WWE Draft 2023: Grayson Waller headlines Australian main roster call-ups with SmackDown move

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(WWE)

Australian stars Grayson Waller, Indi Hartwell and Xyon Quinn have all realised their dreams after being drafted to the WWE main roster. 

After spending years honing their craft in the company's Orlando-based developmental brand of NXT, the trio will now make the jump to the bright lights of RAW and SmackDown next week.

Waller's rise within the company has been no secret, battling the likes of AJ Styles and Shawn Michaels both in the ring and on the microphone, and was selected by the blue brand as part of the 2023 edition of the WWE Draft.

Hartwell - the current NXT Women's Champion - was selected by the red brand and will begin appearing on Monday nights in the coming weeks and months.

MORE: Why Australia's rise to the top of pro wrestling is no surprise

Quinn on the other hand has been called up as an unassigned free agent, allowing the former NRL player to switch between both RAW and SmackDown. 

Elsewhere in the Draft, fellow Aussies Bronson Reed and Rhea Ripley were both picked by RAW and will continue to assert their dominance moving forward, while Kiwi-born star Dakota Kai has landed on SmackDown. 

Grayson Waller drafted to WWE SmackDown

It was no surprise to see Grayson Waller among the names called up to the WWE main roster this past week, with the 'arrogant Aussie' becoming one of the biggest names in NXT.

The 33-year-old is brash and unapologetically himself, but has all the tools inside the ring to be a major success for the next decade. 

In an interview with The Sporting News earlier this year, Waller claimed he had been ready for the call-up for quite some time and is ready to take on some of the biggest stars in the pro wrestling business.

“I think I have been ready to go for months and it’s a situation where I’m just keeping my nose down and working my arse off," he said.

"If the opportunity presents itself, I’m ready to go. There haven’t been any discussions about that and a lot of times, they won’t tell you these things and they will come up last-minute.

"I’m ready to start doing things on a big level and I think people have seen my interactions with Cody [Rhodes] – there’s a lot of potential on that main roster that I will deal with that when I get there."

Waller will now be on the same show as the likes of Edge, Bobby Lashley, Rey Mysterio and the reigning WWE Undisputed Universal Champion, Roman Reigns. 

Indi Hartwell drafted to WWE RAW

After shining as both a tag team and singles champion during her run in NXT, Indi Hartwell will now make the jump to the main roster as part of Monday Night RAW.

The 26-year-old has become a fan-favourite in the developmental brand, with her dominant look and aggressive in-ring demeanour winning over the audience.

Hartwell began her pro wrestling journey as a teenager in Melbourne, Australia and will now become a focal point of a stacked women's division on RAW, which includes the likes of Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey and fellow Aussie standout Rhea Ripley. 

Former NRL star Xyon Quinn makes jump to WWE main roster

After a difficult and lengthy transition from the rugby league field to the squared circle, Xyon Quinn will finally make the jump to the WWE main roster following the recent Draft.

The 33-year-old - formerly known as Daniel Vidot in his football days - has been called up as an unassigned free agent, allowing him the freedom to jump between both RAW and SmackDown.

With an intimidating look and explosive ring work, Quinn could be an asset for WWE and still has plenty of upside in the wrestling industry. 

He told The Sporting News last year that his imposing aura and athletic background could help him make a name for himself in WWE.

"It's definitely got to be a contributing factor," Quinn said.

“I believe I’m already in the mix (to move to Raw or SmackDown). You have to establish who you are and you’ve got to be liked.

"That’s all this whole place is about – it’s a journey and at the moment, I’m in an exciting time of my journey."

Author(s)
Liam O'Loughlin Photo

Liam is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia.