WWE Brand Split 2016: 20 Top Draft Picks For Raw And Smackdown
Who will be #1?
It's official: the brand split is back and all members of the WWE roster will enter the draft on the live edition of Smackdown on July 19. Raw and Smackdown general managers will each have the opportunity to gain exclusive access to the superstars they believe will make their brand WWE's best.
Odds are Stephanie McMahon, Vince's favorite kid, will continue to run the "A" show, Monday Night Raw. Shane McMahon will continue with his underdog vibe and run Smackdown, hoping to unseat Raw as WWE's top rated show. With Smackdown being live, he'll have a real shot.
Since the draft is being held on Smackdown, it's a good bet that sometime between now and the draft, Shane will do something to secure his show the top overall pick.
Which superstar will he build his brand around? How will his sister respond? Find out in this mock draft predicting the first 10 picks for each brand.
20. Smackdown #1 Pick: Dean Ambrose
Shane McMahon will not waste time. He is going to make a big splash with the first overall pick. It doesn't get much bigger than taking the WWE World Heavyweight Champion, Dean Ambrose.
For more reasons than the strap on his shoulder, Dean Ambrose is the kind of competitor Shane likes. Ambrose often finds himself not just an underdog, but generally unwanted. Shane can easily relate to that.
For Ambrose, a move to Smackdown makes sense. Once his Triple Threat Match with his former Shield teammates is over, it will be time for him to move on. He's already battled Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns enough times and splitting them up adds a sense of urgency to winning at WWE Battleground.