NXT is currently facing significant challenges following a recent surge of call-ups to WWE’s main roster. This shift has disrupted the developmental brand’s stability as key talents moved to Raw and SmackDown over the past several weeks.
Recent Main Roster Promotions Shake Up NXT
WWE Raw and SmackDown have recently absorbed several talents from NXT, causing noticeable gaps in the developmental scene. Je’Von Evans transitioned to the Raw brand, while Jordynne Grace and Trick Williams debuted on SmackDown, signaling a major reshuffling of NXT’s roster.
Adding to this upheaval, NXT Champion Oba Femi vacated his title after a victory over TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater. Meanwhile, rumors surfaced about other NXT stars such as Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, and Blake Monroe also moving toward the main roster before WWE executives paused further promotions to avoid overextending the roster.
On the January 9 episode of SmackDown, Trick Williams secured a win against Rey Fenix, and Jordynne Grace defeated Alba Fyre in her singles match, only to be challenged afterwards by WWE Women’s Champion Jade Cargill. Evans earned a victory over Bravo from Los Americanos on Raw’s January 12 taping.
In response to these departures, NXT introduced several new signees during its latest episodes to compensate for the loss of prominent figures.
NXT’s Creative Team Struggles Amid Sudden Talent Departures
Behind the scenes, reports indicate that WWE’s developmental brand was caught unprepared for the sudden departures. According to a recent discussion on the Self Made Session podcast, the NXT creative team has been thrown into disarray by the rapid promotions.
“Their entire show has been raided. Jordynne Grace got taken, Oba Femi got taken, Trick Williams got taken, um, Je’Von Evans, so on and so forth. I’ll say this though, man. So here’s an actual fact, chat. A lot of this call-up stuff has come together very late. And I have reasonable evidence that there was not a lot of coordination and collaboration between the main roster and NXT on how to do this. Because the NXT side expected to at least be able to do double duty with Oba Femi and J’evon Evans until Mania, WrestleMania 42 weekend. The bottom line is this: a lot of this clearly came together late, and there was not a lot of coordination from the top down. The right hand wasn’t knowing what the left hand was doing, in the sense that NXT was kind of blindsided by these call-ups. How do you not prepare guys behind them? They are out of nowhere because, like I said, these guys were expected to do double duty, and right now they’re not doing double duty anymore.” – Self Made Session podcast panel
The unexpected promotions disrupted NXT’s planned trajectory and forced the developmental brand into a reactive mode, scrambling to fill the gaps left by its top stars. The lack of synchronization between WWE’s leadership and NXT reportedly intensified the problems, leading to frustration among staff and fans alike.
Additional WWE News Highlights
Outside NXT, other WWE and wrestling-related updates continue to make headlines. Eddie Kingston recently revealed his struggle with severe injuries that sidelined him for 19 months, explaining the challenges he faced during a lengthy recovery period.
In other developments, Tommy Dreamer confirmed that the TNA International Champion, Stacks, will defend his title on Impact Wrestling’s AMC debut episode on January 15, adding excitement to the brand’s upcoming programming.
A WWE Hall of Famer recently experienced heartbreak after being rejected by WWE despite training for a comeback, underscoring the harsh realities even veteran talents sometimes face within the industry.
Meanwhile, WWE announced a major championship bout for Saturday Night’s Main Event on RAW, promising a high-stakes contest that is expected to draw significant attention.
During a recent episode of RAW, an unexpected WWE star made a surprise appearance that escalated into a physical confrontation with official Adam Pearce, further fueling fan intrigue and speculation.
Following John Cena’s retirement, WWE has been criticized for its handling of Gunther, attempting to build heat around the star but drawing accusations of undermining his credibility in the process.
Another noteworthy update is that WWE Tag Team Champions The Usos are set to star in a new unscripted series, expanding their presence beyond the ring.
On the AEW front, MJF is preparing to defend his AEW World Championship against Bandido on the January 14 episode of Dynamite, highlighting one of the company’s key upcoming matches.
Impact of the Roster Changes on NXT’s Future
The rapid depletion of NXT’s top talent has significant implications for its growth and standing within WWE’s ecosystem. The last-minute nature of the call-ups and the apparent lack of coordination have left the developmental brand vulnerable, raising questions about its creative direction and long-term viability.
The departure of key figures like Oba Femi and Jordynne Grace not only affects storyline continuity but also places additional pressure on remaining performers and new signees to step up quickly. With WrestleMania 42 approaching, expectations for a robust and compelling NXT product are higher than ever, complicating efforts to rebuild momentum.
Looking ahead, WWE’s approach to balancing talent between NXT and the main roster will be critical. Enhanced communication and strategic planning may be necessary to prevent similar disruptions and protect NXT’s role as a vital breeding ground for future stars.
