The 2024 WWE Draft is set to get underway on this week’s episode of SmackDown, and continue on next week’s Raw show.
The Draft has become a notable date on the WWE calendar, with numerous NXT names typically being called up to the main roster in the Draft.
However, the Draft can also help freshen up the rosters for Raw and SmackDown, providing new opponents for the brand’s stars, as well as a chance to separate some wrestlers who have fought each other countless times in recent months.
Here are 7 pairs of WWE stars that must be separated in the 2024 WWE Draft.
Alpha Academy & Ivar/Viking Raiders
Chad Gable’s recent heel turn has thrown a spanner into the works for the Alpha Academy, with Otis and Akira Tozawa now seemingly without a coach to guide them on the Raw brand.
That being said, a move to either SmackDown or NXT would benefit Otis, Tozawa and Maxxine Dupri, as they have found themselves countlessly ending up facing off with Ivar in recent months.
Whether it’s Ivar vs. Otis, Gable or Tozawa, or even Valhalla vs. Maxxine Dupri, any combination of Ivar and the Alpha Academy was basically a staple of Raw earlier this year, and it’s time to give both sides some new blood to step into the ring with.
Ivar’s solo run has provided him some much needed momentum during Erik’s absence, so ideally he’d remain on Raw while Otis and Tozawa move elsewhere.
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LWO / Legado Del Fantasma
While Ivar and the Alpha Academy have been at war on and off for the past few months, the LWO and Legado Del Fantasma have exclusively feuded with each other since November.
Santos Escobar betrayed Rey Mysterio six days after WWE Crown Jewel in November, and with Angel, Berto, Elektra Lopez and Dragon Lee all joining the feud, it managed to extend itself to WrestleMania 40.
However, it’s time to move on. Every member of these factions needs to showcase their skills against other members of the roster, so either faction moving over to Raw to give the rivalry some time to cooldown would be ideal.
Speaking of Zelina Vega…
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Zelina Vega / Michin
This one is less obvious than the previous entries, but one of Michin or Zelina Vega should probably leave SmackDown in the Draft.
SmackDown’s women’s division has focused around Damage CTRL, Bayley, Bianca Belair, Naomi and Jade Cargill in recent months, with Tiffany Stratton now also making waves in the division.
That has left both Michin and Zelina in the unfortunate role where they only tend to wrestle on the show when someone needs to eat defeat, if you’ll pardon the pun.
Separating both women would give at least one a chance to showcase themself without stepping on each other’s toes fighting for the same spot on the roster.
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Bianca Belair / Damage CTRL
Please, it’s time to let us have a break from this rivalry.
Damage CTRL debuted on the WWE main roster at SummerSlam in 2022, when Bayley, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY confronted, you guessed it, Bianca Belair.
Aside from a brief pause at the beginning of 2023, Damage CTRL have been feuding with Bianca for almost two years. It’s time to move on, for the faction’s sake.
I’d keep Bianca on SmackDown, which means the ideal move would be sending IYO, Dakota, Kairi and Asuka to Raw.
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Pretty Deadly / New Catch Republic
Pretty Deadly have been struggling to get out of first gear on SmackDown over the past few months, and the main reason for that is due to the emergence of the New Catch Republic.
Pretty Deadly faced off with Ridge Holland and Butch numerous times before ultimately being the reason for the group’s break up late last year, but when Butch refound his identity and formed the new team with Tyler Bate, the feud with Pretty Deadly continued.
Much as the LWO and Legado are to each other, Pretty Deadly vs the New Catch Republic is a match that has been done to death recently, and it’s time to give them both new opposition.
Send Elton and Kit to Raw where they would flourish on the show’s third hour.
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The Final Testament / The Pride
The Authors of Pain and Karrion Kross recently made appearances on NXT, so that may ultimately be where they end up landing following the Draft.
However, AoP and the Street Profits were both a part of the four-way WWE Tag Team Championship contender’s match on SmackDown last week, so the chances of this feud reappearing are dangerously high.
The feud between the two groups only lasted between January and April, but when there was not much substance to the rivalry outside of random attacks and tag matches every week, it got quite tiring rather quickly.
Separating both factions would be the best move.
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Cody Rhodes / The Bloodline
Cody seemingly has a future clash against The Rock waiting for him, either later this year or at next year’s WrestleMania event, so his war against the Anoa’i Family is far from over.
But that’s likely an entire year away, and with almost two years of Cody indirectly feuding with the Bloodline, he needs a few month to do his own thing as Undisputed WWE Champion before he eventually re-enters the group’s orbit.
Plus, with the recent shakeup in the Bloodline itself, keeping them away from the current top babyface and WWE Champion would be beneficial to the group’s momentum, as to avoid Cody picking up too many wins on television over the newer members.
Both Cody and the Bloodline’s paths have been a promising start following WrestleMania, but separating them in the Draft will avoid that inevitable urge to have Cody war with the New Bloodline before the Final Boss is even ready to return to television.
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