15 WWE Stars Change Brands During SmackDown's Draft
WWE split up some stables, switched some tag-teams and moved major players on SmackDown.
WWE switched no less than 15 wrestlers from one brand to another during the opening night of the 2021 Draft on Friday's episode of SmackDown.
Big E, Bianca Belair, Edge, and the team of Rey and Dominik Mysterio traded SmackDown life for Raw. NXT worker Austin Theory also went to the Monday night flagship - he wasn't the biggest draft pick from WWE's new NXT 2.0 show though.
Hit Row's four members (Isaiah "Swerve" Scott, Ashante Adonis, Top Dolla and B-Fab) all went to SmackDown. They've been joined by now ex-Raw stars like Charlotte Flair, Drew McIntyre, New Day members Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, and Jeff Hardy in moving to the blue brand.
Other notable (but totally pointless) picks included Roman Reigns, Naomi and the team of Happy Corbin and Madcap Moss staying on SmackDown. Meanwhile, Raw held onto RK-Bro, Nikki A.S.H, Rhea Ripley and Keith Lee during the Draft's opening night.
It's worth noting that New Day have switched sides; E, who was on SmackDown, is now on Raw. His pals Kofi and Xavier, who were on Mondays, will now work Fridays.
The 2021 Draft continues on Monday's edition of Raw.