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2009 WWE Draft
2009 WWE Draft
2009 WWE Draft
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2009 WWE draft
General information
SportProfessional wrestling
DateApril 13, 2009
LocationAtlanta, Georgia
Overview
LeagueWorld Wrestling Entertainment
TeamsRaw
SmackDown
ECW
← 2008
2010 →

The 2009 World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) draft was the seventh WWE draft, produced by the American professional wrestling promotion World Wrestling Entertainment. The draft had two parts: the first part was televised live for three hours on April 13; the second part, the "supplemental draft", was held the same day immediately following the televised portion. The first part was broadcast on WWE's program Raw on the USA Network in the United States,[a] and the supplemental draft was available on the Internet, at WWE's official website. The televised portion was held in Atlanta, Georgia, at Philips Arena. The 2009 WWE draft marked the third time that the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands were featured in the draft; wrestlers, general managers and commentators were all eligible to be drafted from the company's roster. For the televised half, matches determined which brand received a random draft selection. During the supplemental draft, brand and employee selections were made at random. Due to draft regulations, drafted champions took their titles to their new brands, and tag teams were not exempt from being selected. As a result, the draft impacted championships and split tag teams.

Overall, 36 draft selections were made, the most since the original draft in 2002 (which featured 57 selections). Twelve selections were made on television; six were made by Raw, five by SmackDown, and one by ECW. All of the draftees were wrestlers: 28 males (10 drafted on television) and 8 females (2 drafted on television). Raw obtained the first overall pick in the draft by winning the first match, which resulted in the acquisition of United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter from SmackDown. Women's Champion Melina from Raw was SmackDown's first selection. ECW's sole televised draft pick was Vladimir Kozlov from SmackDown. Additionally, SmackDown's WWE Champion Triple H was drafted by Raw, resulting in SmackDown's loss of its prime championship. At the end of the televised portion, the final draft choices were Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio of Raw by SmackDown, replacing the loss of the United States Champion, and SmackDown's Divas Champion Maryse by Raw, replacing the loss of the Women's Champion.

In the supplemental draft, Mr. Kennedy, who was sidelined with a non-scripted shoulder injury, was drafted from SmackDown to Raw as the first (13th overall) supplemental pick. SmackDown obtained Shad Gaspard from Raw as their first (14th overall) supplemental selection. Ezekiel Jackson was ECW's first supplemental pick. Unified WWE Tag Team Champions The Colóns (Carlito and Primo) were drafted from SmackDown to Raw; this left SmackDown without a tag team championship (although the tag team champions can appear on all 3 brands). Brie Bella (from SmackDown to Raw), Charlie Haas (from Raw to SmackDown), and Hurricane Helms (from SmackDown to ECW) were the final supplemental picks.

Background

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In March 2002, the Brand Extension storyline was initiated. WWE's Raw and SmackDown! television programs were made into brands that employees were assigned to work;[2] the ECW brand was later added in 2006.[3] With the exception of 2003, WWE has held the draft annually since its inception.[4]

Via its website on February 11, WWE announced that the 2009 Draft was to take place on April 13 at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia. All wrestlers, general managers, and commentators were eligible to be drafted.[5][6] A supplemental draft was announced for April 15.[7][8] It was announced on the day of the televised draft that for the third consecutive year, matches would determine which brand received a draft pick, and that 12 wrestlers were to switch brands.[9] As in previous drafts, the purpose of the 2009 WWE draft was to increase television ratings of WWE programming and to refresh the roster with new storylines for each brand.[10]

Selections

[edit]

Televised draft

[edit]

During Raw, 10 matches were held among representatives of the three brands to determine which would receive a draft pick; two of the matches were for two selections. Each match featured a wrestler representing their brand; if a wrestler was drafted earlier in the program, they would represent their new brand. After the matches, a computerized system, which appeared on the Raw stage TitanTron, randomly[b] selected a member from the two opposing brands' rosters for the winning brand.

