WWE Draft Announced as Roster Shakeup Commences
The Associated Press
HARTFORD, CT --- WWE is set for a major shakeup as a brand split is planned for the company, as well as a shift to a 25 week per year model, giving the superstars a lengthy offseason reminiscent of the other major professional sports leagues. Eric Bischoff has been placed in charge of Monday Night RAW, with Stephanie McMahon being given full control of Friday Night Smackdown!, and the two will be able to select from a pool of 60+ superstars to build out their rosters in an upcoming draft. Both Stephanie and Eric Bischoff will be given a starting budget of $3.25M to sign superstars and set up their first shows, with them having full control over match bookings, free agent signings and releases, arena upgrades, stage crews and all the other intricacies that go into running a weekly WWE show. Additionally, the company plans to redesign the WWE Championship and award it to the RAW brand, while Smackdown! will receive a rebranded World Heavyweight Championship, now called the Universal Championship, as its main championship. RAW will have the United States Championship as its secondary title with Smackdown! claiming the Intercontinental Championship. Next, the Women's Championship is set to be rebranded as the RAW Women's Championship, while the Divas Championship is being brought back as the Smackdown! Women's Championship. Finally, the World and WWE Tag Team Championships will be renamed and rebranded as the RAW and Smackdown! Tag Team Championships and placed on their respective shows.