SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
WWE will be holding the Draft on the first live Smackdown set for Tuesday, July 19 on USA Network, WWE announced Monday.
WWE is advertising the Draft “conducted by respective General Managers,” who have not been named yet for Raw and Smackdown.
The GMs will “select which Superstars will compete exclusively on Monday Night Raw or Smackdown.”
WWE is hyping the two rosters “competing with each other for television ratings, live events, and pay-per-views” going back-to-back with live programming on Monday and Tuesday nights.
WWE did not outright say that both brands will have their own PPVs, but the implications is they will run separate tours and PPVs on WWE Network.
WWE also did not say whether separate titles will be created for the two brands, which will likely be addressed in storyline context.
The Draft comes the week of WWE’s next PPV, Battleground, which takes place July 24. It remains to be seen if Battleground is affected based on the Draft happening before the PPV.
Where will AJ Styles end up? The world will find out live July 19th on #Smackdown. I can tell you one thing…it's my time. #PhenomenalOne
— AJStyles.Org (@AJStylesOrg) June 20, 2016
The ppv should be the Sunday before the draft, not after! Typical WWE, ass backwards. smh Why even bother with this ppv?
Of course the 2 GMs will be Steph and Shane. I will be shocked if it is anyone else.