Matches

[edit]
No.ResultsStipulations
1Rey Mysterio (Raw) defeated Evan Bourne (ECW)Singles match for 1 draft pick
2Kane (Raw) defeated The Brian Kendrick (SmackDown)Singles match for 1 draft pick
3Maryse, Michelle McCool, and Natalya (SmackDown) defeated Melina, Mickie James, and Kelly Kelly (Raw)Six-woman tag team match for 1 draft pick
4John Cena (Raw) defeated Jack Swagger (ECW)Singles match for 2 draft picks
5The Great Khali (SmackDown) defeated Santino Marella (Raw)Singles match for 1 draft pick
6Kofi Kingston (Raw) defeated The Miz (ECW)Singles match for 1 draft pick
7Edge (SmackDown) won by last eliminating Big Show (Raw)[c]Tri-branded 15-man Battle royal for 2 draft picks
8Christian (ECW) defeated Shelton Benjamin (SmackDown)Singles match for 1 draft pick
9Matt Hardy[d] (Raw) defeated CM Punk[e] (SmackDown)Singles match for 1 draft pick
10Chris Jericho[e] (SmackDown) defeated Tommy Dreamer (ECW)Singles match for 1 draft pick

Selections

[edit]
Pick No. Brand (to) Superstar Role Brand (from) Notes
1 Raw MVP Male wrestler SmackDown WWE United States Champion
2 Raw Big Show Male wrestler SmackDown
3 SmackDown Melina Female wrestler Raw WWE Women's Champion
4 Raw Matt Hardy Male wrestler SmackDown
5 Raw Triple H Male wrestler SmackDown WWE Champion
6 SmackDown CM Punk Male wrestler Raw Money in the Bank contract holder
7 Raw The Miz Male wrestler ECW Split of John Morrison and The Miz
8 SmackDown Kane Male wrestler Raw
9 SmackDown Chris Jericho Male wrestler Raw
10 ECW Vladimir Kozlov Male wrestler SmackDown
11 Raw Maryse Female wrestler SmackDown WWE Divas Champion
12 SmackDown Rey Mysterio Male wrestler Raw WWE Intercontinental Champion
The first ever WWE female championship for WWE female championship female WWE draft pick trades in WWE history then WWE Women's Champion Melina and then WWE Divas Champion Maryse

Supplemental draft

[edit]
Mr. Kennedy was the 13th pick in the 2009 WWE draft
Pick No. Brand (to) Employee Role Brand (from) Notes
13 Raw Mr. Kennedy Male wrestler SmackDown
14 SmackDown Shad Gaspard Male wrestler Raw Member of Cryme Tyme
15 SmackDown Alicia Fox Female wrestler ECW
16 Raw Primo Male wrestler SmackDown Member of The Colóns
World Tag Team Champion
WWE Tag Team Champion
17 SmackDown Mike Knox Male wrestler Raw
18 ECW Ezekiel Jackson Male wrestler SmackDown
19 Raw Nikki Bella Female wrestler SmackDown Member of The Bella Twins
20 SmackDown Candice Michelle Female wrestler Raw Never appeared on this brand as she was released from her contract
21 ECW Zack Ryder Male wrestler SmackDown Split of Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
22 Raw Chavo Guerrero Male wrestler SmackDown
23 SmackDown Ricky Ortiz Male wrestler ECW
24 SmackDown Layla Female wrestler Raw
25 Raw Hornswoggle Male wrestler ECW Split from Finlay
26 ECW DH Smith Male wrestler SmackDown
27 SmackDown John Morrison Male wrestler ECW Split of John Morrison and The Miz
28 Raw Carlito Male wrestler SmackDown Member of The Colóns
World Tag Team Champion
WWE Tag Team Champion
29 ECW Natalya Female wrestler SmackDown
30 Raw Festus Male wrestler SmackDown Split of Jesse and Festus
31 SmackDown JTG Male wrestler Raw Member of Cryme Tyme
32 SmackDown Dolph Ziggler Male wrestler Raw
33 Raw The Brian Kendrick Male wrestler SmackDown
34 SmackDown Charlie Haas Male wrestler Raw
35 ECW Hurricane Helms Male wrestler SmackDown
36 Raw Brie Bella Female wrestler SmackDown Member of The Bella Twins

