WWE recently announced the rules and talent pools for the 2024 Draft. The event will kick off tonight on SmackDown.
Fightful Select has released a list of talents still employed by WWE but are not included in the Draft Pools.
You can check out the list of excluded talent below:
* Omos & MVP: Omos has been used mostly on live events, although he has worked TV battle royals. They were free agents last year, and the storyline is that MVP made it happen.
* Rhea Ripley: Currently out with an injury and expected to stay on RAW.
* Dexter Lumis: He hasn’t wrestled since May last year, not even on live events. There’s been no word on creative plans for him or if he’s injured. He was on the RAW roster.
* Gable Steveson: He was drafted to RAW years ago and was not used, but then appeared on SmackDown and NXT. There’s no word on any plans for him.
* Nikki Cross: While Cross has been at some events, she hasn’t wrestled in months or been in battle royals. She was a member of RAW.
* Tamina: Tamina has not wrestled in over a year or been at any shows. She was drafted to SmackDown last year and not used.
* Erik & Valhalla: Erik is still out with a neck injury. Valhalla has been appearing with Ivar.
* Brock Lesnar: Triple H has said he’s still with the company despite Janel Grant’s recent allegations against him. He was listed as a free agent last year.
* Sonya Deville: She was previously on RAW and is currently out with a knee injury. She’s expected to be back after the summer.
* Ridge Holland: He’s on NXT and is expected to stay there.
* Charlotte Flair and Shotzi: Both are out with injuries but will return later this year. They are on SmackDown.
* Jimmy Uso: Jimmy was taken out in storylines and is out with an actual injury.
* Carmella and Alexa Bliss: Both are out on maternity leave and were not included in last year’s draft.
* Braun Strowman: WWE typically doesn’t include injured wrestlers to allow more flexibility when they return. Strowman has been out with a neck injury for a year but has said he’s close to being cleared.
* Giovanni Vinci: After being kicked out of Imperium, he is now listed as a solo talent. He is currently on the RAW roster.
* Odyssey Jones: He was drafted last year but didn’t appear on the main roster. He is listed as RAW but worked SmackDown dark matches and Speed tapings this year.
* Seth Rollins: Rollins is out with a knee injury but will still be drafted.
* Logan Paul: He is not in the draft pool but will stay on SmackDown because he is the United States Champion. He was previously a free agent.
* Cody Rhodes: Rhodes was moved to SmackDown after he became the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40.
WWE Announces Rules and Talent Pools for 2024 Draft
WWE fans are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2024 Draft, which was recently announced by the company. The draft will commence tonight on SmackDown, and it promises to shake up the rosters and create new storylines for the superstars involved.
In an interesting development, Fightful Select has released a list of talents who are still employed by WWE but are not included in the Draft Pools. This exclusion has raised questions about the future plans for these superstars and their potential roles in the company.
Among the notable names on the list is Omos & MVP. Omos, who has primarily been used in live events, has occasionally appeared in TV battle royals. MVP’s involvement in securing Omos’ position adds an intriguing twist to their storyline.
Rhea Ripley, currently out with an injury, is expected to remain on RAW. Her absence from the draft pool suggests that WWE has plans for her return and wants to keep her on the same brand.
Dexter Lumis, who hasn’t wrestled since May last year, is another wrestler not included in the draft pools. There is no information regarding his creative plans or if he is injured, leaving fans curious about his future in WWE.
Gable Steveson, who was drafted to RAW years ago but never utilized, made appearances on SmackDown and NXT. However, there is no word on any plans for him in the upcoming draft.
Nikki Cross, a member of RAW, has been absent from wrestling for months and has not participated in any battle royals. Her exclusion from the draft pool raises questions about her status and potential return.
Tamina, drafted to SmackDown last year but unused, has not wrestled or made any appearances in over a year. Her absence from the draft pool suggests that WWE may have different plans for her in the future.
Erik, who is currently out with a neck injury, and Valhalla, who has been appearing with Ivar, are also not included in the draft pools. Their absence indicates that WWE is likely waiting for Erik’s recovery before making any decisions.
Brock Lesnar, despite recent allegations against him, is still with the company according to Triple H. He was listed as a free agent last year and is not part of the draft pools.
Sonya Deville, previously on RAW, is currently out with a knee injury but is expected to return after the summer. Her exclusion from the draft suggests that WWE has plans for her in the future.
Ridge Holland, who is on NXT, is expected to remain there and not be included in the draft pools.
Charlotte Flair and Shotzi, both out with injuries, will return later this year and are part of the SmackDown roster. Their exclusion from the draft pools indicates that WWE has plans for their return.
Jimmy Uso, who was taken out in storylines and is currently injured, is not included in the draft pools.
Carmella and Alexa Bliss, both on maternity leave, were not included in last year’s draft and are not part of this year’s draft pools.
Braun Strowman, who has been out with a neck injury for a year, is close to being cleared but is not part of the draft pools. WWE typically excludes injured wrestlers to allow more flexibility upon their return.
Giovanni Vinci, formerly part of Imperium, is now listed as a solo talent on the RAW roster.
Odyssey Jones, drafted last year but not appearing on the main roster, is listed as RAW but has worked SmackDown dark matches and Speed tapings this year.
Seth Rollins, currently out with a knee injury, will still be drafted despite his absence.
Logan Paul, the United States Champion, is not in the draft pool and will remain on SmackDown. He was previously a free agent.
Cody Rhodes, who became the Undisputed WWE Universal Champion at WrestleMania 40, has been moved to SmackDown.
With these exclusions from the draft pools, WWE fans are left speculating about the future plans for these talented superstars. The draft promises to bring excitement and surprises as new alliances are formed and rivalries are born.