2011 WWE Draft

WWE's intra-brand draft 2011 WWE draft The WWE Draft logo used from 2007 to 2011. Professional wrestling April 25, 2011 Raleigh, North Carolina WWE RawSmackDown 2010 2016 The 2011 WWE draft was the ninth and final overall WWE draft before the first WWE brand extension ended on August 29, produced by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE, which took place on April 25. With a core business of professional wrestling, the corporation held a draft to exchange personnel assigned to one of its two brands (Raw and SmackDown) that are (in terms of storyline) independent brands that represent WWE. The draft aired live on the USA Network on Raw in the United StatesIn addition to the United States, Raw is broadcast in various countries. for two hours in Raleigh, North Carolina, from the RBC Center. As a standard for previous drafts, most on-air personnel were eligible to be drafted.http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2011-wwe-draft/biggestmoments The WWE Draft's biggest moment's WWE April 19, 2011 April 18, 2011 A continuation of the draft took place on WWE's official website at 12:00pm Eastern time on the following afternoon. Matches determined the recipient of draft picks for the television portion of the draft while the continuation of the draft via the Internet was conducted at random. The draft's 30 selections featured 29 wrestlers being exchanged between WWE's two brands. SmackDown received 16 additional members to its roster while Raw received 13. For the first time in draft history, two of the draft picks consisted of the same wrestler (John Cena) being selected to SmackDown with the first pick and back to Raw with the last televised pick. Background The Brand Extension storyline was initiated in March 2002, in which WWE's Raw and SmackDown television programs were made into brands (similar to conferences within a league) to which employees were assigned;http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_03_27.jsp WWE Entertainment To Make Raw and SmackDown Distinct Television Brands March 27, 2002 WWE Corporate WWE April 6, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100417115226/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2002/2002_03_27.jsp April 17, 2010 dead the ECW brand was additionally involved between 2006 and 2009.http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/05/25/1597205.html https://web.archive.org/web/20160310072304/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/05/25/1597205.html dead March 10, 2016 ECW back on TV Canadian Online Explorer May 23, 2011 2006 Annual drafts have followed since this occurrence, except for in 2003. As with past drafts, the purpose of the 2011 WWE draft was to increase television ratings of WWE programming and refresh the rosters for each brand.http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2005/2005_06_29.jsp WWE's Monday Night RawScores Huge Ratings Jump June 25, 2005 WWE Corporate WWE April 27, 2010 'RAW is building ratings momentum,' said Kurt Schneider, Executive Vice President, Marketing. Our fans are now connecting in a big way with some of our newer Superstars, and we continue to feature classic storylines, unpredictable plot twists, such as through our WWE draft lottery. https://web.archive.org/web/20100412053045/http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2005/2005_06_29.jsp April 12, 2010 dead The 2011 event was confirmed by the RBC Center in April 2011,http://www.rbccenter.com/default.asp?RBCcenter=87&objId=824 WWE presents WWE Monday Night Raw RBC Center April 18, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110104100418/http://www.rbccenter.com/default.asp?RBCcenter=87&objId=824 January 4, 2011 dead with WWE officially announcing it on the April 18 episode of Raw.http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,14203_6884212,00.html Capital Punishment for Punk June 7, 2011 April 19, 2011 Sky Sportshttp://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/18/the-2011-wwe-draft-takes-over-monday-night-raw-monday-april-25/89790/ https://web.archive.org/web/20110421071749/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/18/the-2011-wwe-draft-takes-over-monday-night-raw-monday-april-25/89790 dead April 21, 2011 The 2011 WWE Draft takes over Monday Night Raw USA Network TV by the Numbers May 23, 2011 April 18, 2011 A USA Network executive had also confirmed the event to occur via a press release on the same day of the WWE announcement. http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_49384.shtml WWE News: Big News – WWE Draft scheduled for next Monday on Raw according to USA Network executive Caldwell James April 18, 2011 Pro Wrestling Torch April 18, 2011 The 2011 WWE draft would mark the sixth time that only the Raw and SmackDown brands were involved; male and female wrestlers and other WWE personalities from these brands were eligible to be