The wait is finally over as the recent episode of SmackDown Live officially kickstarted WWE Draft 2023. It was obvious that whichever brand gets the first pick will choose The Tribal Chief. Smackdown did the same, making the Undisputed Champion the first pick of this year’s Draft. However, fans seem surprised to see RAW going first with The American Nightmare. They feel WWE, through the 2023 Draft, is deliberately keeping Cody Rhodes away from Roman Reigns.
For fans, there’s nobody more worthy than the 2023 men’s Royal Rumble winner to dethrone The Tribal Chief. Despite the WrestleMania 39 loss, they still want him to finish his story no matter what. However, when WWE Draft 2023 made it clear that keep Roman Reign will stay on SmackDown and Cody Rhodes on RAW, they felt betrayed.
The #WWEDraft kicked off on #SmackDown in explosive order with @WWERomanReigns, @BiancaBelairWWE, @CodyRhodes, @BeckyLynchWWE and so many others selected by the #WWERaw and #SmackDown brands.
Full #SmackDown Results: https://t.co/64Bi1A3XT3 pic.twitter.com/7faF7cSe2b
— WWE (@WWE) April 29, 2023
Fans criticize the decision to keep Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes on distinct brands through WWE Draft 2023
Taking to Twitter, a fan outright called the decision a really bad one. He feels WWE Draft 2023 keeping Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes on separate brands makes the latter’s WrestleMania 39 loss look even worse. The angry fan further went on to state that Cody will be given the new belt because WWE knows they have missed their chance.
He wrote:
“This is a really bad decision. The loss at Mania looks even worse now, we all know you’re going to give him the new belt and I can’t help but feel it’s because the company know they’ve missed their chance.”
This is a really bad decision. The loss at Mania looks even worse now, we all know you’re going to give him the new belt and I can’t help but feel it’s because the company know they’ve missed their chance.
— K-Ci Rennicks (@KRennicks40) April 29, 2023
Another fan requested WWE to not hand the new World Heavyweight Title to The American Nightmare.
this… seems odd, please don’t give him the new title
— Villain (@ThamuzV) April 29, 2023
Some also feel that WWE Draft 2023 might have put an end to the feud between Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns.
So is Cody not feuding with Roman moving forward? 😬😲#WWE #Raw #WWEDraft https://t.co/6oqqPDrE46
— The Superkick (@SuperKickShow) April 29, 2023
So he aint beating roman? pic.twitter.com/lwE5tSwayY
— Mysterious (@MysteriousGamez) April 29, 2023
So Cody is on Raw and Roman is on Smackdown. No proper ending to these guys’ stories. And Roman ain’t ever losing that title is he…….
— Michael Poe (@MichaelDHPoe11) April 29, 2023
Well, not everybody seemed so unfavorable to the decision WWE has made. A few fans noted there’s still a chance that The American Nightmare might get drafted to SmackDown.
Calm down everyone!…. Cody can still be drafted to #SmackDown lol
— Samuel-Myshell Sorrentino (@Samuel_Myshell) April 29, 2023
Maybe get traded later? Year to wrestlemania
— FudgeWilde (@Fudgewilde) April 29, 2023
Another user commented that Cody vs. Roman will now happen at WrestleMania 40. However, he did criticize the recent decision stating the delay will kill the momentum.
Why lag this Cody story out till WM 40, you will kill the momentum. Sigh … I swear y’all annoy me lol
— Dom (@Underrated_Dom) April 29, 2023
Here’s the full list of who went to which brand on the first day of this year’s Draft:
Round One:
SmackDown Live: – “The Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns with Paul Heyman and Solo Sikoa
Monday Night RAW: – “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes
SmackDown Live: – “The EST of WWE” Bianca Belair (RAW Women’s Champion)
Monday Night RAW: – “The Man” Becky Lynch
Round Two:
SmackDown Live: – The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins)
Monday Night RAW: – Imperium (Current IC Champion Gunther, with Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci)
SmackDown Live: – “The Rated-R Superstar” Edge
Monday Night RAW: – “King of Bros” Matt Riddle
Round Three:
SmackDown Live: – “The All Mighty” Bobby Lashley
Monday Night RAW: – “The Scottish Warrior” Drew McIntyre
SmackDown Live: – The OC (AJ Styles with Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson)
Monday Night RAW: – “The Most Must-See Superstar” The Miz
Round Four:
SmackDown Live: – Damage CTRL (Bayley with Dakota Kai and IYO SKY)
Monday Night RAW: – “The King of Strong Style” Shinsuke Nakamura
SmackDown Live: – Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn (Current NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions)
Monday Night RAW: – Indi Hartwell (Current NXT Women’s Champion)
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