Former WWE NXT star Duke Hudson has revealed that WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels stepped in several times to prevent his release during his six-year run with the company.
Hudson first signed with WWE in February 2019 and initially competed under his real name, Brendan Vink. His first major opportunity came in 2020 when then-RAW Executive Director Paul Heyman saw potential in him. Vink was paired with Shane Thorne and briefly appeared on RAW.
The push didn’t last long, and he returned to NXT.
The most successful chapter of Hudson’s WWE career came when he joined Chase University in late 2022. His chemistry with Andre Chase and Thea Hail earned him credit and applause from fans. One of the biggest moments came at NXT Halloween Havoc 2023, when Hudson and Andre Chase defeated Tony D’Angelo and Channing Lorenzo to win the NXT Tag Team Championship.
Even after Chase U eventually broke apart, Hudson remained a part of the NXT roster until his final match at a live event in November 2024.
Duke Hudson opens up about Shawn Michaels’ backstage support
Speaking on a recent episode of the Between Two Jobs podcast, Hudson looked back on his career and discussed the support he received from Michaels, who is currently the Vice President of Talent Development Creative in WWE and oversees NXT. According to Hudson, there were multiple occasions when WWE considered letting him go, but Michaels continued to fight to keep him on the roster.
During the interview, Hudson admitted he often felt like he was under constant evaluation throughout his WWE career.
“I feel like they were testing me a lot because they weren’t sure about me, which Shawn has said as well,” Hudson said.
Former Chase U teammate Andre Chase then recalled a memorable moment between Michaels and Hudson after one of his matches.
“I remember Shawn specifically telling you after match, ‘Duke, you can do no wrong. Do you remember this? I remember it vividly,” Chase said.
Hudson remembered the conversation a little differently and shared what Michaels actually told him.
“I remember it differently. I remember him going like, ‘They’ve tried to fire you many times, and I keep holding you in there.’ I remember that part,” Hudson said.
However, even with Shawn Michaels’ backing, Hudson was released in January 2025. The final call reportedly came from WWE management under Triple H.
Read More: Former WWE Talent Reveals What Led to Her Sudden Exit
