The WWE Draft 2024 is poised to bring a fresh dynamic to the wrestling world following WrestleMania XL. The event, which traditionally occurs a few weeks after WrestleMania, serves as a pivotal moment for the company, offering a chance to reset and introduce new opportunities and stars across all brands. This year’s draft is already generating buzz with the announcement that several Hall of Famers are expected to grace the show with their presence.
Reports from PWInsider Elite indicate that wrestling legends Teddy Long, JBL, and Alundra Blayze are slated to make appearances at the upcoming draft. Their involvement is reminiscent of last year’s event, where numerous legends and veterans took part in announcing draft picks for the various brands. The anticipation is high for possibly even more veterans and Hall of Famers to join the two-night event this year, adding to the excitement and prestige of the draft.
The WWE Draft has seen its share of rule changes over the years, with one of the most significant shifts occurring when Monday Night RAW expanded to a three-hour format, resulting in more picks for the show compared to SmackDown. The management has since made efforts to balance the scales, ensuring a fair distribution of talent across both nights of the draft. Recently, another important amendment was made, reinstating the rule that champions of their respective brands are exempt from being drafted. This protection does not extend to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, who are not bound to a specific brand.
The current champions on RAW, including Damian Priest, Becky Lynch, Sami Zayn, and Awesome Truth, are thus shielded from the draft. Similarly, SmackDown’s reigning champions—Cody Rhodes, Bayley, Logan Paul, and A-Town Down Under—will remain with the blue brand. This rule change is expected to have a significant impact on the draft’s proceedings and the strategic decisions made by the brands.
In addition to the main roster, NXT stars are anticipated to play a crucial role in the draft. The inclusion of NXT talent promises to introduce fresh matchups and rivalries, as these performers seek to establish themselves on the larger stage of either RAW or SmackDown. Fans and pundits alike are eagerly speculating which NXT stars will make the jump to the main roster and how they will fare in their new environments. The WWE Draft is shaping up to be an event that could redefine the landscape of professional wrestling, and the wrestling community is eagerly waiting to see the outcomes of this pivotal event.
