Alternate Reality by Vin Tastic

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I guess it’s impossible, or at least highly unlikely, that an IWC writer will avoid the draft lottery completely. The changes they make in the next month could invigorate the product on Mondays and Thursdays, ignite new feuds, and make both Raw and SmackDown interesting again. At least, that’s our hope. Let me add my two cents…

TODAY’S ISSUE: WWE’s Draft Lottery

Last year’s draft lottery moves, as documented in InsidePulse’s WWE Transaction History Part 4: 2004, failed to deliver on the advertised “shake up”. Most of the moves had little impact on the overall scheme of things. Let’s take a look back:

03.22.04: Rene Dupree joins SD, selected in the Draft Lottery.
This broke up La Resistance (sort of) and was supposed to lead to a singles push for Dupree on SmackDown. La Resistance went on to hold the World Tag Team titles on Raw without Dupree, and Dupree hasn’t been seen on TV in months. Impact of this move: None

03.22.04: Shelton Benjamin joins RAW, selected in the Draft Lottery. Obviously this move has worked out well for the viewers and for Mr. Benjamin, as he has really showcased his talent as the IC Champ on Raw. Impact of this move: Very significant

03.22.04: Mark Jindrak joins SD, selected in the Draft Lottery. Mark who? The once-rumored new member of Evolution became hired muscle for Kurt Angle for a short time, and nothing else. Impact of this move: None

03.22.04: Nidia joins RAW, selected in the Draft Lottery. Nidia’s not even with the company anymore. Impact of this move: None

03.22.04: Triple H joins SD, selected in the Draft Lottery. This COULD have been the huge shake-up move we were hoping for, but sadly it was a swerve. Although HHH wrestled as a member of SmackDown on the draft lottery show against Eddie Guererro, he was traded back to Raw the following day for 17 or 18 guys, just to prove his net worth to Raw. Impact of this move: None

03.22.04: Rhyno joins RAW, selected in the Draft Lottery. Fired after WM 21, Rhyno was going nowhere in WWE anyway. Impact of this move: None

03.22.04: Rob Van Dam joins SD, selected in the Draft Lottery. After a brief stint in the US Title picture, creative seemed to settle on the tag team ranks for old RVD. I’d have liked to see him recreate his ECW TV Title run with the US strap, but I guess that wasn’t in the cards. Impact of this move: Minimal

03.22.04: Tajiri joins RAW, selected in the Draft Lottery. I guess Tajiri’s World Tag Team title run with William Regal was good for his career, but I think he belongs in the cruiserweight division on SmackDown. Impact of this move: Minimal

03.22.04: Theodore Long joins SD, selected in the Draft Lottery. I love Teddy as the GM of SmackDown, and he seems to have brought some sanity and stability to that position. Impact of this move: Significant

03.22.04: Edge joins RAW, selected in the Draft Lottery and returning from a long injury. It seems Edge just might be on the cusp of a big heel run, including a World Title reign. Impact of this move: Very Significant

03.22.04: Spike Dudley joins SD, selected in the Draft Lottery. “The Boss” had a good run as the leader of the Dudley Boys, and as Cruiserweight Champ. Impact of this move: Significant

03.22.04: Paul Heyman joins RAW, selected in the Draft Lottery, and removed as GM of SmackDown. This could have been interesting, except Paul Heyman quit RAW immediately thereafter. Impact of this move: None, except that it served to remove Heyman from TV

03.23.04: Booker T is traded to SD with the Dudley Boyz for HHH, as announced on WWE.com. I think Booker T might be a better fit on the SmackDown side of the house, but he hasn’t exactly electrified Thursday nights. After his feud with John Cena fizzled, the most exciting thing he’s done lately is hang out with the Paisley Storm backstage. Impact of this move: Minimal

03.23.04: Bubba and D-Von Dudley are traded to SD for HHH, as announced on WWE.com.I think the Dudleys have finally lost the magic. Gotta’ love the 3D, though. Impact of this move: None

03.23.04: A-Train and Chuck Palumbo are traded to RAW for Rico and Miss Jackie, as announced on WWE.com. Are any of these folks even with the company anymore? Oh yeah, the untalented chick is… Impact of this move: None

It’s clear that as a whole, last year’s draft lottery failed to make a huge impact on the product, or to establish a new “feel” for either show. What I’d like to see this time around is this: of the five total moves, two should be big enough players that their moves have immediate impact, like HHH or Angle. The third and fourth personnel moved should be mid-level guys like Jericho or Guererro (a tag team might do nicely), and the fifth move can be a lower guy or a valet, announcer, or somebody on that level. That would round out the required five moves nicely, without totally renovating either brand. I’m not talking about the order in which the moves take place, just the type of talent that should be moved.

It would also be interesting to see at least one championship be affected by the draft lottery, as in the Women’s title going to SmackDown, or the Cruiserweight title going to Raw.

I won’t select the people I wish to see moved by name, but it would be nice if the shows had a newness and excitement brought to them by way of the draft lottery. Vince is certainly making it SEEM like a big deal, so let’s see if he delivers, or leaves us high and dry again.

By the way, how surreal was it to see McMahon, Bischoff, and Heyman in the ring together?

We now return you to your regularly scheduled reality.

p.s. – What genius put an “S” in the word “lisp”?

Master Sergeant, United States Air Force