The First Ever Tri-Branded 411 FANTASY DRAFT!

Welcome everyone to the first-ever tri-branded 411 Fantasy Draft. In the spirit of Monday night’s big THREE HOUR draft special (8 p.m. Eastern on USA!), three of the writers from 411’s elite staff of wrestling minds gathered ’round the 411 water cooler this afternoon and took turns fantasy-drafting their favorite rosters for each of WWE’s three respective shows.

Representing RAW — John Meehan!

Meehan: RAW’s sitting pretty right now as THE (long sounding “eee”) flagship wrestling broadcast of our time. Even better, the red brand is packed with the most recognizable superstars on the WWE roster today, and so there is little worth panicing over should it lose a few to the Draft. Still, with injuries abounding (Triple H, Michaels, etc.) and John Cena pretty much challenger-less at the top of the heap, I’m thinking RAW will be well-served to mix things up a bit and import some big bad heels and up-and-coming superstars to help float the show once Da’ Champ needs a break. So watch out, Bayani and Marquis — if you’re a top-level heel on Smackdown or ECW, “I’m comin’ to getcha!”

For Smackdown — Matt Adamson!

Adamson: Smackdown! has been known for it’s wrestling for the last several years and I don’t plan on changing that. While RAW thinks it’s the most important show, we all know who makes to biggest waves. We are the most unique of the brands and bring the old school with the new school. This is our chance to show everybody who is boss and tell the world who the real “A Show” is.

And rounding out the group and representing ECW — Bayani Domingo!

Bayani: ECW is pretty much the land of misfit toys. While there are definitely some good young talents on the roster ECW is in need of some recognizable and veteran wrestlers to solidify the brand. This is a great opportunity to steal some main event level talent from RAW and Smackdown as well as pluck some “diamonds in the rough”. I’m hoping that with such a small roster we’ll float under the radar for the most part and snipe our talent from the shadows. If any of the brands have the most to gain from the ’07 then its ECW ECW ECW!!

The Rules

With the brands assigned, these three wrestling uberfans traded barbs and fantasy performers between shows round-robin pick ’em style, with EVERY talent subject to be moved/traded. That means champions, announcers, tag teams — you name it! Just like the real thing, NOBODY was safe from the big 411 fantasy draft. Rather than stick close to what *would* happen or what all we think *might* happen in the “actual” Draft… these 411 mainstays decided to shoot for the moon and go full-on “what if?” with their picks, raiding rival shows for superstars across the board and watching in delight as their competition’s rosters were reduced to rubble along the way.

How did it go? And who came out on top?!?

See for yourselves as we proudly present the first-ever tri-branded 411 Fantasy Draft!

Round One:

Meehan: For the first pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Chris Benoit – Let’s face it, people. The draft needs to start off with a bang, and there is no more well-established a “main event star” on ANY roster today than The Crippler. He’s a certifiable ass-kicker with a pedigree and a World Title reign to back it up, and drafting him this high will AUTOMATICALLY make people care all that much more about him once again. Rather than spinning his wheels in the blue brand’s midcard, a high-profile jump to RAW could be just what we need to trigger a late-stage reniassance in the man’s career. Plus he’s a natural fit to freshen up the title hunt on WWE’s flagship broadcast.

Adamson: For the second pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Shawn Michaels – The Heartbreak Kid, The Showstoppa is to most fans the greatest wrestler currently working today and I wouldn’t hesitate to agree. He has a history that is unmatched by any currently wrestling today. Although injured, I think he has so much more to do than feud with John Cena. Keeping him fresh is the key and that’s exactly what he needs.

Domingo: For the third pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

Edge – The NEW ECW is about extreme, it’s about pushing the envelope, it’s about spitting in the face of authority and breaking all the rules. That is precisely why the 1st pick of the NEW ECW has to embody all those qualities and more. The “Rated R Superstar” is about to get a new NC-17 rating in the newer and more EXTREME ECW.

Round Two:

Meehan: For the fourth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

C.M. Punk – WWE might turn “indy standouts” into “superstars,” but RAW is the show that turns “superstars” into “household names.” With C.M. Punk already having the fan support to get people talking, he’s a no-brainer pick to import to the company’s flagship show, and a STEAL this high in the overall mix. Sorry, Bayani. But your “tribe of Extreme” just got a whole lot less promising.

