Summary

Kali Armstrong said she found out about her full-time move to NXT roughly an hour before Stand & Deliver began, when she was told a promotional package would air during the show and that her final EVOLVE appearance would take place that Friday.

The call-up timing added another step to a rapid rise for Armstrong, who arrived on the brand after becoming the first WWE EVOLVE Women's Champion. Earlier this week, Armstrong also spoke about how Wale helped point her toward WWE before her wrestling career gained momentum.

Quote from Kali Armstrong

Speaking while appearing on Cheap Heat, Armstrong described how quickly the decision came together:

"I didn’t know too much before that. That day, maybe an hour before the show aired, I got a call saying that, ‘Hey, we’re gonna air a package saying Kali Armstrong coming soon. This Friday will be your last one on EVOLVE. You’re getting ready to get ready to be on NXT full-time.’ It was like, ‘I know you’ve been on there a few times here and there but, now we’re about to really get ready to lock and load and shoot you off’ and I was like, ‘Wow. This is crazy.’"

What Kali Armstrong's move means for NXT

Kali Armstrong joining NXT full-time gives the brand another new name to spotlight during the Revenge special, and it also continues the recent movement from EVOLVE into the main NXT roster.

That part matters because Armstrong was the first EVOLVE Women's Champion and held the title for 140 days before losing it to Kendal Grey. With Grey also now on the full-time NXT roster and the EVOLVE women's title vacated, Armstrong's promotion looks less like a one-off cameo and more like the next step in that talent pipeline.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.