drafted.http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04052010/articles/2010draftannounced The 2010 WWE Draft approaches WWE April 25, 2011 April 5, 2010 Since its infancy in 2002, the WWE draft has become synonymous with both shock and unpredictability, sending champions and their titles to different planes of competition, while dividing tag team partnerships and more. In this one night, every superstar, diva and WWE personality is subject to a randomized shift in brand. No one is safe, none are excluded. Unlike sports draft lotteries where players are signed to a team, WWE drafts feature on-air personnel being exchanged between brands. Like all other WWE programs, the draft was run by the WWE management backstage.http://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp Live and Televised Entertainment WWE Corporate WWE May 18, 2010 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20131122113353/http://corporate.wwe.com/company/events.jsp November 22, 2013 Championships could be exchanged between brands if the champion was drafted, like with previous drafts;http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06112007/articles/drafthistory Picks of the past Dee Louie June 7, 2007 WWE April 6, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100415142029/http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/06112007/articles/drafthistory April 15, 2010 live however, the WWE Divas Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship were accessible to both brands and thus had no role in the draft because of their inter-brand availability.http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/ WWE Women's Championship WWE April 25, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110525154412/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/ May 25, 2011 livehttp://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/ World Tag Team Championship history WWE April 25, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110501114659/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/ May 1, 2011 live Selections Overall, 29 wrestlers were drafted in 30 selections. Eight selections were made on television (four from each brand) with seven draftees; the online draft featured 22 selections (13 by Raw and nine by SmackDown). Of the 29 drafted personalities, only five were females (all drafted after the televised event). All but one of the draftees were in-ring competitors: Alberto Del Rio's personal ring announcer, Ricardo Rodriguez, came to Raw in the televised draft with Alberto Del Rio in one draft pick. SmackDown obtained the first draft pick by winning the first match, which resulted in the acquisition of John Cena. Raw obtained their first pick after winning the second match and were able to acquire Rey Mysterio. Cena became the second person to have changed brands twice during the same draft event (the first was Triple H in 2004, who was drafted to SmackDown then traded back to Raw),http://www.wrestleview.com/results/smackdown/smackdown2004/1080320641.shtml The more things change Wrestleview.com May 29, 2011 May 24, 2004 with Raw reacquiring Cena with the eighth draft pick to conclude the televised portion. Kelly Kelly became the first woman to be drafted overall and was drafted to the Smackdown brand. The draft also featured various wrestlers being selected to a new brand for the first time in their WWE careers, such as Sheamus and Daniel Bryan.http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2011-wwe-draft-continued Complete 2011 WWE Drafts WWE May 29, 2011 April 26, 2011 Televised draft During Raw, matches were held among representatives of the two brands to determine which would receive one or two draft picks. Each match featured one or more wrestlers representing their brand; if a wrestler was drafted earlier in the program, they would represent their new brand. After the matches, a computerized system, which appeared on the Raw stage TitanTron, randomlyAlthough WWE claimed the Draft was conducted randomly, the results were predetermined since the Draft is a storyline. selected a member from the opposing brand's roster for the winning brand. Unlike the regular Raw production, the lighting in the RBC Center featured red and blue lighting on the audience, like in WWE Superstars, and both programs' logos represented on the TitanTron.http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/04/25/18064541.html https://web.archive.org/web/20150703212047/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2011/04/25/18064541.html dead July 3, 2015 Live coverage: 2011 WWE Draft May 19, 2011 April 26, 2011 Bishop Matt SLAM! Wrestlinghttp://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/wwerawreport/article_49562.shtml Caldwell's WWE Raw Results: 4/25: Ongoing "virtual time" coverage of live Raw – 2011 WWE Draft, Extreme Rules PPV hype Caldwell James Pro Wrestling Torch April 25, 2011 April 25, 2011 Matches Big Show and Kofi Kingston (SmackDown) won by last eliminating Mason Ryan (Raw)Other match participants: Raw; Evan Bourne, Daniel Bryan, Ted DiBiase, Mark Henry, The Great Khali, Vladimir Kozlov, Santino Marella, Sheamus, and Yoshi Tatsu. SmackDown; Brodus Clay, Kane, Chris Masters, Drew McIntyre, Cody Rhodes, and The Corre (Wade Barrett, Ezekiel Jackson, and Heath Slater). 