Kevin Owens Wants NXT Brand Fully Involved In Next WWE Draft

KO wants to see Raw and SmackDown talent eligible to be traded to NXT.

by Andrew Pollard
Kevin Owens
WWE.com

When the WWE Draft took place this past October, many were hoping to see NXT talent involved in this change-up. And if Kevin Owens gets his way, not only will NXT stars again be eligible for future Drafts, the black-and-gold brand will be allowed to trade its talent for those of Raw and SmackDown.

In a new interview with ComicBook.com, KO enthused:

“They were able to draft people from an NXT, but you never saw a Raw or SmackDown superstar moved in a draft to NXT. I think that should be the case. I think we should be able to take from NXT, and NXT should be able to take from Raw and SmackDown, because I think the level of competition is just as… it’s extraordinary over there. I don’t see why we wouldn’t be able to do that.”

Wanting to further cement NXT as a genuine third brand for WWE, the former NXT Champion added:

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“I think they [the casual fans] should be made aware of NXT and how it’s just as good as Raw and SmackDown. A good way to do that would probably be to add them to the Draft and see Raw and SmackDown talent end up in NXT, as well. I think that would be really an interesting mix of talent, and it would be a good way to get more eyes on there.”

Owens also played down the idea of having the NXT brand featured on main roster PPVs, instead stating how he'd love to see one or two more TakeOver specials each year.

Up next for Kevin Owens, he faces Roman Reigns in a Steel Cage bout for the High Chief's Universal Championship on this week's festive SmackDown.

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Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main dayjob, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg.