The much-anticipated WWE Draft 2024 is set to kick off on the upcoming episode of Friday Night SmackDown, broadcasting from the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati. The draft will span two nights, concluding on next week’s edition of Monday Night RAW.
With the draft rules revealed ahead of the two-night extravaganza, a notable loophole has emerged, stirring speculation among fans and experts. Among the seven rules disclosed by WWE, one stands out prominently: the protection of champions on both rosters throughout the draft process.
While champions, with the exception of the Women’s Tag Team Champions, are shielded from being drafted to another brand, an oversight has potentially left challengers vulnerable to brand switches. This loophole, overlooked by Triple H and the drafting team, raises concerns regarding the continuity and integrity of championship storylines post-draft.
The inclusion of challengers in the draft pool poses a unique dilemma, as they could hypothetically be drafted to one brand and still emerge victorious in title matches on the opposing brand’s premium live event, such as Backlash 2024.
For instance, scenarios where Jey Uso or AJ Styles secure draft spots on one brand yet capture titles on the opposite brand at Backlash 2024 illustrate the complexity this loophole introduces to the draft terrain.
While this loophole presents a potential challenge to Triple H and WWE, its impact may be mitigated by certain factors. Notably, champions like Cody Rhodes and Damian Priest, crowned at WrestleMania 40, are unlikely to lose their titles at Backlash PLE.
Given the stability of championship reigns post-WrestleMania, concerns regarding the challengers’ draft status may be somewhat alleviated, as the likelihood of title changes diminishes.
However, despite these considerations, the presence of this loophole underscores the intricacies and unpredictability inherent in the WWE Draft 2024, promising an eventful shakeup across both brands and raising questions about the drafting strategy employed by Triple H and the drafting team.
