Life on the WWE roster can be an amazing experience, one would have to assume. You get to travel the world, shake hands with important people, and most importantly, entertain the millions of fans. Not to mention, these guys make a pretty comfortable living in the process.
However, like anywhere else, there is going to be periods of lows for everyone. Some Superstars may get the feeling that they are getting lost in the mix, while they’re watching their fellow stars get pushed to the moon. Needless to say, this could be a pretty rough ordeal to endure.
The WWE has a tonne of talent on contract ranging from the top champions all the way down to freshly signed NXT rookies. The company is constantly looking for that next big star, the one who just might be the next breakout WWE Champion. The whole NXT program has been the biggest success story in wrestling developmental history.
The Yellow Brand offers the company an unlimited supply of fresh talent, ready to be moulded into whatever creative idea they may have.
When a Superstar reaches a certain point on the NXT roster, there’s simply nowhere to go except to the main roster. For example, The Wyatt Family dominated the NXT roster, won the NXT tag titles and then moved up to wreck havoc on the main roster; it’s just the way the process is supposed to work.
However, there are those such as Bo Dallas, or maybe The Ascension who run completely through everyone in sight, as well as set title reign records...only to hit a brick wall on the main roster.
Looking at the main roster, it’s pretty easy to say which of the Superstars are in desperate need of some sort of change. They need the change, not only to succeed but to help them mentally, to prevent them from being attacked with inner questions of self-worth.
We have all seen those guys who get so discouraged that they seemingly give up, then before you know it, they are being wished well on their future endeavours. So, what needs to happen? Which of the current Superstars are in need of a serious change, right away?
We have come up with the following Superstars who sincerely need a creative change. We are also going to offer our input on what the first course of action needs to be. These are the five current main roster superstars who need a creative change.
#5 Curtis Axel
Curtis Axel is one of those guys who has all of the tools to be a big star but has yet to put the pieces together. This third-generation Superstar has the blood of perfection running through his veins, so we know he has the genetics.
WWE officials have gone as far as to not only put the Intercontinental Championship on Axel but have also paired him with Paul Heyman for a brief period. This was certainly his best run.
Curtis has the technical ability, and even though he has struggled on the mic at times, he has also proved that he can turn it up when he wants to, as indicated by the Axelmania run. Speaking of which, the Axelmania run was something that fans really got behind.
At the time, Hulk Hogan was going through his controversial ordeal regarding the racially insensitive remarks that were made during a private phone call. Needless to say, WWE officials had no choice but to distance themselves from all things Hogan.
Now that the dust has somewhat settled on the Hogan fiasco, it’s time to let it go and move on. The Axelmania gimmick was the best thing for Curtis and could be the key to getting him over with the fans.
Sportskeeda’s suggestion: Let Axelmania run wild again. Even if only for a short time, it would be the best way to get Curtis Axel back in front of the fans again, as well as getting him some much-needed TV love.
#4 Fandango
Fandango had a great start, once he made his main roster debut. There was a big build towards his debut, followed by weeks of trolling the fans before finally having a match. It was brilliant. His entrance, as well as his overall in-ring presence, was incredibly unique. He had something very promising, unlike anything else we had seen.
It didn’t take long until the whole WWE Universe was doing the Fandango. In fact, his entrance music was one of the top downloads on iTunes for multiple weeks in a row. Things were going great for Fandango. But, as we all now know, the creative powers that be, eventually got bored with the guy, or at least it seems that way.
Now, he is wearing a goofy police shirt, in a lower-tier tag team with Tyler Breeze. Fandango definitely needs career CPR in a hurry!
Sportskeeda’s suggestion: When all else fails, go back to where you started. Fandango was a great gimmicking idea, why not simply revert back to his original persona, give him a dancer, and give him one solid push.
#3 Bo Dallas
Since making his main roster debut, Bo Dallas has yet to mirror the success he enjoyed in NXT. It’s easy to forget that Bo was once one of the most dominate and entertaining stars in NXT’s history. The difference between then and now is completely night and day. Bo has been absolutely buried since he left NXT, which really is a shame.
There was once rumours that Bo would join his real-life brother, Bray Wyatt, and potentially serve as a new henchman for The Wyatt Family. While that could happen, realistically, it’s not very likely. Some may recall that Bo and Bray were once tag team partners in FCW, prior to the NXT revamp. In fact, the duo won the FCW tag team championship together.
Honestly speaking, Bo Dallas doesn't need a partner, nor does he need some sort of manager to serve as a mouthpiece. The guy has all of the tools needed to make an impact if he could simply get the opportunity.
Sportskeeda’s suggestion: He does not need a repackage, and he certainly doesn't need a trip back to NXT. All the guy needs is a chance. That's all. If Bo Dallas could get as much as a mid-card push towards possibly challenging for the Intercontinental Title or the U.S. Championship, I BOlieve we would all see exactly what he can do.
#2 The Ascension
A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to meet these guys at a hotel that we were all staying at. Konnor and Viktor were two of the most polite and humble young men that I’ve ever met. It was obvious that they were excited about the opportunity to perform on the main roster of the biggest wrestling company in the world.
They were two guys who loved the sport, and it showed.
Unfortunately, these guys have been made a complete joke since arriving on the main roster. The company never allowed the fans to make their own opinion on the duo, as they made it for them by humiliating them, week after week.
If you think back to their NXT run, it was really a beautiful thing. In fact, most NXT purists would probably agree that The Ascension is one of the cornerstones of the building process of what made the Yellow Brand such a tremendous success.
Viktor and Konnor remain the most dominating, successful, as well as arguably, the greatest NXT tag team in the brand’s history. The point is highlighted by their record-setting 364-day reign as NXT tag team champions.
Sportskeeda’s suggestion: This one was a hard one for me. I’m usually not a fan of repackaging, but in some cases, it’s necessary. For example, Bray Wyatt was repackaged from Husky Harris...we all know what happened there.
In this case, The Ascension might need a change. If for no other reason, than to just get away from those allegations that they are trying to look like The Road Warriors. If they can get a minor persona change, followed by just one serious push, I think fans will finally get behind this as a legit force.
#1 Tyler Breeze
This guy is someone who made me a believer by his work in the ring. When I first saw him in NXT, I rolled my eyes. I couldn't take someone, who was walking to the ring holding a selfie-stick, seriously. Since then, I have forgotten all about the selfie-stick. In fact, I wish we could trade that ridiculous Super Troopers outfit in for a couple of new selfie sticks.
Tyler Breeze is another one who helped build NXT into what it is today. Aside from the outlandish gimmick, the guy was a stud in the ring. He had all of the traits needed to be a true Superstar and he put his skills on display, each and every time he went to work. With the in-ring skills, combined with a plethora of charisma, Tyler Breeze had the total package.
In the past year, Breeze has been nothing more than a side-show act. He has been held back with this current fashion police nonsense that he and Fandango have been assigned to. Needless to say, they have distanced Tyler Breeze from the star he once was, making it extremely difficult to ever get back to those successful ways.
Sportskeeda’s suggestion: I hate to say this, but send him back to NXT. He’s 29 years old, so he has time to make it back. Just send Tyler back for a few months, have him contend for the NXT title, possibly even win it.
Revert back to his original metro-sexual gimmick, selfie-stick and all, give him a main event push, allowing him to rebuild his confidence and then bring him back. Once he’s back, make sure the nonsense he is enduring now, never happens again.
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