:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/55763427/WWE-Draft.0.0.0.jpg)
1 year ago today, WWE presented the 2016 WWE Draft on the premiere episode of Smackdown Live from the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Unlike the previous drafts, talent distribution was not even. RAW would get 60% of the roster to Smackdown’s 40%. Each round was divided into five draft picks, with RAW and Smackdown alternating picks (RAW would get three picks, while Smackdown got two).
All members of the roster were eligible to be drafted, including all non-champions in NXT; however, only six NXT picks were available between the two shows. Tag teams counted as one pick, unless the commissioner or general manager explicitly stated that only one member of the team is being picked.
Six rounds were conducted during the show, with the rest of the roster being drafted on WWE Draft Center Live following Smackdown. Beginning with the eighth round, RAW and Smackdown alternated picks for the remainder of the draft.
Some members of the roster were not drafted due to inactivity or injury.
- Ryback was in a contract dispute with WWE. He would be released on August 8.
- Nikki Bella was out with a neck injury at the time of the draft. She would return at Summerslam and would join the Smackdown roster.
- Though Triple H competed in the main event of Wrestlemania 32, he is considered semi-active.
- Heath Slater was the only eligible performer to not be drafted. He would eventually join the Smackdown roster when he won the WWE Tag Team Championship (Smackdown subdivision) with Rhyno at Backlash.
- Luke Harper was out with a knee injury at the time of the draft. He returned at No Mercy and helped Bray Wyatt defeat Randy Orton. Harper would join the Smackdown roster.
- Rosa Mendes was on maternity leave. She retired from wrestling in February 2017.
- Emma was out with a back injury. She returned on RAW in February 2017 as Emmalina, but was quickly taken off TV again when the gimmick bombed. She returned again as Emma in April.
- The Undertaker was considered semi-active. He returned to Smackdown on the show’s 900th episode in November 2016, then declared himself unaffiliated in January 2017 on RAW. The Undertaker would retire following a loss to Roman Reigns at Wrestlemania 33.
- Tamina was out with a knee injury at the time of the draft. She returned in April 2017 as part of the Superstar Shakeup (essentially, the 2017 Draft).
- Tyson Kidd had been out with a spinal injury since June 2015. His in-ring career is likely over as he is reportedly transitioning to a producer role.
- The Rock is considered semi-active, though he had not had a match since his record-breaking six-second win over Erick Rowan at Wrestlemania 32.
2017 WWE Draft (Live)
| Round | Overall Pick # | Brand | Superstar | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | Overall Pick # | Brand | Superstar | Notes |
| 1 | 1 | RAW | Seth Rollins | |
| 1 | 2 | Smackdown | Dean Ambrose | WWE Champion |
| 1 | 3 | RAW | Charlotte | WWE Women's Champion |
| 1 | 4 | Smackdown | AJ Styles | |
| 1 | 5 | RAW | Finn Balor | Drafted from NXT |
| 2 | 6 | RAW | Roman Reigns | |
| 2 | 7 | Smackdown | John Cena | |
| 2 | 8 | RAW | Brock Lesnar | |
| 2 | 9 | Smackdown | Randy Orton | |
| 2 | 10 | RAW | The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston, and Xavier Woods) | WWE Tag Team Champions |
| 3 | 11 | RAW | Sami Zayn | |
| 3 | 12 | Smackdown | Bray Wyatt | |
| 3 | 13 | RAW | Sasha Banks | |
| 3 | 14 | Smackdown | Becky Lynch | |
| 3 | 15 | RAW | Chris Jericho | |
| 4 | 16 | RAW | Rusev and Lana | WWE United States Champion |
| 4 | 17 | Smackdown | The Miz and Maryse | WWE Intercontinental Champion |
| 4 | 18 | RAW | Kevin Owens | |
| 4 | 19 | Smackdown | Baron Corbin | |
| 4 | 20 | RAW | Enzo Amore & Big Cass | |
| 5 | 21 | RAW | Luke Gallows & Karl Anderson | |
| 5 | 22 | Smackdown | American Alpha (Jason Jordan & Chad Gable) | Drafted from NXT |
| 5 | 23 | RAW | Big Show | |
| 5 | 24 | Smackdown | Dolph Ziggler | |
| 5 | 25 | RAW | Nia Jax | Drafted from NXT |
| 6 | 26 | RAW | Neville | |
| 6 | 27 | Smackdown | Natalya | |
| 6 | 28 | RAW | Cesaro | |
| 6 | 29 | Smackdown | Alberto Del Rio | |
| 6 | 30 | RAW | Sheamus | |
| 7 | 31 | RAW | Golden Truth (Goldust & R-Truth) | |
| 7 | 32 | Smackdown | The Usos (Jimmy & Jey) | |
| 7 | 33 | RAW | Titus O'Neill | |
| 7 | 34 | Smackdown | Kane | |
| 7 | 35 | RAW | Paige | |
| 8 | 36 | RAW | Darren Young and Bob Backlund | |
| 8 | 37 | Smackdown | Kalisto | |
| 8 | 38 | RAW | Sin Cara | |
| 8 | 39 | Smackdown | Naomi | |
| 8 | 40 | RAW | Jack Swagger | |
| 8 | 41 | Smackdown | The Ascension (Konnor & Victor) | |
| 9 | 42 | RAW | The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray & D-Von) | |
| 9 | 43 | Smackdown | Zack Ryder | |
| 9 | 44 | RAW | Summer Rae | |
| 9 | 45 | Smackdown | Apollo Crews | |
| 9 | 46 | RAW | Mark Henry | |
| 9 | 47 | Smackdown | Alexa Bliss | Drafted from NXT |
| 10 | 48 | RAW | Braun Strowman | |
| 10 | 49 | Smackdown | Breezango (Tyler Breeze & Fandango) | |
| 10 | 50 | RAW | Bo Dallas | |
| 10 | 51 | Smackdown | Eva Marie | |
| 10 | 52 | RAW | The Shining Stars (Epico & Primo) | |
| 10 | 53 | Smackdown | The Vaudevillains (Aiden English & Simon Gotch) | |
| 11 | 54 | RAW | Alicia Fox | |
| 11 | 55 | Smackdown | Erick Rowan | |
| 11 | 56 | RAW | Dana Brooke | |
| 11 | 57 | Smackdown | Mojo Rawley | Drafted from NXT |
| 11 | 58 | RAW | Curtis Axel | |
| 11 | 59 | Smackdown | Carmella | Drafted from NXT |
Oh, there was wrestling on the show too.
- John Cena defeated Luke Gallows.
- Zack Ryder and Darren Young defeated Rusev and The Miz via submission.
- Kevin Owens and Kane fought to a no contest.
- Bray Wyatt defeated Xavier Woods.
- Charlotte and Dana Brooke defeated Sasha Banks in a handicap match.
- Chris Jericho defeated Cesaro.
- Dean Ambrose defeated Seth Rollins to retain the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.