A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
| 2021 WWE Draft | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster featuring King Nakamura, Charlotte Flair, Damian Priest, Becky Lynch, Roman Reigns, and Bobby Lashley | |
| General information | |
| Sport | Professional wrestling |
| Date(s) | October 1–4, 2021 |
| Location |
|
| Overview | |
| League | WWE |
| Teams | Raw SmackDown NXT (outgoing only) |
The 2021 WWE Draft was the 16th WWE Draft produced by the American professional wrestling promotion WWE between their Raw and SmackDown brand divisions. The two-night event began with the October 1 episode of Friday Night SmackDown (in Baltimore, Maryland). It concluded with the October 4 episode of Monday Night Raw (in Nashville, Tennessee), with SmackDown airing on Fox and Raw on the USA Network. Unlike previous drafts, in which results took effect immediately, the results of the 2021 draft went into effect in the October 22 episode of SmackDown. This was also the last draft with Vince McMahon as head of WWE creative.
Production
Background
The WWE Draft is an annual 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 brands where the wrestlers exclusively perform for each brand's respective television show, and the draft is used to refresh the rosters of the brand divisions, typically between the Raw and SmackDown brands. The 2021 draft was WWE's 16th draft and was officially announced during the September 13 episode of Raw. It was scheduled to occur during the October 1 and October 4 episodes of SmackDown and Raw, respectively, with SmackDown airing on Fox and Raw on the USA Network.[1]
2021 draft rules
The rules of the 2021 draft were revealed by WWE correspondent Megan Morant on Twitter during the day before the first night of the draft on October 1. Over 60 wrestlers (including tag teams) were eligible to be drafted across the two nights, with half being eligible the first night and the other half eligible the second night; however, no draft pools were revealed for which wrestlers were eligible for each night. Tag teams were counted as one pick unless Fox or USA Network officials (who were promoted as draft decision makers)[a] specifically only wanted one member of the team. Wrestlers from NXT were also eligible to be drafted to either Raw or SmackDown, while any non-NXT wrestlers who were not drafted became (kayfabe) free agents and could sign with the brand of their choice. Unlike previous drafts, in which results took effect immediately, results of the 2021 draft did not become effective until the October 22 episode of SmackDown, the night after the Crown Jewel pay-per-view and livestreaming event.[2][3][4]
Selections
Night 1: SmackDown (October 1)
There were four rounds of draft picks during night 1 of the 2021 draft. Unlike previous drafts in which Raw received three picks and SmackDown only received two, both brands had two picks each round. WWE officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville announced the draft picks.[5]
- Notes
- One stable was split up as a result of the first night: Austin Theory was drafted to Raw while his Way stablemates, Johnny Gargano, Dexter Lumis, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell, remained on NXT.
Night 1 supplemental picks (October 1–2)
These picks were announced on October 1 via WWE's social media accounts and on the October 2 episode of Talking Smack.[6]
| Wrestler(s) (Real name) |
Pre-draft brand | Post-draft brand | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Akira Tozawa | Raw | Raw | Male wrestler |
| Aliyah | NXT | SmackDown | Female wrestler |
| Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis) |
SmackDown | Raw | Male tag team |
| Apollo Crews and Commander Azeez | SmackDown | Raw | Male tag team |
| Doudrop | Raw | Raw | Female wrestler |
| Drake Maverick[d] | NXT | Raw | Male wrestler |
| Drew Gulak | Raw | SmackDown | Male wrestler |
| John Morrison | Raw | Raw | Male wrestler |
| Mace | Raw | SmackDown | Male wrestler |
| Mansoor | Raw | SmackDown | Male wrestler |
| Mustafa Ali | Raw | SmackDown | Male wrestler |
| Nia Jax | Raw | Raw | Female wrestler |
| R-Truth | Raw | Raw | Male wrestler |
| Reggie | Raw | Raw | Male wrestler 24/7 Champion |
| T-Bar | Raw | Raw | Male wrestler |
| Toni Storm | SmackDown | SmackDown | Female wrestler |
| Zelina Vega | SmackDown | Raw | Female wrestler |
- Notes
- One tag team was split up as a result of the supplemental draft: Mace was drafted to SmackDown while his tag team partner T-Bar remained on Raw.
Night 2: Raw (October 4)
There were six rounds of draft picks during night 2 of the 2021 draft. Like the first night, both brands had two picks each round. WWE officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville again announced the draft picks.[7]