Aftermath

[edit]

After the televised draft, Joey Styles, the Director of Digital Media Content for WWE's official website, interviewed the draftees on their reactions. The drafted wrestlers generally expressed approval of the draft and described what they hoped their experiences would be with their new brand.[11] Seven of the wrestlers were champions with their original brand,[7][12] and as outlined in the draft regulations, they carried their titles over to their new brand; this affected seven of nine championships. Champion draft selections included: Unified Tag Team Champions The Colóns (Carlito and Primo),[12] United States Champion Montel Vontavious Porter, WWE Champion Triple H, and Divas Champion Maryse from SmackDown to Raw; Women's Champion Melina and Intercontinental Champion Rey Mysterio from Raw to SmackDown.[7] Since Triple H was drafted to Raw, it left SmackDown without a world championship, as Raw now featured two of the three primary championships in WWE, the WWE and World Heavyweight Championships. Edge would bring the World Heavyweight Championship back to SmackDown two weeks later at Backlash when he defeated John Cena in a Last Man Standing Match. When MVP and Mysterio switched brands, the two secondary championships switched brands for the first time in WWE's history. Similarly, after Maryse and Melina switched brands, WWE's two female championships also switched brands for the first time. Though the Unified Tag Team Champions were both drafted to Raw from SmackDown, the titles were able to be defended on all three brands due to being unified.

Numerous tag teams were affected by the Draft overall. During the televised portion of the draft, ECW tag team John Morrison and The Miz was split up. The Miz was drafted to Raw and Morrison to SmackDown (during the supplemental draft). The Bella Twins (Brie and Nikki), Cryme Tyme (Shad Gaspard and JTG), and The Colóns were split up during the supplemental draft, although the duos went to the same brands afterward. SmackDown tag teams Jesse and Festus and Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder were also split up, with Festus drafted to Raw and Ryder to ECW.

The draft had little effect on the television ratings for WWE's programming. Generally, the ratings of the three shows during the week of the draft were consistent with the ratings of each from the previous week. The ratings for WWE programming the week before the draft were the following: the April 6 episode of Raw was watched by 5.7 million viewers in its first hour and by 6.1 million viewers in its second hour for an average 3.9 rating,[13] the April 7 episode of ECW on Sci Fi earned a 1.3 television rating, and Friday Night SmackDown earned a 2.0 television rating.[f][15] The draft episode of Raw was watched by 4.7 million viewers in its first hour, 5.7 in its second hour, and 6.1 in the final hour for an average 3.7 television rating.[16] Later that week, ECW on Sci Fi earned a 1.2 television rating, while Friday Night SmackDown earned a 2.0.[15]

As stated by WWE commentator Jim Ross, the draft would not come into effect until after Backlash, when the final inter-brand matches took place.[17]

See also

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Footnotes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2009 WWE Draft

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The 2009 WWE Draft was an annual roster reshuffling event held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on April 13, 2009, during a special three-hour episode of Monday Night Raw broadcast live from Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, in front of 16,431 fans. This draft redistributed active superstars across WWE's three brands—Raw, SmackDown, and ECW—through a combination of inter-brand matches and lottery selections, aimed at revitalizing storylines and preventing brand stagnation under the WWE brand extension system introduced in 2002. The event marked the fourth televised draft in WWE history and featured 12 picks revealed live, followed by a supplemental draft of 24 additional selections announced online two days later. The format consisted of six matches pitting representatives from different brands against each other, with the winning brand earning a draft pick; a bonus match involving Raw's Hornswoggle defeating SmackDown's Dolph Ziggler also granted Raw an extra selection. Key televised picks included WWE Champion Triple H moving from SmackDown back to Raw, where he had been a fixture prior to his 2008 draft; CM Punk shifting from Raw to SmackDown, setting the stage for his rapid ascent to the World Heavyweight Championship; Rey Mysterio transferring from Raw to SmackDown; Chris Jericho going from Raw to SmackDown; Big Show from SmackDown to Raw, igniting a major feud involving John Cena and Edge; and The Miz from ECW to Raw, boosting his main-event trajectory. Other notable moves involved champions like Divas Champion Maryse (SmackDown to Raw), Women's Champion Melina (Raw to SmackDown), and United States Champion MVP (SmackDown to Raw), ensuring title defenses aligned with new brand affiliations. The supplemental draft on April 15 further balanced the rosters, with highlights such as John Morrison moving from Raw to SmackDown and tag team partners Primo and Carlito both heading to Raw, preserving their Unified WWE Tag Team Championship status. Overall, the 2009 draft significantly altered 's competitive landscape, contributing to high-profile storylines like Punk's Money in the Bank cash-in on June 7 and Big Show's alliance shifts, while emphasizing cross-brand rivalries through subsequent events.

