10 Biggest Missed Opportunities From WWE Draft 2016

WWE's new era hits a number of bumps in the road.

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The 2016 WWE Draft should’ve been a night of possibilities for fans, wrestlers, and company executives alike. Public consensus is that WWE’s product grew stale a long time ago, and it’s been reflected in poor TV ratings. Fans have grown jaded with the company’s tired storytelling patterns, continued push of unwanted protagonists like Roman Reigns, and the lack of opportunities afforded to young, up-and-coming superstars.

WWE had an excellent chance to turn all those criticisms on their head last night. In bringing back the Brand Split, the company seemed to recognise that something needed to be done to breathe life back into Raw and SmackDown, create two independent brands with their own identity, and legitimise the “New Era” rhetoric that the McMahons have been spewing since WrestleMania.

While WWE have succeeded in giving their product a facelift, it’s not the one that the fans wanted, and the general reaction has been mostly negative thus far. While we won’t know how the product will change until Shane and Stephanie each have a couple of shows under their belt, first impressions aren’t good, and the rosters are far from inspiring.

Have WWE blown their big chance? That remains uncertain, but they’ve certainly fallen at the first hurdle. It’s easy to be cynical in situations like this, and it would be wrong to jump the gun, but WWE have already squandered several Brand Split opportunities on the very first night.

Here are the 10 biggest missed opportunities from the 2016 WWE Draft.

10. WWE Network's Draft Centre Live

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WWE’s Cruiserweight Classic Bracketology show on Wednesday, 6th July was a breath of fresh air. For the first time in what seemed like an eternity, WWE presented their product like a legitimate, competitive sport with a preview show more reminiscent of ESPN SportsCenter than anything else. Mauro Ranallo brought razor sharp analysis and supreme presenting skills, while Daniel Bryan brought enthusiasm and the kind of wrestling breakdowns that only a competitor of his experience can provide.

It was one of the best shows that the WWE Network has ever put together, and not only did it get each of the featured CWC participants over, but it generated a great amount of buzz for the tournament. With its success, WWE had a great opportunity to ape the format with last night’s Draft Centre Live show: instead, we got the same old WWE pre-show fodder with Renee Young, Corey Graves, Lita, and Booker T.

The show was a mess. Neither Renee nor her guests seemed to know what was going-on at any given time, with draft picks and interviews appearing without warning or introduction. Then there were the interruptions, with each participant doing their best to talk over the others until they had no choice but to quieten down.

It sucked the life out of what should’ve been a huge, era-defining occasion for WWE, and should be considered the night’s first failure.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.