2007 WWE Draft
Encyclopedia
Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza
Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza is an 8,300-seat multi-purpose arena located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, managed by SMG.Built in 1998 due to the instrumental work of Pennsylvania Governor Robert P. Casey, Sr...
in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Wilkes-Barre is a city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, the county seat of Luzerne County. It is at the center of the Wyoming Valley area and is one of the principal cities in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area, which had a population of 563,631 as of the 2010 Census...
on June 11, 2007. The first half of the draft was televised live
Live television
Live television refers to a television production broadcast in real-time, as events happen, in the present. From the early days of television until about 1958, live television was used heavily, except for filmed shows such as I Love Lucy and Gunsmoke. Video tape did not exist until 1957...
for three hours on WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
's flagship program, Raw
WWE RAW
WWE Raw ) is a sports entertainment television program for WWE that currently airs on the USA Network in the United States...
on USA Network
USA Network
USA Network is an American cable television channel launched in 1971. Once a minor player in basic cable, the network has steadily gained popularity because of breakout hits like Monk, Psych, Burn Notice, Royal Pains, Covert Affairs, White Collar, Monday Night RAW, Suits, and reruns of the various...
. The second half of the draft, or the "supplemental draft", was conducted over WWE's website, WWE.com, for four hours on June 17, 2007 as draft picks were announced at twenty minute intervals. There were twenty-three draft picks, with twenty-seven superstars drafted overall, between the promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
's three brand
WWE Brand Extension
WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation and World Wrestling Entertainment , currently promotes its core business of professional wrestling through two "brands" named after their two major television shows Raw and SmackDown...
s: Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW. For the televised half of the draft, each brand's draft pick was determined by nine matches, one being a battle royal for two draft picks, where superstars from their respective brands wrestled to earn a draft pick. The supplemental draft, however, was conducted randomly, with each brand receiving random draft selections. Raw and SmackDown! received five random draft picks, while ECW received three random draft picks. The televised draft picks were randomly selected by a computer that was shown on the Raw titantron
Jumbotron
A JumboTron is a large-screen television using technology developed by Sony, typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close-up shots of the event. Although JumboTron is a registered trademark owned by the Sony Corporation, the word jumbotron is often used by the public as a...
. Every WWE superstar and diva from Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW was eligible to be drafted.
Background
The draft was announced by Shane McMahonShane McMahon
Shane Brandon McMahon is an American executive, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of YOU On Demand. A former executive and professional wrestler for World Wrestling Entertainment , he is the son of WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and former US Senate candidate Linda...
on the May 28, 2007 episode of Raw from the Air Canada Centre
Air Canada Centre
The Air Canada Centre is a multi-purpose indoor sporting arena located on Bay Street in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada.The arena is popularly known as the ACC or the Hangar ....
in Toronto, Ontario
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, and was promoted as the "first ever tri-branded draft". Besides the promoted draft, the show was billed as "Mr. McMahon Appreciation Night", a tribute of appreciation to the WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
.
The Draft Lottery is a concept used by WWE to improve its weekly television ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
of Raw, SmackDown! and ECW. The WWE yet again used the concept in 2007, to improve its television ratings. The 2007 WWE Draft was the first official draft lottery to take place in WWE since the 2005 WWE Draft Lottery
2005 WWE Draft Lottery
The 2005 World Wrestling Entertainment Draft Lottery took place over a three week period in June. There were ten draft picks and an eleven-person trade conducted between the promotion's two brands: Raw and SmackDown!, where twenty-two superstars were drafted and traded overall...
.
