The 2023 WWE Draft was the 17th WWE Draft produced by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE between their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The two-night event began with the April 28 episode of Friday Night SmackDown (in Corpus Christi, Texas) and concluded with the May 1 episode of Monday Night Raw (in Fort Worth, Texas), with SmackDown airing on Fox and Raw on the USA Network. This was the first draft held since 2021 and the first under the creative direction of Triple H. In addition, this was the last draft before the TKO Group Holdings acquisition. Draft results went into effect beginning with the May 8 episode of Raw.
Production Background The WWE Draft is a process used by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE while a brand extension, or brand split, is in effect. The original brand extension occurred from 2002 to 2011, while the second and current brand split began in 2016. During a brand extension, the company divides its roster into what they call brands and wrestlers exclusively perform for each brand's respective television show, albeit with some exceptions. The draft is used to refresh the rosters of the brand divisions, typically between the Raw and SmackDown brands, which are regarded as the main roster. Since 2016, wrestlers from WWE's developmental brand, NXT, have been eligible to be drafted to either Raw or SmackDown.
A draft was not held in 2022 and brand division enforcement became increasingly laxed, but on the April 7, 2023, episode of SmackDown, WWE executive Triple H announced the 2023 draft and stated that every WWE wrestler from Raw and SmackDown would be eligible for the draft, as well as select wrestlers from NXT. The following week, the dates for WWE's 17th draft were confirmed, with it beginning with the April 28 episode of Friday Night SmackDown and concluding with the May 1 episode of Monday Night Raw, with SmackDown airing on Fox and Raw on the USA Network. This subsequently repositioned the draft back in its traditional post-WrestleMania slot, after the last three drafts were held in October. The drafting pools for which wrestlers were eligible to be drafted each night were revealed on April 27. On Night 1 of the draft, Triple H announced that draft results would go into effect beginning with the May 8 episode of Raw, two days after the Backlash pay-per-view and livestreaming event.
Selections Night 1: SmackDown (April 28) There were four rounds of draft picks on Night 1 with each brand receiving two picks each round; SmackDown went first due to Night 1 taking place as that night's episode of SmackDown. Draft selections were announced by various WWE Hall of Famers, including Triple H, who announced the first-round picks. The second round picks were announced by Rob Van Dam and Michael Hayes, the third round by John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Teddy Long, and the fourth by D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and "Road Dogg" Jesse James).
RoundBrand pick #Overall pick #Wrestler(s)Pre-draft brandPost-draft brandRole111The BloodlineSmackDownSmackDownMale tag team and male managerUndisputed WWE Universal Champion (Reigns)112Cody RhodesRawRawMale wrestler123Bianca BelairRawSmackDownFemale wrestlerRaw Women's Champion124Becky LynchRawRawFemale wrestler235Street ProfitsRawSmackDownMale tag team236ImperiumSmackDownRawMale stableIntercontinental Champion (Gunther)247EdgeRawSmackDownMale wrestlerWWE Hall of Famer248Matt RiddleRawRawMale wrestler359Bobby LashleyRawSmackDownMale wrestler3510Drew McIntyreSmackDownRawMale wrestler3611The O.C.RawSmackDownMixed stable3612The MizRawRawMale wrestler4713Damage CTRLRawSmackDownFemale stable4714Shinsuke NakamuraSmackDownRawMale wrestler4815Alba Fyre and Isla DawnNXTSmackDownFemale tag teamNXT Women's Tag Team Champions4816Indi HartwellNXTRawFemale wrestlerNXT Women's Champion
Night 1 supplemental picks: SmackDown LowDown (April 29) These wrestlers were included in the Night 1 draft pool, but were not drafted on SmackDown. Their draft selections were revealed on SmackDowns post-show, SmackDown LowDown, the next day on WWE's social media and streaming platforms.
Wrestler(s)Pre-draft brandPost-draft brandRoleApollo CrewsNXTRawMale wrestlerCandice LeRaeRawRawFemale wrestlerChelsea Green and Sonya DevilleRaw (Green)SmackDown (Deville)RawFemale tag teamDexter LumisRawRawMale wrestlerHit RowSmackDownSmackDownMixed stableJD McDonaghNXTRawMale wrestlerLacey EvansSmackDownSmackDownFemale wrestlerMaximum Male ModelsRawRawMale tag team and female managerNatalyaSmackDownRawFemale wrestlerThe Viking RaidersSmackDownRawMale tag team and female managerZoey StarkNXTRawFemale wrestler
Night 2: Raw (May 1) There were six rounds of draft picks on Night 2 with each brand receiving two picks each round; Raw went first due to Night 2 taking place as that night's episode of Raw. Draft selections were again announced by various WWE Hall of Famers, including Triple H, who again announced the first round picks; several others from Night 1 returned to announce Night 2's selections. Booker T and his wife Queen Sharmell announced the round two picks, Shawn Michaels returned to announce the round three picks, round four were by Eric Bischoff and the returning Rob Van Dam, round five by Molly Holly and the returning "Road Dogg" Jesse James, and the sixth and final round were announced by the returning John "Bradshaw" Layfield and Teddy Long. WWE official Adam Pearce was supposed to announce the round three picks with Michaels but instead had to help break up a fight between Brock Lesnar and Cody Rhodes.
