How Long WWE Planned NXT Call-Ups During 2023 Draft

WWE’s Draft is always good for some surprises, and this year NXT call-ups were responsible for a few interested looks. The developmental brand lost some key talent during SmackDown, and even more on the SmackDown LowDown the next day, but how long were those plans in motion?

WWE’s developmental brand lost every female champion in the 2023 WWE Draft. India Hartwell, the NXT Women’s Champion was called up along with Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn, the Women’s Tag Team Champions. This brought a lot of questions from fans concerning how long they had these plans in motion.

Ringside News reached out to ask about the NXT call-ups during the 2023 WWE Draft. We were told that decisions to call up these NXT Superstars were made several weeks ago.

JD McDonagh, Apollo Crews, Zoey Stark, and Von Wagner were all called up during the supplemental draft during SmackDown LowDown. McDonagh, Crews, and Stark are going to RAW, but Wagner will be a free agent.

Those names join Indi Hartwell, Isla Dawn, and Alba Fyre, who were all called up from NXT during SmackDown. In total, the WWE main roster saw seven new Superstars from NXT Superstars, and a few of them were surprises.

This is an exciting time for WWE fans, because it always is when new faces from NXT start to integrate themselves into the main roster waters. It will be interesting to see who sinks and swims in the end.

What’s your take on this crop of NXT call-ups? Who do you think has the best shot at becoming a huge name on the main roster? Sound off in the comments!