WWE Abandoned Original Plans for Chase University

Duke Hudson’s run with Chase University in WWE NXT may have become one of the group’s most entertaining chapters, but it turns out the whole thing was never supposed to last.

Speaking to That Sweet Pop, Hudson revealed that his inclusion in Chase U started out as something he did just for fun—before it organically became part of WWE’s creative direction.

Apparently, Hudson was already a fan of the group and would wear their merch at home and to rehearsals. That enthusiasm may have been the catalyst that got him added to the faction after Bodhi Hayward was written off.

“By that point, I’m at home or I’m going to rehearsals and I’m wearing Chase U shirts. I’m not in Chase, but I’m wearing the Chase U shirt around ’cause I just loved what they were doing. And I don’t know if that’s what gave them the idea, but before I knew it, I was in Chase U and I was like, ‘That’s so funny.’”

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Initially, WWE only planned for Hudson to be a temporary member. The idea was for him to eventually turn on the group in a short-term arc—but that heel turn kept getting delayed until it was shelved completely.

“So, they had Bodhi Hayward and Thea Hail at the time. They kind of wrote Bodhi off and put me in his place, and it was only meant to be a very short run of me in Chase U. I was meant to turn on them. Well, they kept postponing it and it got dropped.”

Hudson’s stay in Chase U ended up lasting much longer than expected, showing how sometimes the right chemistry and crowd reaction can override original plans.

Now released from WWE, Hudson is back on the independent wrestling scene. With his story far from over, it’s only a matter of time before fans see where he pops up next.

What did you think of Duke Hudson’s time in Chase U? Should WWE have stuck with the heel turn or was it better they kept him as part of the team? Let us know in the comments.

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