WWE Mock Draft 2024 - Night One
Everyone is talking about the NFL Draft, but around these parts, the professional wrestling parts, this time of year also means it’s time for the WWE Draft.
While the event doesn’t happen every single year, when it does it certainly shakes things up. We’ve had everything from referees to ring announcers to commentators get drafted. Tag teams have been split up because of the draft. This years’ draft could shake things up just as well.
Before this year’s WWE Draft, they’ve laid down some ground rules. Let’s go over those real quick.
I. The draft stars April 26th on Smackdown. During that show there will be four rounds, with four picks in each round, totaling 16 total picks for the night. Smackdown will get the first pick of the night.
II. On Monday, April 29th, Monday Night Raw will then hold the second night of the draft. During Raw there will be a total of six rounds, four picks in each round, for a total of 24 picks.
III. Champions are protected for each brand. So that means wrestlers such as Cody Rhodes, Bayley, Logan Paul, and others will not be drafted.
IV. The caveat is that the women’s tag team champions can be drafted.
V. The rosters lock on May 6th. That is the Raw following the second draft night. So who knows what could happen between when the draft starts to when it is locked. Maybe a wrestler gets traded. Maybe a wrestler refuses to go to a certain brand and works out a deal with the general manager of the brand they want to wrestle on. We’ll have to wait to see if any of that happens.
VI. Finally, each general manager of the brand has released a picture of the wrestlers eligible. There are more wrestlers pictured in the images than slots available for the draft, so maybe some wrestlers will sign with new brands as free agents. We’ve asked for clarification on that part of the draft, but officials have not replied to us yet.
So, with the draft rules out of the way, let’s get into Kayfabe Bugle’s WWE Mock Draft for 2024, Night One.
1. AJ Styles
Of the eligible wrestlers available for night one of the draft, how can you not choose AJ Style? Since coming back from his injury, Styles has had an edge to him that many in WWE haven’t seen before. Not only did he interfere in the Elimination Chamber and attacked LA Knight, he avenged his WrestleMania loss against Knight, and earned himself a WWE championship match. Styles is one of the best wrestlers in the entire company, so his number one spot I think is obvious.
2. Bianca Belair
ESPN’s Female Wrestler of the Year os 2022, Belair has accomplished a lot in her short time in WWE so far. A two-time WWE women’s champion, Smackdown women’s champion, and a Royal Rumble winner, Belair is a cornerstone for any brand.
3. LA Knight
LA Knight seemed like he was white how in 2023. Some of that luster has worn off in some fans’ minds, but whenever he comes out, fans are squarely behind the wrestler. Yeah! Though he may have lost the Elimination Chamber and a rematch with AJ Styles to fight for the WWE championship, he did earn his first WrestleMania win this year. Though he might not have a straight line on where he might end up, any roster that adds LA Knight will be adding a man that can take care of business in the ring and has big fan support behind him.
4. Bron Breakker
Okay, we’re shaking it up here a little. The eligible wrestlers to be drafted on night one includes greats like Seth Rollins, Randy Orton, The Bloodline, and more. So why is Bron Breakker so high, rounding out the first round of the draft? Because of the man’s upside. He was the Wrestling Observer’s Rookie of the Year in 2022, and has since went on to become a two-time NXT champion and a tag team champion. His intensity rivals that of his father, Rick Steiner and uncle Scott Steiner. He's wrestled on both Raw and Smackdown a few times, but he hasn’t found his footing yet. With the roster shake-up, Bron Breakker could make a real name for himself as a true main eventer.
5. Seth Rollins
Seth “Freakin” Rollins has seemingly done it all. He’s won multiple championships, main evented WrestleManias, and been a member of one of the most feared factions in the history of pro wrestling. So why do we have Rollins falling to the second round of the first night? Because of his injury. His meniscus tear at the beginning of 2024 seemed to shelf the wrestler for a bit, but he came back and wrestled both nights of WrestleMania 40. His injury worsened though, so now Rollins is sidelined, and fans aren’t sure when he will come back. Not only that, but will Rollins retain his high intensity or explosiveness when he returns? Those questions loom and are the reason for his fallen status in the draft.
6. Jey Uso
There’s no question that “Main Event” Jey Uso has firmly broken away from the tag team with his brother and cemented himself as a singles wrestler. I believe Jey is still climbing the rungs of the single wrestler’s division. He’s had some good moments and has recently earned himself a World Championship match against Damien Priest. He’s a solid second round pick.
