News On This Year's WWE Draft (Patreon)

The WWE Draft is fast approaching, with a renewed focus on NXT’s part in the event on WWE television.

There have been a few question marks over NXT’s role in the draft, one being the possibility of main roster talent being drafted to NXT. Fightful Select’s Corey Brennan has learned from sources close to the NXT creative process that this is not just a tease, with The Final Testament and Ivar’s appearances on this past Tuesday’s edition of NXT setting the stage for other main roster stars to make the jump during the event as part of a renewed focus on making NXT the third brand of WWE once again.

Brennan has also been told that the next two weeks of NXT programming will focus on the draft in the lead up to Spring Breakin’, as shown on this past Tuesday’s episode of NXT.

As for what NXT talent can be expected to come up in the draft, Brennan has spoken to several talent who have been told by Shawn Michaels this week that he isn’t sure who will be brought up from NXT in the draft. However, Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov are said to be “a lock” for RAW or SmackDown in the draft, while Roxanne Perez’s status for the draft still remains up in the air despite on television teases.

Elsewhere in NXT, Tony D’Angelo’s Family and Baron Corbin have been discussed as possible additions to RAW or SmackDown.

In addition, Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp has learned that the timing of the WWE Draft isn't coincidental. WWE planned it for the week of the NFL draft to capitalize on "draft fever" as they have in the past. When we asked if there will be hard and fast rules regarding the draft, or more lenience, we were told that input would be accepted from media partners, specifically their upcoming partners in CW and Netflix. However, one WWE source said that "the Netflix deal is closer to next year's draft than this year's draft, so that won't be something we need to worry about for a while."