WWE Draft 2026
Brand Extension — Which Superstars Move to Raw or SmackDown? The post-WrestleMania WWE Draft reshapes both rosters. Every pick can make or break a superstar's trajectory for the entire year ahead.
Draft Storylines
How the WWE Draft Works
WWE alternates picks between Raw and SmackDown over two episodes. Each brand selects superstars in rounds, reshaping their rosters for the year. SmackDown on FOX and Raw on Netflix demand different roster mixes to maximise their audiences.
SmackDown vs Raw: Roster Balance
Heading into the 2026 Draft, SmackDown is loaded with star power while Raw has sought fresh faces. Both brands need to balance established main-eventers with rising talent to keep their shows compelling throughout the year.
Cody Rhodes — SmackDown or Raw?
The American Nightmare has been the face of SmackDown, but could Raw make a play for the undisputed champion? A surprise brand switch for Cody would be the most seismic draft pick in years — and exactly the kind of move WWE loves to shock fans with.
CM Punk — Raw's Cornerstone or Ready to Move?
CM Punk has anchored Raw since his return, but the Draft always carries the possibility of a shake-up. Could Punk follow a rival to SmackDown, or does Raw retain him as their top name heading into SummerSlam season?
Women's Division: Rhea, Bianca, Bayley
The women's division is arguably WWE's deepest it has ever been. Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, and Bayley cannot all thrive on the same brand. The Draft is where WWE reconfigures these rivalries — and potentially creates brand-defining championship feuds for 2026.
Rising Stars Ready for Elevation
The Draft is historically where midcard talent gets repackaged and elevated. A brand switch to a thinner roster gives hungry competitors more TV time, bigger feuds, and a shot at championship gold — a genuine career inflection point for the right pick.
Draft Order Predictions
Raw's Priority Picks
Raw on Netflix needs marquee names to justify the streaming deal. Expect Raw to target proven ratings draws early — a mix of established stars and reliable mid-card workers who can anchor weekly TV.
- First-round pick likely a marquee championship contender
- Women's division star to anchor the title picture
- Tag team to strengthen the division depth
SmackDown's Priority Picks
SmackDown on FOX has the broadest mainstream audience. The blue brand will look to protect its existing star power while adding fresh faces who can thrive in front of Friday night viewers.
- Lock in their Universal/WWE Champion if available
- At least one proven women's title contender
- Surprise pick — an NXT call-up or returning veteran
Wildcard Scenarios
The Blockbuster Trade
WWE could execute a surprise trade mid-Draft, swapping two established stars between brands to generate immediate headlines and feuds.
The Surprise Return
A returning legend or an injured superstar cleared to compete could be drafted first overall, instantly setting the tone for the brand that picks them.
The NXT Elevation
WWE has used the Draft to debut NXT call-ups with big presentation on the main roster. A hot NXT talent drafted to Raw or SmackDown can go from prospect to main eventer overnight.
Highlights & Clips
Top 10 Raw moments: WWE Top 10, July 13, 2026
Rusev conquers Je’Von Evans | Gauntlet Match: Raw highlights, July 13, 2026
Chad Gable defeats Ethan Page to win No. 1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match: Raw highlights, July 13, 2026
Seth Rollins STOMPS Roman Reigns after an intense war of words turns chaotic: Raw highlights
Full Raw highlights: July 13, 2026
Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins SIGN for SummerSlam! | Raw Recap: WWE Now
Oba Femi ATTACKS the police in front of Brock Lesnar en route to Hell in a Cell: Raw highlights
Analysis & Predictions
CM Punk vs Gunther is the technical main event fans have been waiting for
CM Punk and Gunther square off in a high-stakes technical battle, but the physical grind of the summer tour casts a shadow over the matchup.
CM Punk against Gunther is the technical masterclass we need
CM Punk and Gunther square off in a match defined by tactical patience and high-stakes maneuvering. Here is the analytical breakdown of what to expect.
Why Roman Reigns will never truly get Seth Rollins out of his head
Roman Reigns wants to end his rivalry with Seth Rollins at SummerSlam, but the wrestling internet isn't convinced he can ever escape the shadow of the Shield.
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are going to war but the pacing feels off
CM Punk and Cody Rhodes are colliding, but the WWE is rushing the story to the point of exhaustion. Here is my take on the pacing, the drama, and why the current booking feels like a bullet train hitting a brick wall.