Adamson: For the fifth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Elijah Burke – Speaking of Extreme, this guy has potential like very few others. Smackdown is his next natural step as an in-ring performer. It goes to show just how good of a job ECW is doing for Punk and Burke. Do I see a U.S. title reign in his future?

Domingo: For the sixth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

John Cena – Okay, did someone fall asleep at the wheel here or did you guys forget who the big money player is in the WWE? Cena has proven time and time again that he THRIVES in a hardcore environment and a trip to ECW is just what the Dr. of Thuganomics ordered to open everyone’s eyes to just how badass this guy can be when he wants. Looks like I just stole each of your “Franchise Players” boys, sorry ’bout yo damn luck.

Round Three:

Meehan: For the seventh pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Mr. Kennedy – Since Bayani stole my man Cena (I was TOTALLY gonna’ lock him down for RAW in this round), the red brand needs some charisma in a hurry to help compensate for the Benoit factor at the top of the card. Enter Mr. Kennedy… Kennedy, a great talker and a tremendous in-ring talent. Pair him against Punk in a battle of the imports (once the injury heals up) and you’ve got a solid summer’s worth of new blood on television.

Adamson: For the eighth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Batista – The Animal is a huge name that is right where he belongs. With a change of surrounding Batista could seem fresh again like he did in 2005. Mr. Kennedy was going to be my next pick but alas, Meehan stole him straight from under my watchful eye. I think keeping Batista at the top working with guys like HBK will give him that extra needed experience to become the star he should be.

Domingo: For the ninth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

Bobby Lashley – The man is CLEARLY being built as the next big thing in Sportz Entertainment and why not? He’s young, he’s built like an H2 and he has proven himself against every opponent he’s gone up against. It was a tough decision between Blackzilla and Batista but Adamson made it that much easier for me. Looks like I’m holding full house with 3 Kings showing.

Round Four:

Meehan: For the tenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Triple H – Love him or hate him, there’s simply nobody better than “The Game” when it comes to making new stars and lending INSTANT credibility to otherwise-untested main eventers. Even the crappy feuds like Goldberg, Steiner and the rest were able to keep fans’ attention thanks to the experience of The Cerebral Assasin, and there is no reason to believe that the next generation of superstars (like Kennedy, Punk and a few others I’ve got in store) couldn’t likewise benefit from an established SUPERSTAR (all caps) like Triple H.

Adamson: For the eleventh pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Finlay – If Smackdown is going to maintain the argument that it has the best wrestling, Finlay is needed to teach the guys that need help how to wrestle. Besides that obvious fact he is a great character wrestler and badass and can fit anywhere from mid card to occasional main event. I guess you could call him a utility pick.

Domingo: For the twelfth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

Randy Orton – You know, I don’t know how all these main event guys keep falling into my lap but here is a guy who has all the tools to be a top level heel but just doesn’t have his head on straight. Well in ECW he better get his head together or get it knocked clean off. High risk, high reward, but his ceiling is so high I couldn’t pass him up.

Round Five:

Meehan: For the thirteenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

The Undertaker – Hahaha. You want Orton, Bayani? He’s all yours. Point blank, Undertaker is the single most-recognizable “wrestler” name to non-wrestling fans in the entire world. If his days as a full-time competitor truly are numbered, there is no reason why the Dead Man should be kept away from the one program that most “non fans” are at least somewhat familiar with and that most “casual wrestling fans” are watching. This way, he’ll help anchor the most-watched show the company has, AND he’ll make new fans care about the new stars who surround him in a few “star-making” battles along the way. Don’t laugh, folks — it almost worked when he did it for Jeff Hardy, ya’ know.

Adamson: For the fourteenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Jeff Hardy – Jeff Hardy is extremely entertaining, extremely over and when put in the ring with certain talented wrestlers is really quite good in the ring. A bit of Jeff Hardy vs. Finlay will mean great things for the Smackdown fans. I’d be interested in watching that right now.

Domingo: For the fifteenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

Marcus CorVon – The last of the 3 picks I was planning to retain, CorVon has big time written all over him and will fit in just perfectly with the big names I’ve already drafted/retained. Good enough in the ring, but his mic skills and some potential feuds with Cena/Lashley/Orton make this a value pick I had to wrap up early…PERIOD.

