Maven Talks 2002 WWE Draft: “No One Knew Where They Were Going”

Maven spoke about the realistic nature of the WWE Draft selections during the inaugural draft in 2002.

Maven was a WWE Superstar from 2001 until 2005. During that time, WWE had just begun experimenting with its brand split between WWE Raw and WWE SmackDown. While the company experimented with different levels of strict divisions between the brands over the last two decades, the concept of the brand split has largely remained intact.

Maven was the last person that Vince McMahon would draft to WWE SmackDown in 2002. At the time, he was still the only winner of WWE Tough Enough and the current WWE Hardcore Champion. Now, he’s reflecting on being part of that historic night.

Maven, in one of his latest YouTube videos, revealed that WWE kept the moves being made in the inaugural draft a secret so that they could get authentic reactions from the Superstars.

“During the very first WWE draft, I had no idea I was going to be drafted 10th overall to SmackDown until it happened on live TV. No one else in that room knew either. On the day of the very first draft, the only instructions we were given were to corral ourselves into a room and wait to hear our fate. Inside that stuffy room, there was an anxious anticipation, because most guys did not know if this was going to be for the good or for the bad, and most guys didn’t know how their career was about to change. One of the reasons the WWE refuses to enlighten the talent on where they might be going is because they want genuine reactions from everyone. I can tell you, when they called my name 10th, my facial, my reaction was 100% authentic. I can also tell you the reaction of others was also equally authentic.”

WWE has yet to hold a 2025 draft. Some years, the draft is held immediately after WrestleMania. Sometimes, it is held in the fall during the season premieres of both WWE Raw and WWE Friday Night SmackDown. This year, the next season of WWE Raw will be sponsored by DoorDash. Learn more here.

Fightful will continue to monitor any news regarding a 2025 WWE Draft and report any updates.

If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Maven’s YouTube channel in addition to linking back to this article and giving Fightful credit for transcription.