RoundBrand pick #Overall pick #Wrestler(s)Pre-draft brandPost-draft brandRole111Rhea RipleyRawRawFemale wrestlerSmackDown Women's Champion112Austin TheoryRawSmackDownMale wrestlerUnited States Champion123Seth "Freakin" RollinsRawRawMale wrestler124Charlotte FlairSmackDownSmackDownFemale wrestler235Kevin Owens and Sami ZaynRaw (Owens)SmackDown (Zayn)RawMale tag teamUndisputed WWE Tag Team Champions236The UsosSmackDownSmackDownMale tag team247The Judgment DayRawRawMale stable248Latino World OrderSmackDownSmackDownMixed stable359Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodríguez SmackDownRawFemale tag teamWWE Women's Tag Team Champions3510AsukaRawSmackDownFemale wrestler3611The New DaySmackDownRawMale tag team3612The Brawling BrutesSmackDownSmackDownMale stable4713Trish StratusRawRawFemale wrestlerWWE Hall of Famer4714Karrion Kross with ScarlettSmackDownSmackDownMale wrestler and female manager4815Ronda Rousey and Shayna BaszlerSmackDownRawFemale tag team4816LA KnightSmackDownSmackDownMale wrestler5917Braun Strowman and RicochetSmackDownRawMale tag team5918ShotziSmackDownSmackDownFemale wrestler51019Bronson ReedRawRawMale wrestler51020Pretty DeadlyNXTSmackDownMale tag team61121Alpha AcademyRawRawMale tag team61122Rick BoogsRawSmackDownMale wrestler61223Katana Chance and Kayden CarterNXTRawFemale tag team61224Cameron GrimesNXTSmackDownMale wrestler
Night 2 supplemental picks: Raw Talk (May 1) These wrestlers were included in the Night 2 draft pool, but were not drafted on Raw. Their draft selections were revealed on Raws post-show, Raw Talk, which aired immediately after Raw on WWE's social media and streaming platforms.
Wrestler(s)Pre-draft brandPost-draft brandRoleAkira TozawaRawRawMale wrestlerDana BrookeRawRawFemale wrestlerEmmaSmackDownRawFemale wrestlerGrayson WallerNXTSmackDownMale wrestlerIndus SherNXTRawMale stableJohnny GarganoRawRawMale wrestlerLos LothariosSmackDownRawMale tag teamNikki CrossRawRawFemale wrestlerOdyssey JonesNXTRawMale wrestlerPiper NivenRawRawFemale wrestlerRiddick MossSmackDownRawMale wrestlerTaminaRawSmackDownFemale wrestlerTegan NoxSmackDownRawFemale wrestlerXia LiSmackDownRawFemale wrestler
Free agents Within WWE's storylines, a "free agent" refers to a contracted wrestler who has not been assigned to one of the company's three brands—Raw, SmackDown, or NXT—and can in turn appear on any brand. The following wrestlers were included in the draft pools but ultimately became free agents, either through contractual negotiations or going undrafted. Their status as free agents were announced via the post-shows, SmackDown LowDown and Raw Talk.
Wrestler(s)Pre-draft brandDateRoleNotesBaron CorbinRawMay 1, 2023Male wrestlerWent undrafted during Night 2. Declared as a free agent during Night 2's supplemental draft, but would later be assigned to NXT in August.Brock LesnarFree agentMay 1, 2023Male wrestlerDuring Night 2 of the draft, Triple H announced that Lesnar, who was initially included in the Night 2 draft pool, renegotiated his free agent status so that he could continue to appear for both brands.Cedric Alexander and Shelton BenjaminRawMay 1, 2023Male tag teamWent undrafted during Night 2. Declared as free agents during Night 2's supplemental draft.Benjamin, however, was released from his WWE contract on September 21, 2023.After several months as a free agent, Alexander was assigned to SmackDown in November 2023.Dolph ZigglerRawApril 29, 2023Male wrestlerWent undrafted during Night 1. Declared as a free agent during Night 1's supplemental draft; however, he was released from his WWE contract on September 21, 2023. Now wrestles in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) as Nic Nemeth.EliasRawMay 1, 2023Male wrestlerWent undrafted during Night 2. Declared as a free agent during Night 2's supplemental draft; however, he was released from his WWE contract on September 21, 2023. Now wrestles in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) as Elijah. Mustafa AliRawApril 29, 2023Male wrestlerWent undrafted during Night 1. Declared as a free agent during Night 1's supplemental draft. He was later assigned to NXT in August, but was released from his WWE contract on September 21, 2023. Now wrestles in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW).Omos with MVPRawApril 29, 2023Male wrestler and male managerDuring Night 1's supplemental draft, it was revealed that MVP negotiated their free agent status to maximize Omos' visibility on both brands.Von WagnerNXTApril 29, 2023Male wrestlerThough not initially included in the Night 1 draft pool, Wagner was revealed as one of the select NXT wrestlers available to be drafted on SmackDown LowDown. He was declared as a free agent during Night 1's supplemental draft. However Wagner still remains in NXT. Wagner was released from his WWE contract on April 19, 2024.Xyon QuinnNXTMay 1, 2023Male wrestlerThough not initially included in the Night 2 draft pool, Quinn was revealed as one of the select NXT wrestlers available to be drafted on Raw Talk. He was declared as a free agent during Night 2's supplemental draft. Quinn was released from his WWE contract on April 19, 2024.
Wrestlers not included in either draft pool The following are wrestlers who were not included in either draft pool, as they had been inactive for extended periods leading up to the draft (largely due to injury).