7. Shayna Baszler
Baszler has been around for a few years now and has accomplished a lot. Her trajectory was rising but seemed to stagnate when Ronda Rousey arrived in WWE. When that happened, Baszler seemed to take a backseat to her more famous friend. Though she defeated Rousey at Summer Slam of 2023, she hasn’t really regained the momentum she once held. She’s been teaming up with Zoey Stark recently, but I think being highlighted as a singles wrestler again could light that spark and get her into championship orbit again.
8. Liv Morgan
Liv Morgan has been on the edge of main event status for a long time. Sometimes she’s gotten passed over by more popular wrestlers, and other times she had to take a step back due to injury. Morgan has recently come back from injury, coincidentally by injuring the woman who injured her, Rhea Ripley. At the moment, Liv Morgan seems poised to be in the main event talks for the women’s division once again and would be a great second round pick for either brand.
9. Bloodline (Solo Sokoa / Roman Reigns)
So this is a tricky one. In the 2023 WWE Draft, the Bloodline was drafted as an entire unit. So I’m going to break down this pick for the group, but also for Solo Sokoa and Roman Reigns. As a group, led by either Sokoa or Reigns, have just suffered a massive loss at WrestleMania. Not only that, but Jimmy Uso has been kicked out of the group, seemingly replaced by Tama Tonga. Now, if we’re talking about Solo Sokoa, I’d keep this pick in the third round because Sokoa has only been the enforcer of the Bloodline. He has much to prove as the leader of the group, if that indeed is what he is now. Then there is Roman Reigns. Is he still the leader of the Bloodline? Is he hurt? Where has he been since his WrestleMania loss? When will he come back? All of those questions make Roman Reigns, Solo Sokoa, and the entire Bloodline the ninth pick in the third round. They are still a force to be reckoned with, but questions about them abound.
10. Ashante Adonis & Cedric Alexander
Adonis and Alexander are both prime talents, but I don’t think they’ve been able to capture the attention of pro wrestling fans as other tag teams have. Their upside is levels above their downside, and I think a change of scenery would be great for them as a team.
11. Randy Orton
Orton is, to many fans, one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. So why does the Apex Predator fall down to the middle of the third round on night one? Because of his age and injuries. He recently came back, but how long will Orton be back for? And the longer he goes, does that leave him open for another injury going forward? Plus, unfortunately, Orton has come up short in in a fatal four-way match for the WWE championship, lost in the Elimination Chamber, and lost in the triple threat match at WrestleMania 40 for the United States championship against Kevin Owens and Logan Paul.
12. Andrade
Rounding out the last pick in the third round is Andrade. Admittedly, this is a weird draft position for this wrestler. There’s no denying Andrade’s talent. He can deliver a great wrestling match, but he’s sort of been drifting in the middle of the roster since his return to WWE. Even when he joined forced with Rey Mysterio and their match at WrestleMania 40. Because of that, his draft stock has dropped, but he can certainly turn it on a dime, depending on who he chooses to fight with.
13. Sheamus
Ordinarily, Sheamus would probably be a much higher draft pick in past years. But Sheamus went down with an injury in September of 2023. Since then, the landscape of WWE has completely shifted. Plus, Sheamus himself has said his injury was serious, and he wondered if he was ever going to wrestle again. Because of those reasons it was hard to put him higher on night one of the draft. Hopefully Sheamus can get back to the level he was at before his injury.
14. Minchin
Minchin has all the tools to become a championship contender for either the WWE women’s title or the World’s women’s championship. For whatever reason she hasn’t been able to capture the opportunities that meet her skill. Being drafted on night one could change all of that.
15. Ricochet
Like Minchin, Ricochet also has all the skills to be a champion in WWE. He’s already been an Intercontinental champion and a United States champion, among other accomplishments. Some fans and wrestling personnel don’t think he makes a real connection with people when he talks, but his skills in the ring are second to none. Perhaps finding a manager for the high-flying wrestler could bolster his ring cred, and he could really step up and compete for a world championship.
16. Gable/Otis
The last pick of the draft on night one is a tricky one. Chad Gable recently turned on not only Sami Zayn but his Alpha Academy students. So, with this pick, maybe Chad Gable is drafted by himself. Or maybe he’s drafted with all his students. Otis being the last pick of the draft could also be something to consider. Otis has a great connection with fans, and no one liked him being talked down to by Gable. What would happen if Otis were drafted? Would Gable try to block the trade, or force himself to be drafted with Otis? Many different options could happen, but both of these men are reasonable considerations for the last draft pick on Smackdown.
Those are our picks for the first night of the 2024 WWE Draft. What are you picks?