WWE releases Draft rules: how it impacts NXT & a clue on Undertaker’s status

With WWE’s Draft impending on Tuesday, one of the big talking points is how many talents we can expect to see get drafted from NXT. Until Sunday, we figured the entire roster there was eligible, but in a post on WWE.com, we learned that isn’t the case.

The following rules were announced:

– The RAW roster has the first overall pick.

– To compensate for the fact RAW is a three hour show and Smackdown is a two hour show, RAW will get three picks for every two Smackdown picks.

– Tag teams will count as one pick unless Shane McMahon/Stephanie McMahon or their GMs specifically indicates they want only one member of the team.

– Six picks will be made off the NXT roster

The company also released the roster of WWE talents eligible to be drafted in alphabetical order:

Male

  • AJ Styles
  • Alberto Del Rio
  • Apollo Crews
  • Baron Corbin
  • Big Show
  • Braun Strowman
  • Bray Wyatt
  • Brock Lesnar
  • Cesaro
  • Chris Jericho
  • Darren Young (w/ Bob Backlund)
  • WWE Champion Dean Ambrose
  • Demon Kane
  • Dolph Ziggler
  • Erick Rowan
  • Jack Swagger
  • John Cena
  • Kalisto
  • Kevin Owens
  • Mark Henry
  • Neville
  • Randy Orton
  • Roman Reigns
  • US Champion Rusev (w/ Lana)
  • Sami Zayn
  • Seth Rollins
  • Sheamus
  • Sin Cara
  • I-C Champion The Miz (w/ Maryse)
  • Titus O’Neil
  • Zack Ryder

Tag Teams

  • Breezango (Fandango and Tyler Breeze)
  • Enzo and Cass (Enzo Amore and Big Cass)
  • Gallows and Anderson (Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
  • Golden Truth (Goldust and R-Truth)
  • Shining Stars (Epico and Primo)
  • Social Outcasts (Bo Dallas, Curtis Axel and Heath Slater)
  • The Ascension (Konnor and Viktor)
  • The Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley)
  • Tag Team Champions The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
  • The Usos (Jey and Jimmy Uso)
  • The Vaudevillains (Aiden English and Simon Gotch)

Female

  • Alicia Fox
  • Becky Lynch
  • WWE Women’s Champion Charlotte
  • Dana Brooke
  • Eva Marie
  • Naomi
  • Natalya
  • Paige
  • Sasha Banks
  • Summer Rae

Glaringly absent from the list: The Undertaker. However, Brock Lesnar is eligible to drafted although they didn’t include Paul Heyman’s name with him as they did other managers and valets.