Several Big Names Won’t Be Part Of WWE Draft

The WWE Draft is set to begin on SmackDown with some big names not being part of it due to injuries and other factors.

At WWE SmackDown in Cincinnati, the annual WWE Draft begins to send some talent to Raw, others to Smackdown and there will be some going to NXT too. According to WWE’s Draft rules, there will be 16 draft picks announced on SmackDown while Monday’s Raw on April 29th will have 24 picks announced.

It has already been announced by WWE that champions on each brand will be protected and are not eligible to be drafted. That means that Damian Priest, Becky Lynch, Awesome Truth, and Sami Zayn will remain on Raw. Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes, Bayley, A-Town Down Under, and Logan Paul will remain on SmackDown. The Women’s Tag team Champions – Asuka & Kairi Sane – are eligible to be drafted.

The WWE Draft rules also list what superstars can be drafted on Friday and what ones will be drafted on Monday. Fightful Select has also provided some insight into some of the names listed and those not listed as well.

Former WWE Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley is not listed to be drafted due to her recent shoulder injury. She is likely to rejoin Raw when she comes back since her Judgment Day teammate Damian Priest is there as the World Heavyweight Champion.

Brock Lesnar has been considered a free agent in these WWE Drafts in the past and that looks to be the case again.

Omos & MVP are not listed on WWE’s list because they were considered free agents last year and apparently, that’s the case again this year.

Dexter Lumis hasn’t wrestled since May of last year. He was a Raw talent, but he’s not factored into creative plans currently.

The Olympic Gold Medal wrestler Gable Steveson has wrestled dark matches at Smackdown tapings, but he’s not listed to be drafted.

Nikki Cross is a former Women’s Champion who hasn’t wrestled in several months. She was on Raw previously.

Tamina remains under WWE contract, but hasn’t wrestled in over a year. She may be considered retired at this point.

The Viking Raiders Erik is out of action due to major neck surgery last year and his wife Valhalla recently announced that she is pregnant with the couple’s second. Their Viking Raider ally Ivar is on the list of wrestlers to be drafted.

Sonya Deville has missed most of the last year due to a knee injury, but she is expected to return soon. She is not listed among the wrestlers to be drafted.

Charlotte Flair had surgery to repair her torn ACL that she suffered last December. She likely won’t be back until later in the year. Her husband Andrade is listed among the talents to be drafted.

Shotzi is also out of action with a Torn ACL that she suffered in February, so she’ll be out for most of this year.

Ridge Holland is considered an NXT wrestler at this point, so that’s why he’s not going to be drafted after being on Smackdown in the past.

Jimmy Uso was attacked by Solo Sikoa & Tama Tonga two weeks ago on Smackdown in a vicious way. He’s dealing with a legit injury, so he’s not listed among the wrestlers to be drafted.

Carmella & Alexa Bliss – Both former Women’s Champions gave birth last year. They are not back yet, but hopefully will be soon.

WWE Draft Includes Wrestlers On The Injured List

Some wrestlers are out injured and made it onto the WWE Draft lists.

Former WWE World Champion Seth Rollins recently had surgery on his knee and it’s unknown how long he will be out. However, Rollins is on the “to be drafted” list. Considering Seth’s wife Becky Lynch is the Women’s World Champion on Raw, he will likely remain on Raw as well.

Braun Strowman has been out of action since having major neck surgery last June. Since he’s on the drafted list, that could mean he is set to return soon.

Giovanni Vinci was attacked by his Imperium tag team partner Ludwig Kaiser this past Monday on Raw. Vinci is listed in the main roster draft pool.

Odyssey Jones was in WWE’s draft pool last year and not used for a full year. He has appeared on the WWE Speed show on X.

TJRWrestling will have full coverage of the WWE Draft begin with tonight’s episode of Smackdown and continuing this Monday on Raw as well.