Welcome to your Weekly Wednesday Wrestling Stop for all things WWE and TNA! I am The RAD One Rhett Davis and this is The O’Really Report, not to be confused with The Raging O’Really Report. Last week I began a trend of sharing the space with fellow columnists in order to get views out in the air on the current dealings of the WWE and TNA. I thank you all for the positive feedback last week and it will continue next week with a new guest. Who will that be you ask? Well none other than… sorry. You’ll just have to wait. Can’t spoil the surprise now can we? Anyways in case you want to talk to me or humor me (I get bored after all) here are my digits…erm.. various forms of communication.
Twitter: @radmann9
Facebook:Â Rhett Davis
E-Mail:Â radmann9@yahoo.com (if you feel so inclined)
In a galaxy far, far away, there was a WWF product where there was no Brand Extension. There were no such things as ‘SmackDown’ and ‘Raw’ Superstars. Wrestlers were free to bounce from show to show to hype their feuds two times a week if needed. However, in 2002, the first ever, and only, WW’F’ Draft occurred. Ric Flair and Vince McMahon were struggling for control of the company due to a small print type in the contract when Vince bought out WCW. Flair and Vince were essentially equals. On March 25, 2002, eight days after WrestleMania X8, the Draft happened. Superstars were drafted one at a time to the two shows with Vince in charge of SmackDown! and Ric in charge of Raw. Only 20 picks actually happened on the show and the remainder of the roster was selected after the show on WWF.com. Every year since that, we have had a draft with the exception of 2003. I bring up this point to divulge into my topic today… who were the biggest break-out and bust picks of each year?
2004
In 2004, the draft was between the respective brands and the General Managers were Eric Bischoff and Paul Heyman for Raw and SmackDown respectively.
Biggest Break-Out:Â Shelton Benjamin
2004 was the year of the Benjamin. This is the year that he really showed his athleticism. When he was first drafted, I was unsure that he would be able to handle being on his own away from Angle and Haas. Boy did he prove not only me, but the whole world wrong! Shelton would end up having multiple wins over Triple H. Fluke wins albeit, but wins over The Game regardless. He later would win the Intercontinental Championship at Taboo Tuesday and would hold it until Carlito came to the show the following year.
Biggest Bust:Â Mark Jindrak
Overall, this year’s draft really didn’t ‘shake things’ up very much except for Booker being traded to SmackDown with the Dudleys in exchange for Triple H. However, that was a post-draft trade so I’m not counting it. I mean picks this year included Rhyno, Tajiri, Rene Dupree, and Spike Dudley. None of those picks were really monumental. However, the biggest bust of this draft had to be Mark Jindrak. He was expected to do great, but instead got involved in a random stable with Kurt Angle and Luther Reigns that really got him nowhere. He would spend most of the next year on Velocity or teaming with Luther Reigns and losing primarily. The only ‘big’ moment he had, was when he helped hold down Big Show as Kurt shaved him bald.  That’s it. He would be released a little after the next year’s draft.
2005
In 2005, the draft was once again between Raw and SmackDown except this time the picks took place over a month’s time. Oh and Theodore Long was the GM of SmackDown! Holla!
Biggest Break-Out:Â John Cena
There were some solid picks this year as opposed to the last year’s draft, but none benefitted from the draft more than John Cena. John had just recently claimed the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 21 for his first time and was a fresh champion as was the World Heavyweight Champion Batista. In the beginning, it looked as though Batista would be the next big thing, but because of injuries Cena would prevail as the poster boy. The move to Raw would further establish Cena as the ‘top dog’ in WWE. Being the Champ on Raw means something after all. SmackDown… not as much, but still highly important.
Biggest Bust:Â Muhammad Hassan
This was one of my favorite angles from this time period and I thought it was a shame that he didn’t get a match at WrestleMania, but that’s not important. Hassan had heat. I mean SERIOUS heat. Most of it was because the country was extremely racist and this was too close to 9-11, but he developed serious heat from just having Daivari speak in his foreign tongue. It’s sad that the character had to be deleted not too shortly after debuting on SmackDown as he could’ve been great.