Background

Brand Extension Context

WWE's brand extension began in March 2002 as a response to the influx of talent following the acquisition of (WCW) and (ECW), which had left the company with an overcrowded roster. On March 18, 2002, announced the division of the roster into two primary brands—Raw and SmackDown—to streamline programming, foster separate storylines, and emulate inter-promotional competition in the absence of external rivals. This structure allowed WWE to produce distinct weekly shows with exclusive championships and talent pools, effectively doubling content opportunities while maintaining the illusion of brand rivalry. The addition of Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) as a third brand in 2006 further expanded the extension, reviving the defunct promotion under WWE's umbrella to capitalize on its cult following and provide an edgier alternative. Annual drafts became a core mechanism to sustain this system, serving to redistribute performers across brands, refresh stagnant rosters, spark new feuds, and elevate television ratings by introducing unpredictability. These events prevented talent monopolization on one brand and encouraged creative reinvention, with formats evolving from the expansive 2002 lottery to more streamlined televised and supplemental selections. By 2009, the draft marked the sixth iteration in the era, featuring a total of 36 selections—the highest number since the inaugural draft's 57 picks. Eligibility encompassed active wrestlers, tag teams, divas, managers, and even commentators, ensuring broad roster mobility while champions retained their titles upon switching brands to preserve storyline continuity. This approach balanced competitive dynamics with narrative stability, underscoring the extension's role in WWE's long-term programming strategy.

Event Announcement and Format

The 2009 WWE Draft was officially announced on February 9, 2009, through WWE's website, revealing that the event would occur as part of a special three-hour episode of Monday Night Raw. This announcement set the stage for the annual roster reshuffling among WWE's three brands—Raw, SmackDown, and ECW—emphasizing the potential for significant changes to storylines and competitions following the conclusion of the previous week. The draft took place on April 13, 2009, at Philips Arena in , Georgia, broadcast live on the as an extended Raw program starting at 8/7 C. The televised format featured ten inter-brand matches involving wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW, with the winning brand earning a draft pick for each victory; two specific matches were structured to award double picks, resulting in a total of twelve selections—six for Raw, five for SmackDown, and one for ECW. This competitive setup aimed to heighten drama and unpredictability, allowing the outcome of each bout to directly influence roster allocations. Complementing the live broadcast, a supplemental draft consisting of 24 additional picks was conducted off-air and revealed on WWE.com on April 15, 2009, further balancing the brands without television exposure. Pre-event promotion tied into the recent WrestleMania XXV outcomes, particularly highlighting the unified WWE Tag Team Championship win by The Colóns (Carlito and Primo) in a match against and John Morrison, positioning the draft as a pivotal reset for title defenses and rivalries across brands.

