Friday Night SmackDown thread, Oct. 11, 2019: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to face off on SmackDown for number one pick

[Kross Rhodes]

Friday Night SmackDown preview, Oct. 11, 2019: Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns to face off on SmackDown for number one pick

A historic WWE Draft gets underway on SmackDown with the future of 30 Superstars to be determined on Friday night’s episode. WWE Universal Champion Seth Rollins will represent Raw in a match against SmackDown's Roman Reigns to decide which brand will earn the first overall pick.

Seth Rollins (representing Raw) faces Roman Reigns (representing SmackDown) in the opening match of this week’s WWE Draft episode of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX, and the victorious Superstar will earn the first overall pick for the corresponding brand.


The stakes are high for this showdown between former Shield members, as the Universal Champion squares off with The Big Dog to decide which brand gets the all-important first selection.

Will Rollins secure the top pick for Raw, or will Reigns score a major victory for the blue brand?

Tune in for the WWE Draft on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX at 8/7 C.

Charlotte Flair and Bayley to collide tonight for SmackDown Women’s Title in WWE Hell in a Cell rematch

Charlotte and Bayley are ‘bout to run it back!

Yes, following her defeat over Bayley for the SmackDown Women’s Title this past Sunday at WWE Hell in a Cell, Charlotte Flair will square off with her longtime rival in a rematch tonight on Friday Night SmackDown on FOX.

Can Bayley end The Queen’s history-making tenth title reign only five days after Charlotte recaptured the title? Or will Flair make Bayley bow down yet again as the WWE Draft begins? Find out when the two collide tonight at 8/7 C on FOX.

What’s next for Kevin Owens after his Ladder Match win?

Kevin Owens impressed the STAPLES Center crowd with a high-flying Ladder Match against Shane McMahon with their careers literally hanging in the balance. KO exited with the victory but not before firing Shane-O-Mac and delivering a gratifying Stunner.

Is Owens finally freed from the grips of Shane? Have we heard the last from the “Best in the World?”

WWE Draft begins with Friday Night SmackDown on FOX

SmackDown and Raw are officially on the clock.

A historic WWE Draft gets underway on SmackDown with the future of 30 Superstars to be determined on Friday night’s episode. The preliminary draft pool was released earlier this week on WWE.com, and it revealed that the fates of WWE Raw Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns, The O.C., “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt and more will be revealed on SmackDown.

It will be a star-studded affair as celebrities from FOX and NBCUniversal will take part in the draft process. Fourteen-time MLB All-Star and FOX analyst Alex Rodriguez, "Saturday Night Live’s" Michael Che and Colin Jost of “Weekend Update” segments, "Mr. Robot's" Christian Slater, “NFL on FOX’s” Joe Buck and Pro Football Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, and “Mad Money” host Jim Cramer are among the headliners set to take part.

Below is the full list of WWE Draft rules:

• Over 70 Superstars, as well as tag teams, are eligible for selection in this year’s WWE Draft
• SmackDown will draft 30 Superstars, and Raw will select another 41 Superstars
• Since SmackDown is a two-hour show and Raw is a three-hour show, for every two picks SmackDown makes, Raw will receive three
• Tag teams will count as one pick unless FOX or USA Network specifically wants to pick only one Superstar from the team
• Any undrafted Superstars will immediately be declared free agents and able to sign with the brand of their choosing

What Raw Superstar is destined for SmackDown glory?

A number of high-profile Raw Superstars are eligible for Friday’s round of the WWE Draft as Sasha Banks, “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt, AJ Styles and Braun Strowman are all available in the draft pool.

Will a change in scenery help one of these Superstars usher in a new era of Friday Night SmackDown on FOX?

Tune in to the WWE Draft on FOX at 8/7 C to see who will trading in red for blue following the WWE Draft.

 

[Cwalker]

Roman’s gonna win and he’s gonna be the number one pick

 

[Kross Rhodes]

The Big Dog and The Beast Slayer tonight! I'm hyped AF!

Winner gets first draft? Now these are stakes.

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Roman’s gonna win and he’s gonna be the number one pick

I'd be surprised if Brock or Seth isn't first.

 

[Cwalker]

I'd be surprised if Brock or Seth isn't first.

