft Night 1 show in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan reported that his sources stated that talent had not been informed of WWE officials plans for this year’s WWE Draft as of this past Wednesday. Talent reportedly were not told information on the draft mechanics, their potential new brand destination, or other specifics beyond their upcoming bookings listed in their talent relations app.

Brennan reported that talent only discovered which day they would be drafted via a social media post sent by the company. Brennan also reported that as of Friday morning, many talents still did not know their brand assignments but had anticipated that updates would arrive during the afternoon.

In regards to WWE’s recent unveiling of new championships belts, those spoken to reportedly stated that the adjustments in title designs and branding was made to give the company greater flexibility going forward. The Women’s Tag Team and Men’s WWE and World Tag Team championships no longer carrying “RAW” or “SmackDown” designations and color schemes reportedly was done to prevent awkward situations seen in past drafts where champions were traded to brands opposite of their titles but remained tied to their current brand.

Brennan reported that the reason why only the WWE Women’s Tag team Champions are draft-eligible out of all of WWE’s current champions is to ensure that the titles are associated with a “home brand.”

In regards to NXT’s involvement in the upcoming Draft, Brennan reported that NXT talents participating were deliberately omitted from the draft pools publicly released by WWE to add an element of surprise for this year’s Draft. WWE reportedly will be holding a “draft party” for fans at their WWE Performance Center.

Brennan reported that the current feeling within NXT over WWE’s plans for this year’s Draft is mixed. Those spoken to reportedly stated that many within NXT are currently concerned that the brand could be “picked dry” in the Draft. Many NXT talents reportedly are currently concerned that WWE officials may be calling up talents without having actual main roster plans for them in place. This reportedly has been a frequent critique of how NXT call-ups have been handled on the main roster.

In regards to main roster talent being drafted to NXT, Brennan reported that many also have concerns about talent being drafted to NXT could be perceived as a demotion. One source spoken to reportedly felt the opposite and stated that a stint in NXT could be beneficial for several current main roster talents.

Sean Ross Sapp reported that those within WWE currently believe that NXT will have sufficient star power for its official debut on The CW network this Fall.