5 Current WWE Superstars who changed character when promoted from NXT 

NXT Superstars have been feeding WWE's main roster for almost a decade and in that time there have been many stars promoted following stints in developmental.

Some of the company's biggest Superstars and main Champions at present all made their first impact as part of NXT, but several managed to do this under a different name or as a different character.

Whilst the company is aware that the WWE Universe watches NXT, RAW, and SmackDown, much of the past decade has seen WWE act as though NXT doesn't exist outside of the main roster. This is why many characters are changed upon promotion.

The following list looks at just five times WWE Superstars were promoted from NXT with a different character compared to the one that they were seen as in developmental.

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#5. Current WWE RAW Superstar Mia Yim/Reckoning

Mia Yim has been part of the wrestling business for more than a decade and before coming to WWE, Yim made a name for herself in IMPACT Wrestling. After being seen as one of the stand-out stars in the Mae Young Classic, Yim was signed to WWE back in 2018 and sent to NXT.

Whilst in NXT, Yim was seen as a popular character and portrayed a face, as she unsuccessfully challenged Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship back in 2019.

Despite becoming a known star within the company and appearing on the main roster in the build-up to Survivor Series, Yim was promoted in 2020 as a new character. As part of RETRIBUTION, Yim became known as Reckoning and was then switched to being a heel superstar.

Over the past few months, the former NXT Superstar has continued to be the only female wrestler in the group and has only wrestled a handful of matches, as WWE's creative team appears to be struggling with ideas for Yim.

There was even a point when Yim faked a seizure in the middle of a WWE ring on RAW and the official was so confused that he referred to her as Mia Yim. This isn't much of a surprise since the WWE Universe knows that it's still Yim underneath her face mask.

Yim isn't the only RETRIBUTION star who changed her name and character when she was promoted from NXT. T-Bar, Slapjack and Mace were known as Dominik Dijakovic, Shane Thorne and Dio Madden whilst part of developmental.

#4. WWE Superstar & current Intercontinental Champion Big E

Big E has been on WWE's main roster now for more than nine years but has finally been pushed in the right direction on SmackDown. The Superstar's WWE career began when he debuted in NXT back in August 2012, just months before his main roster debut, where he attacked John Cena and aligned himself with AJ Lee and Dolph Ziggler.

Even though Big E was seen as a face on NXT and the man who went on to defeat Seth Rollins for the NXT Championship in January 2013, when he moved up to the main roster, Big E established himself as a heel and became seen as Dolph Ziggler's bodyguard.

It took several years for Big E to establish himself on the main roster, but the following year, he was aligned with fellow Superstars Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods when The New Day was born. Over the past six years, The New Day has dominated the Tag Team Division and Big E has been able to switch back to being a face.

#3. WWE Superstar & former SmackDown Women's Champion Carmella

Carmella's time in NXT was dominated by the Superstar working as a manager for WWE duo Enzo Amore and Big Cass. After the pair were promoted to the main roster without her, Carmella was able to make an impact in the Women's Division where she remained a face.

It was only when "The Princess of Staten Island" was promoted to the main roster as part of the WWE Draft back in 2016 that she turned heel for the first time. Carmella wrestled several matches on the main roster before she attacked Nikki Bella and stepped into a feud with the WWE Hall of Famer.

The two women later collided at TLC in a no-disqualification match, before stepping into a storyline with James Ellsworth. This is where she was able to cheat her way to become the first-ever Women's Money in the Bank winner. The Superstar then also had the help of The IIconics when it came to cashing in her contract and becoming SmackDown Women's Champion for the first time.

#2. Current WWE SmackDown Superstar Liv Morgan

Like many female wrestlers who have been promoted to WWE's main roster in recent years, Liv Morgan's character was changed when she made the switch from NXT.

Morgan was a popular Superstar in developmental and would often be likened to Carmella during the handful of matches she was able to have in NXT, before being called up. When Morgan was promoted to SmackDown back in 2019 alongside Sarah Logan and Ruby Riott, her character was changed.

Several days after Absolution, which included Superstars Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville, and Paige, had made their debut on WWE Monday Night RAW, The Riott Squad debuted on SmackDown. They attacked several women in the backstage area where they established themselves as heels.

Morgan had been seen as a face throughout her career up until this point. But the change allowed her to push her career forward, even though the Riott Squad were not given the opportunities they deserved as a trio.

At present, Morgan and Riott are still together as a duo and are faces on the SmackDown brand.

#1. WWE Superstar & former WWE Champion Seth Rollins

One of the biggest Superstars that NXT has ever created is former WWE Champion Seth Rollins. Rollins was pushed as the next big thing in NXT and was even able to become the inaugural NXT Champion.

Rollins was a face throughout his NXT career and became Champion in August 2012. Interestingly, just months later, Rollins changed his attire and persona when he made his debut on the main roster as a member of The Shield.

It was explained that Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose had come together and decided they wanted to hand out justice to several Superstars on the main roster.

This meant that when Rollins made his return to NXT to defend his Championship a few months later, he returned as a heel, which was somewhat confusing. Rollins and The Shield remained together on WWE programming until 2014, when they were seen as faces. But The Architect turned heel for the second time in his career, turning his back on his brothers and aligning himself with The Authority.