Top 10 worst WWE draft picks in history

These selections have turned out to be some of the worst in history

The WWE Draft has been a long-standing tradition in professional wrestling, allowing for a shakeup of rosters and fresh matchups for fans to enjoy. However, not all draft picks have been successful. In fact, some selections have turned out to be some of the worst in WWE history, leading to lacklustre performances, botched storylines, and overall disappointment for both the company and the fans. Let's examine the top 10 worst WWE draft picks in history and analyze the reasons behind why these choices turned out to be such disastrous mistakes.

10. Lars Sullivan (SmackDown)

The 2019 Superstar Shake-Up lacked the excitement of previous drafts, with most announcements being made on social media or on commentary. Lars Sullivan debuted on Raw but was soon drafted to SmackDown. He suffered a knee injury shortly after, which kept him out of action until 2020. Despite returning to SmackDown, he was released from WWE in 2021 due to controversy surrounding his past behavior.

Sullivan's inconsistent appearances and negative headlines outside the ring made it difficult for fans to get invested in his character. Despite WWE investing five years in his development, he never managed to connect with the audience. His retirement from wrestling after leaving WWE seemed inevitable, leaving many to wonder what could have been if things had gone differently.

9. nWo (RAW)

In 2002, WWE split its roster between Raw and SmackDown. While SmackDown chose The Rock first and Raw got The Undertaker next, things got strange when the New World Order was picked by Raw as one entity. The group, consisting of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and X-Pac, was a shadow of its former self, with their Attitude Era and Monday Night Wars glory days long gone. Within a month, Hall was released due to substance abuse issues, while Nash was injured and then tore his quads upon his return. X-Pac attempted to carry on with other wrestlers but it wasn't the same. Even with Shawn Michaels' return, the group's luck didn't improve. Picked high but falling low, the nWo proved to be a bad choice for Raw.

8. Drake Maverick (SmackDown)

During the 2019 WWE draft, SmackDown was set to debut on Fox, and the final 10 picks were made on The Bump. Among these was Drake Maverick, who was then the General Manager of 205 Live. The pick was odd as Maverick had only one match on SmackDown before returning to his role as 205 Live's GM. He was later released in 2020, rehired, then released again in 2021 due to pandemic-related budget cuts. His heartfelt message to fans after his initial release led to his rehiring, making his draft pick even more pointless in hindsight.

Also Read: Who was the first pick in every WWE draft in history?

7. Hurricane Helms (ECW)

In 2009, the WWE draft saw some of ECW's biggest stars moving to either Raw or SmackDown, as the brand was nearing its end. Among them was Hurricane Helms, who was sent to ECW as the 35th pick. He dropped his Hurricane persona and started doing backstage interviews, disappointing fans of his Cruiserweight Championship run. Helms eventually brought the Hurricane back to life, leading to feuds with Paul Burchill and Zack Ryder. Although his run with Burchill was forgettable, Helms made a successful comeback as the Hurricane at the Royal Rumble in 2018 and 2021.

6. Bubba Ray Dudley (RAW)

In 2002, WWE made a bold move by introducing the brand split and kicking off the first-ever WWE Draft. Raw and SmackDown were established as separate entities, and the pressure was on to make some big picks. Raw got off to a promising start, snagging some major names like The Undertaker, nWo, and Kane.

But then, they made a critical mistake. With the 12th pick overall and 7th for Raw, they chose Bubba Ray Dudley, effectively splitting up the legendary tag team of The Dudley Boyz. While Bubba Ray was certainly a talented wrestler, he was unproven as a solo performer and was a questionable choice given the other big names still on the board, such as Chris Jericho. It was a decision that would have long-term consequences for both Bubba Ray and the Raw brand.

5. The Great Khali (SmackDown)

The Great Khali's arrival on SmackDown in 2007 came with a lot of expectations. WWE had high hopes for the towering Indian wrestler, and he was even given the top spot in the draft. But his ascent to the World Heavyweight Championship was met with a lukewarm reception from fans, who were unimpressed by his limited in-ring abilities and lack of charisma.

