7/19 WWE Draft Pre-Show Complete Coverage

WWE Draft Pre-Show Coverage
July 19, 2016
Aired on WWE Network
Report by James Caldwell, PWTorch assistant editor

Prior to the WWE Draft on USA Network at 8:00 p.m. EST, WWE aired a one-hour pre-Draft show at 7:00 p.m. on WWE Network. WWE also aired the special live on YouTube.

The panel for the Smackdown/Draft pre-show was Renee Young along with Corey Graves, Lita, and Booker T.

To kick things off, Renee announced the Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins WWE Title re-match for tonight’s Smackdown. Plus, a new match of John Cena vs. Luke Gallows.

– Backstage, Tom Phillips brought in WWE champion Dean Ambrose to discuss which brand he prefers. He talked about coming up with crazy ideas with Mick Foley on Raw, but then Stephanie McMahon is on Raw. Then, there’s Smackdown with a lot of good ideas, positivity, and cool ideas for Smackdown with Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. So, he’s just going to sit in the tube and see where the river takes him.

As for facing Seth Rollins for the WWE Title in a re-match from last night’s Raw, Ambrose said he doesn’t like ties and draws in wrestling. He said he was ready to wrestle again at 4:00 in the morning, so he’ll just finish Seth off tonight. Because he’s walking in and walking out WWE champion.

– Added to Smackdown is Sasha Banks vs. Women’s champion Charlotte & Dana Brooke in a handicap match.

• WWE Title match: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins
• John Cena vs. Luke Gallows
• Women’s champion Charlotte & Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks

– Backstage, Natalya was interviewed by Tom Phillips. Natalya heelishly said she has been running the Women’s division the past eight years, unlike her opponent at Battleground, Becky Lynch, so Raw and Smackdown will benefit from her presence. Is that all you got, Tom?

– Backstage, Greg Hamilton brought in WWE tag champions New Day. The tag champs ate some Booty-O’s in-between comments. Big E. enjoyed the booty a bit too much while Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston talked about blessing their respective brand(s) with their presence. Greg then noted to Xavier that he faces Bray Wyatt tonight. Xavier got serious talking about needing to get serious.

• WWE Title match: Dean Ambrose vs. Seth Rollins
• John Cena vs. Luke Gallows
• Women’s champion Charlotte & Dana Brooke vs. Sasha Banks
• Bray Wyatt vs. Xavier Woods

– The pre-show panel ran through video of the Top 10 Draft moments through the years. Plenty of intriguing and odd trips down memory lane.

– WWE cut to the Performance Center to show the NXT roster hanging out waiting to find out if they get drafted. Not exactly a high-energy introduction of the roster milling around in track suits.

– Backstage, Tom Phillips brought in Sami Zayn to discuss Raw or Smackdown. He said he doesn’t have a preference with advantages and disadvantages. He just wants to see who ends up on the same show with him, as long as it’s not Kevin Owens. Zayn said he really hopes he gets picked one spot before Owens, because he knows that would drive him crazy. As for an NXT pick, Zayn said it has to be Finn Balor.

– Backstage, Greg Hamilton brought in the Social Outcasts. What happens if you guys get split up via the Draft? They paused and looked at him like he’s nuts. Curtis Axel vowed to split Hamilton’s lip, then Slater revealed his nasty-looking eye from his injury against Titus O’Neil on Saturday’s house show. Bo Dallas said they will be together forever! Back at the desk, Corey Graves said they should all be drafted to WCW Nitro.

– The pre-show wrapped up with some sleeper picks, NXT picks, and other items of note. Booker said he would pick Samoa Joe having been in the ring with him.

– WWE cut to the arena for a shot of Stephanie McMahon and Mick Foley being introduced to the Raw podium on the stage. Then, Shane McMahon was introduced to the Smackdown podium. Everyone was color coordinated red and blue for the occasion. No pre-show shot of Daniel Bryan being introduced, which was saved for the top of the Smackdown broadcast. That’s a wrap for the pre-show.