20-man battle royal for one draft pick Eve (Raw) defeated Layla (SmackDown) Singles match for one draft pick Kofi Kingston (SmackDown) defeated Sheamus (Raw) Singles match for one draft pick Randy OrtonSmackDown This wrestler was originally a Raw member but represented SmackDown after being drafted earlier in the evening. (SmackDown) defeated Dolph Ziggler (Raw) Singles match for two draft picks Rey MysterioRaw This wrestler was originally a SmackDown member but represented Raw after being drafted earlier in the evening. (Raw) defeated Wade Barrett (SmackDown) Singles match for two draft picks The Miz, CM Punk and Alberto Del RioRaw (Raw) defeated John Cena,John Cena began in the draft as a Raw member and was drafted with the first pick to SmackDown (resulting his representation of the brand in one of the matches during the televised portion); however, he was ultimately drafted back to Raw with the final pick. Christian and Mark HenrySmackDown (SmackDown) 6-man tag team match for one draft pick Selections Pick No. Brand (to) Employee Brand (from) Notes01 1SmackDownJohn CenaRaw02 2RawRey MysterioSmackDown03 3SmackDownRandy OrtonRaw04 4SmackDownMark HenryRaw05 5SmackDownSin CaraRaw06 6RawBig ShowSmackDownWWE Tag Team Champion07 7RawAlberto Del Rio and Ricardo RodriguezThis person was drafted alongside the drafted wrestlerSmackDown08 8RawJohn CenaSmackDown Online draft WWE announced that the draft would continue to take place over WWE.com on Tuesday, April 26, 2011, beginning at 12:00pm Eastern time. thumb|right|Sheamus was the final overall selection in the 2011 WWE draft. Pick No. Brand (to) Employee Brand (from) Notes09 9SmackDownDaniel Bryan Bryan DanielsonRaw10 10RawJack SwaggerSmackDown11 11SmackDownKhali The Great KhaliRaw12 12SmackDownJimmy UsoRawMember of The Usos13 13RawKelly KellySmackDown14 14RawJTGSmackDown15 15SmackDownAlicia FoxRaw16 16SmackDownWilliam RegalRaw17 17SmackDownYoshi Tatsu Naofumi YamamotoRaw18 18RawDrew McIntyreSmackDown19 19SmackDownNatalyaRaw20 20RawCurt HawkinsSmackDown21 21RawChris MastersSmackDownNever appeared on this brand as his contract was released 22 22SmackDownJey Uso The UsosRawMember of The Usos23 23RawKofi KingstonSmackDown24 24SmackDownTed DiBiase Ted DiBiase, Jr.Raw25 25SmackDownTyson KiddRaw26 26SmackDownTaminaRaw27 27RawTyler ReksSmackDown28 28SmackDownAlex RileyThe draft pick was nullified due to Riley being under a personal service contract to The Miz, and not an official WWE contract. Riley officially signed with Raw on May 30, 2011.Raw29 29RawBeth PhoenixSmackDown30 30SmackDownSheamusRawWWE United States Champion Response and aftermath Various WWE wrestlers posted updates on their Twitter accounts (as mentioned during the televised portion of the Draft) regarding their reactions to draft selections. Most of these regarded Raw losing top-tier talent to SmackDown, such as Cena and Orton switching brands.https://twitter.com/NatbyNature/status/62700394614235136 Natalya Neidhart official Twitter account Tweet regarding WWE Draft Twitter Neidhart Natalya April 25, 2011 April 25, 2011https://twitter.com/EveMarieTorres/status/62703979657838592 Eve Torres official Twitter account Tweet regarding WWE Draft Twitter Torres Eve April 25, 2011 April 25, 2011 Mark Henry stated that with his recent weight loss, he was more determined to seek a championship reign on SmackDown.http://vids.wwe.com/11856/wwecom-exclusive-mark-henry-reac WWE Mark Henry reacts to being drafted to SmackDown April 27, 2011 April 25, 2011 Raleigh, North Carolina Mark Henry https://web.archive.org/web/20110429012609/http://vids.wwe.com/11856/wwecom-exclusive-mark-henry-reac April 29, 2011 dead Rey Mysterio also was hopeful about his new home and explained that he would represent Raw just as proud as he has for the majority of his WWE career with SmackDown.http://vids.wwe.com/11849/wwecom-exclusive-rey-mysterio-re Rey Mysterio reacts to being drafted to Raw WWE April 27, 2011 April 25, 2011 Raleigh, North Carolina Rey Mysterio https://web.archive.org/web/20110427092443/http://vids.wwe.com/11849/wwecom-exclusive-rey-mysterio-re April 27, 2011 dead The first and final pick in the televised event, John Cena, stated how he wanted to make history for 2011 and that it only begun by being the first person to ever be drafted officially first and last.http://vids.wwe.com/11862/wwecom-exclusive-john-cena-react John Cena reacts to being drafted back to Raw WWE April 27, 2011 April 25, 2011 John Cena Raleigh, North Carolina https://web.archive.org/web/20110428143233/http://vids.wwe.com/11862/wwecom-exclusive-john-cena-react April 28, 2011 dead Finally, Big Show