Tonight is the first episode of Smackdown Live, where we will see the WWE Draft. The draft will determine the unique rosters for Raw and Smackdown after Battleground. Also tonight is a rematch between Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins for the WWE Championship.
For the draft, Raw will get the first pick. Also, since Raw is longer than Smackdown, they get three picks for every two Smackdown picks. Finally, the draft will include six NXT call-ups.
Opening Segment
It’s time for the draft, and time for us to break down the picks.
Raw #1 Pick: Seth Rollins
Smackdown #1 Pick: Dean Ambrose
Raw #2 Pick: Charlotte
Smackdown #2 Pick: AJ Styles
Raw #3 Pick: Finn Balor
The first five picks are in, and we break up the draft choices with a match.
John Cena (w/Enzo Amore & Big Cass) vs. Luke Gallows (w/AJ Styles & Karl Anderson)
What a match to kickoff Smackdown Live. John Cena was practically never on Smackdown because of the merged roster, and now he is wrestling a match for the blue brand. If Cena gets drafted to Raw, this could be the last time Cena ever wrestles for Smackdown.
These six men square off at Battleground, for no particular reason other than that they don’t like each other.
Smacktalker Skywalker and Big Cass prevent Anderson and Styles from interfering, and Cena hits Gallows with an Attitude Adjustment for the win. Winner: John Cena
Draft Picks, Part II
And here we go again.
Raw Pick #4: Roman Reigns
Smackdown Pick #3: John Cena (I guess we’ll see more of Cena on Smackdown then.)
Raw Pick #5: Brock Lesnar
Smackdown Pick #4: Randy Orton
Raw Pick #6: The New Day (This is perhaps the smartest pick in the draft so far.)
Rusev & The Miz (w/Lana & Maryse) vs. Darren Young & Zack Ryder (w/Bob Backlund)
In this Champions vs. Challengers match, the United States Champion (Rusev) and Intercontinental Champion (The Miz) look to pick up the momentum advantage over their Battleground challengers. Rusev will defend the United States Championship against Zack Ryder, while The Miz will defend the Intercontinental Championship against Darren Young.
Darren Young takes a page out of his mentors playbook and locks in the Crossface Chicken Wing on The Miz, submitting the Intercontinental Champion. Winners (via submission): Darren Young & Zack Ryder
Xavier Woods (w/Big E & Kofi Kingston) vs. Bray Wyatt (w/Erick Rowan & Braun Strowman)
The New Day and The Wyatt Family will square off at Battleground, but this is not their first confrontation. The New Day went to the Wyatt Family compound and survived by the skin of their teeth. Woods, a level 22 trainer in Pokémon Go, has been very uncomfortable whenever he is around Bray Wyatt.
The match starts and Xavier Woods almost gets caught up in a trance, but he manages to snap out of it. Woods tries his best to fight Wyatt, but The Eater of Worlds catches Woods for Sister Abigail, laying out the Tag Team Champion. Winner: Bray Wyatt
Kevin Owens vs. Kane
As soon as Owens hits the entrance ramp, he runs into the General Managers and Commissioners. Owens starts yelling at them, complaining that he hasn’t been drafted yet. Before the match starts, Sami Zayn runs down to the ring to brawl with his lifetime rival.
The brawl goes to the ring, and it ends with both Zayn and Owens getting chokeslammed by Kane. Result: No Contest
Draft Picks, Part III
With tons of top stars left, let’s see who they pick in this round.
Raw Pick #7: Sami Zayn
Smackdown Pick #5: Bray Wyatt
Raw Pick #8: Sasha Banks (That’s it, Raw won.)
Smackdown Pick #6: Becky Lynch
Raw Pick #9: Chris Jericho
Dana Brooke and Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks
For some reason, Sasha Banks doesn’t get a partner tonight. However, she is ready to prove that she has the fighting spirit to take them both on. At Battleground, Banks will have a partner of her choosing to take on Charlotte and Brooke.
Because of the draft, this might be the last time we ever see Sasha Banks and Charlotte on Smackdown.
Sasha Banks doesn’t see that Charlotte tagged herself in and locks in the Bank Statement on Brooke. Charlotte takes advantage to hit Natural Selection for the win. This might be the first time Sasha Banks was pinned on the main roster. Winners: Charlotte & Dana Brooke
Draft Picks, Part IV
There are plenty of Superstars to go, and plenty of picks to be made.
Raw Pick #10: Rusev (w/Lana)
Smackdown Pick #7: The Miz (w/Maryse)
Raw Pick #11: Kevin Owens
Smackdown Pick #8: Baron Corbin
Raw Pick #12: Enzo Amore & Big Cass
Cesaro vs. Chris Jericho
Somehow, Cesaro hasn’t been drafted yet (and Baron Corbin has been). Now is a good time for Cesaro to convince the powers that be that he is a worthy choice in the next round of draft picks.
Jericho will be hosting a special edition of the Highlight Reel at Battleground, where his special guest will be the returning Smackdown Superstar, Randy Orton.
Cesaro attempts the springboard corkscrew European uppercut, but Jericho counters into a Codebreaker for the win. Winner: Chris Jericho
In-ring Segment
Natalya was supposed to have a match, but before anything could get underway, Becky Lynch rushes the ring and attacks Natalya. The referees have to come down to the ring and break up the fight.
Draft Picks Part V
You get the gist by now.
Raw Pick #13: Gallows & Anderson
Smackdown Pick #9: American Alpha
Raw Pick #14: The Big Show
Smackdown Pick #10: Dolph Ziggler
Raw Pick #15: Nia Jax
Raw Pick #16: Neville
Smackdown Pick #11: Natalya
Raw Pick #17: Cesaro
Smackdown Pick #12: Alberto Del Rio
Raw Pick #18: Sheamus
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Seth Rollins – WWE Championship
Last night on Raw, Rollins and Ambrose squared off for the WWE Championship, and the match ended in a draw. Because of the draw, Ambrose looks to defend the title one more time before the triple threat title match at Battleground. This Sunday will be the third time in a week where Ambrose will defend the championship.
Ambrose counters Rollins’s Pedigree attempt, and hits Dirty Deeds to retain the WWE Championship and keep the title on Smackdown, for now. Winner, and STILL WWE Champion: Dean Ambrose
