Booker T discusses the 2023 WWE Draft and highlights JD McDonagh.
McDonagh, Indi Hartwell, Isla Dawn, Alba Fyre, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, and Grayson Waller are just a few members of the group of NXT talent that was selected during the 2023 WWE Draft. WWE Hall of Famer Booker T joined the NXT commentary team in October 2022, and he has named McDonagh as one of the NXT stars he was high on.
Speaking on The Hall of Fame, Booker T share his thoughts on the 2023 WWE Draft and the way it impacted NXT. He noted that the brand was hit hard, and some of his favorites were called up to the main roster. The WWE Hall of Famer especially highlighted JD McDonagh, who was drafted to WWE Raw.
“NXT got hit hard, and some of my favorites left, and they’re moving on to bigger and better things, which, congratulations. I’m glad to see them move on to the next level because a guy like JD McDonagh, I didn’t know JD McDonagh had put that much time into the business. I really didn’t know. But just listening to him talk earlier today, and I said think he said 21 years that he’s put in this business, and he said around 16 [years], he didn’t think he was gonna get a shot, but he just kept pushing and kept pushing, and boom. Now, NXT has led him now to the main roster. I appreciate that," Booker T said.
Booker T continued by describing how McDonagh gave him a kiss on the side of his face after his final NXT match. The legend noted that he pushed for McDonagh throughout his time in NXT because he believed he was a next-level talent. Booker stated that it was his job to pump up talents like McDonagh, Grayson Waller, Pretty Deadly, and Zoey Stark.
“I love that dude, I love him. I was looking down and I was doing something. I might have been messing with my notes or something, but I was totally unaware of my surroundings. Next thing you know, somebody this close to me and they gave me the biggest kiss right here [holds the side of his face], on the jaw. I look up, it’s JD McDonagh. I was like, wow, that’s really, really cool because man love. He appreciated the way I treated him. [During] his time in NXT, I was always pushing for that guy, I was always trying to make sure that there was some spotlight on JD McDonagh because I always thought this dude’s next-level. He’s a star, he really is, give him a shot. For him to come to me and do that on his exit, it was awesome. Grayson Waller, he’s another guy that came to me and thanked me for the time in NXT. For me, it’s my job to pump those guys up and give them the rub. Pretty Deadly, Zoey [Stark], same thing," he said.
Overall, Booker T stated that he was glad to see the NXT stars receiving a chance to shine on the main roster, but he described how it was bittersweet to see them go. However, he made it clear that the show must go on, and he can already see the next wave of talent that's coming, so it's just a matter of seeing which ones step up.
'I’m so glad to see these guys put that work in and get a shot. I’m excited but then again it’s kind of bittersweet because I was so in-tune to having guys like Pretty Deadly, [and] JD McDonagh on the roster because they made me feel alive when they came out and did work. But you know what they say about the show, man. The show must go on, and [on Tuesday], the guys came out and they took it to another level. I see the next guys that’s gonna be coming up. It’s just a matter of who’s gonna step into that spotlight," Booker T said.
JD McDonagh commented on leaving NXT and moving to WWE Raw. Click here to see what he had to say.
Check out the updated WWE rosters following the 2023 WWE Draft here.
Catch up on our coverage of the May 2 episode of WWE NXT here.
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