Daniel Bryan pushing to bring more NXT talent to WWE SmackDown
In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that Daniel Bryan has been pushing for more NXT talent to be brought up to SmackDown but has been met with opposition.
Meltzer said that Bryan, who is involved in creative, has got pushback due to the poor track record of those brought up over the last two years, Vince McMahon losing interest in call-ups soon after they debut, and the number of main roster talent who don’t currently have a role on TV.
On Wednesday’s Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said Damian Priest was set to be called up to SmackDown on relatively short notice as Kevin Owens’ best friend in order to help in his feud with Roman Reigns. However, Owens thought that plan didn’t make sense as they don’t have anything in common which Reigns agreed with. At last word, Priest was scheduled to be brought up to Raw at some point later this month.
Also on this week’s newsletter, Meltzer said that Rhea Ripley’s loss to Raquel Gonzalez Wednesday on New Year’s Evil was to write her off NXT for a main roster call-up.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.