Televised Draft

Matches

The 2009 WWE Draft's televised portion consisted of ten inter-brand matches held during a special three-hour episode of Raw on April 13, 2009, at the Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, broadcast live on the . These contests pitted wrestlers from Raw, SmackDown, and ECW against one another, with the victorious brand securing the right to make a draft selection immediately following the match. All matches were standard singles bouts unless otherwise noted, with no additional stipulations beyond their role in determining draft order; commentary was handled by Michael Cole and . Two matches—the champion vs. champion bout and the —awarded two picks each, resulting in 12 total selections. The matches unfolded as follows, showcasing rivalries and talent from across the brands (brands listed as at the time of the match, accounting for prior drafts):
MatchParticipants (Brands)StipulationWinner(s)Winning BrandNotes
1Rey Mysterio (Raw) vs. Evan Bourne (ECW)SinglesRey MysterioRaw1 pick
2Kane (Raw) vs. The Brian Kendrick (SmackDown)SinglesKaneRaw1 pick
3Melina, Mickie James & Kelly Kelly (Raw) vs. Maryse, Michelle McCool & Natalya (SmackDown)Six-Diva tag teamMaryse, Michelle McCool & NatalyaSmackDown1 pick
4John Cena (Raw) vs. Jack Swagger (ECW)Singles (champions)John CenaRaw2 picks
5Santino Marella (Raw) vs. The Great Khali (SmackDown)SinglesThe Great KhaliSmackDown1 pick
6Kofi Kingston (Raw) vs. The Miz (ECW)SinglesKofi Kingston (by disqualification)Raw1 pick
715-man interbrand battle royal (Big Show, Cryme Tyme, MVP, Mike Knox [Raw]; Carlito, Chavo Guerrero, Primo, R-Truth, Edge [SmackDown]; Finlay, Mark Henry, Tyson Kidd, Paul Burchill, Ricky Ortiz [ECW])Battle royalEdgeSmackDown2 picks
8Shelton Benjamin (SmackDown) vs. Christian (ECW)SinglesChristianECW1 pick
9Matt Hardy (Raw) vs. CM Punk (SmackDown)SinglesMatt Hardy (by disqualification)Raw1 pick
10Chris Jericho (SmackDown) vs. Tommy Dreamer (ECW)SinglesChris JerichoSmackDown1 pick
These bouts highlighted the competitive balance among the brands, with Raw securing six picks, SmackDown five, and ECW one.

Selections

The televised selections of the WWE Draft occurred during a special three-hour episode of Raw on , , at Philips Arena in , Georgia, where the winners of ten interbrand matches earned draft picks for their respective brands (with two matches awarding two picks each). These 12 picks involved male and female superstars switching brands, with several champions relocating along with their titles, thereby shifting the championship landscapes across Raw, SmackDown, and ECW. The selections balanced out to six for Raw, five for SmackDown, and one for ECW, focusing exclusively on wrestlers without any non-wrestling personnel moves.
  1. MVP (United States Champion) was drafted from SmackDown to Raw, transferring the United States Championship to the red brand and positioning the charismatic heel as a key midcard contender.
  2. Big Show was drafted from SmackDown to Raw, bringing the towering giant's physical dominance to the flagship show as a main event enforcer without any title attached.
  3. Melina (Women's Champion) was drafted from Raw to SmackDown, moving the Women's Championship to the blue brand and introducing her athletic style and managerial flair to the SmackDown women's division.
  4. Matt Hardy was drafted from SmackDown to Raw, relocating the veteran high-flyer and storyteller to the red brand to bolster its undercard with his resilient babyface persona.
  5. Triple H (WWE Champion) was drafted from SmackDown to Raw, shifting the back to its original brand and reuniting the cerebral assassin with familiar rivalries on the main roster show.
  6. CM Punk (Money in the Bank contract holder) was drafted from Raw to SmackDown, transporting his briefcase opportunity for a world title shot to the blue brand while leveraging his technical prowess and rising star status.
  7. The Miz was drafted from ECW to Raw, splitting the popular tag team partnership with John Morrison and elevating the cocky talker to the spotlight on the primary brand as a singles competitor.
  8. Kane was drafted from Raw to SmackDown, moving the masked powerhouse's destructive force to the blue brand to enhance its big-man division with his supernatural heel attributes.
  9. Chris Jericho was drafted from Raw to SmackDown, bringing the veteran technician and outspoken heel to the Friday night show to anchor its upper midcard with his wrestling acumen and mic skills.
  10. Vladimir Kozlov was drafted from SmackDown to ECW, assigning the imposing Russian brawler to the developmental brand to serve as a dominant enforcer and strengthen its international flavor.
  11. Maryse (Divas Champion) was drafted from SmackDown to Raw, relocating the Divas Championship to the red brand and injecting her glamorous persona into Raw's women's roster.
  12. Rey Mysterio (Intercontinental Champion) was drafted from Raw to SmackDown, transferring the Intercontinental Championship to the blue brand and adding the high-flying luchador's speed and popularity to its main event scene.

