The WWE rosters on SmackDown and RAW are as talent-rich and deep as ever. That increased even more with the recent promotions of Trick Williams, Oba Femi, Je’Von Evans, and Lash Legend from NXT. Yet, the amount of worthwhile talent creates a problem. Everyone can’t get TV time, even with the blue brand returning to three hours this year.
However, NXT has become a third brand with relevance to WWE’s massive fan base. It offers some veteran main roster stars the chance for far more TV time on a national network weekly, and the chance to be the focus of a brand of note. With that in mind, here are seven WWE main roster stars who would benefit by switching to NXT.
Grayson Waller
Grayson Waller is a very talented performer. Yet, with this era of the company moving away from using talk show segments to progress storylines, it has taken away a major element of what makes the Aussie so valuable. That is why a return to NXT, so he can get back to hosting the Grayson Waller Effect, or evolving his character beyond needing it, would help him.
Furthermore, he was a notable product from the black and gold brand that never became its champion. Returning to achieve that goal and rebuild his name for a main roster return in a year would be an interesting story.
Cruz Del Toro & Joaquin Wilde
If given the time, the duo of Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde has shown they are talented wrestlers. But they so badly lack charisma outside the ring. It’s part of why they haven’t done much more than be background characters on the main roster. They could be far more valuable in a second run with NXT.
Feuds with Dark State and Hank & Tank would be very entertaining. The switch would also give them the chance to go back to the drawing board to find ways to bring out more from their characters. Maybe they discover they are better off as solo acts than as a team.
JC Mateo
JC Mateo has always felt like an odd fit in the MFT. He is a friend of the family who has none of the entertainment value that Sami Zayn and Paul Heyman brought in a similar role for the Bloodline. At this point, he is serving as a run-of-the-mill henchman when he could be a lot more.
Mateo is a very talented wrestler who can be a menacing force. Wrestling fans saw that during his outstanding run in Lucha Underground. That could be brought back in NXT, where he would be a top heel or babyface. Furthermore, his wealth of experience wrestling around the world would benefit a lot of the brand’s developing talent.
Rey Fenix
There was a whole lot of excitement among diehard fans about Rey Fenix making the move to WWE. They knew how talented he is and his potential to be another Rey Mysterio. His brother Penta’s early success seemed to add to the possibilities. However, his time on the main roster has completely fallen flat.
His brother may be the reason why, because he feels like a less interesting and smaller version. Not getting more TV time and having meaningful wins hasn’t helped either. With WWE more interested in pushing Dragon Lee, Fenix should move to NXT, even if that wasn’t his preferred goal in the company.
He is a former AAA mega champion who still has so much potential. His look and style would stand out much more in NXT, where he could easily win the brand’s top title and main event for months. It would also rebuild his reputation with fans and get them excited about a return to the main roster down the line.
Otis & Tozawa
Who doesn’t love Otis and Tozawa? Every performer in a wrestling company can’t be a bad a**. Levity is absolutely needed in wrestling, and they always deliver it. However, both sort of seem to be in limbo at the moment and haven’t had a story to dig their teeth into in a very long-time.
NXT puts more effort into its tag team division. That is why a move to the black and gold brand could be good for the veteran duo. It would give them the chance to be the focus of a whole division. Add notable names to the roster on Tuesday nights. And showcase that the pair are two really entertaining and skilled wrestlers who haven’t gotten enough TV time on the main roster.
