When the WWE purchased WCW in 2001, it effectively eliminated its biggest competition at that time. Longtime WWE fans saw this as both a victory of sorts, but also a gradual problem, since there was nothing to inspire the company's Creative Team like the "Monday Night Wars" used to.
To maintain interest in its shows, the WWE introduced the Draft Lottery in 2002, splitting the roster into two brands based on its top shows: Raw and SmackDown!.
Wrestlers "drafted" to either show could not appear on the other, forcing fans to watch the shows that their favorite wrestlers were exclusive to.
When WWE revived the ECW brand in 2006, the lottery extended to three brands instead of two, though mainly mid- to low-card wrestlers were sent to ECW at first.
There is no set date for the drafts, but they often come around May and June of each year.
References
Fast Facts
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2002
Entire rosters split between Raw and SmackDown!
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2004
Both brands chose six draft picks
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2005
Both brands chose five draft picks
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2006
Added ECW brand to draft
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2007
Draft featured all three brands again
