Much like the routine roster cuts that WWE does from time to time, another event that I look forward to on an annual basis is the WWE Superstar Draft. However this year’s draft didn’t exactly leave me in the best of moods. But then again, WWE hasn’t done a lot lately that’s left a good taste in my mouth.
Coming off the heels of a huge roster cut last week that saw the releases of Shelton Benjamin and Mickie James, I was hoping WWE would make up for it in the 2010 Draft. If you are willing to bear with me for a few minutes, I’m sure we’ll get through a few of best and…well…epic fails that made up the 2010 WWE Draft.
Let’s take a look at a couple of the picks that pretty much should’ve been left on the drawing board. First and foremost, can ANYBODY please explain to me how Kelly Kelly was the number one overall draft pick this year? Now let me clarify something before any women start sharpening their claws. I support women in wrestling. And I will support them even more if they contribute in a way that makes the rest of the guys in the locker room figure out how to top it. Kelly Kelly’s contribution to the WWE so far has been a back handspring elbow in the corner. And that’s about it. She’s nowhere near the calibre of Trish Stratus or Molly Holly. As a matter of fact, very few of the current “Divas” on the roster could even think about being in the same ring with either of those two. If they would let some of the ladies cut loose for one night, I bet they could make a huge splash. Keep that in mind the next time you watch Natalya or Beth Phoenix. They would’ve made much better opening picks than a former Extreme Expose dancer.
While several of this year’s draft picks left me scratching my head, this one absolutely made me want to kick my television. Honeslly, who in the world gives two sparks of a brain cell about Hornswaggle? He has turned the career of Chavo Guerrero into a complete joke. And if Evan Bourne gets anymore involved, then he won’t be too far behind. I get the fact that he is a draw for the kids. I can understand that. But they had the nerve to have a match recently between Dolph Ziggler and Hornswaggle on Raw recently and the little pest actually got a countout win. I have no problem with him being an on air personality. I have a major problem with him getting into the ring and making a joke of the profession that I’ve proudly called myself a part of for the last ten years. There was a supplemental draft held the next day on WWE.com, and he would’ve been better off being drafted there instead of the big eight drafted during the three hour edition of Raw. So before I get any more agitated about these two picks, there’s a good pick left and a “sleeper” pick that we need to get to.
I think this year’s top draft pick undoubtedly goes to the “Rated R Superstar,” Edge. The former WWE and World Heavyweight Champion spent the majority of 2009 on the sidelines with a torn achilles tendon. Much like John Cena, Edge beat the recovery time from a major injury and was back in the ring almost three months ahead of schedule. He returned at the Royal Rumble back in January and won the Rumble, choosing to face then-World Champion, Chris Jericho. At the recent Draft, both Edge and Jericho were drafted to the Raw brand but I think it will be Edge who benefits the most from the roster change. There is a list of new talent that Edge could help rise to to the top of their game, including Sheamus and Ted DiBiase, Jr.
Speaking of Legacy, that brings me to what could potentially be a “sleeper” pick. If there was any question as to the status of Legacy, those questions were answered during the supplemental draft the night after the main draft selections. Eleven names were drafted, but the one that could stick out is Cody Rhodes. The son of “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, and the brother of the often-controversial Goldust, Cody has spent the majority of the last year or so in the company of DiBiase and Randy Orton. He was drafted to SmackDown, which could open up a world of new opportunities for the younger Rhodes, as the majority of the Fright night roster seems to be filled with younger talent, as opposed to the established names getting drafted to Raw. If Cody Rhodes wants to prove himself, then this will be the prime opportunity to show the world and WWE management exactly what he can do and whether he can hang with the rest of the crew.
So there are a few picks from this year’s draft. I guess we’ll see just how much the draft shakes things up, or if it was merely a monumental bust. Of course, I could always be wrong and the draft will establish great new talent and renew the excitement that WWE fans have long been waiting for. Then again, this is WWE we’re talking about.
