Live WWE Draft: Updates And Reactions

As soon as the match begins we head to a commercial break which is beautiful timing, but it’s The Usos on top early.

The tide turns when Owens makes a hot tag to Zayn and the fresh man unloads on Jey Uso.

Back from the final commercial break and the champions are on a roll. KO scores a near-fall with a Swanton Bomb, but things could be about to take a turn.

Paul Heyman is shown getting a call from Roman Reigns backstage before telling Solo Sikoa that “tonight is your night.”

KO has another near-fall with a Stunner, but Sikoa makes his way to ringside. But he’s attacked by Matt Riddle who attacks from nowhere!

Back in the ring, The Usos are back in control, flattening KO with a series of double-Superkicks, but somehow Owens keeps kicking out.

The Usos prepare for the 1D but Zayn pulls Jey out of the ring. This leaves KO to hit a Stunner on Jimmy before Zayn followed up with the Hulluva Kick to retain the gold.

Things do not look good for The Usos after another defeat, Roman Reigns will surely be on the warpath.

Just before the main event gets underway, Michael Cole addresses the elephant in the room, and the number of WWE stars that have currently gone undrafted.

Cole confirms that the Draft will continue on The SmackDown LowDown on Saturday, April 29th.

This one should be a big one ladies and gentlemen.

There’s been heavy, heavy speculation that The Usos could win back the gold here. After Backlash, WWE heads to Saudi Arabia for Night of Champions, and both Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens miss WWE’s shows in the kingdom.

Although it wouldn’t be unthinkable for the Tag Team Champions to miss the show, given that a new World Champion will be crowned at the event.

After being drafted to Raw, Shinsuke Nakamura is about to give an interview but he’s quickly cut off by Karrion Kross.

Why I saw cut off, Kross straight-up tries to murder him.

With Nakamura left laying the rivalry between the pair moves on.

Shawn Michaels and Road Dogg are here for round four of the WWE Draft!

Massive reaction as DX’s music hits. Once the crowd finally calms down, HBK announces that Bayley, Dakota Kai, and Iyo Sky are heading to SmackDown. To the complete disgust of Michael Cole, it has to be said.

Shinsuke Nakamura will join Raw on May 8th and we finally have our first NXT call-up of the night!

Shawn Michaels reveals that Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions will be moving to SmackDown.

Road Dogg announces that NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell is heading to Raw, but not after squeezing in a joke about HBK losing his smile.

But could Nakamura win the new World Heavyweight Title?

AJ Styles is back on WWE TV but they couldn’t have undersold his entrance more.

Thankfully the former World Champion gets a great reaction as he walks out with The O.C. but before he can address the crowd he’s interrupted by The Viking Raiders.

As the two factions staredown in the ring, Styles bows out to leave Gallows, Anderson, and Michin to take out the Raiders.

After a short brawl, Styles warns that they’re just getting started before hitting a Phenomenal Forearm on the way out.

After Zelina Vega grabs the win, Rhea Ripley hits the ring and knocks both her challenger and Sonya Deville to the floor.

Chelsea Green climbs to the apron, complete with a hat that is simply majestic, but decides against getting involved and heads for the announce desk.

With Ripley distracted, Vega lays her out and makes a run for it back up the ramp.

MAMI'S HERE! 🔥🔥🔥@RheaRipley_WWE arrived to send @ZelinaVegaWWE a message but it didn't go as planned for the #SmackDown Women's Champion! #WWEBacklash just got a little more interesting! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/8XyOAAoNN5

— WWE (@WWE) April 29, 2023

Next up it’s Zelina Vega against Sonya Deville, although Deville is flanked by Chelsea Green.

Commentary really playing up Vega being an underdog for her match against Rhea Ripley at Backlash. Cole and Barrett discuss how small she is and compare her to Rey Mysterio.

Vega picks up the win in a quick match with a roll-up.

Playa, playa, playa!

Sorry. Had to be done.

Right, as you were.

Teddy Long his the stage with an energy UK fans can only dream of at this time of the night, but it’s JBL kicking off round three.

Once again, SmackDown picks first and Bobby Lashley is on his way to SmackDown. But going in the other direction, Drew McIntyre heads back to Raw.

Big cheers for the next pick as SmackDown picks The O.C. complete with AJ Styles, Mia Yim, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson.

The final pick of round three goes to Raw and The Miz will remain on Monday nights.

Ricochet & Braun Strowman vs. The Street Profits vs. The LWO

Surprising to see Strowman back in action given he was said to have sustained a concussion last week. In any case, he’s back launching Ricochet over the top rope onto everyone outside the ring.

