Latest On Axiom's WWE Future After SmackDown Debut

Backstage update on Axiom, WWE SmackDown, and NXT.

by Andy H Murray
Dragon Lee Axiom
WWE.com

Axiom may have wrestled on last week's WWE SmackDown, but the Spanish flyer remains assigned to NXT.

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports as much. The decision to use Axiom on SmackDown in a match with Friday night regular Dragon Lee was a "literal last-minute" move, with the former A-Kid booked for the blue brand on the morning of the show.

Currently, Axiom is still assigned to NXT. There is no indication that his use opposite Lee was to be taken as any kind of call-up.

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Axiom did not wrestle on this week's episode of NXT, though he has enjoyed a steady televised presence in 2023, appearing on the mainline developmental brand and its offshoot, NXT Level Up.

A further main roster appearance for Axiom came at WWE's 9 October Main Event tapings, where he wrestled Alpha Academy's Akira Tozawa. Beyond WWE, he faced fellow NXT star Charlie Dempsey for Booker T's Reality of Wrestling promotion in September.

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Lee vs. Axiom drew considerable praise on last week's SmackDown, and was part of a recent run of short, snappy bouts for the former, who has accumulated a three-match winning streak against Axiom and Cedric Alexander (x2).

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.