2014 has been a great year for the young stars down in NXT. As one of the main shows on
the WWE Network, the roster of developmental stars have earned rave reviews
from past wrestlers and fans, competing in fantastic matches and compelling
rivalries. This Thursday, these efforts will culminate in their final live
special of the year, Takeover III: R Evolution.
In the main
event, Adrian Neville will defend his NXT Championship against Sami Zayn in a
battle about the will to be a champion and Zayn’s desperation to show he can
hold the gold. Hideo Itami and Finn Balor team up to take on former tag team
champions The Ascension. Charlotte defends her Women’s Championship against
former BFF partner Sasha Banks, and the tag team titles are on the line as The
Vaudevillains challenge holders the Lucha Dragons.
On paper,
this is looking to be their biggest show ever, and with the debut of Kevin
Owens also in the offing, it should once again demonstrate that NXT is one of
the best wrestling shows on today. But, the goal for these superstars is to one
day graduate onto the main roster, competing every week on RAW and SmackDown
against established stars.
2014 also
had a large number of stars moving from NXT to WWE. However, few of these
enjoyed a sustained amount of success. Rusev and Paige have proven the
exceptions. The Bulgarian has dominated all opposition, winning the United
States title, whilst Paige became the youngest Divas Champion in history on her
debut. But names like Xavier Woods, Emma, Adam Rose and Bo Dallas have
experienced mixed fortunes, often being lost in the shuffle.
With the
hazards of the main roster firmly demonstrated by the career trajectories of
these stars, it seems appropriate to consider which NXT stars will likely
progress onto the main roster in 2015. Here, I have selected 10 of the biggest
prospects that have shown they are more than ready to make the transition to
major shows. Who will thrive, who will survive, and who will take a nosedive?
Adrian Neville
The current
NXT Champion is one of the most capable and exciting superstars down in NXT.
His Red Arrow finishing maneuver seems to defy the laws of physics, and has
propelled him into perhaps the greatest high-flier in professional wrestling
today. Every superstar that has previously held that title have moved onto the
main roster in short order, from the amazing success of Seth Rollins, to the
mixed achievements of Big E and Bo Dallas.
So, there
is no doubt Neville will make the main roster, but will he be able to reach the
heights he has climbed to in NXT? His height could be an issue, but he has
shown a capability to have strong matches with any opponent in spite of their
size. Neville also still requires work on the microphone if he is to be a major
titleholder in WWE, but he can allow his ring skills do the talking at the
start. In the new generation of WWE, Neville will at least be a future
Intercontinental Champion.
Sami Zayn
Sami Zayn
has a quality that many superstars will struggle with constantly throughout
their careers, and that is an ability to immediately connect with the audience.
He is a sympathetic and hard-working babyface, an ultimate underdog. He will
constantly be knocked down, but will get back up asking for more, and that has
endeared him to the crowd at NXT ever since he debuted.
Zayn has
been ready to jump to the main roster for a while now, his matches with Cesaro
in particular have been heralded as some of the best matches of the past two
years. As a darling of the independent scene, he has paid his dues, and has the
potential of the likes of CM Punk, Daniel Bryan and Seth Rollins to turn that
into success in WWE. Could he one day be World Champion? I think among the NXT
roster currently he is one of the most likely simply for being a perpetual
underdog and its potential as an awesome feel-good moment.
Hideo Itami
The
Japanese star has reportedly been struggling to find the perfect balance
between the WWE style and the strong style he has performed most of his career.
But, when that finally clicks into place, he should become a prevalent star in
both NXT and then WWE. Arguably, he is the least likely in this list to make it
onto the main roster in 2015 due to time this transition may take, and he be
held back in NXT to make sure it is not over-saturated with graduates.
Obviously,
there are other factors that may keep him in Florida for a little longer, such
as the language barrier and ensuring he develops a firm character for the main
shows. Even when he does finally make it onto the main roster, his nationality
and size might hold him back from the top championships. Yet, his talent would
eventually make him a solid mid-card talent, with a few Intercontinental or US
titles to his name.
Finn Balor
According
to certain reports, Finn Balor might have had as part of his contract with WWE
a clause that means his time in NXT will be brief. This might be a mistake, as
although in the ring he has all the right tools to succeed on the major shows,
but WWE is as much about character and charisma than anything else. If he were
to spend less time in NXT, Balor may compromise those elements when he does
step up to the big time.
But, there
is not denying his in-ring ability. His range of kicks, high-flying offense and
technical skill is matched by only a handful in the world of professional
wrestling. Balor is intense and hungry to succeed, and has the look of a future
champion. Eventually he will establish a firm connection to the WWE audience
and through that he will likely become a main event star – he is that good.
