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NXT has produced many of the WWE superstars we see on our television screens today. The black-and-gold brand, run by WWE Executive Triple H, has acted as a launchpad for many WWE careers.
Although call-ups from the NXT brand prove successful, some don't have the same impact. Take stars such as Adam Rose and No Way Jose, who could not make their mark on the main roster.
That being said, let's take a look at five NXT call-ups who were able to do so.
#5 Kevin Owens was called-up from NXT in 2015
Kevin Owens made a lasting impression on his Monday Night RAW debut on May 18th, 2015. The then-NXT Champion answered John Cena's United States Championship open challenge (albeit only attacking Cena and not having the match) and set up a war between the two. Owens became a huge talking point during their feud and put NXT on the pro-wrestling map. It was an extremely bold move to introduce new talent by having them instantly set their sights on WWE's top superstar.
Kevin Owens spoke with The Whig following his debut on the main roster:
"It felt great. It was a surreal moment. Really surreal. (It was) something I've waited for so long.", Kevin Owens said.
To the shock of many, KO defeated John Cena in their first match at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in a non-title match. From there, Cena picked up wins at the Money in the Bank and Battleground pay-per-views, respectively, ending their feud.
KO was set up perfectly on the main roster. It instantly showed the world what he was all about. His confidence and ability shone through, and the WWE Universe took to him, whether as a good or bad guy.
As it stands, Kevin Owens is a 1-time Universal Champion, a 2-time Intercontinental Champion, and a 3-time United States Champion. Owens was also involved in a high profile feud with current Universal Champion, Roman Reigns, during the back end of 2020.
There is no denying Owens has been one of the best call-ups from NXT. They've allowed him to continue to be himself, which has permitted him to flourish on the main roster. We will likely see KO be a world champion once again in WWE in the near future.
#4 Finn Balor was called up from NXT in 2016
Finn Balor was already a recognized superstar before landing in NXT. Balor became a megastar in Japan, with New Japan Pro-Wrestling leading their Bullet Club faction. He immediately had success in NXT by capturing the NXT Championship early in his tenure.
Balor was drafted to Monday Night RAW on July 19th, 2016, and was instantly put into the main event picture. He won a succession of matches to fight for the inaugural Universal Championship at SummerSlam 2016. He ended up winning the match against Seth Rollins, becoming the first-ever Universal Champion effectively solidifying his place on the main roster.
Balor was forced to relinquish the championship the next night following an injury he sustained in the match. He eventually returned and went on to win the Intercontinental Championship twice. He also made a return to NXT for another run with the NXT Championship.
#3 Bray Wyatt was called up from NXT in 2013
Bray Wyatt and The Wyatt Family were called up from NXT in the summer of 2013. Wyatt, of course, had already dipped into the main roster under the guise of Husky Harris with the Nexus faction. But, under this new cult leader gimmick born on NXT, the WWE Universe were intrigued.
The impact was immediate on Monday Night RAW, where the Wyatt Family attacked Kane. That resulted in Wyatt's debut main roster match being a Ring of Fire match at that year's SummerSlam pay-per-view. Kane headed into the match as the favorite, but thanks to interference from Harper and Rowan, Wyatt was able to secure the win.
Bray's career was met with several engaging storylines and gimmicks. He also won the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber 2017. Eventually, after a brief stint in the tag-team division with Matt Hardy, Wyatt reincarnated into The Fiend, who would terrorize the WWE roster. He would go on to win the Universal Championship twice. He was released from his WWE contract in July 2021.
#2 Charlotte Flair was called up from NXT in 2015
Charlotte Flair ruled the NXT women's division between 2014 and 2015. She held the NXT Women's Championship for 258 days before being called up to the main roster. On her arrival, it was clear she was destined for the top.
Her first main roster appearance came on the July 13th, 2015, episode of RAW, when Stephanie McMahon introduced her. She was accompanied by Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks beginning the Women's Revolution in WWE. Charlotte and Becky aligned with Paige, with Sasha joining forces with Tamina and Naomi, sparking a three-team feud. The feud also involved The Bella Twins and Alicia Fox.
From there, 'The Queen' came into her own and eventually became a 12-time champion in WWE. She became a 1-time Divas Champion, 6-time RAW Women's Champion, and 5-time SmackDown Women's Champion. An extraordinary run of just a mere six years on the main roster. She also made history by competing in the first-ever women's main event at WrestleMania in 2019, competing against Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey.
#1 The Shield were called up from NXT in 2012
Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, and Dean Ambrose were performing as singles performers in the early days of NXT. Rollins was the NXT Champion when The Shield first made their appearance on the WWE roster.
The trio made their first appearance, causing chaos at the Survivor Series pay-per-view in 2012. They made their presence felt during the WWE Championship match and assisted CM Punk in retaining the championship. The team confirmed they were here to rally against injustice and were nicknamed the 'Hounds of Justice.'
The group would remain together until 2014 when Seth Rollins decided to turn on his brothers and join forces with The Authority. Seth's turn would send him into the main event scene and become WWE World Heavyweight Champion for the first time. Eventually, Ambrose would become WWE Champion, and Roman Reigns would become a multiple-time world champion. He is currently reigning as the Universal Champion on Friday Night SmackDown as the 'Head of the Table.'
The Shield changed the game, creating three megastars who have had extraordinary careers in the world of professional wrestling. They most certainly rank are at the to when it comes to call-ups from NXT.
