WWE NXT Stars Weren't Told In Advance That They Were Getting Drafted On SmackDown

It was a big weekend for several stars in "NXT," with Indi Hartwell, Alba Fyre, Isla Dawn, Zoey Stark, JD McDonagh, and Apollo Crews all getting drafted to the main roster during either Night One of the WWE Draft on "WWE SmackDown" last Friday, or the SmackDown Lowdown one day later on Saturday. And while one would expect the group to learn about the moves well before the announcement, evidently they were as in the dark as the fans watching at home.

According to Bryan Alvarez on the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, the aforementioned "NXT" talents were unaware they would be drafted when the announcements were made Friday and Saturday, meaning the reaction fans saw of "NXT" talent reacting to their draft status was genuine. No reason was given as to why the talents weren't told beforehand, or if that will be the practice regarding other "NXT" stars being drafted as the Draft continues.

While a journey to the main roster is par the course for Crews, who had previously worked on both the "Raw" and "SmackDown" brands, this will be the first time Hartwell, Fyre, Dawn, Stark, and McDonagh will have competed full-time on the WWE main roster. Their moves will also have a strong effect on the "NXT" brand, as Hartwell is currently the "NXT" Women's Champion, while Fyre and Dawn are the current "NXT" Women's Tag Team Champions. It's unclear whether they will continue to defend the titles or be forced to vacate them.

As noted, the shake-up to the "NXT" brand could continue tonight, as the WWE Draft continues on "WWE Raw."