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Ever since NXT became a weekly two hour broadcast on the USA Network, the black and gold show has been positioned as WWE's "third brand" following Raw and SmackDown.
However, some fans still view as NXT as WWE's developmental territory and the place in which NXT Superstars are trained and prepared for the trials and tribulations of competing on RAW and SmackDown every single week.
This viewpoint is influenced by the fact that numerous NXT Superstars are still "called up" to WWE's main roster. This can be seen with Matt Riddle's recent move from NXT to Friday Night SmackDown.
Traditionally, WWE tends to save NXT Superstars being called up to RAW and SmackDown until after major events have occurred. The WWE Universe usually sees NXT Superstars debuting on Monday Night RAW and SmackDown post major pay per view events such as the Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam and Survivor Series.
Each event represents the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another when it comes to WWE's storylines. Therefore, this becomes the perfect time and opportunity to add new characters and Superstars to Raw and SmackDown.
With WWE's biggest event of the summer, SummerSlam, on the horizon, many fans are already speculating what NXT Superstars we could see called up to RAW and SmackDown after the event.
Let's take a closer look at 5 potential post-SummerSlam NXT call ups.
#5. Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley has been a stand out star even since debuting on the NXT UK brand in 2018. The inaugural NXT UK Women's Champion transitioned to the NXT brand in the United States in August of 2019 and has been on a tear ever since.
The Australian Superstar soon found success stateside on the black and gold brand, capturing the NXT Women's Championship in December 2019, defeating Shayna Baszler. With this title victory, Rhea Ripley became the only woman in WWE/NXT history to have won both the NXT and NXT UK Women's Championship.
Sitting on top of the NXT mountain, Rhea Ripley confronted 2020 Women's Royal Rumble winner Charlotte Flair on Monday Night RAW in February to suggest that The Queen challenge for the NXT Women's Championship at WrestleMania.
Charlotte Flair would eventually accept this proposal for a WrestleMania match between her and Ripley. This led to Rhea Ripley becoming a semi-permanent fixture on Monday Night RAW heading into WrestleMania. The aforementioned WrestleMania NXT Women's Championship match would mark the first time that an NXT Championship had been defended on the grandest stage of them all.
However, Charlotte Flair would defeat Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania 36, becoming a two-time NXT Women's Champion.
What's left for Ripley in NXT?
Many fans assumed Rhea Ripley would be soon bound for the main roster after her regular appearances on Monday Night RAW in the build up to WrestleMania. Unfortunately, Ripley was forced to take a hiatus from WWE after WrestleMania due to visa issues and the impact and confusion associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, after month away Rhea Ripley returned to NXT and once again confronted Charlotte Flair in pursuit of the Women's Championship, participating in the Women's Championship triple threat main event at NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
In recent weeks Rhea Ripley has been feuding with the likes of Robert Stone and Aliyah, as well as Dakota Kai. However, it feels like the former Women's Champion has done all that she can do on the black and gold brand.
Given that the WWE roster has recently seen the departures of Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Kairi Sane for various reasons, now is the perfect time for The Nightmare to be called up to WWE's main roster.
#4 Dominik Dijakovic
Dominik Dijakovic isn't your average professional wrestling "big man". The series of matches that Dijakovic has had against Keith Lee inside and outside of NXT are the stuff of legend.
At 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds, physics would suggest that some of the things that Dominik Dijakovic is able to do in the ring is impossible. Yet somehow, he manages to do them with complete ease.
Since joining NXT in 2018, Dijakovic has caught the eye of many members of the WWE Universe due to his freaky athleticism and series of matches against The Limitless one. Initially a heel, Dijakovic has slowly transitioned into a babyface, culminating in his show stealing match against Keith Lee at NXT TakeOver: Portland.
One of NXT's greatest rivalries
During this match, Dijakovic and Keith Lee wowed the NXT Universe with a 20-minute classic filled with high spots, near-falls, false finishes and moments that the WWE Cruiserweight division would be proud of. Despite Keith Lee winning the match to retain the NXT North American Championship, both men shook hands and embraced, solidifying Dominik Dijakovic as a babyface.
Since then Dijakovic faced Keith Lee one more time on NXT for both the NXT Championship and the North American Championship before being attacked by Karrion Kross.
Upon having a match with Karrion Kross, Dominik Dijakovic was brutally injured when Kross smashed Dijakovic's skull between the ring and steel steps at ringside.
There have been rumors floating around on social media about Dominik Dijakovic being called up to either RAW or SmackDown for the last few months. Perhaps this assault and injury by Karrion Kross is the perfect opportunity to write Dominik Dijakovic out of NXT storylines before heading to the WWE main roster.
#3 Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir
As the old adage goes, there's strength in numbers. This was evident during Shayna Baszler's time in NXT as NXT Women's Champion.
