Indi Hartwell Wasn't Expecting WWE Main Roster Call-Up Despite Working Dark Matches

Indi Hartwell says she never expected to get a call-up to the WWE main roster in the recent draft despite working dark matches on Monday Night Raw.

Hartwell was utilised for dark matches ahead of WWE's flagship show on Mondays over the summer, facing Shayna Baszler, but was not selected for a move to either Raw or SmackDown during the draft earlier this month.

Hartwell has made her home on NXT, challenging for the NXT Women's Tag Team Titles at Halloween Havoc, and says she never really considered a call up might happen as her inclusion in the dark matches was a last-minute adjustment.

Speaking to Fightful, Hartwell said: "I didn't really think I was getting called up because the dark match kinda of came out of nowhere. I got told the night before I had to fly out. I think it was because someone got injured and I was basically filling in for them.

"One dark match turned into two dark matches, which I felt like was a good sign and I got really good feedback, had an amazing experience there, and I left both of those matches feeling really good. Hopefully, when the time comes for me to get called up, I'm well-prepared for it."

Speaking further on her experience working WWE dark matches, Hartwell continued: "That was a little different, in a different environment. I basically got texted by coach Sara Amato the day before saying, 'You're wrestling Shayna tomorrow on Raw. I was like, 'Ah, okay.'

"This is when Raw was filming at the Performance Center, empty arena, no one in the crowd. Great experience working with Shayna and producers on the main roster. Good learning experience. Obviously, being in the empty arena environment is very different to what we're used to. It was a cool experience and good memory."