Unanticipated Changes Ahead of SmackDown and Raw Drafts
Summary
– The WWE Draft is set to begin this week on SmackDown and will continue on Raw next week, stirring widespread fan speculation about potential roster changes.
– NXT talent Von Wagner, real name Cal Bloom, was considered for a main roster move but was released from his WWE contract instead.
– Wagner’s release was part of a broader wave of unexpected cuts, including wrestlers Xyon Quinn, Jinder Mahal, Xia Li, Veer Mahan, and Sanga.
The wrestling community is buzzing with anticipation and speculation about possible roster shifts as the WWE gears up for its annual draft on SmackDown this week, followed by Raw next week. This year, the focus is particularly intense on NXT talents who might be promoted to the main roster. Among the names considered was Von Wagner, known outside the ring as Cal Bloom.
Recently, reports from PWInsider indicated that Wagner was under consideration for promotion to either Raw or SmackDown. However, in a surprising turn of events, Fightful Select revealed that Wagner and other notable WWE talents were released from their contracts last week.
Cal Bloom started with WWE in 2019 after a stint in college football and quickly rose through the ranks in the NXT 2.0 era, spotlighting younger talents. Despite increasing television time and involvement in key storylines, including a recent feud with Bron Breakker and Lexis King, Bloom’s last match on April 2 marked the end of his tenure with WWE.
The latest round of WWE releases has left fans and insiders surprised, as it included several performers like Xyon Quinn, Jinder Mahal, Xia Li, Veer Mahan, and Sanga, who were seen as valuable assets to the company. These cuts reflect the unpredictable nature of the wrestling industry and have sparked discussions about the criteria and strategic decisions behind roster changes at WWE.
