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WWE put together a second supplemental draft disguised as a "mid-season trade" that essentially robbed the ECW brand of three top stars, but opened up an opportunity for Shelton Benjamin to start being involved in PPV title matches.
Shelton Benjamin was the biggest winner of the 15-person "trade," as he instantly shoots to the top of the ECW Depth Chart with the departures of Jack Swagger, Evan Bourne, and Mark Henry. Right now, the ECW brand has ECW champion Tommy Dreamer, Christian, William Regal (via trade), and Shelton Benjamin.
The rest of the ECW roster's credible acts include Zack Ryder, Paul Burchill, Kozlov, and perhaps a returning Gregory Helms. Goldust and either the MIA D.J. Gabriel or Ezekiel Jackson round out the Top Ten.
Here's a break down of my analysis on the 15 supplemental draft picks / trade moves / WWE simply deciding Raw needed help.
Raw Brand
-- Overall: Thumbs up. Raw brand indirectly acquired the services of Smackdown's Chris Jericho and Edge after they won the tag titles. WWE also raided the ECW brand to help bolster Raw's roster. Raw came out stronger than before the "trade."
-- Jack Swagger (Thumbs up move). Swagger will start on the Raw brand with a "second tier" feud that I won't spoil for next week's Raw. Eventually, though, Swagger is going to be a money draw for WWE once they clear out some space among the top stars of Orton, Hunter, and Cena. Swagger did all he could do on ECW.
-- Evan Bourne (Thumbs up move). Bourne wasn't going to be able to do much more on the ECW brand unless he was plugged into the ECW Title picture. ECW without a secondary title meant more throwaway feuds for Bourne. On Raw, he can be involved in secondary title feuds.
-- Mark Henry (Thumbs in the middle). We need to see how WWE utilizes Henry after the sudden babyface turn at the end of Raw to give him his One Shining Moment. Need more information.
-- Gail Kim (Thumbs up). Gail needed to hit the restart button on her post-TNA return to WWE. Gail was lost in the shuffle on Smackdown. Perhaps this will reinvigorate her in WWE.
-- Alicia Fox (Thumbs in the middle). WWE tried to find a spot for her on ECW, but D.J. Gabriel was pulled from TV. They tried to find a spot for her on Smackdown as Michelle McCool's friend, but her services are apparently no longer needed. Perhaps she can find a niche in the Divas division on Raw. Remains to be seen.
Smackdown Brand
-- Overall: Thumbs up. Smackdown's only significant loss was Shelton Benjamin, who was the odd man out among the top and second tier players battling for PPV time. Meanwhile, the brand picked up Matt Hardy, Finlay, and the entire Hart Dynasty. Plenty of potential to bolster Smackdown's mid-card.
-- Matt Hardy (Thumbs up). Hardy and MVP had an excellent match with Kofi Kingston on Superstars last week, but it was time to move away from the Hardy vs. MVP program after WWE tried in vain to repeat the brilliant feud from Smackdown 2007. Hardy on Smackdown brings up the inevitable question of whether he will be re-involved with Jeff Hardy either for or against him. I'd prefer to see something else when Hardy returns from injury, but that remains to be seen. Good move for Hardy, who seems like a better fit on Smackdown where he could work with Rey Mysterio or John Morrison.
-- Finlay (Thumbs in the middle). Finlay played a "tweener" role on the ECW brand and I thought he was effective in the middle of Tommy Dreamer and Christian. Apparently WWE has other ideas for him on Smackdown to perhaps enhance a younger talent. As a heel, he could enhance John Morrison. As a babyface, he could enhance Dolph Ziggler. Need more information.
-- Hart Dynasty (Thumbs down). I don't like this move to Smackdown. Kidd and Smith seemed to be developing nicely on ECW and with the roster being raided on Raw, WWE could have shifted either Kidd or Smith into an ECW Title situation to continue building them up. Instead, I fear HD will be lost in the shuffle on Smackdown competing with the top heels for TV time starting with C.M. Punk (potentially), Edge, Chris Jericho, and Dolph Ziggler. I hope I'm wrong.
ECW brand
-- Overall: Thumbs down. I can already hear Matt Striker lamenting the ECW talent raid at the beginning of the ECW TV broadcast tonight. Reminds me of the April Draft when Striker kept cursing the ECW brand's bad luck trying to get any talent on the show. Now, ECW is out Swagger, Bourne, Henry, Finlay, and HD. The brand picked up mid-card talent and two divas, leaving the cupboard nearly bare. It's time for the facetious and all-too-regular post-Draft question of whether WWE is going to shut down the ECW brand based on the latest talent raid. Optimistically, though, perhaps WWE has some talent from Florida they're ready to call up. Tuesday night TV viewers can only hope.
-- Shelton Benjamin (Thumbs up). Shelton should instantly be in the ECW Title picture. For several years, it seems like Shelton has been on the verge of a break-through, only to have WWE get cold feet about pushing him as a serious main event wrestler. Perhaps the perception of Shelton will change on the ECW brand. Either that or WWE creative decides they have nothing for him and he's stuck in mid-card purgatory on Tuesday nights. I like the potential over the pessimistic view.
-- William Regal (Thumbs up). WWE involved him in the U.S. Title feud, only to take him off TV for several weeks. He could easily slide into an antagonist role against ECW champion Tommy Dreamer or feud against Christian while Shelton feuds against Dreamer. Those feuds could be interchangeable depending on ECW TV unfolds tonight. Regal will essentially take Finlay's slot and hopefully be able to work some good matches against Dreamer and/or Christian.
-- Goldust (Thumbs in the middle). Goldust has been popular with WWE crowds recently, but I don't see him being much more than mid-card fodder for Zack Ryder. Perhaps WWE will find a meaningful program for him on ECW.
-- Bella Twins (Thumbs down). I think the Bellas bring charisma to the women's roster, but I don't see where they fit on ECW without a women's division. Perhaps WWE has an idea for utilizing them as valets. Or, perhaps backstage interviewers. Who knows. Send feedback on this article to pwtorch@gmail.com and we'll regularly publish reader feedback in the "Torch Feedback" category on the Main Listing.
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