'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
What's the story?
Former NXT Champion Aleister Black has had an eventful past few weeks. He's appeared for both NXT and the main roster as well as on Halftime Heat.
Bryan Alvarez talked about the potential for a call-up for Black during a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Live and he mentioned that it is coming soon. [H/T RingsideNews]
In case you missed it...
Aleister Black dropped the NXT Championship to Tommaso Ciampa in controversial fashion. Johnny Gargano interfered and tried to stop Ciampa from cheating, but he ended up kicking Black and costing him the title.
Black failed to regain his title at Takeover: Phoenix but was a surprise entrant the following night in the Royal Rumble match.
He also was on the winning team along with Ricochet and the Velveteen Dream on Halftime Heat during half time of the Super Bowl.
The heart of the matter
Since Aleister Black was featured in front of WWE fans in three important showcases, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if he debuted before WrestleMania.
Alvarez discussed just that fact on the Wrestling Observer Live show, noting that Black would be among the next wrestlers to be called up from NXT.
“I expect Aleister Black as next to be called-up, but it could be after WrestleMania when they call the guy up, I don’t know.”
WWE originally only planned to call up the six Superstars it promoted in vignettes that they were 'on their way to the main roster. Those Superstars included Lacey Evans, Nikki Cross, Heavy Machinery, EC3 and Lars Sullivan.
All but Sullivan have appeared on both Raw and SmackDown. EC3 is the only one who has appeared on Raw or SmackDown but who has yet to be in a match.
Alvarez also brought up that sometimes it takes a while to figure how to debut a superstar or Superstars as evidenced by the extended debuts of AOP and the lack of use for the members of SaNITy.
The report also mentioned that WWE might have just waited for Halftime Heat to be over in order to call Black up to the main roster as there are several former champions in NXT that could be called up and make an immediate impression.
What's next?
Black is one of the most unique Superstars in all of WWE. He is more than ready for a call-up, but with the rosters already filled to capacity, he might struggle to find TV time on Raw or SmackDown.
Black was already treated like a big deal during his NXT tenure, so hopefully, when he is called up, he's more treated more like Seth Rollins and to a lesser extent Finn Balor rather than like SaNITy or No Way Jose.
The first six superstars are likely the only ones to show up between now and WrestleMania but anything is possible if WWE continually needs to up its ratings.
