JD McDonagh says he can ‘do a little less’ and still deliver great matches in WWE
JD McDonagh reflected on his evolution as a main roster competitor in WWE. He explained how his transition from NXT to the main roster has helped him grow more confident while requiring him to do less in the ring to win over fans.
Speaking with TMZ’s Inside The Ring, McDonagh talked about the improvements in his in-ring career from NXT to the main roster transition in 2023. While he acknowledged his contributions were less on Raw in comparison to NXT, McDonagh still feels fans are getting accustomed to him.
“It’s hard to say. I feel like I have been comfortable enough to do less than I was doing in NXT to show the fans what I’m capable of. I feel like people are starting to come around to me now and they understand what I bring to the table and I don’t necessarily have to do you know everything in my arsenal in the 25-minute match. I can beat people up a little bit more and do a little less and I can still get the same quality of match out of my opponents.”
McDonagh further explained how his confidence has improved on the main roster and mindset going into his first singles match at WrestleMania this year.
“Yeah. I feel like my confidence is kind of just evolving as time goes on. I I feel like so, obviously this WrestleMania was my first singles match at WrestleMania. And I was kind of expecting nerves to come on or to feel a little bit anxious in the day. But as we got closer and closer to the doors opening and to our music playing, I just felt like I was growing in stature and then by the time I was finally walking down that ramp living my dreams and achieving everything that I wanted to achieve when I started at 12. I felt like I was 10 ft tall. So that’s kind of been a slow evolution from the independent scene through NXT UK through NXT as I pick up more and more skills and more confidence and more strings to my bow. I feel like I have more to draw on and that kind of makes me more confident of who JD (McDonagh) is in the ring now.”
He was in pursuit of the Intercontinental Title at WrestleMania where he competed in a six-man ladder match. The bout also featured Je’Von Evans, Dragon Lee, Rusev, and Rey Mysterio and Penta.
This weekend at SNME on July 18 McDonagh is set to face Danhausen in a No Disqualification match.
Rosanne Raphael is a wrestling writer with over three and a half years of experience covering all things related to the industry. From a kindergarten teacher to PR Associate to turning her lifelong passion for the industry into a career, Rosanne is currently writing for F4W Online where she focuses on wrestling news, analysis, and storytelling.
Rosanne previously contributed to Sportskeeda as an Assistant Content Manager.
When not consumed by wrestling, Rosanne is a musician and an aspiring artist.