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Week of March 9, 2015
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There is a LOT of talent in NXT right now. Arguably, there is almost as much talent on the NXT roster as there is on the main roster. The whole point of NXT isn’t just to confirm performers into “WWE robots”, but it’s to help them learn the art of storytelling; help them learn things that they thought they knew but didn’t really know. It’s about adapting their style to a slower form of wrestling that will still entertain crowds and help their bodies last a lot longer.
Some performers adapt (i.e. Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose), while other performers don’t (i.e. Chris Hero). There are a lot of guys on the NXT roster that probably deserve to be called up based on their experience alone. But really…who should be called up to the main roster based on what they’re doing now?
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1. Sami Zayn – I think this one is probably the easiest to pick simply because I believe he’s the next coming of Daniel Bryan. The guy is unbelievable in the ring. He’s also personable and has a likable character that people gravitate towards. You want another believable underdog like Bryan who has the potential to beat any given WWE superstar on any given day? Zayn is your man. With a ton of experience and the ability to work different styles against different opponents, he’s absolutely ready for the main roster.
2. Kevin Owens – This one might be controversial only because he’s been in NXT a lot shorter of a time period than most of the guys on this list. Here’s the thing, though: he GETS it. He knows his character…he knows his gimmick…he knows how to promo…he knows how to perform…he has charisma both inside and outside of the ring. The guy has everything but the “perfect physique”, and it’s obvious that he’s lost weight since signing with WWE last year, so he’s proving that he can take this seriously enough to warrant a physical transformation. My take on Owens is that he could debut on RAW next week and main event WrestleMania in two to three years: THAT is how good this guy is.
3. Sasha Banks – Out of all of the very talented NXT divas, Banks is the one that truly is the complete package right now. Personality, beauty, charisma, gimmick, and in-ring ability…you can’t ask for anything else in a diva. And here’s the thing: her gimmick isn’t one that would take weeks and weeks to explain to the main roster like Emma. She wouldn’t have to build-up a following without any support like Paige. She’s similar to Alicia Fox, but more complete as an overall performer. If anybody gets a call to the main Diva roster next, it should be Banks.
3. Charlotte – I know…another former NXT champion. Here’s the thing with Charlotte: she’s ALMOST there. I think you could bring her to the main roster tomorrow and she’d do well, but she doesn’t have enough experience to know how to carry matches on live television or PPV’s. She’s close, though. She’s still learning her craft and developing her personality. There’s a TON of potential there and, giving her another two or three years…she could be the dominant female in the entire industry. I would just hate to see her rushed to the main roster based upon her current (impressive) skillset and her family name. She’s really close…just wait until it’s the right time. A little more gimmick and promo work and she’ll be a future WWE Hall of Famer…just like her dad.
4. Baron Corbin – This guy is massive. He’s a legit 6’8” and a very solid 275lbs. He’s pretty much the exact kind of performer that Vince McMahon loves to push to the moon before they’re ready. And as much as they want to push him as an unstoppable monster on NXT, he’s missing a LOT as a performer. I mean, the guy’s only been wrestling for three years…so it’s quite obvious that he’s still green (you can see it in his matches…that’s why they’re so short). His promo ability can only be described as “brutal”. His physique, while impressive, is still a little…odd. I mean, seriously…his belly button looks like it wants to eat his opponent. His hair is thinning on the top and, unless I’m wrong, wrestling aesthetics are extremely important if you want to be shown to an international audience. I just don’t see “it” with this guy at all. I don’t understand the appeal. He’s FAR from being ready for any kind of call-up at this point. He’s a former NFL lineman and even a Golden Gloves champion…so it’s not like he isn’t a solid athlete. He just needs to put everything together…and he hasn’t quite yet.