Matches
During the program, representatives from the Raw, ECW, and SmackDown brands were involved in matches that determined which brand received a draft pick. Overall, there were 9 matches, Both SmackDown! and Raw got four while ECW got two.| # | Match | Stipulation | Winner | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw: John Cena John Cena John Felix Anthony Cena is an American professional wrestler, actor, rapper, and television personality. He is currently signed to WWE as a member of its WWE Raw brand.... vs. SmackDown!: Edge Adam Copeland Adam Joseph Copeland is a retired Canadian professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring name Edge. He is currently signed to WWE under a Legends contract.... |
Singles match for 1 draft pick | SmackDown!: Edge | |||
| 2 | ECW: CM Punk CM Punk Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks , better known by his ring name CM Punk, is an American professional wrestler currently signed to WWE and working on its Raw brand currently serving his second title reign as WWE Champion.... vs. Raw: Carlito Carly Colon Carlos Edwin "Carly" Colón, Jr. is a Puerto Rican professional wrestler better known internationally by his ring name Carlito. He is best known for his work in the World Wrestling Entertainment , but was released from his contract on May 21, 2010. In his native Puerto Rico, he is known as both... |
Singles match for 1 draft pick | ECW: CM Punk | |||
| 3 | Raw: Umaga Eddie Fatu Edward Smith "Eki" Fatu was a Samoan-American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Umaga... vs. ECW: Balls Mahoney Balls Mahoney Jonathan Rechner better known by his ring name Balls Mahoney , is an American professional wrestler... |
Singles match for 1 draft pick | Raw: Umaga | |||
| 4 | ECW: Bobby Lashley vs. SmackDown!: Chris Benoit Chris Benoit Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide... |
Singles match for 1 draft pick | ECW: Bobby Lashley | |||
| 5 | SmackDown!: Montel Vontavious Porter vs. Raw: Santino Marella | Singles match for 1 draft pick | SmackDown!: Montel Vontavious Porter | |||
| 6 | ECW: Snitsky Gene Snitsky Eugene Alan "Gene" Snisky is a professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Snitsky, who is best known for his time spent with World Wrestling Entertainment. He had played college football at the University of Missouri and was on the pre-season roster in 1995 for the Birmingham Barracudas... vs. SmackDown!: The Miz Mike Mizanin Michael "Mike" Gregory Mizanin is an American professional wrestler and reality television personality better known by his nickname and ring name The Miz. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment on its Raw brand... |
Singles match for 1 draft pick | SmackDown!: The Miz1 | |||
| 7 | SmackDown!: Kristal Marshall Kristal Marshall Kristal Marshall is an American model, beauty queen, and former professional wrestler best known for her work in World Wrestling Entertainment on its SmackDown! brand and in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion working as Kristal Lashley the kayfabe wife of Bobby Lashley and his real life... vs. Raw: Candice Michelle Candice Michelle Candice Michelle Beckman-Ehrlich better known as Candice Michelle or just Candice, is an American model, actress, and professional wrestler best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment.... |
Singles match for 1 draft pick | Raw: Candice Michelle | |||
| 8 | SmackDown!: Batista vs. ECW: Elijah Burke Elijah Burke Elijah Samuel Burke is an American professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name of "The Pope" D'Angelo Dinero; a gimmick in which he portrays a Harlem street preacher... vs. Raw: Jeff Hardy Jeff Hardy Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy is an American professional wrestler, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where he is a former two–time TNA World Heavyweight Champion... |
Triple Threat match for 1 draft pick | SmackDown!: Batista | |||
| 9 | Raw: Randy Orton Randy Orton Randal Keith "Randy" Orton is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to WWE wrestling on its SmackDown brand... , Johnny Nitro, Eugene Nick Dinsmore Nicholas "Nick" Dinsmore , better known by his ring names Eugene and U-Gene, is an American professional wrestler... , Kenny Dykstra, and Viscera Nelson Frazier, Jr. Nelson Frazier, Jr. is an American professional wrestler and actor, better known by his ring names Mabel, Viscera, Big Daddy V, and King V. He is best known for his work with World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment... vs. SmackDown: Chris Masters Chris Masters Christopher Todd Mordetzky is an American professional wrestler best known by his ring name Chris Masters. He is best known for his tenure with WWE.