For the last week or two, rumours have been flying around the wrestling world that NXT might be ending soon. These rumours were sparked by name of the June 8 special event, Takeover: The End and websites like Ticketmaster removing NXT Takeover Brooklyn from its lineup.
Add to this the possibility that the WWE’s upcoming brand split will require quite a few promotions to the main roster which are likely to leave the NXT a little light.
However, even with all this being said, the idea of NXT folding seems absurd.
But since it’s fun to speculate, let’s look at 5 wrestlers who will suffer the most if NXT does fold right after Takeover: The End.
#1 No Way Jose
No Way Jose debuted on NXT television after Wrestlemania 32 and has been really over with the fans at Full Sail University. However, other than his dancing and his catchy theme, No Way Jose doesn’t have much going for him that will help him stand out on the main roster.
Doesn’t he remind you of someone? A certain Fandango, who was over for one hot minute on the main roster before starting to job to every mid carder out there.
No Way Jose might be alright in the ring, but he isn’t anything special. There are so many wrestlers on the main roster better than him right now that an end to NXT might be a death knell to No Way Jose’s fledgling WWE career.
An airplane spin as a signature move in 2016, seriously?
However one thing No Way has – that can’t be taught – is bucket loads of charisma.
#2 Nia Jax
Nia Jax has potential to be something special in the main roster women’s division. However, she’s nowhere near ready as of yet.
What Nia Jax has to offer is unique to the women’s division. She has size, power and strength – the second coming of Kharma if you will.
Her wrestling ability as of now though is fairly limited. She’s a product of WWE’s developmental system and she needs more time there to develop and hone her skills. A promotion to the main roster now would be premature and she wouldn’t have the same sort of impact in a division populated by some of the best women wrestlers in the world.
Jax has the physical tools to be a monster heel in the main roster women’s division, but she needs more time in NXT to help her attain that potential
#3 Austin Aries
“The Greatest Man That Ever Lived” has finally arrived in NXT after years of honing his craft at TNA, Ring of Honor and all over the independent scene. And as of now, he has yet to be defeated in NXT and is heading for a marquee match with Shinsuke Nakamura at Takeover: The End.
It’s fair to say that he’s been elevated to the top of the NXT card really fast and by all accounts, is headed towards a very successful career in the developmental brand.
On the other hand, if NXT folds now, Aries will be elevated to the main roster without having proved himself to the head honchos of the WWE. All they’ll see is a former TNA star who’s a decent wrestler on their developmental brand.
But Austin Aries is so much more than that. He’s not just a decent wrestler; he’s technically excellent and capable of having stellar matches with just about anyone.
Unlike someone with the international recognition of AJ Styles, Aries needs time in NXT to learn the WWE style and find his footing in the company. With the upcoming brand split, Aries could be a significant player in WWE in future.
After a successful NXT career, of course.
#2 The Revival
Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are the best heel tag team in all of WWE right now. Their ‘no flips, just fists’ style is a throwback to the golden days of tag team wrestling and has been compared to legendary tag teams like The Road Warriors.
They have consistently been in some of the best matches in WWE and have some legendary fans of their work including Stone Cold and Triple H. Also, their finishing move, The Shatter Machine, is awesome.
Why are they on this list you ask? I have three words for you. Vincent Kennedy McMahon.
As documented, Vince isn’t the biggest fan of technical wrestling and he’s an even lesser fan of smaller sized wrestlers. It’s unlikely that Vince will have faith in the technical brawling style and the chances of them getting lost in the shuffle of the main roster are very real.
In NXT however, they’re at home. They’re the top tag team heels on the roster and can continue their stellar work until a more conducive opening materialises in the main roster.
#1 Hideo Itami
When the wrestler formerly known as KENTA signed for WWE in 2014, it was a huge deal especially back in his native Japan. At the time, WWE had even sent down Hulk Hogan for the contract signing.
Since then though, he’s failed to make an impact in a NXT roster filled with international stars. A large part of this is definitely down to the shoulder injury that has kept him out of action since May last year.
Another thing that counts against Itami is that unlike Shinsuke Nakamura, his English is not even passable. And also unlike Nakamura, he doesn’t have a lot of charisma. On the main roster, these factors could really hurt him since the show isn’t about technical wrestling and is catered more to the mainstream audience.
If NXT folded right now, Itami would be a fish in the ocean on the main roster and I’m actually scared that Vince McMahon might give him some Japanese stereotype gimmick.
Itami needs time in NXT to get a foothold and work more in the WWE style to get him ready for an eventual jump to the main roster, When he’s finally really, Itami might have the potential to even be a main eventer.
