NXT’s Ava, Trick Williams, Elektra Lopez make WWE SmackDown debuts

Three NXT stars, including Ava, the daughter of WWE legend Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, made their SmackDown debuts on Friday’s episode. 

Ava, Trick Williams, and Elektra Lopez all made surprise debuts on SmackDown in a variety of segments on the Royal Rumble go-home show. 

After being named the storyline general manager of NXT on this past Tuesday’s episode, Ava was featured in multiple backstage segments with SmackDown GM Nick Aldis in her debut as various stars drew their order of entry for Saturday’s Royal Rumble match. 

Williams made his debut in saving Carmelo Hayes from a post-match attack at the hands of Austin Theory & Grayson Waller after Theory defeated Hayes on SmackDown. Hayes & Williams are partners in NXT’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic and will wrestle in a semifinal match in that tournament against the LWO’s Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro on the next episode of NXT. Williams is also set to challenge Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship at Vengeance Day on Sunday, February 4.

Lopez rejoined the latest iteration of Santos Escobar’s Legado Del Fantasma on SmackDown after a brawl broke out between Legado and the LWO after an Escobar vs. Carlito singles match. Lopez was previously aligned with LEgado in NXT when the group was comprised of Escobar, Wilde, & Del Toro. Wilde & Del Toro have since left the group and joined the LWO.