Round Six:

Meehan: For the sixteenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Booker T – Jeff Hardy DRAFTED to SD? Go ahead, WASTE your vote! Matt Hardy’s been a SD talent for a year now — and look how many matches he’s had on RAW. Hahaha. Bottom line is that if the flagship show needs ’em, then we stealz ’em… so I’m officially stealing another from the blue brand and taking King Booker T. Now gimmick-free and fresh off of injury, he’s due for some serious love from the fans. So why not let him have it on the grandest stage of them all?

Adamson: For the seventeenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Carlito – If the guy stays motivated, my guess is that he will be main event material in a year or two. My bet is on that he will become motivated and make a different. His program this year with Flair showed that Carlito is capable of being interesting and putting out a lot of effort. He was much better on Smackdown to begin with anyway.

Domingo: For the eighteenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

Johnny Nitro – Athleticism? Check. Look? Check. Opportunity? As of right now…Check. This guy is another “High Ceiling” guy who has everything needed to be a Main Event type guy. ECW is going to be all about good young athletes with the goods in the ring and I think ECW could use a little more “Hollywood” in the line-up.

Round Seven:

Meehan: For the nineteenth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Umaga – The Samoan Bulldozer has undoubtedly become RAW’s breakout star of 2007. Following two high-profile programs against John Cena and Bobby Lashley, Umaga is now as recognizable a face as they come on Monday nights. With a slew of talent coming in from other shows, new fans are bound to follow along. Why not stack their favorite imports against the Monday night measuring-stick-of-a-monster to see if these newbies have what it takes to make it on the grandest stage of them all?

Adamson: For the twentieth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Paul London – With Umaga having been chosen, my next choice was to hold onto one of the best cruiserweights in the world. Singles or tag team, Paul London has a load of potential and since Smackdown = cruisers, Smackdown must retain Paul London.

Domingo: For the twenty-first pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

William Regal – Someone needs to work with all of the youngsters on my roster. Not only is Regal a great wrestler, but a great trainer and let’s face it, with the possible Divas and Primadonas I have on the roster I’m going to need a “Babysitter” as well. Oh, I hope Adamson wasn’t counting on retaining him for his “wrestling” show.

Round Eight:

Meehan: For the twenty-second pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Lance Cade – Look fellas: Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch have done a tremendous job of late, and it’s an easy pick to help liven up these later rounds. MeeThinks it’s no big secret that Cade is the better performer of the two, and so I figured I’d liven up the draft with the obligatory “will a tag team be split up!?” pick (your move, fellas) — plus, Cade’s a solid performer in his own right and there’s no reason to doubt that he could make a dent in the upper-midcard if given the chance to shine.

Adamson: For the twenty-third pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

JBL – Well, speaking of splitting up tag teams… Shelton is incredibly entertaining regardless of some issues that need to be worked out in the ring. Hopefully working with Finlay some would give him the opportunity to develop a more disciplined style. He’s got the good, he just has to learn how to be perfect in his execution. He’s also another guy who should have never left Smackdown in my opinion.

Domingo: For the twenty-fourth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

JBL – Did someone say “shake up the draft”? JBL fills a number of holes. #1. I consider him the best commentator in the entire “e”. #2. Adding another veteran prescence in the locker room to “keep an eye” on some of the knuckle heads I’ve drafted could do nothing but help. #3. He could be the Paul Heyman to Lashley’s Lesner and solidy Bobby as the true monster he should have been. Oh yeah, I hope Smackdown enjoys having Miz backing up Michael Cole at the announce table.

Round Nine:

Meehan: For the twenty-fifth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Matt Hardy – The first “official” tag team dissolution of the draft (even though Matt and Jeff were never on the same brand in the first place). Regardless, consider your dreams of a renewed Edge/Matt feud crushed, Bayani. Smackdown can keep Jeff, his glow-paint, and his “personal demons” on their Friday Night death slot with less than half the viewers from Mondays… because as the “Brady Quinn” of the WWE draft, it’s put-up-or-shut-up time for Matt Hardy to prove he can make it alone as a bona-fide singles’ star.

Adamson: For the twenty-sixth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Brian Kendrick – Since I’m basically getting raped harder than Michael Jackson would have if in jail, I have to protect what I have. With Bayani taking JBL in one of the cruelest draft picks ever, I am forced to protect who is most important to me. My best tag team.

Domingo: For the twenty-seventh pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

MVP – While Meehan keeps drafting dinosaurs ready to retire and Adamson is trying to protect a long dead cruiserweight division I’m keeping to my draft strategy and picking young guys with great upsides. MVP has proven he can hold his own in the ring and he has only begun to scratch the surface of his potential. BALLIN’!!

