The first night of the 2024 WWE Draft on SmackDown brought an electrifying wave of changes and surprises. With major draft picks announced by Triple H and Cody Rhodes, the landscape of WWE is shifting in dramatic ways.
**First Round Highlights:**
Jay Uso and Seth Rollins have been drafted to Monday Night Raw. On the SmackDown side, Bianca Belair and Carmelo Hayes made their way to the blue brand. Hayes, making a notable debut, faced off against Cody Rhodes in the main event. Despite losing, Hayes’ performance hinted at a bright future ahead.
**Second Round Highlights:**
SmackDown welcomed Randy Orton and Nia Jax, while Liv Morgan and Bron Breakker moved to Raw. Breakker’s debut was nothing short of dominant as he swiftly defeated Cedric Alexander in seconds.
**Third Round Highlights:**
LA Knight and The Bloodline (excluding Roman Reigns, as per Paul Heyman’s announcement) were drafted to SmackDown. Raw gained Sheamus and Ricochet, adding more talent to its roster.
**Fourth Round Highlights:**
The final round of the night saw Raw acquire Alpha Academy and Kiana James, while SmackDown picked up Andrade and AJ Styles. Social media announcements revealed additional picks: Baron Corbin, The OC, and Cedric Alexander for SmackDown, and Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, and Ivar for Raw.
**Vince McMahon’s Departure:**
In a groundbreaking development, Vince McMahon is selling his remaining shares in TKO Group Holdings. This move will completely sever his ties with WWE, ending his association with the company he led for over 50 years. McMahon’s sale of 8.02 million shares, valued at over $776 million, marks the end of an era. For many fans, this is a relief, as it solidifies Triple H’s leadership and ensures McMahon’s absence from future WWE operations.
**Cody Rhodes’ Injury Scare:**
Cody Rhodes, the new Undisputed Champion following his WrestleMania 40 victory over Roman Reigns, faced a potential setback during his match against Carmelo Hayes. A failed Cody Cutter led to a hard landing on his right shoulder, causing concern about a serious injury. WWE doctors are currently assessing the severity of Rhodes’ injury. This development puts his upcoming title defense against AJ Styles at Backlash 2024 in jeopardy.
With so much at stake, the wrestling world watches closely as Triple H continues to navigate WWE through these transformative times. Fans eagerly await the second night of the draft on Raw, hoping for more exciting changes and updates on Cody Rhodes’ condition.
