We’ve been waiting for some details on this year’s WWE Draft since it was announced a couple weeks back. This is the first Draft of the so-called “Triple H Era”, after all. There are also authority figures in place on each brand and a budding rivalry between Raw General Manager Adam Pearce and SmackDown GM Nick Aldis. Will this finally be the year WWE’s version resembles an actual sports draft like the NFL’s? It’s still early to tell, but we do have some rules. WWE posted them on Twitter/X and their website this afternoon (April 24): • SmackDown will have…

Champions, with the exception of the Women’s Tag titleholders who were always supposed to float between brands, being ineligible to switch shows is a good start — and not just because it saves us from any “belt swap” segments. It means Undisputed WWE champ Cody Rhodes, Women’s champion Bayley, WWE Tag Team champs Grayson Waller & Austin Theory, and United States champion Logan Paul will remain on SmackDown, while WWE World champ Damian Priest, Women’s World champ Becky Lynch, WWE World Tag Team titleholders R-Truth & The Miz, and Intercontinental champion Sami Zayn will stick with Raw.

Outside of those names, pools of talent that are available to be taken each night were also announced.

For the most part, you’re in the pool for the show you’re currently assigned to. There are some exceptions though, and a few names listed that are currently sidelined (e.g. Seth Rollins) or that we haven’t seen in a while (e.g. Braun Strowman)

There’s no mention of NXT getting to make their own picks, as had been rumored. Based on the way they’re listed on WWE.com, it would seem tag teams and factions will be drafted together, so we’re not sure if splitting teammates will still be in play as it often has been in year’s past.

Don’t be surprised if these pools change before Friday, something that’s also happened in previous Drafts. And don’t expect to know where everyone will be after Monday; the extra week before rosters lock will allow time for trades and free agent signings.

It’s an intriguing start to what’s always an interesting process. And it should be enough to tide over WWE Draft analysts until Friday night.