Several NXT stars have appeared on WWE Main Event in recent weeks. NXT talent appearing on Main Event isn’t rare as it’s an opportunity for management to see them compete with main roster acts. This could be a signal of which NXT stars are being considered for a call-up during the WWE Draft. We take a look at how WWE Main Event points to NXT Draft call-ups.
Potential NXT Draft Call-Ups:
Tyler Bate – Lost to Dolph Ziggler, Main Event on 04/13/23
If one point of WWE Main Event is to see if NXT performers can hang with WWE talent, then Tyler Bate smashed his opportunity.
Bate and Ziggler had a superb match that got a “this is awesome chant”. Wrestling Twitter also took a brief hiatus from crying about Cody Rhodes losing at WrestleMania 39 or speculating about CM Punk to share clips from the match. A clear sign this match was well received.
The match was good enough for Raw or SmackDown, so don’t be surprised if you see Bate drafted to either show.
Estimated chance of a draft: 60%. It’ll happen but maybe not now.
Isla Dawn – Lost to Nikki Cross, Main Event 04/20/23
Being one half of the NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions it could be seen as a weird time to bring Isla Dawn to the main roster. But bringing someone with a championship to the main roster would add a sense of chaos to the Draft. Dawn lost to Nikki Cross on Main Event on 4/20/23. Her NXT tag partner is Alba Fyre.
Perhaps Dawn could buddy up with fellow Scot Piper Niven on the main roster. Her supernatural act isn’t for everyone. But she has managed to nail the trick and it has a place on the main roster.
Estimated chance of a draft: 50% – we will see
Joe Gacy – Lost to Dexter Lumis, Main Event on 04/27/23
Joe Gacy wrestled Dexter Lumis on the most recent Main Event taping – set to air Thursday 27 April.
Gacy has been prominent on NXT with his Schism stable.
However, Schism teammates Rip Fowler and Jagger Reid revealed on Twitter (in now-deleted posts) that their requests to leave WWE have been denied. They will see out the rest of their contracts and depart in October. This means it’s certainly time for Gacy to do something new. Why rebrand him on NXT? Send him to the main roster and let him start again.
He could certainly add something different to the main roster with his politically correct character being a perfect heel.
Estimated chance of a draft: 75%. Before Fowler and Reid revealed they weren’t happy in NXT this would have been lower. But that’s forced WWE’s hand to do something with Gacy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE7wjqBR6j4
Cora Jade – Lost to Nikki Cross, Main Event 04/27/23
Cora Jade is a main roster talent. She’s cool. She has a unique look that clicks with a lot of the fan base. Her partnership, fall out and feud with Roxanne Perez was genuinely engaging for months on NXT.
Still only 22, she could be the answer for a WWE Women’s division that definitely needs a bit of a shake-up. There’s a chance she only made her appearance on Main Event as it was in her hometown of Chicago. But it’s more likely WWE wanted to see her in front of its main roster crowd.
Chance of a draft: 80%. Why wait?
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