>> 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.