Backstage update on major last-minute WWE Draft changes - Reports
The 18th WWE Draft will kick off later tonight during SmackDown. The annual roster shake-up will then conclude on Monday's RAW. New details have just leaked from backstage as the company gets closer to showtime.
WWE has 30 main roster stars listed in the pool for tonight's picks, with several NXT Superstars also eligible. Some of the names eligible to be traded tonight include The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga), Randy Orton, Seth Rollins, Bron Breakker, and Alpha Academy, among others. The top stars usually know of their Draft picks ahead of time, while most do not find out until the rest of the WWE Universe does.
It was reported earlier that none of the talents speaking to sources were given any internal draft details as of Wednesday, and by this morning, that still had not changed, but many expected to find out by this afternoon. However, Fightful Select adds that as of this afternoon, with just hours to go until showtime, most wrestlers still do not know where they will be drafted.
Regarding NXT's involvement in the Draft, superstars from the third brand were left out of the talent pools announced earlier this week to create a surprise factor. Furthermore, it was indicated that the majority of RAW and SmackDown talents did not find out about which talent pool they were in until the posts were made to social media on Wednesday.
There will be a Draft Watch Party for fans at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando tonight. WWE has done this in the past for wrestlers at the Performance Center, with RAW and SmackDown featuring live check-in shots after NXT stars were picked.
It wasn't clear if fans and talents would be watching from the same area of the PC. Sources previously revealed that Triple H has major changes coming for NXT with the Draft.
The Bloodline update for WWE SmackDown
The Bloodline's ongoing storyline will continue on tonight's Draft edition of SmackDown from Cincinnati.
The official preview for tonight's SmackDown teases that we will find out what's next for Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga after last week's bloody onslaught on Kevin Owens.
"Two weeks ago, Solo Sikoa launched a shocking attack on his brother Jimmy Uso with the help of Tama Tonga and claimed it was all done by order of The Tribal Chief. The following week, Tonga smashed into Kevin Owens’ car before Solo and his 'MFT' unleashed a bloody assault on KO. What is next in the destructive duo’s uncontrollable reign of terror? Find out tonight at 8/7 C on SmackDown on FOX," reads the official preview.
Roman Reigns is not expected to appear live tonight, but he is eligible to be drafted. Sikoa, Tonga, and Paul Heyman are also listed tonight, while Jimmy Uso was not included for an unfortunate reason. Former Bloodline star and real-life member Jey Uso is also eligible to be picked tonight.