During his Hall of Fame podcast, NXT commentator Booker T addressed the recent surprising release of Wes Lee and other NXT stars from WWE. He used the news as a stern warning for all talent currently in the developmental system, advising them that their time to make an impression is limited.
Booker T admitted he was stunned by the decision to release Lee. “Wes Lee is a guy that’s highly, highly talented. I would have thought he would have been safe,” he said. However, he rationalized the move from a business perspective. “But then I think also about what this thing is all about, NXT being a developmental system. When you’ve been in the developmental system five years, and you’re not looked upon as being someone that’s going to make it on the main roster, you could be one of the guys that’s going to get cut.”
He then issued direct advice to the current crop of NXT talent, urging them to work with a sense of urgency. “As far as this developmental system, I would implore guys to think that they got perhaps two, two and a half years at that,” he stated. “So you better be motivated to try to figure out what this thing is all about.”
He warned against complacency, stating that the ultimate goal must always be to reach the main roster. “Don’t cruise. Don’t put it in cruise control, because you can find yourself being one of these guys getting released,” Booker T said. “The clock is ticking and they’re watching to see if you are one of the guys perhaps that could make it on the main roster and make it to SummerSlam and WrestleMania.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Hall of Fame with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