Kevin Owens
Although he
doesn’t debut until this Thursday, Kevin Owens screams WWE World Heavyweight
Champion more than any other member of this list. Having been a firm follower
of his since his final few years of Ring of Honor, he just has it. The
intensity, the aggression, the gimmick, the move-set. And even though some
might disagree with this, Owens has the look as well. In the promos leading up
to the event, he has looked like an intimidating force for anyone on the
roster.
Owens is
one of a new age of big men in professional wrestling that have a remarkable
mix of power and athleticism. He can fly through the air and beat opponents on
the mat, and his years of experience means that he could move onto the main
roster in record time. The only question is how the PG world of WWE will affect
what moves he employs. However, he has worked long enough and studied hard
enough to adapt his style quickly, and he will be a standout star on NXT,
guaranteed.
Tyler Breeze
Prince
Pretty could get onto the main roster with his look and persona alone. Breeze
is the epitome of characteristics a smarmy heel needs – strong on the
microphone, a unique gimmick, a bratty attitude and a feeling of superiority
over everyone else. He would be perfect placed alongside someone like the Miz
or Tyson Kidd when he debuts on the main roster, before standing out on his own
as a mid-card star.
The only
question surrounds his ring-work. Although he has displayed a great deal of
technique and aggression in the ring, as well as a devotion to the presentation
of his gimmick, most of his matches have been pretty short. If pacing is an
issue, he might need more time in NXT to help his stamina. But, if that has
just been due to his manipulation and the speed of his Beauty Shot finisher, then
it should not hold him back from becoming a secondary champion in the future.
The Ascension
According
to spoilers for the upcoming episode of SmackDown, the former NXT Tag Team
Champions will soon be making the step up to the main roster. In a division
that is deceptively thin, they would be a breath of fresh air due to their
mixture of power and hostility towards all opponents. Their work as a team has
helped hide any flaws in their ring work, and their push in NXT means they have
a great deal of support from the WWE creative team.
If there is
a problem for Konnor and Viktor, it is they can’t approach WWE exactly the same
as they did NXT. Whilst the Ascension should remain dominantly powerful, they
can’t simply decimate every team that is thrown in front of them. Their power and
chemistry is their strength, and should exploit that against the other teams,
but still need to remain somewhat vulnerable to keep the tag team division
fresh and entertaining.
Kalisto
The
luchadore might be short in stature, but he could make a huge impact on the
main roster. The Mexican Kalisto has excited the NXT audience with his
unbelievable offense, speed and athleticism. With Rey Mysterio a reluctant
member of the roster and in the twilight of his career, and the original Sin
Cara a failed project, there is a gap in WWE for a quick masked star that can
utilize moves that most cannot even dream about.
Obviously,
Kalisto’s diminutive size means that he would be unlikely to break the glass
ceiling to world championship level. But, his partnership with Sin Cara has
shown promise, meaning he would be welcome in the tag team division and in the lower
mid-card. And, he is just as important for opponents as well, as their ability
to throw him about with ease would make for some incredible-looking spots in
matches.
Charlotte
Charlotte
has wrestling in her genes, and is not shy about shouting about that fact. The
daughter of the legendary Ric Flair, the Nature Girl has demonstrated a
remarkable growth in skills and technique since debuting in late 2012. She is
also extremely charismatic, and has an understanding of storytelling and
performance that few other divas on the roster have developed. And, being
brutally honest, she can run rings around all most all of them in between the
ropes.
Her family
background, size, flexibility and charisma means there is very little downside
in bumping her up to the main roster anytime soon. Seemingly Charlotte’s only
chance of failure on the main roster is if creative drops the ball on her. She
tops a class of women in NXT that have shown a great deal of character and
wrestling ability, and as the current champion she has the personal record to
cement herself as a huge deal in WWE.
Sasha Banks
She calls herself the boss, and in the ring there are few
that can usurp her. Banks is a submission specialist who exhibits a great deal
of flair as a heel. She is charismatic, catty, vindictive and relentless, all
of which point towards a woman who is quickly approaching the complete package.
She will likely become NXT Women’s Champion at the upcoming live special, a
position that she has richly deserved.
Banks has character, and whilst she would be entering a
division that is full of heels at the moment, she stands out for her wrestling
ability in backing up that bratty attitude. She has already led two stables
during her time in NXT, demonstrating their ability as a mouthpiece and leader,
and could certainly find herself affiliated with someone like Summer Rae,
Alicia Fox or Cameron when she is promoted to the main roster. She and
Charlotte could turn the Divas division on its head.
