CM Punk Returns, Hall of Famers Scheduled to Appear, Draft Day Updates and More: WWE SmackDown 04/26 Predictions & Preview

WWE is back again with yet another tradition that the superstars would have to follow to move forward into the new era. Friday Night SmackDown on 04/26 will be the first night for the WWE draft in the ongoing year. As the integral night approaches, fans may want to take a look at the talent pool for the first draft day. Moreover, multiple reports have cited other notable appearances for the coming edition of WWE’s blue brand as well.

Despite the WWE Draft being a staple in the past few years, there are some noticeable changes in its format. Fret not, we are your one-stop solution to grasping all the nitty gritty of the upcoming draft.

Important rules to remember for the WWE draft

Much like every year, the rules for the draft mostly remain the same. While some of these may be flexible, others are usually rigid and suit WWE’s ultimate plan. The rules for this year’s draft are as follows:

1. First and foremost, reigning champions with titles assigned to a specific brand are not eligible to be drafted to another one. So, as per the promotion, Damian Priest, Becky Lynch, Awesome Truth, and Sami Zayn will remain on Raw. On the other hand, Cody Rhodes, A-Town Down Under, and Logan Paul will continue on SmackDown itself.
2. The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions are an exception. As a result, Kairi Sane and Asuka are eligible for drafting. Their consistent presence on a specific brand will become regular only when they lose their titles. Otherwise, they can continue hopping brands to defend their titles.
3. SmackDown will feature four rounds of picks being announced. As a result, the brands will pick two talents apiece from a total number of 16; 8 for Raw and 8 for SmackDown. On the coming Raw episode, there will be six picking rounds from 24; 12 for Raw and 12 for SmackDown.
4. The blue brand will have the first pick on Friday while the red brand will have the first pick on Monday.
5. Rosters will go into effect on Monday, May 6, two days after Backlash France.

But which blockbuster names will make their appearances for the upcoming marquee tradition?

Potential and confirmed appearances for the WWE Draft 2024

The first name that is confirmed to appear during both draft events is CM Punk. The Second City Saint is not in the SmackDown pool of talents. However, he is set to show up at the Blue brand on the 26th of April. So, there’s a possibility that we will see CM Punk helping to officiate the event. However, his Monday Night Raw appearance could just boil down to the regular business he has on the red brand.

Moreover, fans will get to see the return of WWE Hall of Famers such as JBL, Teddy Long, and Alundra Blayze. If the speculations come to be true, Torrie Wilson and Michelle McCool could also grace us with their presence during one of, if not both, the nights.

Are you excited to see the 2024 WWE Draft? Let us know where do you want to see your favorite wrestler performing this year.