CM Punk's return is running on fumes and bad chemistry
CM Punk's current rivalry is burning through logic at a rate that risks destroying the goodwill of his high-profile comeback.
Damian Priest and the brand extension era
Damian Priest's upcoming appearance at a minor league park highlights the changing expectations of the modern WWE performer, but his main event status remains tethered to creative constraints.
Ethan Page just blew the lid off the MJF and Cody Rhodes saga
Ethan Page spilled the beans on the MJF-Cody Rhodes history, and the wrestling community is currently locked in a civil war over whether it's a genuine reveal or a desperate booking pivot.
Cody Rhodes and the myth of the unapproachable megastar
Cody Rhodes isn't just a performer; he's a student of industry economics. A look at how his independent booking strategy defined his path to the top of WWE.
Why WWE will keep the Cody Rhodes and CM Punk feud locked in a corporate bubble
Analyzing Bully Ray's recent comments on a potential CM Punk and Cody Rhodes rivalry, and why WWE's corporate booking will reject references to their AEW past.
Cody Rhodes needs to lose his championship at SummerSlam 2026
It is time to end the Cody Rhodes experiment and embrace the chaos that only a heel Randy Orton or Bron Breakker squash can deliver in Cleveland.
Latest WWE Draft News
Jay Bilas Says He’d Be Open To Hosting A WWE Draft
· May 27, 2026
FREE PODCAST 4/24 – WKPWP 15 Yrs Ago Livecasts: WWE Draft process insights from ex-WWE Creative Team Member Piermarini, plus Wade & Bruce talked Flair, Rock, Edge, Mickie (140 min.)
· April 25, 2026
WWE Draft 2026 Status Looks Uncertain Amid Lack Of Internal Talk
· April 26, 2026
FREE PODCAST 5/1 – WKPWP 15 Yrs Ago Livecasts: WWE Draft speculation, Cena-Rock, awful Impact segment with Hogan & RVD & Sting, Sin Cara, more (158 min.)
· May 2, 2026
FREE PODCAST 5/3 – PWTorch Dailycast – Best of PWTorch Livecast: (4-27-2011) Wade and Pat analyze the WWE Draft including Christian, Sheamus, Barrett, Del Rio, Punk, Swagger, plus Extreme Rules predictions, McNeill Mailbag, more (95 min.)
· May 4, 2026
FREE PODCAST 5/4 – WKPWP 15 Yrs Ago Livecasts: Wade & Jason dissect the WWE Draft from all angles including the presentation and the aftermath, plus Raw review, Tough Enough, TNA idea, more (109 min.)
· May 5, 2026
FREE PODCAST 5/7 – WKPWP 15 Yrs Ago Livecasts: WWE Draft analysis with potential new feuds, Top Five Breakouts, Bryan, Morrison, Truth, Ziggler, plus issue with creating new stars (157 min.)
· May 8, 2026
FREE PODCAST 5/16 – WKPWP Interview Classic (10 Yrs Ago): Alex Greenfield, ex-WWE writer, with insights into Vince, Shane, Steph, Roman’s push, brand split, more (174 min.)
· May 17, 2026
FREE PODCAST 6/8 – WKPWP 15 Yrs Ago Livecasts: Keller & Powell talk state of Divas Division, post-WWE Draft fallout, Zach Ryder cameos, Tough Enough finals, WrestleMania, Lesnar, more (108 min.)
· June 9, 2026
FREE PODCAST 7/5 – PWTorch Dailycast – Best of PWTorch Livecast: 10 Yrs Ago – Cena’s WWE future, Brand Split Speculation, Lawler cleared of domestic violence and reinstated by WWE, Brock Lesnar at Summerslam, more (159 min.)
· July 5, 2026
FREE PODCAST 6/21 – PWTorch Dailycast – Best of PWTorch Livecast: 10 Yrs Ago – WWE Money in the Bank Post-Game Show discussing major WWE Title situation with Dean Ambrose, Cena vs. AJ Styles, Brand Split, more (138 min.)
· June 21, 2026
Draft Details
- Date: Late April / Early May 2026 (TBC)
- Airing: Raw (Netflix) & SmackDown (FOX)
- Format: Alternating brand picks, multi-round
- Following: WrestleMania 41
Post-WrestleMania Shake-Up
The WWE Draft always follows WrestleMania season, giving the company a chance to reset both brands, elevate new stars, and set up fresh rivalries for the summer and beyond.