Supplemental Draft

Selection Process

The Supplemental Draft for the 2009 Draft occurred on April 15, 2009, two days after the televised event on , and consisted of 24 additional roster selections announced exclusively online via WWE.com. These picks began rolling out at noon Eastern Time, with results updated progressively throughout the afternoon in a live format, allowing fans to follow the changes in real time without any televised broadcast. Unlike the televised portion, which produced 12 selections through inter-brand matches, the supplemental process involved no on-screen competitions or live events. Selections in the Supplemental Draft were determined randomly through a lottery system among the pool of eligible talent who had not been drafted during the televised show, ensuring a balanced redistribution across the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands while adhering to the same eligibility rules as the main event—namely, excluding already-drafted personnel, champions (who carried titles to new brands if selected), and non-wrestling staff. This random assignment aimed to further shake up the rosters by incorporating mid-card and underutilized performers, bringing the total number of draft moves to 36 and providing opportunities for lesser-featured wrestlers to transition between shows. The announcement format emphasized digital accessibility, with each pick revealed via text updates and brief descriptions on WWE.com, accompanied by promotional notes on the implications for the affected brands, but without video segments or on-site hosting. This approach marked the third consecutive year of a hybrid draft structure, prioritizing efficiency in roster management post-televised spectacle.

Key Roster Changes

The 2009 WWE Supplemental Draft consisted of 24 lottery-based selections announced on April 15, 2009, which redistributed talent across the Raw, SmackDown, and ECW brands following the televised portion of the draft. These picks included several wrestlers who were part of established tag teams or alliances, leading to notable disruptions in group dynamics. While some teams like ( and ), The Colóns (Primo and Carlito), and (Nikki and ) were selected separately but assigned to the same new brand, preserving their partnerships, others faced genuine separations that altered ongoing storylines. Key dissolutions included the split of and John Morrison, with Morrison moving from ECW to SmackDown while Miz had already been drafted to Raw in the televised event; Curt Hawkins and , as Ryder shifted from SmackDown to ECW while Hawkins remained; , with Festus going from SmackDown to Raw while Jesse stayed; and and , separated when Hornswoggle moved from ECW to Raw while Finlay remained on SmackDown. Additionally, was selected from Raw to SmackDown but was released from her contract on June 19, 2009, before making any appearances on the brand. These changes, particularly the movement of mid-card tag champions like Primo and Carlito (both to Raw), introduced new rivalries and opportunities for individual pushes. The full list of supplemental picks, numbered sequentially from the televised draft (overall picks 13 through 36), is as follows:
Overall PickWrestlerFrom BrandTo Brand
13Mr. KennedySmackDownRaw
14RawSmackDown
15ECWSmackDown
16PrimoSmackDownRaw
17RawSmackDown
18SmackDownECW
19SmackDownRaw
20RawSmackDown
21Zack RyderSmackDownECW
22Chavo GuerreroSmackDownRaw
23ECWSmackDown
24RawSmackDown
25ECWRaw
26DH SmithSmackDownECW
27John MorrisonECWSmackDown
28CarlitoSmackDownRaw
29NatalyaSmackDownECW
30FestusSmackDownRaw
31RawSmackDown
32RawSmackDown
33The Brian KendrickSmackDownRaw
34RawSmackDown
35Hurricane HelmsSmackDownECW
36SmackDownRaw
Overall, the supplemental draft promoted greater roster parity by shifting nine wrestlers to Raw (including mid-card standouts like Mr. Kennedy, Chavo Guerrero, and The Brian Kendrick), ten to SmackDown (bolstering its tag and women's divisions with additions like and ), and five to ECW (enhancing its roster with powerhouses such as and Natalya). This redistribution helped address imbalances from the televised picks, fostering competitive depth across all three brands.