was stunned by his selection but looked forward to the transition from broadcast delay to live television.http://vids.wwe.com/11861/wwecom-exclusive-big-show-reacts Big Show reacts to being drafted to Raw WWE Big Show April 27, 2011 April 25, 2011 Raleigh, North Carolina All https://web.archive.org/web/20110428143228/http://vids.wwe.com/11861/wwecom-exclusive-big-show-reacts April 28, 2011 dead As a result of Sheamus holding the United States Championship, the title would be designated back to SmackDown (though the title would quickly go back to Raw due to Kofi Kingston's victory at Extreme Rules five nights later).http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/chair_shots/chair-shots-analyzing-the-post-wwe-draft-raw-roster/article_e0a1f47e-70e4-11e0-ab28-001cc4c002e0.html Chair shots: Analyzing the post-WWE Draft Raw roster Carroll County Times May 23, 2011 April 27, 2011 Carter, Jr. Wayne https://archive.today/20130119180806/http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/blogs/sports/chair_shots/chair-shots-analyzing-the-post-wwe-draft-raw-roster/article_e0a1f47e-70e4-11e0-ab28-001cc4c002e0.html January 19, 2013 dead Big Show being one half of the WWE Tag Team Champions allowed him to appear on both shows (as did his partner Kane), despite their brand designations. During the time that the Draft was produced, WWE was promoting their annual Extreme Rules pay-per-view event. At the time of production, the matches scheduled were between members of their respective rosters before the draft. These matches (including championships bouts) were scheduled to still take place while being official members to their new brands.http://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2011/orton-punk Randy Orton vs. CM Punk (Last Man Standing Match) WWE April 27, 2011 April 25, 2011 With Orton and Punk separated by The Viper’s move to SmackDown in the 2011 WWE Draft, this could be their last chance to brutalize one another for quite some time. https://web.archive.org/web/20110427140015/http://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/2011/orton-punk April 27, 2011 live As a result of the extra promotion, the April 25 episode of Raw increased viewership from the previous week in terms of adults from 1.6 and 1.7 to 2.0 and 1.9 for the first and second hours, respectively.http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/18/the-2011-wwe-draft-takes-over-monday-night-raw-monday-april-25/89790/ https://web.archive.org/web/20110421071749/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2011/04/18/the-2011-wwe-draft-takes-over-monday-night-raw-monday-april-25/89790 dead 2011-04-21 Monday cable ratings: 'Pawn Stars' Leads Night; Plus NBA, 'WWE RAW,' 'Sanctuary' 'Bethenny,' 'American Chopper' & More TV by the Numbers May 22, 2011 April 26, 2011 On the August 29 episode of Raw, it was announced that performers from Raw and SmackDown were no longer exclusive to their respective brand.Nemer Paul Raw Results – 8/29/11 http://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/wwe-raw-results/26309-raw-results-8-29-11/ Wrestleview August 30, 2011 November 5, 2016 Subsequentely, championships previously exclusive to one show or the other were available for wrestlers from any show to compete for; this would mark the end of the brand extension, as all programming and live events featured the full WWE roster.Tom Herrera http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/the-most-important-moments-in-raw-history/page-11 The 10 most important moments in Raw history WWE.com January 11, 2014 February 2, 2014 February 7, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140207043137/http://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/the-most-important-moments-in-raw-history/page-11 dead In a 2013 interview with Advertising Age, Stephanie McMahon explained that WWE's decision to end the brand extension was due to wanting their content to flow across television and online platforms.WWE NEWS: Stephanie McMahon says why brand split is gone http://pwtorch.com/artman2/publish/WWE_News_3/article_68058.shtml Pro Wrestling Torch January 22, 2013 However, the brand split was reintroduced in July 2016, when SmackDown began broadcasting live on Tuesdays.https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/wwe-smackdown-live-usa-1201782569/ WWE's 'Smackdown' Will Move To Live Broadcast On USA (EXCLUSIVE) Steinberg Brian May 25, 2016 Variety en-US May 25, 2016 See also History of WWE Footnotes References General http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,14203_6899863,00.html WWE draft news (complete 2011 WWE draft results) Sky Sports 2011-05-23 2011-04-27 Specific External links Official website History of the WWE Draft WWE Draft Category:WWE Draft Category:April 2011 in the United States Category:Organized events in Raleigh, North Carolina Category:Professional wrestling shows in Raleigh, North Carolina Category:2011 in North Carolina