2006
In 2006, there was no draft, but there was a mini draft where Paul E. Dangerously (Heyman) chose a superstar from either show.
Biggest Break-Out:Â Rob Van Dam
Yes even though there were only two picks, BOTH of them fit into the descriptions. RVD was awarded the ECW Championship by Paul Heyman and then, using his Money In The Bank Ladder match, would take the WWE Championship away from John Cena at One Night Stand. It was a great push for RVD and he got seriously over on it… and then seriously high from it. I would like to solely blame the demise of ECW as a serious threat of being equal to Raw and SmackDown on RVD. He was their poster-child and he blew it (pardon the pun). Regardless, that was a major break for RVD regardless of his demise following.
Biggest Bust:Â Kurt Angle
Yeahhh I bet you forgot he was in ECW didn’t you? I know I do all the time. Kurt went there… for a few months and then at the end of August requested his early contract release due to injuries. At least he stayed retired like HBK right?
2007
In 2007, it was the first tri-branded WWE Draft. There would be a series of matches to earn draft picks for their respective show.
Biggest Break-Out:Â Johnny Nitro
Yeah remember that guy who used to wear the Tag Title connected to his belt hanging down? He was in a tag team called M-N-M? Yeah that Nitro guy! Well he traded to ECW in this draft and in his first title match he WON the ECW Championship and forever changed his name from Johnny Nitro to Jim.. erm.. John Morrison. After a successful title run, he would later join up with The Miz to form one of the best tag teams in recent years. They would win the tag titles and run with them throughout the year.  The only reason I chose Morrison over Miz is because during their ECW time… Morrison shined much more than Miz did.
Biggest Bust:Â Bobby Lashley
Man I haven’t written that name in ages. Lashley was supposed to be the next Batista, the next Cena, the next Brock, well he was closer to Brock than the other two. Lashley was GIVEN the whole WWE and he threw it away. Lashley dominated ECW during his stay there and was going to be given a huge push on Raw. However, Lashley became enraged at his wife/girlfriend’s dismissal from the company and quit himself. This would leave WWE without a future star to push forward and literally seemed as though Vince was scared to trust anyone with that kind of push for many years. Thanks Bobby. Mr. Kennedy would be a close second, but his was due to injuries so I guess we can let that slide. Not the A**Hole garbage he spews now though.
2008
In 2008, it was once again a tri-branded draft. Same rules applied as the last year.
Biggest Break-Out:Â CM Punk
This one was easy. Punk was Mr. Money In the Bank this year and on his first night on Raw he cashed his briefcase in and stole the big Gold belt for his first time. He would proceed to hold the belt until Unforgiven when Randall would proceed to punt him in the head for literally no reason. He would come back and win some tag gold before surprisingly winning MITB for a second straight year. Jeff Hardy would be a close second, but I don’t think it was necessarily the trade that gave him his first taste of championship gold. That seemed inevitable. Matt Hardy could also be a close one, but no, he’s not getting any accolades from me.
Biggest Bust:Â Rey Mysterio
After the year after year of Rey not changing shows, finally Rey Mysterio has come to Raw. And what does he do? Hardly anything. He fought Kane for the majority of the year in a feud that just would…not…die… he would enter the Rumble, but lose. He also would enter the Elimination Chamber at No Way Out. He would lose their as well. He did win the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania, retiring JBL. Overall, a lame year for Rey and a lame year for the WWE fans. All of the excitement caused by Rey jumping ship to Raw for the first time didn’t amount to squat. Oh yeah he would go back to SmackDown the next year.
2009
In 2009, it would be the third and final tri-branded WWE Draft. Same rules applied here as well.
Biggest Break-Out:Â The Miz
As bad as I wanted him to put him on 2007, he didn’t really break out of his shell until his trade from ECW to Raw. Initially I thought The Miz was done when he was traded to Raw. I thought he would slowly become non-existent on the show and would be drafted back to ECW or SmackDown or would be released by the next year. Little did I know that he would develop an obsession with outdoing Cena that would lead to Miz eventually gaining the United States, Tag Team, and WWE Heavyweight Championships. No one benefitted more from this draft than The Miz.
