Raw & SmackDown In Another Trade Following WWE Draft

The 2023 WWE Draft was completed on Monday Night Raw in Fort Worth, Texas as the company reshuffles its stars after Backlash on May 6th.

The highlight of Monday’s portion of the draft was SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley being Raw’s number one pick while United States Champion Austin Theory is headed in the opposite direction.

Every WWE star was touted as being available for the draft – as well as plenty from NXT – but it now seems that stretched to the ring announcers for each show as well. WWE.com has noted that following Backlash when the draft moves take effect, Samantha Irvin will be the ring announcer for Raw with Mike Rome moving to SmackDown.

Samantha Irvin is currently engaged to WWE star and former Intercontinental Champion Ricochet and he was also moved to Monday Night Raw alongside his tag team partner Braun Strowman during the second night of the draft. Both Irvin and Rome had worked as ring announcers for NXT in the past before moving to the WWE main roster full-time – Rome in 2018 and Irvin in 2022.

For the full rundown of who has landed where in WWE and who remains free agents in the company following the draft click here.