I was joking

Has to be Brock

 

[Kross Rhodes]

I was joking

Has to be Brock

If this was more kayfabe I could see it, though. Like when Cena won and got drafted.

 

[Cwalker]

If this was more kayfabe I could see it, though. Like when Cena won and got drafted.

Man was on the SD roster for like an hour

 

[Kross Rhodes]

For the first time in history, TV executives will be drafting superstars to both Monday Night Raw and Friday Night Smackdown.

According to the press release by WWE, USA Network and FOX Broadcast executives will have direct say on who is drafted to each show. USA Network is the home for RAW and FOX is the home of Smackdown.

Details:

WWE DRAFT ON FOX + USA

STAMFORD, Conn. – October 10, 2019 – A star-studded celebrity lineup of FOX and NBCUniversal personalities including Alex Rodriguez, Michael Che, Colin Jost, Christian Slater, Troy Aikman, Joe Buck and Jim Cramer will be part of the two-night WWE Draft airing live tomorrow on Friday Night SmackDown® at 8 pm ET/PT on FOX and continuing this Monday, October 14 on Raw® at 8/7c on USA Network.

For the first time, executives from FOX and USA Network have direct influence over the WWE Draft as it will determine the Superstars competing for either Raw or SmackDown.

Additional celebrities include: FOX MLB Analysts Kevin Burkhardt and Frank Thomas; Curt Menefee, Terry Bradshaw, Howie Long, Jimmy Johnson and Tony Gonzalez from FOX NFL Sunday; FOX NFL Analysts Ronde Barber, Charles Davis, Chris Spielman and Daryl Johnston; Big Noon Kickoff Analysts Rob Stone, Brady Quinn, Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and Urban Meyer; FOX NFL Kickoff cast including Charissa Thompson, Michael Vick and Peter Schrager; FOX College Football Analyst Joel Klatt; as well as stars from NBCUniversal including Dulé Hill (Psych, Suits); James Roday (Psych); Marcus Lemonis (The Profit); Margaret Josephs and Melissa Gorga (Real Housewives of New Jersey); Football Night In America Analysts Rodney Harrison and Chris Simms; and Rebecca Lowe, Robbie Mustoe and Kyle Martino from Premier League Live.

WWE Draft Rules

• More than 70 Superstars, including Tag Teams, have been placed into this year’s WWE Draft pool.
• 30 Superstars will be eligible to be drafted tomorrow night while 41 Superstars will be eligible on Monday Night.
• Since Friday Night SmackDown is a two-hour show and Monday Night Raw is a three-hour show, for every two SmackDown picks, Raw will get three.
• Tag Teams will count as one pick unless FOX or USA Network specifically wants to pick one Superstar from the team.
• Any undrafted Superstars will immediately be declared free agents and able to sign with the brand of their choosing.

About FOX Sports

FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing Fox Corporation’s wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, the business has ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing relationships. FOX Sports includes the sports arm of the FOX Network as well as FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Deportes. FOX Sports’ digital properties include FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports App, which provides live streaming video of FOX Sports content, instant scores, stats and alerts to iOS and Android devices. Additionally, FOX Sports and social broadcasting platform, Caffeine, jointly own Caffeine Studios which creates exclusive eSports, sports and live entertainment content. Also included in FOX Sports’ portfolio are FOX’s interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network and BTN 2Go, as well as a licensing agreement that established the FOX Sports Radio Network.

I have to say I like the idea of FOX and USA drafting their own rosters. Makes the competition feel more legit.

 

[Cwalker]

Really want us to treat this like a shoot

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Really want us to treat this like a shoot

Seems that way. TBH with the money they're paying WWE I wouldn't doubt at all that both Networks heavily influenced the decisions. This isn't 2002 when UPN wasn't giving WWE a billion dollars to appear like a legit A Brand.

 

[Kross Rhodes]

WWE and FOX know how to get my hyped, though. Their last match was a banger. And those new logos are fire.

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Wait, neither Brock nor Seth can be drafted tonight?

Roman really is about to be drafted first.

 

[Cwalker]

I was kidding. Oh shit

 

[Kross Rhodes]

Unless Becky is drafted first.

 

[Cwalker]

If Becky gets drafted to SD, do she and Charlotte switch titles?