Aftermath

Immediate Impacts

The 2009 WWE Draft resulted in all nine major championships—, World Heavyweight, ECW, , , Women's, Divas, and the Unified WWE Tag Team title—being retained by their respective champions who were selected in the draft . Seven of these titles changed brands as a direct consequence of the selections, with the drafted titleholders carrying their belts to their new rosters immediately following the event. This redistribution ensured continuity in championship lineages while reshaping brand-specific divisions without any immediate vacancies or defenses required prior to the next . Additionally, the draft coincided with the unification of the World Tag Team and WWE Tag Team Championships into the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship, influencing cross-brand defenses. Several established tag teams faced immediate dissolution due to the draft's brand switches, most notably The Miz moving to Raw while his partner John Morrison was assigned to SmackDown, ending their successful run as former World Tag Team Champions and paving the way for individual pursuits on their respective shows. Similar separations occurred across the roster, prompting to transition affected wrestlers toward solo opportunities and new alliances in the ensuing weeks. These splits contributed to a more fluid midcard landscape, allowing for fresh matchups unencumbered by prior team commitments. Raw benefited significantly from high-profile acquisitions such as and , bolstering its main event scene with established star power and enhancing storyline potential around the . Conversely, SmackDown received key additions like and , fortifying its upper card with versatile performers capable of anchoring multiple feuds and elevating the brand's technical wrestling emphasis. These roster shifts created an immediate sense of balance, with each brand gaining assets to offset departures and stimulate competitive programming. The draft episode of Raw on April 13, 2009, attracted 5.72 million viewers, maintaining stability compared to the previous week's post-WrestleMania audience and signaling continued fan engagement with the brand reshuffle. This viewership figure underscored the event's draw as a major spectacle, helping to sustain momentum heading into spring storylines. With the draft taking effect immediately after its announcement, it directly influenced preparations for Backlash on April 26, 2009, as newly assigned superstars integrated into brand-specific cards and rivalries without delay. This real-time implementation allowed for rapid adjustments in booking, ensuring the pay-per-view featured updated alignments and elevated stakes for the affected titles and talents.

Storyline and Brand Developments

Following the 2009 WWE Draft, Raw's storylines centered on key rivalries involving newly acquired talent. , drafted to Raw with the , continued his intense feud with , culminating in a six-man match at Backlash on April 26, where Orton reclaimed the title alongside Legacy members. , drafted from SmackDown to Raw, initially aligned with —despite Jericho's move to SmackDown—forming a dominant that captured the Unified WWE Championships at Night of Champions on June 21, blending inter-brand dynamics into Raw's narrative before their eventual split and feud in early 2010. Additionally, Maryse's draft to Raw with the Divas Championship ushered in a renewed push for the women's division, where she defended the title against challengers like and , highlighting her persona through manipulative segments and defenses until losing the belt to James at Night of Champions. On SmackDown, the draft invigorated several arcs, particularly around 's transition from Raw. Punk, carrying his Money in the Bank briefcase, built tension toward a cash-in, ultimately defeating immediately after Hardy's win over Edge at Extreme Rules on June 7 to claim the World Heavyweight Championship, launching a prominent heel run that elevated SmackDown's main event scene. The rivalry between and intensified post-draft, with Jericho targeting Mysterio's mask and Intercontinental Championship; Mysterio retained the title against Jericho at on May 17 in a No Holds Barred match, extending their personal through high-stakes encounters at and beyond. Kane's draft to SmackDown shifted his focus to upper-midcard pursuits, including a with , whom he defeated at Backlash on April 26, and later challenging CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship, emphasizing Kane's monstrous character against SmackDown's roster. ECW experienced minimal storyline evolution from its draft additions, with Vladimir Kozlov's move from SmackDown providing a powerhouse presence but limited narrative depth, often relegated to mid-card bouts against talents like Ezekiel Jackson and Christian without significant pushes. Zack Ryder's return to ECW via the supplemental draft similarly yielded little impact, as he participated in tag team and enhancement roles amid the brand's creative stagnation. This contributed to ECW's ongoing decline, with viewership struggling below 2.0 ratings and the brand ultimately phased out on February 16, 2010, to streamline WWE's programming. Broader inter-brand tensions escalated, setting the stage for Bragging Rights on October 25, where Raw and SmackDown clashed in champion-vs-champion matches and a seven-on-seven elimination tag, amplifying draft-induced rivalries like those involving The Miz and John Morrison. Tag team divisions saw rebuilds, such as Legacy's continued dominance on Raw with Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase supporting Orton. In the long term, the draft facilitated notable trajectories, including CM Punk's sustained rise on SmackDown as a multi-time World Heavyweight Champion through 2010, feuding with figures like and , which solidified his main-event status. Dolph Ziggler's supplemental draft to SmackDown positioned him for gradual pushes, culminating in Intercontinental Championship reigns by 2011 and heightened exposure. Overall ratings for Raw and SmackDown stabilized around 3.0-3.5 in the 18-49 demographic through late 2009, buoyed by refreshed mid-card feuds, though ECW's low numbers hastened its end. The draft received praise for injecting vitality into undercard talent like Punk and , refreshing storylines without overhauling the top tier, but drew criticism for minimal movement of marquee stars like or Edge, limiting perceived excitement.

