Every pick on Night One of the 2024 WWE Draft: SmackDown highlights, April 26, 2024

>> Welcome to the first round of the 2024 draft. It's a night that changes the landscape of WWE going into the future, and the draft here is a bit different because as those GM's sit in the back in those war rooms pondering their next step, they have to understand that it's just as much about protecting the roster they have as it is bringing in the roster that they want. Meaning that when they use their pick, they have just as much of a chance of gaining a WWE superstar as they do losing one that they already have. Cody, I thought since champions are protected and you'll be staying right here on SmackDown, I thought maybe you could help me out here and you read the SmackDown picks. I'll read the Raw picks. Since it is SmackDown, you get the honor of going first. With the first pick of the 2024 WWE draft, SmackDown selects the Est of WWE. Bianca Belair. No surprise there. Bad news. The est Bianca Belair staying right here on Friday night. SmackDown bolstering what I believe is the best women's division in the game. The second pick of the 2024 WWE Draft, Raw selects main event J. Russo that is incredible. Career trajectory from main event Jay Flint from the bloodline standing on his own 2ft with the third pick of the two thousands. 24 WWE drafts SmackDown selects NXT Carmelo Hayes. What? What a genius pick. Nobody saw that coming? I'll tell you what, Curry. This is the first time in history an NXT superstar has been drafted in round one of the draft. Wow. What a reaction from Carmelo's peers at the performance center. The final pick of the first round, Ross selects Seth Freakin Rollins. No surprise there. The man who's held the world heavyweight championship until this past WrestleMania and overabundance of heart and guts set freaking Rollins staying on Monday nights. Round one is in the books. Wade, any immediate thoughts? It's the Carmelo Hayes thing. I'm still blown away, but I love it. The stars are indeed out in full effect for night one of the 2024 WWE draft. With the first pick of the second round of the 2024 WWE draft, Matt Bell selects the Viper Randy Ortech. Huge. Absolutely massive. Gets, or should I say keep for the blue brand here on Friday. Protect your biggest stars at all costs. And Randy Orton is certainly that. And with the second pick of the second round of the 2024 WWE draft, Raw selects Braun Breaker. No, this is a heartbreaker. Bad news, man. Raw have just got one of the biggest superstars of the future. Saw him firsthand. How could you possibly let Brom breaker slip through your fingers. Nick Aldis. I am disappointed. There you see the Monday night Raw squad reacting. Congratulations, Adam Pierce. You got yourself a thoroughbred. Aldous has got to be disappointed at. You heard triple H mentioned at the top of the evening, the delicate balance. When you keep a Randy Orton, you leave yourself susceptible to having a future Sark snatched away. With the third pick of the second round of the 2024 WWE draft, SmackDown selects Nya Jax. Yes, my absolute favourite on the women's division, a woman who causes carnage everywhere she goes. That is a massive, massive selection. Way to get back in the good books, all this. And with the final pick of the second round, Ross elects Liv Morgan. That's a big get or a big keep. Again, this is the priorities here, being shown early on by both managers general of keeping course your established stars on your brand. You want to bolster, you want to solidify, you want to build. But you can't build without a great foundation. Take a look at the selections in round two. Of course, SmackDown retaining the viper and adding the irresistible force. It's going to take a while to get over Bron Breakker. Heading to Monday with the first pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE draft, SmackDown selects La Knight. Yeah. Greatest pick ever. La Knight, the mega star, is staying here on the blue brand. Cory, the whole world is going to be elated about that. Great job, Nick Aldis. Back down war room. Obviously pleased with the decision. La Knight staying right here on Friday nights. With the second pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE draft, Roar selects Ricochet, the one and only, the premier high flying superstar in this game industry. Wade, I know you've been watching Ricochet do big, big things on WWE. Speed on x every Wednesday at noon. The sky truly is the limit. With the third pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE draft, SmackDown selects solo Sikoa MFT Tomatonga and Paul Heyman. The bloodline, I suppose they stay better late than never. But bad news, I can't imagine there are going to be a lot of happy campers within the bloodline. But being picked in the third round, I mean, where the bloodline goes, trouble follows. That's been the story of the past two weeks. You have to think Paul Heyman has negotiated that deal rather rapidly. And with the final pick of the third round, Ross selects Sheamus. Throw an extra couple of slices on the burgers, fella. You're going to roar. What a pickup by the red brand. Let's take a look at the completed third round of the 2024 WWE Draft LA Knight in the bloodline staying right here on Friday night, SmackDown, Ricochet and Sheamus hanging out on Mondays. With the first pick of the fourth round of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects AJ Styles. What a pick. And you know what, Corey? It's gonna look even better if AJ beats Cody at backlash a week tomorrow to become undisputed WWE WWE champ. Phenomenal and timeless. Love it. With the second pick of the fourth round of the 2024 WWE draft, Raw selects Chad Gable, my man Otis, Akira Dezawa and Maxine Dupree. The Alpha Academy Alpha Academy remaining on Monday night curious to see what the academy is able to accomplish with the new perspective of Master Chad Yabel. With the third pick of the third round of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown selects Andrade. This is a big one for the Blue brand. Recently returning to WWE, battling alongside Rey Mysterio at WrestleMania, Andrade's coming to Friday nights, and with the final pick of the fourth round, Rawls selects Keanu James. What? Wow. NXT's Keanu J. I did not see that coming at all. But the more I think about it, the more I like it. Self made businesswoman master manipulator Keanu James is going to be making money moves on SmackDown. Well done, Keanu. She is getting ready for an interview with Jackie Redmond. But here is the full class of round four styles staying here on Friday night SmackDown. Andrade joining the blue brand, Alpha Academy remaining on Raw and let's take a closer look for those of you who may not be familiar with NXT, or should I say Monday night, raw superstar Keanu James. My name is Kiana James. In the corporate world and in the ring, I'm relentless. A successful woman knows her worth and her clout, and I have both in spades.