Round Ten:

Meehan: For the twenty-eighth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, RAW selects…

Matt Striker – I’da stolen MVP, but it looks like I’ve already pillaged the blue brand for just about every A-lister they had. With an influx of Smackdown alums on the program, an up-and-comer-ECW-import like Matt Striker is the perfect balance and a fresh heelish face to round out this “new and improved” RAW roster. Plus, a late-numbered draft like this one will be a perfect fit for a natural heel like Striker: overlooked for ten rounds, now his character’s something to prove.

Adamson: For the twenty-ninth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, Smackdown! selects…

Rey Mysterio – Well, may as well hold onto the one guy I can shoot into the main event that I have left. After having been raped a couple times (Matt Hardy and JBL), I’ve come to realize something. For a one hour show, ECW sure is about the most top heavy promotion ever. I mean we’re talking WCW 98 and 99 type top heavy. Who is your star anyway Bayani? And Raw, well, it’s too bad guys like CM Punk will never get past the mid-card. It looks like the brand to actually build stars is… Smackdown!

Domingo: For the thirtieth pick of the 2007 411 Fantasy Draft, ECW selects…

Kenny Dykstra – The last of the “Upside” picks and what I’m hoping can turn into another “face” that can lead the charge against bundle of “heels” I now have on the roster. Closing out the draft this is a long shot pick that I think could really. Top to bottom this draft was an ECW Squash of the highest Caliber. ECW now looks like THE brand to watch and I think it’s only a matter of time before there is no choice but to expand this sucker another 60 mins and we take over the entire “e”. Suck on that “Big Brands”!!

Newly Drafted Rosters

Fantasy Draft Details

11 wrestlers were chosen from the RAW brand. 3 of these were retained by RAW.

5wrestlers were chosen from the ECW brand. 2 of these were retained by ECW.

14wrestlers were chosen from the Smackdown! brand. 5 of those were retained by Smackdown!

RAW lost 1 performer from their previous number of employees on their roster.

Smackdown lost 4 performer from their previous number of employees on their roster.

ECW gained 5 performers from their total number on their roster.

Final Thoughts

Meehan/RAW: Though I’ll be the first to admit that losing John Cena is a most devastating blow (so much so, in fact, that I don’t think we’re likely to see it transpire in real life) — RAW is looking pretty solid with a healthy mix of “new” (Punk, Kennedy, Umaga, Cade, Striker) and “old” (‘Taker, Benoit, Triple H, Booker T). Even better is that RAW, more than the other two shows (in my humble opinion) was able to balance a fair share of faces AND heels with these new picks, PLUS we’ve got a pretty solid crop of top-level talent that can perform well in either role if given the chance. In the end, though — I can see why the Draft is most definitely a “worked” thing. RAW gets plundered for it’s “big name” stars left and right, and minus the C.M. Punk import from ECW, the show was basically left to raid Smackdown! and the injured reserve list for whatever’s left.

Adamson/SD!: This turned out to be much tougher than I originally thought. My philosphy was to decide who I wanted and who didn’t want. I only ended up with one that I didn’t want, but only 2 that Smackdown didn’t previously have that I wanted in the beginning. My roster ended up losing more talent than it gained, which shows how carefully this has to be done in kayfabe to really work out. I think overall if this were done randomly like this in the WWE that one of the brands would end up getting raped of too much talent, much like Smackdown did here by losing 4 total wrestlers from the total number of wrestlers on the roster. That hurts.

Bayani/ECW: Never in my life did I expect to come out of the draft with 3 current champions on the roster. My draft strategy was to draft good young talent with in-ring ability and at least passable mic skills. I basically stole 3 proven main event level guys while retaining 2 of the 4 guys I wanted to keep. Though I lost Punk, Burke, and Striker, I got Cena, Edge, and Orton to replace them so essentially I lost out on some “Upside” guys whose ceilings were only as high as the guys I just drafted. No one made out better than me in the draft and the upside to the rest of my roster is absolutely incredible. While Meehan stuck with recognizable (and AARP eligible) wrestlers and Adamson scrambled to keep the rest of his roster from being totally pillaged I just sat back and let the picks come to me. Good thing this is a kayfabe draft because if not the “C” show could easily become the “A” with a few overlooked picks by the other brands. Too bad I need another hour on TV now because I couldn’t possibly fit all these guys on my roster.