Latest On How 2023 WWE Draft Will Affect NXT

WWE

UPDATE – For a full summary of all the potential NXT call-ups that could take place in the 2023 WWE Draft, click this link.

With the 2023 WWE Draft set to begin on tomorrow night’s episode of SmackDown, we now have more of an idea on how the NXT brand may be affected.

When Triple H announced the Draft, he said that every WWE star is eligible, which also included NXT, with many NXT stars being speculated about potentially joining either Raw or SmackDown.

Fightful Select (subscription required) has provided the latest run down of the company’s mindset heading into the show, with nothing being set in stone, and changes always possible up until the start of the show.

One name who has been pitched internally to join the main roster in the Draft is Ilja Dragunov, who is currently locked into a feud with Dijak on the NXT brand.

Perhaps the most likely call up in the Draft is former NXT Tag Team Champions Pretty Deadly, who were written off the show on this week’s Spring Breakin’ special episode of NXT.

Pretty Deadly have also been pitched for a call up internally, with them reportedly set to be at tomorrow night’s show in Corpus Christi, Texas for the Draft.

Tyler Bate has also been pitched internally for a call up, per WRKD Wrestling.

Cameron Grimes is a name that has been considered for a main roster call up for a long time, with him even working a SmackDown taping back in February, with WWE reportedly telling Fightful that NXT talent doesn’t work SmackDown tapings when they enquired about Grimes’ current status.

NXT talent does regularly work the WWE Main Event tapings prior to Raw, with NXT talents of varying levels of experience appearing on the tapings recently.

Those familiar with the situation said that the reason is to add intrigue to the Main Event show, as well as to get talent reps in front of bigger non-Florida crowds, and to see how well they work on main roster WWE television while working with veterans.

While simply appearing on Main Event isn’t an indication that a call up is even being considered, it can go a long way with a good performance, with both Cora Jade and Tyler Bate recently impressing WWE officials during their matches on the show.

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