References

  1. https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=37857
  2. https://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/draft.html
  3. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2009draft/9892604
  4. https://www.espn.com/wwe/story/_/id/19126332/wwe-looking-back-10-previous-drafts-held-wwe-ahead-monday-tuesday-superstar-shakeup
  5. https://thearmbarexpress.wordpress.com/2024/07/31/wrestling-flashback-the-wwe-draft-2009/
  6. https://prowrestlingstories.com/pro-wrestling-stories/wwe-draft/
  7. https://www.thesportster.com/wwe-why-started-their-brand-split-in-2002-explained/
  8. https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/2024/04/26/wwe-draft-history-every-no-1-overall-pick-year-by-year/73472334007/
  9. https://www.sportskeeda.com/wwe/wwe-draft-first-pick-year-by-year
  10. https://www.tpww.net/2009/04/full-2009-wwe-draft-results-36-total-names/
  11. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/02092009/articles/92755341
  12. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04062009/articles/92755341
  13. https://prowrestling.fandom.com/wiki/2009_WWE_Draft_Lottery
  14. https://prowrestling.net/artman/publish/WWE/article1005437.shtml
  15. https://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/25/matches/9592012
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  17. https://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wwe/raw/_2009/_090413/
  18. https://www.wwe.com/shows/judgmentday/2009/10169444
  19. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/2009draft/wwesupplementaldraft
  20. https://insidepulse.com/2009/04/15/wwe-supplemental-draft-2009-live-coverage-and-picks/
  21. https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-news/10299-supplemental-draft-today-at-noon/
  22. https://www.wwe.com/inside/news/10579966
  23. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/156639-2009-wwe-draft-supplemental-draft-leaves-more-questions-than-answers
  24. https://www.wwe.com/shows/raw/archive/04272009/articles/10026486
  25. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/26/backlash-2009-recap
  26. https://insidepulse.com/wwe-transaction-history/inside-pulse-wrestling-exclusive-wwe-transaction-history-part-9-2009/
  27. https://www.wwe.com/shows/extremerules/history/2009/matches/10294714
  28. https://www.wrestleview.com/wwe-wrestling-results/2651-ecw-year-in-review-for-2009/
  29. https://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/492342-harrisons-analysis-a-look-back-at-the-bragging-rights-2009-pay-per-view
  30. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/786460-wwe-portraits-cm-punk-and-a-glimpse-of-his-side-of-the-story
  31. https://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/156639-2009-wwe-draft-supplemental-draft-leaves-more-questions-than-answers
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