Ranking All 24 WWE Debuts & Returns In 2023
5. JD McDonagh
What can you say about the Judgment Day’s favorite punching
bag?
McDonagh’s run in NXT was marked by good-to-great matches coupled with weird promos and uninteresting angles. When he was called up to the main roster, it felt like he’d be lost in the shuffle, a “good hand” who lost a lot and became a faceless opponent.
Several months later, and JD still loses as lot, but it’s as part of the biggest, most important stable in WWE at the moment, the Judgment Day (sorry, but the Bloodline is only truly relevant when Roman Reigns is around). McDonagh went from strange errand boy trying to catch on to full-fledged member during the course of several months, earning his stripes and becoming the perfect cannon fodder troop for the group – capable of having excellent matches, credibly battling top stars while still taking the pinfall when needed.
Whenever Judgment Day folds up tent, McDonagh could find
himself lost in the shuffle, but he’s made the most of his rookie year on the
main roster.