As previously reported, former WWE Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion Finn Bálor has been traded to the SmackDown brand, with the announcement made during RAW this past Monday night.
According to Dave Meltzer on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, he believes the creative team wanted to separate Bálor from Dominik Mysterio and JD McDonagh. Bálor has already defeated both of them, and staying on RAW would likely lead to further interactions with these competitors. Meltzer noted that the creative team has decided that Bálor's storyline with them is complete, and they want to give him a fresh start.
Meltzer mentioned that it is common for storylines to conclude after a feud, and the team does not want Bálor to interact with those characters again. He recalled how Rey and Dominik Mysterio were moved apart after their storyline concluded, although they are interacting again now.
Bryan Alvarez then asked Meltzer if WWE plans to hold a draft this year, to which Meltzer replied that he has not heard any information about a draft. The last official WWE Draft took place in April 2024, following WrestleMania 40, and WWE has yet to announce a return of the official Draft.