Not a surprise given who’s involved, but there are bodies flying everywhere! Pure carnage.

Strowman briefly goes on a tear flattening just about everyone, but he’s taken out by Angelo Dawkins who takes to the skies, soaring over the top rope onto Strowman.

Ricochet continues the momentum for his team but Montez Dawkins makes a blind tag. After a Spinebuster, Ford hits his ridiculous Frog Splash on Ricochet to grab the win.

A relatively short match but pure chaos.

"THERE ARE BODIES FLYING EVERYWHERE!" 😱

This Triple Threat Tag Team Match is AWESOME! #BraunStrowman & @KingRicochet vs. The #StreetProfits vs. @deltoro_wwe & @joaquinwilde_! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/rJHhgiNwsb

— WWE (@WWE) April 29, 2023

Backstage Paul Heyman is giving The Usos a pep talk before Michael Cole announces that special guest presenters Michael P.S Hayes and Rob Van Dam are heading to the stage.

It’s probably a good time to remind you that the “P.S” in Michael Hayes’s name stands for “Purely Sexy.” Do with that information what you will.

Hayes announces that the first pick of the second round sees the Street Profits head to SmackDown!

MASSIVE RVD chants as Mr. Van Dam reveals that Raw picks Imperium, including Gunther.

Back to Hayes and Edge is returning to SmackDown. Could this be where he ends his career?

With their next pick, Raw selects Matt Riddle, who will remain on the red brand.

The first match of the night sees LA Knight take on Butch.

Butch comes out flying and full of energy but Knight slows the pace and takes control as the show heads to a commercial break. Despite staying in control during the break, Butch begins his fight back as we rejoin the action, but it’s Knight that lands a huge Superplex for a close two-count.

After some more back and forth Knight nails butch with Blunt Force Trauma to earn a rare win.

The crowd continues to love Knight, a face-turn must surely be in his future.

With round one of the Draft wrapped up, Triple H introduces The Usos.

The former Tag Team Champions dive into why they’re going to regain the gold, but Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens are out to give their side of the story.

Sami Zayn points out that Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa have been drafted separately from them. In response, The Usos say that when they regain the gold, Owens will turn on his friend.

A fired-up KO then snaps and screams at their challengers, ending by saying that all he cares about kicking some ass and retaining the gold.

KO is ready! This main event should be huge, big things expected.

Triple H kicks off the show and sets down the rules for how the Draft will play out.

The new rosters will come into effect on May 8th.

The Game then dives straight into the Draft and it’s Paul Heyman, Solo Sikoa, and Roman Reigns who are the number one pick for SmackDown!

That of course means that the new World Heavyweight Title will be exclusive to Raw.

The number one pick for Raw is Cody Rhodes!

Back to SmackDown and the blue brand selects Raw Women’s Champion, Bianca Belair. This means that a highly controversial “belt swap” could be on the way.

The final pick of the first round goes to Raw and Becky Lynch will be staying on Monday nights.

AJ Styles has been off television since breaking his ankle back in December. However, it has been reported by Fightful Select that The Phenomenal One is scheduled to be at SmackDown!

Styles is listed alongside Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson as The O.C. on the draft list for tonight.

Ahead of night one, WWE released a list of Superstars who are eligible for the Draft, and on what day.

Some huge names feature on night one including Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Bobby Lashley Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, and more.

Interstingly, Bray Wyatt and Alexa Bliss don’t feature at all.

Names to look out for on night one:

• Becky Lynch
• Bianca Belair
• Bobby Lashley
• Candice LeRae
• Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
• Cody Rhodes
• Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY & Dakota Kai)
• Dexter Lumis
• Dolph Ziggler
• Drew McIntyre
• Edge
• Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis w/ B-Fab)
• Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci)
• Lacey Evans
• Matt Riddle
• Maximum Male Models (Mace, Mansoor & Maxxine Dupri)
• Mustafa Ali
• Natalya
• Omos (w/ MVP)
• Shinsuke Nakamura
• The Bloodline (Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa)
• The Miz
• The OC (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson & Michin)
• The Street Profits
• The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar w/ Valhalla)
• Select NXT Superstars

Good evening one and all and welcome along to one of the biggest nights on the WWE calendar not named WrestleMania. I am of course talking about Draft night!

Tonight the rosters for SmackDown and Raw will begin to take shape, with the moving and shaking finishing up on Raw on Monday.

We’ll get into who is eligible on night one shortly, but the Draft isn’t the only headline maker tonight.

Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens take on The Usos in a huge WrestleMania rematch with the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Titles on the line.

Elsewhere, Zelina Vega will take on Sonya Deville as she prepares to face Rhea Ripley at Backlash.