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There is often debate around an NXT call up once they leave the yellow and black brand and join either RAW or SmackDown. A good deal of stars are deemed "more than ready," such as Shayna Baszler, Asuka or Shinsuke Nakamura. There are then those who get called up or drafted before they might be ready for the big stage of a main-roster show.
The reasons could be given as needing to freshen things up or that someone backstage is a fan and wants a particular star promoted. But regardless of the case, not every performer from NXT is ready for the call to the bigger stage.
It may be because they are either new to the sport or because they didn't seem like a prospect that was ready to be called up. The brand splits and drafts have often seen some stars promoted like when Finn Balor, Carmella and Alexa Bliss all were in 2016. While Balor was a master in the ring, some other call ups from NXT have worked hard to improve on the main roster. Here are five examples.
#5 Carmella
When she was drafted to SmackDown during the 2016 brand split, we weren't sure how she'd perform. Her character work was fine as a feisty woman from Staten Island. The ring work, however, lagged behind her character work and she had a ways to go to reach the level of some of her contemporaries - like Becky Lynch or Sasha Banks.
A run with the SmackDown Women's title didn't help, even as she topped both Charlotte Flair and Asuka as Champion. After that, she sort of floated around until she was paired with R-Truth. She shifted to a face character which seemed like a more natural fit for her. As Truth knocked things out of the park with his goofy antics, Carmella worked great as the serious foil to the multi-time 24/7 Champion.
It was between that run and now that the Princess of Staten Island improved in the ring. She's still not a technical maven like Asuka but compared to where she was in 2016, Carmella is vastly improved. The move set is basically the same but she seems more confident and the moves are crisper than before.
We still don't think the Code of Silence is a truly dangerous finisher because her opponents should just stand up or use their hands to escape. But, for someone who started as a cheerleader and learned the sport, the former SmackDown title holder has upped her game.
#4 Heavy Machinery
As a tag team in NXT, there weren't heights much higher for Heavy Machinery to climb. They had a few title shots and were unsuccessful in their bids, but they still had the opportunities. It made natural sense when they were among the group of stars called up at the beginning of 2019.
What didn't make sense was that they got more time to speak than EC3, who was someone known for good mic work. It took a while for some of us to warm up to the lovable goofball Otis and his big friend Tucker. But it's safe to say that as things currently sit, they are much more successful on the main roster than down in NXT.
It took some time but as a big-man performer, Tucker has really been impressive. He has pulled out moonsaults and other athletic moves that seem like feats he should not be able to perform. Tucker also doesn't have the charisma or the best mic skills, but that works out because Otis does (even if they are sometimes grunts and other strange noises).
Where Heavy Machinery really proved that they belonged was during the build to the Elimination Chamber and in the Chamber match for the SmackDown Tag Team titles. WWE usually books one star or stars to go a long time in those matches in order to build up sympathy for when they inevitably lose. It happened to Kofi Kingston last year and it helped propel him to a WWE Championship run. A match against Daniel Bryan and Rowan also proved that Tucky and Otis are more than just big fellows who like to eat. It seems like only a matter of time before Otis is spilling ketchup and other condiments on title belts.
#3 Mandy Rose
Mandy Rose joined the developmental roster as a fitness competitor/model. She had little to no ring experience and like many people who join without a prior background in the sport, she had to learn everything from the basics to finishing moves. The same happened for Carmella and the final entry on this slide show. Just wait for it.
The Golden Goddess stood out on her season of Tough Enough due to her look, but she actually ended up finishing second to Sara Lee. As has often been the case with that reality show, it's often the rest of the cast that usually makes a mark rather than the winners.
Alongside Sonya Deville, Rose debuted with Paige as Absolution. It was likely to help her learn more on the fly as a part of a group rather than as a singles competitor. But as we all know, Paige would have to soon retire, leaving Rose and Deville as a duo instead. It took some time and a lot of repetition in matches butRose has greatly improved from her status as the prospect that started out in NXT.
She may not be on the in-ring level of, say, the Four Horsewomen or the Kabuki Warriors, but Rose offers up a little bit of power and striking to make her moves believable. Her running knee strike looks very effective each time she lands it. Having her resort to some power moves makes sense with being a former fitness model. Rose is still improving each week and could feasibly be a Champion in the next two years.
#2 King Corbin
He's one of the few last real heels in the professional wrestling industry.
You probably hate him but that's because he's doing his job well. While some of the dog food instances with Roman Reigns might have been a little juvenile, it still netted the King great heat. Every person that he interacts with immediately has the backing of the fans. Just look at the reaction that Shorty G received during the King of the Ring Tournament.
It was also during that tournament that Corbin put forth some of his best matches. He was always one of those fringe stars who would always be in the mid-card and occasionally jump into the main event when needed. Working with a talented technician like Shorty G displayed that Corbin had improved his game over the last few years.
A lot of his game early on was rest holds, strikes and transitional moves until he got to his big guns - the Deep Six and the End of Days. Corbin has improved to blend the rest of his moves with his finishing moves. He's also greatly improved his mic/heel work so much to the point that you just want him to go away. That's what heels in wrestling are supposed to do. Shaving his head also improved his overall look.
#1 Alexa Bliss
Like Rose and Carmella, Bliss had an athletic background in gymnastics and cheerleading but little experience in actual wrestling. What Bliss did bring to the table was great mic work. She's easily the best female mic worker on the main roster, especially during her run as a heel.
Bliss was promoted to SmackDown during the brand split of 2016, along with the Princess of Staten Island. She did wrestle a bit in NXT but was mainly the manager of Blake and Murphy. Once she joined the main roster, however, she had to perform in the ring on a more regular basis.
Her matches were not awful, but Bliss was still clearly learning on the fly. Her fantastic heel work did lead her to multiple runs as both the SmackDown Women's Champ (twice) and the RAW Women's Champ (three times). She has also held the Women's Tag titles alongside Nikki Cross. The mic work also led her to be the only female to host her own "talk show" on the main roster.
Being athletic before signing with the WWE helped Bliss out as she was able to perform splashes and flips. Her body was also able to contort in positions that made you think her arm was dislocated. As she's been able to focus on her own work instead of managing a team, Bliss has improved each year on the roster. As she's now a face, she has more layers to add as one of the smaller women in the company. She might have started off as a pixie throwing glitter but the Goddess is currently one of the most accomplished women in the WWE.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