-Early career:... , Mark Henry Mark Henry Mark Jerrold Henry is an American professional wrestler signed with WWE, where he performs on its SmackDown brand as the reigning World Heavyweight Champion. He is a 1992 Olympian, and winner of the 2002 Arnold Strongman Classic... , Chavo Guerrero Chavo Guerrero Salvador Guerrero III , better known as Chavo Guerrero or Chavo Guerrero, Sr., is a former professional wrestler. He is known for his work in Universal Wrestling Federation , American Wrestling Association and World Wrestling Entertainment and for being the father of third generation wrestler... , Matt Hardy Matt Hardy Matthew Moore "Matt" Hardy is a semi-retired American professional wrestler. He is best known for his stints in World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling .... , and William Regal vs. ECW: Tommy Dreamer Tommy Dreamer Thomas James "Tom" Laughlin is an American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Tommy Dreamer. He is currently working for various promotions on the independent circuit. He is best known for his time spent with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment... , The Sandman, Marcus Cor Von Monty Brown Monty Brown is an American professional wrestler and former National Football League linebacker, also known as Marcus Cor Von. He is best known for his time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment, where he wrestled on its ECW brand under the ring name Marcus Cor Von... , Kevin Thorn Kevin Fertig Kevin Matthew Fertig is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for working with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring names Mordecai and Kevin Thorn.... , and Matt Striker |
Tri-branded 15-man Battle royal Battle royal (professional wrestling) In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner... for 2 draft picks |
Raw: Randy Orton | |||
Selections
| Pick # | Brand (to) | Employee |
Role | Brand (from) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SmackDown! | The Great Khali and Ranjin Singh2 |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
| 2 | ECW | The Boogeyman |
Male wrestler | SmackDown! | ||||
| 3 | Raw | King Booker and Queen Sharmell2 |
Male wrestler and Diva Diva A diva is a celebrated female singer. The term is used to describe a woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, and, by extension, in theatre, cinema and popular music. The meaning of diva is closely related to that of "prima donna".... |
SmackDown! | ||||
| 4 | ECW | Chris Benoit Chris Benoit Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide... |
Male wrestler | SmackDown! | ||||
| 5 | SmackDown! | Torrie Wilson Torrie Wilson Torrie Anne Wilson is a retired American professional wrestler, fitness competitor and model. She is best known for her tenures in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment , where she worked on both their SmackDown and Raw brands throughout her eight-year run.As a fitness... |
Diva WWE Diva Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers.... |
Raw | ||||
| 6 | SmackDown! | Chris Masters |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
| 7 | Raw | Bobby Lashley3 |
Male wrestler | ECW | ||||
| 8 | SmackDown! | Ric Flair |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
| 9 | Raw | Snitsky |
Male wrestler | ECW | ||||
| 10 | Raw | Mr. Kennedy |
Male wrestler | SmackDown! |
Supplemental draft
| Pick # | Brand (to) | Employee |
Role | Brand (from) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Raw | Paul London and Brian Kendrick Paul London and Brian Kendrick Paul London and Brian Kendrick are a professional wrestling tag team best known for their time together in World Wrestling Entertainment . The team never had an official team name, but were just referred to as "the tag team of London and Kendrick." In 2006 London and Kendrick put the tag team name... 4 |
Male tag team | SmackDown! | ||||
| 12 | SmackDown! | Kenny Dykstra |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
| 13 | ECW | Viscera5 |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
| 14 | Raw | The Sandman |
Male wrestler | ECW | ||||
| 15 | Raw | Hardcore Holly6 |
Male wrestler | ECW | ||||
| 16 | ECW | The Miz |
Male wrestler | SmackDown! | ||||
| 17 | Raw | Daivari |
Male wrestler | SmackDown! | ||||
| 18 | SmackDown! | Brett and Brian Major4 |
Male tag team | ECW | ||||
| 19 | Raw | William Regal |
Male wrestler | SmackDown! | ||||
| 20 | SmackDown! | Victoria |
Diva WWE Diva Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers.... |
Raw | ||||
| 21 | Raw | Jillian Hall |
Diva WWE Diva Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers.... |
SmackDown! | ||||
| 22 | SmackDown! | Eugene |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
| 23 | ECW | Johnny Nitro7 |
Male wrestler | Raw | ||||
- 1 - The referee reversed his decision to give The Miz the win due to Snitsky ignoring the referee whilst attacking The Miz.
- 2 - This person was drafted alongside the drafted wrestler.
- 3 - Bobby Lashley was stripped of the ECW title after being drafted to Raw, rendering the title vacant.
- 4 - Both members of the tag team were drafted in unison.
- 5 - Viscera would debut on the July 10 episode of ECW repackaged as Big Daddy V.
- 6 - Hardcore Holly made his redebut on Raw rather than SmackDown!.
- 7 - Weeks after his ECW debut, Johnny Nitro would repackage himself as John Morrison.
Aftermath
The 2007 Draft Lottery provided WWE's three brands with new superstars, allowing for new storylines and rivalriesFeud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
. Television ratings for WWE increased, as Raw, SmackDown!, and ECW became the most watched programs on their respective television networks in the summer of 2007.
Four months after the draft, on October 16, 2007, it was announced that ECW and SmackDown! would have a talent exchange that would allow superstars from their respective brands to compete on either brand.