The 2023 WWE Draft brings major roster changes as Raw and SmackDown pick their Superstars, with some NXT talents making their main roster debut.
Tags: WWE, 2023 WWE Draft, Raw, SmackDown, NXT, Superstars, Roster Changes, Wrestling,Roman Reigns • WWE SmackDown! • Cody Rhodes • WrestleMania
The 2023 WWE Draft kicked off with a bang, as both Raw and SmackDown picked their Superstars, making significant roster changes. The first phase took place on Friday's SmackDown, with additional picks announced on Saturday's SmackDown LowDown.
On Saturday, eligible Superstars who were not selected in the first phase were assigned brands, along with some select NXT Superstars who received a call-up to the main roster. The roster changes bring a fresh start to the WWE Universe and sets the stage for new storylines.
Raw picked up several Superstars, including The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar, and Valhalla), Dexter Lumis, Candice LeRae, Maximum Male Models (Ma.çé, Mån.sôör, and Maxxine Dupri), Natalya, Apollo Crews, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville, Zoey Stark, and JD McDonagh.
On the other hand, SmackDown only had two picks, which were Lacey Evans and Hit Row (Top Dolla, Ashante 'Thee' Adonis, and B-Fab). The combination of Omos and MVP, Dolph Ziggler, Mustafa Ali, and NXT's Von Wagner were not picked, making them free agents.
However, the most intriguing picks made on Saturday were the NXT Superstars who are set to either return to the main roster or get their first opportunity as part of it. Raw picked Apollo Crews, JD McDonagh, and Zoey Stark on Saturday, following the selections of NXT women's champion Indi Hartwell to Raw and NXT women's tag team champions Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn to SmackDown on Friday.
Apollo Crews, a former Intercontinental and United States champion, spent several years on the main roster before being sent down to NXT to revitalize his career. Now, he gets another opportunity to shine on Raw. JD McDonagh and Zoey Stark were arguably two of NXT's best in-ring workers, and they will bring their wrestling ability to the red brand.
On Friday, both Raw and SmackDown made several picks, headlined by SmackDown selecting undisputed WWE universal champion Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman of The Bloodline, as well as Raw women's champion Bianca Belair. Cody Rhodes and Becky Lynch were among Raw's top picks.
With the first phase of the 2023 WWE Draft over, the Raw and SmackDown rosters are taking shape. Raw includes Cody Rhodes, Becky Lynch, Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci), Matt Riddle, Drew McIntyre, The Miz, Shinsuke Nakamura, Indi Hartwell, Apollo Crews, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville, Dexter Lumis, JD McDonagh, Natalya, The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar & Valhalla), Zoey Stark, and Maximum Male Models (Ma.çé, Mån.sôör & Maxxine Dupri).
Meanwhile, SmackDown's roster features The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Solo Sikoa, and Paul Heyman), Bianca Belair, The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins), Edge, Bobby Lashley, The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gall
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