Biggest Bust:Â Vladimir Kozlov
There could have been a few names inserted here, but none missed their opportunity more than Vladimir Kozlov. Kozlov on SmackDown received heavyweight treatment despite not having been on the roster long and actually received a triple threat title match at Survivor Series there. He was the cover of Elimination Chamber. The move to ECW looked like a great fit for the Moscow Mauler, but it seemed like forever before he debuted on the brand. When he finally did, he was back to square one… destroying nobodies. He would then become one part of the Ruthless Roundtable. Nothing would come to his grouping other than Regal and Christian continuing their feud in which Christian would win every time.
2010
In 2010, ECW had puttered out and it was back to just Raw and SmackDown. Same rules apply.
Biggest Break-Out:Â Cody Rhodes
Despite not winning any singles gold after his trade to the Blue brand, Cody Rhodes established what he needed more than lower title gold: a persona. Cody Rhodes developing the Dashing gimmick put him over big time as a heel and then the eventual development into the psychotic Cody Rhodes makes him unpredictable and more interesting than half of the roster on SmackDown. He also held the WWE Tag Team titles for a brief spell with Drew McIntyre.
Biggest Bust:Â Edge
Yeah I know it’s kind of rough to say this since he just retired, but in all honesty, his move to Raw was a terrible move. He was there for only a few months, but virtually nothing happened with this multiple time World Heavyweight Champion. He made a few tool jokes with Ryder, was actually involved in all of the big men title bouts, and got into a fight with a laptop. Once he was transitioned back to SmackDown, he did fine, but on Raw he just disappeared in the back of the title scene. The Draft did him no good and it took a transition back to the Blue Show to get Edge back on track.
2011
In 2011, there were some pretty big picks and I will pick who I think will be the Break-Out and Busts of this year.
Biggest Break-Out:Â Randy Orton
With a separation from SuperCena, maybe the Viper can finally get his opportunity as the top face on the show. I think Randy Orton will do as well as Edge did on SmackDown except as a face instead of a heel. SmackDown fans prepare to get sick of Randal Keith Orton, because he will be in the title picture as much as John Cena is. It may be a slight delay as I believe Christian will win the World Heavyweight Championship at Extreme Rules, but eventually Christian will lose the title and Randal will be there to strike. Sheamus, Daniel Bryan, Drew McIntyre, and Ted DiBiase may shake things up though.
Biggest Bust:Â Alberto Del Rio
I could be totally wrong, but I got a sick feeling when I saw him traded to Raw. He reminds me so much of Edge that I’m scared he might lose his push on Raw. Del Rio was a natural fit for SmackDown, but since Sin Cara needs the show badly and Del Rio and Sin Cara do not get along… this might be the best solution I guess. Still, I fear Del Rio may become the bust of this draft. *crosses fingers* Here’s to hoping I’m wrong!
And now for the most important part… the Plugging and Chugging!
First, you have No Chance of finding the solution of the slump post-Mania, but Joel sure does have a nifty game for kids of all ages to play while watching the show!
II, say hello to my little friend Chris Sanders as he Rages just a tad more on Raw and WWE!
Tres, He’ll be back. James Alsop with another Keynotes and Keyholds that is! This time it’s all about making an entrance.
3+1, Gojira is putting on the wrist tape in preparation for our epic Tag team duel by talking off how to fix WWE on The Stomping Ground.
Ivefay, No time for love Dr. Gepp as he takes apart and analyzes how wrestling is like an art form in his View From Down There.
10-4, Aaron I am your father. And Glazer’s view on the WWE Draft appears to be a hopeful one in his Morning Backlash. Prepare to meet your maker in the VS Tag Battle though.
Last but not least, my partner in crime, Jonah Kue, is getting ready for the epitome of all duels by dissecting the Draft in his latest Kue’s Korner.
So who do you think will be the Biggest Break-Out and Bust of the 2011-2012 wrestling year?
Thanks for reading and feel free to leave a comment/concern/insult/compliment/etc in the comment section provided below.
And quite frankly my dear… that’s a wrap!
