Well, it's FINALLY official. On the RAW following Judgment Day, WWE will be holding its second-annual Draft Lottery. The 2004 Draft saw major changes on both rosters, especially after the trades that took place the following day. This year, who will go where? Will careers be helped or hindered? Who will emerge as the dominant force on RAW? On SmackDown!? In this column, I will give my opinions of who the six picks for each roster should be, and what trades should be made, starting with the 6 picks for RAW.

Doug Basham- There's not much doubt in anyone's mind that Doug is the more talented of the two Bashams, and drafting him will weaken SmackDown!'s tag team division.

Carlito Caribbean Cool- SmackDown! seems to be bad luck for Carlito. After just two months on the roster, his shoulder was seriously injured. To make matters worse, his associate Jesus went down with a severe neck injury just weeks later. A fresh start on RAW would be...cool.

Big Show- The Big Show has done everything possible on his brand. Name any major player on SmackDown!, and Big Show has feuded with them. (JBL, Cena, Angle, Undertaker, Guerrero, Mysterio, etc.) Show has also held the WWE and United States Championships, and a switch to RAW would give him promising new feuds and a new objective, the World Heavyweight Championship.

Tazz- Taking the "voice of SmackDown!" would be a huge benefit for RAW, and will actually help SmackDown! in the long run, as I will explain later in the column.

Charlie Haas- As much as I like Charlie Haas, even I have to admit that he came up on the short end of the stick when it came to charisma. A move to RAW and a feud with Shelton Benjamin could be just the spark he needs to ignite the potential we all know is there.

Kurt Angle- Like Big Show, he has done everything he can on SmackDown!. He's been with the Thursday night show ever since the beginning, held the WWE and WWE Tag Team Championship, and feuded with everyone SmackDown! has to offer (and won, in most cases). Moving to RAW could be the best thing possible for him, as it would bring him back together with his nemesis, Chris Benoit, and we could finally see some great matches from the RAW brand if those two locked horns again.

SmackDown!'s Picks:

Hurricane- Has anyone else gotten tired of this phenomenal athlete being mistreated? I know I have. The RAW brand hasn't done a single thing right for him since he left SmackDown! in mid-2002. Helms would make a "super" addition to the failing Cruiserweight division- pun most certainly intended.

Sylvain Grenier- I'm not sure if I spelt his name right, but I know that I see MAJOR potential in the 4-Time World Tag Team Champ. And frankly, that potential isn't going to do squat jobbing for Regal and Tajiri every week on Heat.

Chris Jericho- Without a doubt, Chris Jericho is a Main Event caliber star. When was the last time he headlined a PPV? (Please don't mention the Elimination Chambers; you know he never really had a chance). Other than in a Tag Team Elimination match in the 2004 Survivor Series, Jericho hasn't headlined a PPV since losing the Undisputed title at WrestleMania three years ago. RAW has turned Jericho into a laughingstock. Why should he settle for mid-card Intercontinental title losses when he could be headlining PPVs holding the most prestigious title in the industry, the WWE Championship?

Val Venis- Another star destroyed by RAW. Val Venis has been on one PPV in the last three years. One. And he was a guest referee at a PPV. What a great way to treat a guy who has worked for this company for 6 years and has more skill than RAW's current World Champion. Interesting.

Shawn Michaels- Like Big Show and Kurt Angle, HBK has done all he can on his brand. A move to SmackDown! and a major heel turn would breathe fresh life into his career, which has grown quite boring over the last year, with the exception of his feud with Angle. HBK could capture the WWE title in no time, and defend it against Superstars he has never faced, such as JBL, John Cena, Eddie Guerrero, and Booker T.

Edge- Edge is right. He IS being screwed. A guy with his talents should have captured the World title several times already, but he is held back under the glass ceiling of Triple H. Now, his spotlight is being stolen by a jacked-up nimrod with the technical skill of a garden snail, and the charisma of a corpse. Edge needs to go to SmackDown!, and he needs to go there NOW.

After reading this, many of you may be wondering, "Why is this lottery favoring SmackDown!? Why does RAW only get two main eventers, when it loses three? And why does SmackDown! have only � of a broadcast team now?" The answer is simple: TRADES. After losing Tazz to RAW, SmackDown! will need a replacement, while RAW will be looking to fill an open Main Eventer spot. Therefore, trading Jerry "the King" Lawler for Rob Van Dam would benefit everyone. Also, trade Danny Basham for Rob Conway, and two tag teams will be reunited. After all, what fun would a draft be without some trades?

So that's my opinion on how the 2005 Draft should be done. Imagine the possibilities: Angle vs. Benoit, Triple H vs. Angle, Batista vs. Big Show, JBL vs. HBK, JBL vs. Y2J, Cena vs. Edge, Cena vs. Y2J. . .the combinations are endless. I, for one, would love to see SummerSlam headlined by the first SmackDown! Elimination Chamber: JBL vs. Undertaker vs. John Cena vs.Chris Jericho vs. HBK vs. Eddie Guerrero. WOW. Any feedback would be appreciated.

by Antonio M. Figueroa ..