Baszler absolutely ruled the NXT Women's Division
As NXT Women's Champion, Shayna Baszler dominated the Women's Division, defeating every competitor that got in her way, becoming a two-time Champion in the process. A key component of the Queen of Spades' success in NXT was the back up of fellow Four Horsewomen members Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir.
The Four Horsewomen of MMA consist of Ronda Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir. All four women competed in various Mixed Martial Arts promotions while developing a bond over being huge professional wrestling fans. Subsequently, all four women have gone on to become professional wrestlers signed by WWE.
Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir debuted at the WWE Evolution pay-per-view in 2018, assisting Baszler in becoming a two-time NXT Women's Champion as she defeated Kairi Sane. Going forward, Duke and Shafir would accompany Baszler to ringside for her matches and regularly get involved, assisting Baszler in her numerous title defenses.
However, once Shayna Baszler moved from NXT to Monday Night RAW in February, the duo of Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir have been seen sparingly on NXT television, if at all.
Shayna Baszler came up short in the Women's Royal Rumble match, as well as against Becky Lynch for the RAW Women's Championship at WrestleMania 36 this year. Perhaps The Queen of Spades needs to call on her fellow Four Horsewomen stablemates to assist her on Monday nights?
#2 Tommaso Ciampa
Tommaso Ciampa has been a cornerstone of NXT since debuting on the black and gold brand in 2015.
Initially a member of former NXT World Tag Team Champions #DIY, The Blackheart has gone on to forge a singles career with NXT that culminated with an NXT Championship reign in 2018. At that time, not only was Tommaso Ciampa the biggest heel in NXT, but arguably the biggest heel in professional wrestling.
However, that title reign was cut short in 2019 when it was revealed that Tommaso Ciampa would be forced to undergo neck surgery, shelving the champ for at least six months and requiring him to vacate the NXT Championship. After speculation if Tommaso Ciampa would ever be able to return to the ring again, The Blackheart would return to NXT in October of 2019, confronting then-NXT Champion Adam Cole.
Since then, Tommaso Ciampa has gone on to feud with the likes of Cole, Johnny Gargano and Karrion Kross amongst others on the NXT roster. Tommaso Ciampa hasn't even been seen on NXT television since his defeat at Kross' hands at NXT TakeOver: In Your House in June.
So, after five years with NXT, isn't it time for Tommaso Ciampa to move to RAW or SmackDown? Well, it's complicated.
Due to his prior neck injury and subsequent surgery, Tommaso Ciampa has stated that he'll "retire" if he's forced to move to RAW or SmackDown in WWE. Not only is the NXT schedule much lighter on Ciampa's body, but The Blackheart has been incredibly loyal to the brand which set him up to be a singles star in professional wrestling.
However, due to the current coronavirus pandemic, WWE is no longer holding live events for the foreseeable future and taping nearly all the RAW, SmackDown and pay-per-view events from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. This essentially eradicates any previous concerns that Tommaso Ciampa may have had about being on the road 200-plus days a year and the various bumps, wear and tear that it could have on his body.
Due to the lack of travel and lack of live events currently in place, now could be the very best time for WWE to finally call up Tommaso Ciampa to RAW or SmackDown.
#1 The Undisputed Era
The Undisputed Era are the most dominant faction in WWE NXT history. Since making their debut in 2017, nobody has been able to come close to the success of Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish as a unit.
At one point in time, The Undisputed Era held all the gold in NXT. Adam Cole was the NXT Champion, Roderick Strong was the NXT North American Champion and Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish were the NXT Tag Team Champions. By capturing every championship that NXT has to offer, not only did The Undisputed Era cement their legacy as the greatest faction in NXT history, but they also fulfilled the "Undisputed Prophecy" of holding all the gold in the process.
However, all four members of The Undisputed Era have since gone on to lose their respective championships. Now that each member of the faction is without gold, what is there left for The Undisputed Era to do or accomplish in NXT?
Undisputed ERA and NXT are synonymous
Adam Cole was the longest-reigning NXT Champion of all time and the inaugural NXT North American Champion. The group also competed in, and won, the first War Games match in close to 20 years and have also won the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic trophy too.
The Undisputed Era have not only been NXT's heartbeat for the last two years but they have arguably been one of the reasons that the brand's popularity grew so high that it was able to move to the USA Networks in a two-hour format.
But, every faction has its time in professional wrestling. As much as some fans may want to see The Undisputed Era remain in NXT, the idea of the group moving to RAW or SmackDown and running roughshod over the WWE is a mouthwatering prospect.
Many have tipped Adam Cole to become a future WWE World Champion, Roderick Strong is one of the most solid and reliable workers signed to a WWE contract and Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish would be a welcome addition to tag team divisions on RAW or Smackdown that are in desperate need of new blood.
The time feels right for The Undisputed Era to depart NXT with their legacy as the greatest faction in the brand's history. So, perhaps we could see Adam Cole and co. appear on RAW or SmackDown once SummerSlam is in the rear view mirror.
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