5. Enzo Amore & Colin Cassady – Here are two guys that seem to click and gel very well as a team. They’ve got catch-phrases that the NXT crowd loves and they’ve got tons of personality and charisma. Their in-ring is pretty decent, too…at least it would be enough to get by on the main roster until they improved. So what’s the problem? They’re already becoming stale. Not only that, but they’re already bored with their own gimmick. Seriously…watch the last three or four NXT programs where Amore did his shtick on the mic. Did it not seem rushed to you? Did it not seem like he was simply “going through the motions”? I mean…if you want these catchphrases to take off, you need to be unique and original and come up with something else while still keeping elements of the original in there. Delivery doesn’t have to be the same every single time, either. But if they want to really get over with fans in WWE, they’re going to have to pick up the pace a little bit and stop sleep-walking through the biggest thing that’s putting them over: their promos.
Disagree with me? Think I’m way off? Did I miss anybody? Let me know your thoughts!
4. Finn Balor – Similar to Zayn, Balor is the complete package inside of the ring. He’s not huge, but he’s talented enough to make you believe that he can defeat any WWE superstar on any given day. When you add his face paint and unique ring entrance…then you’ve got an absolute marketing/merchandise juggernaut waiting to happen. Sports entertainment isn’t always about wrestling…it’s a business. Balor is a man that can combine both and that is a lethal combination. His promo skills aren’t terrible, either…so he could certainly work his way into the upper-midcard within a 12-month timeframe.
5. Tyler Breeze – The pride of the Lance Storm Wrestling Academy, Breeze has been wrestling for over seven years now and is at the perfect age of 27. He’s extremely capable inside of the ring and he’s got a gimmick and personality to spare. I doubt he’ll ever be WWE World Heavyweight Champion at 6’0” and 207lbs, but I could totally see him as IC champion or tag team champion at some point. “Prince Pretty” has been in the thick of things for a few years now, being a former Florida champion and being in the mix for the NXT title. His size is an issue, but his mean streak and heel persona would more than make up for that. Give him his shot…he has earned it. And really, there is nobody else like him in WWE. He’s got a totally original gimmick that will garner a reaction every single time he walks through the curtain.
Now while there is a ton of talent in NXT, being able to perform inside the ring sometimes isn’t enough to carry you through to the main roster.
A perfect example is Tyson Kidd. He was basically a nobody until he found his mean streak in NXT. Now he’s got personality and charisma and a tag team title wrapped around his waist. A couple of years ago, that was unfathomable. So here are five NXT stars that a lot of people may want to see on the main roster, but realistically just aren’t ready yet…
1. Adrian Neville – I know, I know…this is a former NXT champion and can wrestle circles around 90% of the WWE main roster. But here’s the unfortunate truth: Sports Entertainment isn’t all about wrestling. Gone are the days when somebody like Ron Garvin could get by on just punching people and pandering to the crowds. Gone are the days when Tito Santana could simply say “Arriba!” and head off to the ring. You need to be a more well-rounded entertainer if you’re going to succeed in WWE. Unfortunately, Neville is a brilliant wizard inside the ring but a boring dullard outside of it. His promos are terrible and he doesn’t seem to have any personality when he’s trying to talk. That will hurt him in the long-run. Could he be called up tomorrow? Sure…but he’s just not ready yet.
2. Hideo Itami – Another controversial choice, I realize…but the former KENTA has been pretty stagnant since debuting on NXT a few months ago. Is it his unfamiliarity with the “WWE style”? Is it a language barrier? Is it simply a lack of star-power? No…I don’t think it’s any of those things. I think it’s (a) a massive size barrier and (b) a massive lack of any type of personality, either inside the ring or outside of it. Here’s the thing…I was a huge KENTA fan and have been for years now. I firmly believe that he is one of the most talented in-ring performers in the entire world. But in order for him to truly get over with fans, he needs two things: a heel turn and a gimmick. Right now, Daniel Bryan is proving that size doesn’t always matter. However, it took years before people would truly take him seriously against his much larger opponents.
Itami doesn’t have that kind of time at his age. But give him a heel gimmick and let him cheat his way to victory…and now you’ve got talent along with a realistic way for him to beat these huge opponents. The other thing he needs is a gimmick…somebody talking for him or something based upon his heritage. Personally, I’d like to see him become the new-age Kendo Nagasaki or the next Great Muta…but I don’t know if WWE management see him in that type of role. Until then, he’ll just meander to the ring with his little yellow gi on. THAT will be tough to get over on the main roster.