Despite this, WWE continued to push Khali as a dominant force, which only resulted in a decline in ratings. SmackDown suffered from a lack of star power, and Khali's reign as champion did little to change that. Once he lost the title, he quickly faded into obscurity and never regained the same level of momentum. It was a missed opportunity for WWE, who failed to recognize that Khali was not the star they wanted him to be.

Also Read: WWE Draft 2023: Full list of picks by RAW and SmackDown

4. Snitsky (RAW)

In the 2007 WWE Draft, Raw had the opportunity to make two picks after Randy Orton won a 15-man Battle Royale. Their first pick was Mr. Kennedy, a prominent figure on SmackDown, while their second was Snitsky from the ECW brand. Despite receiving a push on ECW and Raw, Snitsky failed to impress the audience.

WWE tried their best to build Snitsky up as a serious contender, even going so far as to give him an undefeated streak spanning a year. However, it was clear that he was not resonating with fans. With more attractive options available on SmackDown and ECW, it seemed like Vince McMahon was reluctant to let go of Snitsky, hoping that he could eventually become a star.

3. MVP (RAW)

When MVP made the move from SmackDown to Raw in 2009, fans had high expectations for the superstar. As the reigning WWE United States Champion, he made history by bringing the title to Raw for the first time. However, his fortunes soon took a turn for the worse. Despite several attempts to regain the title, he was unsuccessful, and his partnership with Mark Henry for the WWE Tag Team Championship also fell short. This sudden decline in MVP's career left fans wondering what had gone wrong. From a rising star to a mid-carder struggling to gain popularity, MVP's Raw run was not what many had hoped for.

2. Big Daddy V (SmackDown)

In 2008, WWE made a puzzling decision to draft Big Daddy V from ECW to SmackDown, despite the two brands having a talent exchange program. The move proved to be pointless as he never made a single appearance on the blue brand before being released from the company. This was just another example of WWE's inability to find the right role for Nelson Frazier Jr, who had been given various unsuccessful gimmicks over the years.

Despite spending over two decades in WWE, Frazier never managed to connect with fans in the way that the company had hoped. However, he found success in All Japan Pro Wrestling before his untimely passing in 2014.

It's clear that WWE wanted Frazier to succeed, but their repeated missteps with his character development led to his eventual departure from the company. Big Daddy V will always be remembered as a unique talent with an unforgettable look, but unfortunately, his time in WWE was marred by unsuccessful gimmicks and a lack of direction.

1. The Boogeyman (ECW)

The 2007 WWE draft saw ECW included alongside Raw and SmackDown for the first time. The event featured cross-brand matches, with the winning brand receiving a randomly assigned wrestler. Chris Benoit moved to ECW, Bobby Lashley was promoted to Raw, and The Great Khali was moved to SmackDown, where he would eventually become World Heavyweight Champion.

One of the more curious moves in the draft was The Boogeyman's transfer to ECW. The Sci-Fi network, which broadcasted ECW at the time, wanted more over-the-top characters that would appeal to their target audience, and WWE obliged by bringing in The Boogeyman. While he did have some matches in the new Land of Extreme, most of them were against other wrestlers that WWE didn't seem to have a clear plan for.

It's clear that WWE was experimenting with different talents during this time, and sometimes it paid off, as in the case of Chris Benoit, but other times it was a miss, as with The Boogeyman's stint in ECW. Nevertheless, it was an exciting time for WWE, as they continued to push the boundaries and explore new possibilities with their brand extension.

Takeaway

In conclusion, the WWE Draft has been a fixture in professional wrestling for many years and has been instrumental in shaping the careers of numerous wrestlers. However, with each draft comes some selections that leave fans scratching their heads. This list of the top 10 worst WWE draft picks in history is a testament to that fact. From wrestlers who were pushed too hard too soon to those who never had a chance to succeed, these picks represent some of the biggest missed opportunities in WWE history. Despite the setbacks, many of these wrestlers managed to find success elsewhere or bounce back from their draft failures. It just goes to show that in the unpredictable world of professional wrestling, anything can happen, and sometimes the biggest surprises come from the biggest disappointments.