5 times NXT Superstars have been called up during the WWE Draft

#4 Andrade "Cien" Almas - drafted to SmackDown LIVE (2018 WWE Superstar Shake-Up)

After the 2016 WWE Draft was implemented, WWE opted against running annual draft events.

Instead, the promotion decided to announce the WWE Superstar Shake-Up. The event saw rosters of both Monday Night RAW and SmackDown LIVE "shaken up" as superstars switched between the two brands.

The event took place across an episode of both RAW and SmackDown respectively after WrestleMania.

The WWE Superstar Shake-Up also saw several NXT Superstars make their main roster debuts, too.

One such name was former NXT Champion Andrade "Cien" Almas in 2018.

It was announced that Almas and his manager, Zelina Vega, were headed to the blue brand as part of the 2018 WWE Superstar Shake-Up after WrestleMania 34.

Almas was a stand out star in NXT, holding the NXT Championship for 140 days. During his time on the black and gold brand, Andrade competed in several match of the year candidates against the likes of Johnny Gargano, Drew McIntyre and Aleister Black.

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#3 American Alpha - drafted to SmackDown LIVE (2016 WWE Draft)

In addition to singles superstars, NXT Tag Teams have also been called up to the WWE main roster during past drafts.

One such example is former NXT Tag Team Champions American Alpha, who were called up to the WWE main roster during the 2016 WWE Draft.

The tag team of Jason Jordan and Chad Gable were selected by SmackDown LIVE's Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan in the fifth round as the twenty-second overall pick of the draft, bringing them to the blue brand.

American Alpha experienced major success in NXT. Gable and Jordan are former NXT Tag Team Champions and competed in famous matches against the likes of The Revival, The Authors of Pain and The Vaudevillains.

This success followed them to SmackDown LIVE as they captured the SmackDown Tag Team Championships in December 2016.