With WWE SmackDown’s big move to FOX, shifting to a live Friday night show on a major network, some law and order needed to be laid down. While there’ve been WWE brand splits in the past, the most recent “shakeup” last Spring didn’t exactly take and soon a “Wild Card Rule” was put into place that pretty much allowed either show – RAW or SmackDown – to use any Superstar.
But now WWE’s two main shows have two separate corporate masters – FOX and NBCUniversal. It’s not feasible for these companies to openly share their TV stars. So starting this week, on SmackDown, a more-concrete Draft occurred that would draw a hard line through the main roster, separating over 50 wrestlers between Monday’s RAW on USA and Friday’s SmackDown on FOX.
Source: IGN.com WWE: RAW and SmackDown Draft Results – Night 1