WWE Draft Rules And Pools Announced, Retribution Can Be Drafted As A Group
WWE has announced the official rules and Superstar pools for the 2020 Draft. The Draft kicks off this Friday during SmackDown on FOX, and then will wrap during Monday's RAW on the USA Network.
There will be more than 60 Superstars and tag teams that are eligible in the Draft. More than 20 Superstars from both brands will be eligible to be drafted on Friday, and more than 30 will be eligible to be drafted on Monday.
Due to the length of each show, RAW will get 3 picks for every 2 picks that SmackDown selects. Tag teams will count as 1 pick unless FOX or USA, in conjunction with WWE officials, want to pick just one Superstar from the team. Any undrafted Superstars will be declared free agents, and will be able to sign the the brand of their choosing.
The biggest news on the pools is that RETRIBUTION, as a group, will be eligible to be drafted to the blue brand. All 6 members (Mustafa Ali, T-BAR, Slapjack, Mace, Retaliation, Reckoning) will be included in the pick, which kills any speculation on Retaliation (Mercedes Martinez) being nixed from the group.
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre and WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns are both eligible to be drafted on Friday night. Several RAW Underground regulars will also be eligible, including Dabba-Kato. Another interesting note from the pool is that Rey Mysterio and Dominik Mysterio will be drafted as a team, while Erik of The Viking Raiders is going by himself due to Ivar being out of action. It was reported this week that Erik is also currently out of action after undergoing a minor operation to remove old surgery hardware from his arm. There are no WWE NXT Superstars listed in the pools.
The following Superstars are eligible to be drafted on Friday: RAW Women's Champion Asuka, Sasha Banks, Bianca Belair, Dana Brooke, Humberto Carrillo, Elias, Angel Garza, Drew Gulak, Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker), The Hurt Business (WWE United States Champion Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander and MVP), Mickie James, Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado), WWE Champion Drew McIntyre, Murphy, Rey & Dominik Mysterio, Naomi, The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods), WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns, Ricochet, Seth Rollins, Mandy Rose, WWE Women's Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax, Shorty G, AJ Styles, Jey Uso.
The following Superstars are eligible to be drafted on Monday: Andrade, SmackDown Women's Champion Bayley, Aleister Black, Alexa Bliss, Daniel Bryan, Carmella, King Corbin, Apollo Crews, Nikki Cross, Dabba-Kato, Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode, Erik (of The Viking Raiders), Lacey Evans, Charlotte Flair, Jeff Hardy, Billie Kay, Lana, Keith Lee, The Miz & John Morrison, Riddick Moss, Natalya, Titus O'Neil, Randy Orton, Kevin Owens, WWE 24/7 Champion R-Truth, RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-BAR, MACE, SLAPJACK, RECKONING & RETALIATION), Matt Riddle, The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan), Peyton Royce, Arturo Ruas, Sheamus, SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro, RAW Tag Team Champions The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford), Braun Strowman, Tamina, Akira Tozawa, Zelina Vega, Bray Wyatt, WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn.
Stay tuned for updates on the WWE Draft. Below is WWE's full announcement issued to us today:
WWE Draft rules and Superstar pools set for 2020 edition
The WWE Draft will get underway this Friday, Oct. 9 on SmackDown and conclude Monday, Oct. 12 on Raw. WWE Chief Brand Officer Stephanie McMahon will once again preside over both nights of selections.
As reported by FOX Sports, the rules and Superstar pools have now been finalized for the 2020 WWE Draft.
* Over 60 Male Superstars, Female Superstars and Tag Teams have been placed into the 2020 WWE Draft.
* More than 20 Superstars are eligible to be drafted on Friday night and more than 30 Superstars are eligible to be drafted on Monday night.
* Due to the length of each show, for every two picks that SmackDown selects, Raw will get three picks.
* Tag Teams will count as one pick unless FOX or USA Network, in conjunction with WWE Officials, wants to pick one Superstar from the team.
* Any undrafted Superstars will immediately be declared free agents and able to sign with the brand of their choosing.WWE Superstars have been split into eligible pools for the Friday and Monday episodes of the WWE Draft. Here is the breakdown of who is available for selection each night:
FRIDAY
Asuka
Sasha Banks
Bianca Belair
Dana Brooke
Humberto Carrillo
Elias
Angel Garza
Drew Gulak
Heavy Machinery (Otis & Tucker)
The Hurt Business (Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Cedric Alexander and MVP)
Mickie James
Lucha House Party (Kalisto, Gran Metalik and Lince Dorado)
Drew McIntyre
Murphy
Rey & Dominik Mysterio
Naomi
The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
Roman Reigns
Ricochet
Seth Rollins
Mandy Rose
Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax
Shorty G
AJ Styles
Jey UsoMONDAY
Andrade
Bayley
Aleister Black
Alexa Bliss
Daniel Bryan
Carmella
King Corbin
Apollo Crews
Nikki Cross
Dabba-Kato
Dolph Ziggler & Robert Roode
Erik (of The Viking Raiders)
Lacey Evans
Charlotte Flair
Jeff Hardy
Billie Kay
Lana
Keith Lee
The Miz & John Morrison
Riddick Moss
Natalya
Titus O'Neil
Randy Orton
Kevin Owens
R-Truth
RETRIBUTION (Mustafa Ali, T-BAR, MACE, SLAPJACK, RECKONING & RETALIATION)
Matt Riddle
The Riott Squad (Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan)
Peyton Royce
Arturo Ruas
Sheamus
Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro
The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford)
Braun Strowman
Tamina
Akira Tozawa
Zelina Vega
Bray Wyatt
Sami ZaynDon't miss this WWE Draft on Friday, Oct. 9 at 8/7 C on FOX and Monday, Oct. 12 at 8/7 C on USA Network to see where your favorite Superstars are headed.