WWE Announces Official Rules & SmackDown Draft Pool for This Year’s WWE Draft

WWE announced earlier today the official set of rules and the first of two talent draft pools for this year’s WWE Draft special, which takes place on the April 26th SmackDown show in Cincinnati, Ohio and the April 29th RAW show in Kansas City, Missouri.

In regards to the rules, the biggest change for this year’s WWE Draft is that all champions except the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions will be protected on each brand and ineligible to be drafted.

It was also announced that the official post-draft rosters will lock on May 6th.

Full list of official rules for 2024 WWE Draft:

1. On SmackDown, there will be Four Rounds, 16 total picks
2. On RAW there will be Six Rounds, 24 total picks
3. Champions on each brand are protected
4. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions are eligable
5. SmackDown will pick first on Friday
6. RAW will pick first on Monday
7. Rosters lock on May 6th

🚨BREAKING NEWS 🚨

The official #WWEDraft rules are here!

NIGHT 1 THIS FRIDAY on #SmackDown!
NIGHT 2 MONDAY, APRIL 29 on #WWERaw! pic.twitter.com/ROLIad5XGF

— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2024

Full list of talent draft pool for April 26th SmackDown show:

• AJ Styles
• Alba Fyre
• Isla Dawn
• Alpha Academy (Otis, Chad Gable, Akira Tozawa, & Maxxine Dupri)
• Andrade
• Biance Belair
• Bron Breakker
• Cedric Alexander
• Ashantee “Thee” Adonis
• Ivar
• Jey Uso
• LA Knight
• Liv Morgan
• Nia Jax
• Randy Orton
• Ricochet
• Seth Rollins
• Shanya Baszler
• Sheamus
• The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, & Paul Heyman)
• The O.C. (Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, & Michin)
• Zoey Stark

These WWE Superstars are eligible to be drafted in the 2024 #WWEDraft THIS FRIDAY on #SmackDown! pic.twitter.com/5yKyOpLBgc

— WWE (@WWE) April 24, 2024