Subhojeet Mukherjee on April 26, 2024
As WrestleMania season wrapped up a few weeks ago, WWE entered a new era, marked by significant changes and exciting developments. One of the major announcements that accompanied this new phase was the return of the WWE Draft. This year’s WWE Draft is set to occur on April 26 and April 29, with the updated rosters taking effect following Backlash 2024.
A lot of changes for both Raw and Smackdown are set to take place with the Draft. Not only that, WWE NXT stars might also move to the main roster to enhance their careers during the Draft.
According to a report by Fightful Select, NXT names were intentionally excluded from the WWE Draft pools to create a surprise factor during the upcoming WWE Draft on April 26 and April 29. As part of this strategy, WWE is holding a “draft party” for fans at the WWE Performance Center, adding to the excitement and anticipation surrounding the draft.
”NXT names were intentionally hidden from the pools in order to create a surprise factor. There’s a “draft party” being held for fans at the WWE Performance Center.”
Despite the emphasis on surprise and fan engagement, there are concerns within the NXT brand regarding the draft’s impact. Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan reported that some NXT talent and other sources expressed apprehension about the possibility of NXT being “picked dry” during the draft, echoing similar outcomes from past years. This has led to worries that a significant number of NXT stars could be moved to the main roster, leaving the developmental brand with a reduced talent pool.
Additionally, there’s uncertainty among NXT talent regarding their potential call-ups. According to Brennan’s sources, as of Friday morning, no talent he spoke with had been informed about their draft status. This lack of clarity has sparked concerns about WWE’s approach to integrating NXT talent into the main roster. In recent years, WWE has faced criticism for calling up NXT talent without clear plans, leading to underutilized or inconsistent storylines for those making the transition.
”For NXT, some are not too optimistic. In speaking to several talent and other sources within NXT, Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has learned that there is a fear that NXT may be ‘picked dry’ in the Draft, as the brand has been in years prior. There is also concern about many talent not knowing if they are being called up to the main roster, with no talent Brennan spoke with being aware of their status as of Friday morning. This has led to the concern that WWE will be calling talent up without a plan, which has been a heavy criticism of NXT callups in recent years.”
Shawn Michaels was comfortable losing NXT stars last year as well. We will have to wait and see how many NXT Superstars will end up getting the call-up to the main roster and whether WWE will have proper plans for them.
Are you surprised by how some NXT talent are concerned about the WWE Draft this year? Sound off in the comments section below!
April 26, 2024 3:01 pm
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