Monday Night Raw marked Night II of the 2024 WWE Draft! A memorable night on it’s own but after ending the show last week crowning Becky Lynch as the new World Women’s Champion, we’re opening the show with The Man!
Lynch energizes Kansas City hyping up the draft and her win from last week which reminds the crowd that it was in this very building Becky career transformed. After adulation from the audience, Liv Morgan interrupts the opening promo and shows her growth on the mic and exclaims Becky owes her a title shot.
Before we can get a response from the champ, Nia Jax makes her presence known and really steals the show. I’m going to miss getting to cover the Irresistible Force in my reviews every week now that she’s been drafted to Smackdown. Nia vs Liv is made for later tonight!
Round 1 of the WWE Draft is kicked off by none other than Stephanie McMahon herself! After I finished marking out, the Billion Dollar Princess announced the following first round draft picks:
1st Round Draft Picks
Jade Cargill stays on Smackdown
Damage Control to Raw!!
First round started off with the much needed seperation of Damage Control from Belair/Bayley. Cargill being named the #1 Draft pick for the blue brand show’s the company’s level of confidence in her star power which I’m 100% here for.
2nd Round Draft Picks
BFab (apart of The Pride) stays on Smackdown
Tiffany Stratton stays on Smackdown
Kiana James had a brief promo package announcing her draft to Monday Night Raw, really excited to have her on Monday Nights!! A lot of commenters on prior articles have hoped for an Alexa/Carmella type ascent for James on the main roster and I couldn’t agree more!
3rd Round Draft Picks
Zelina Vega (apart of the LWO) to Raw
Electra Lopez (apart of Legado Del Fantasma) stays on Smackdown
Backstage promo with Maxxine getting hyped up before her tag match tonight! The short hair really works for Dupri, her and Gable build sympathy really well in the segment with Ivy coming in to support her tag partner. Def got me excited for the upcoming match!
Candice LeRae is in the ring with Indi Hartwell heeling it up and out comes Maxxine and her carb free friend Ivy!!
Maxxine is definitely still finding her feet in between the ropes but ends up dominating LeRae throughout the match. The bout culminates with Dupri locking in Candice’s ankle in hopes of a submission victory but ends up loosening her grip after witnessing Hartwell push Nile into the ring post!
The distraction is enough for LeRae to pick up the victory after stomping Dupri’s face into the mat with the Wicked Stepmother!
Winner- Candice
4th Round Draft Picks
(Alunda Blayze is out in a really fierce red blazer btw)
Naomi stays on Smackdown!
Chelsea Green & Piper Niven are drafted to Smackdown!
Liv Morgan makes her entrance for her match against Nia Jax!! Interesting that Morgan is playing more of a tweener role here because I do think she’s justified in her frustrations plus you have Jax who is CLEARLY the heel and we love her for it.
Jax starts with tossing Liv about and just dominates early on with few moments of Morgan gaining the upper hand. After planting Liv into the announce table with a wheelbarrow faceplant outside the ring, the camera cuts to the 3rd round Smackdown draft pick, Tiffany Stratton in prime spotlight! Cut to commercial!
Nia in control as we return from commercial, there’s a freaken Ryan Gosling spot, who I love, but c’mon. Brief cuts to Stratton as Liv fights back and starts smashing Nia’s head into the ring post. Nia shakes that off like whatever, and hits a Samoan Drop for 2!!
Liv focusing on Nia’s head, which isn’t a bad strategy but Nia chokeslams the hell out of Liv. Seriously ouch. Jax drags the limp Morgan in position for the bonzai drop but the little spitfire throws Nia off balance and hits a powerbomb!! Near fall at 2!!
Tiffy and Naomi start brawling at ringside which Nia gets involved in allowing Liv to hit a springboard codebreaker into Oblivion for the win!! Winner- Liv Morgan
Adam Pearce celebrates Chelsea Green to Smackdown and we have our 5th round Draft picks next!!
5th Round Draft Picks
LYRA VALKYRIA GET’S DRAFTED FROM NXT TO RAW!!!
Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell move from Raw to Smackdown!!
Lyra Valkyria is an excellent addition to the Raw Roster!! I was a big fan of her NXT work but a loss with LeRae who I thought was being built up on Raw. Oh well, another addition to the blue brand!
Backstage Liv Morgan is feeling good after her win and is approached by Becky Lynch who confirms she has her title shot. Becky is then surrounded by Damage Control who make their presence known on Raw.
6th Round Draft Picks
Scarlett to Monday Night Raw!!
Blair Davenport is drafted from NXT to Smackdown!!!
At this point, the remaining women eligible to be drafted are Natalya, Tegan, Katana, Kayden and Nile (ft. The Creed Brothers). I hope some of the aforementioned stay on the red brand as Smackdown is stacked with star power after Night II.
Raw was overall good tonight, Becky Lynch and Liv Morgan are positioned to lead the women’s division going forward with the impending takeover of Damage Control lurking. Rhea will definitely be back on Raw upon healing but I do hope we get another NXT call up in the supplemental draft like the rumored Fallon Henley.
Raw Roster
Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, Maxxine Dupri, Kiana James, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, Shayna Baszler, Zoey Stark, Iyo Sky, Dakota Kai, Asuka, Kairi Sane, Zelina Vega, Lyra Valkyria, Scarlett
Smackdown Roster
Bayley, Bianca Belair, Michin, Nia Jax, Jade Cargill, B-Fab, Tiffany Stratton, Elektra Lopez, Naomi, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Candice LeRae, Indi Hartwell, Blair Davenport
Can’t wait for Nattie to show out tomorrow in NXT Underground, stay Phonie!
