WWE SmackDown Preview: April 28, 2023 – DRAFT Special. The WWE Universe is in for a treat this Friday as SmackDown kicks off the 2023 WWE Draft, which will continue next Monday on Raw.
The Draft will shake up the rosters of both brands and create new opportunities and rivalries for the Superstars. Who will be the first pick? Who will switch shows? Who will stay put? Find out this Friday at 8/7 C on FOX!
The Usos vs Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
In addition to the Draft, SmackDown will also feature a blockbuster title match as Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn defend their Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship against The Usos in a rematch from WrestleMania.
Jimmy @WWEUsos confronts @SamiZayn, asking what happens if he loses this Friday.#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/EVWf32odCf
— WWE (@WWE) April 27, 2023
The Usos came close to dethroning the champions at the Show of Shows, but Owens and Zayn managed to retain their titles after a hard-fought battle. Will The Usos get their revenge and become the new champions? Or will Owens and Zayn prove once again that they are the best tag team in WWE?
Zelina Vega vs Sonya Deville
Also on SmackDown, Zelina Vega will face Sonya Deville in a singles match. Vega is set to challenge Rhea Ripley for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WWE Backlash in Puerto Rico, but she will have to deal with Deville first.
Deville is a former MMA fighter and a tough competitor who won’t back down from a fight. Can Vega overcome Deville and gain momentum before her title match? Or will Deville spoil Vega’s plans and make a statement of her own?
First day of the WWE Draft
The 2023 WWE Draft will begin this Friday on SmackDown and continue next Monday on Raw. According to WWE, every single Superstar will be eligible for the Draft, which means that no one is safe from switching brands. The Draft will also include some NXT Superstars, who could be called up to the main roster at any time.
The Draft will be divided into two pools of wrestlers, one for each night. Tag teams and stables will be drafted as units, with some exceptions.
The Superstars eligible for each night of the #WWEDraft have been revealed 👀
It all kicks off TOMORROW on #SmackDown, 8/7c on @FOXTV! https://t.co/5IZMdSVU0v
— WWE (@WWE) April 28, 2023
Here are the Superstars who are eligible for each night of the Draft as per WWE
Night 1 (SmackDown)
Becky Lynch
Bianca Belair
Bobby Lashley
Candice LeRae
Chelsea Green & Sonya Deville
Cody Rhodes
Damage CTRL (Bayley, IYO SKY & Dakota Kai)
Dexter Lumis
Dolph Ziggler
Drew McIntyre
Edge
Hit Row (Top Dolla & Ashante “Thee” Adonis w/ B-Fab)
Imperium (GUNTHER, Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci)
Lacey Evans
Matt Riddle
Maximum Male Models (ma.cé, mån.sôör & Maxxine Dupri)
Mustafa Ali
Natalya
Omos (w/ MVP)
Shinsuke Nakamura
The Bloodline (Roman Reigns and Solo Sikoa)
The Miz
The O.C. (AJ Styles, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson & Michin)
The Street Profits
The Viking Raiders (Erik & Ivar w/Valhalla)
Select NXT Superstars
Night 2 (Raw)
Akira Tozawa
The Alpha Academy (Otis & Chad Gable)
Asuka
Austin Theory
Baron Corbin
Braun Strowman & Ricochet
Brock Lesnar
Bronson Reed
Cedric Alexander & Shelton Benjamin
Charlotte Flair
Dana Brooke
Elias
Emma
Johnny Gargano
The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor, Damian Priest & Dominik Mysterio)
Karrion Kross (w/ Scarlett)
Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
LA Knight
Liv Morgan & Raquel Rodriguez
Los Lotharios (Angel Garza & Humberto Carrillo)
LWO (Rey Mysterio, Santos Escobar, Cruz Del Toro, Joaquin Wilde & Zelina Vega)
Nikki Cross
Piper Niven
Rhea Ripley
Rick Boogs
Riddick Moss
Ronda Rousey & Shayna Baszler
Seth Rollins
Shotzi
Tamina
Tegan Nox
The Brawling Brutes (Sheamus, Ridge Holland & Butch)
The New Day (Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods)
The Usos (Jimmy & Jey Uso)
Trish Stratus
Xia Li
Select NXT Superstars