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| Bobby Roode has already made a lasting impression in NXT |
This is in no small part down to the talent that they have at their disposal. They often sign some of the best indie talents and free agents around and many are already well-established stars who could make the leap straight to the main rosters.
NXT has proven to be a massive help to most of its superstars no matter their previous experience. Even if they were budding stars before, then NXT has provided the platform for them to grow and become even better and more popular.
We've recently had a fresh batch of new superstars make the jump up to Raw and SmackDown in the shows after WrestleMania 33. Fan-favorite Shinsuke Nakamura finally made his much-anticipated debut on SmackDown, as did Tye Dillinger, while The Revival arrived on Monday Night Raw and have already begun to shake things up by beating The New Day twice (although they were hit with an unfortunate injury to Dash Wilder.)
However, there are several others who deserve a call-up in the near future. In particular, I've identified three talents and who I believe they should feud with, what brand they should go to and when they should be promoted.
Bobby Roode
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| Bobby Roode took the NXT Championship off Shinsuke Nakamura in January |
As is usually the case in NXT, the current NXT Champion should come up to the main roster soon. The current holder of that title is Bobby Roode and although he's only been on the show for just over a year, I think he is more than ready for a move.
He had a long run in TNA and won eleven titles during his time there, becoming one of the biggest names on the roster. He was hugely popular as part of the tag team Beer Money and then impressed even further after turning heel and claiming the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.
Since moving to WWE, he has already made an impact. The fans love him and his character, while his literally "glorious" entrance has only made him even more popular than he already was.
It's been all uphill for Roode since he joined, with the superstar winning most of the big matches he has been placed in. These come against the likes of Tye Dillinger, Kassius Ohno and of course Shinsuke Nakamura, who he beat to claim the title.
He isn't a rookie by any means and has been there and done that on every stage since 1998, including a previous brief run in WWE in the early stages of his career. He's since improved immensely due to the sheer amount of work he has put in and the experience he has gained over the years.
WWE clearly believes this, too, by letting him hold NXT's top title and I'm sure very soon he could be called up to Raw or SmackDown.
Right now if Roode were to go up, I'd probably place him on SmackDown. I originally thought Raw would be good for him but after the recent Superstar Shake-Up, I think that the Tuesday night show could use the addition of another heel character (although Roode himself is widely cheered by the fans, he is supposed to be heel).
Apart from Kevin Owens, Baron Corbin and Dolph Ziggler (not including the heel tag teams and not including Jinder Mahal...we'll see how that works out) there aren't a lot of heel superstars on the show, especially with Rusev out injured and AJ Styles turning face. Therefore, I feel they would benefit more.
It could be good to start Roode in a midcard feud at first and there are a number of options for him in that respect. Tye Dillinger, who himself has just moved up from NXT, could be a good first opponent for him. Sami Zayn could also put in good showings with Roode.
AJ Styles and Shinsuke Nakamura are two other options right now. If he was paired with either of them, you know that they would put on a show and it would be a great feud to have, even if not for a title.
WWE could even decide to turn him face upon a move to the main roster. That would work nicely if Kevin Owens is still the United States champion at the time, as it would mean the two could face off in a first feud.
If I had to choose one, I'd choose Dillinger. It would be a nice opening feud for him if he stays heel and WWE could save the bigger feuds against the likes of Owens, Styles or Nakamura for later on down the line.
As for when he should come up, I feel like we could be waiting a few months before we see him on the main roster. He's still the champion and I can see him holding onto the belt until the end of the year/early 2018 until dropping it and making the move up.
#DIY
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| DIY have become fan favourites in NXT due to their promos and in-ring work |
#DIY are also worthy of a promotion soon. The tag team has been incredible in NXT, putting on some amazing matches against The Revival and becoming top stars in the meantime. Both Johnny Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are incredible in-ring workers and—like rivals The Revival—always seem to put on extremely entertaining matches when given the chance on NXT pay-per-views.
They've both been on NXT since 2015 and after their performances over the course of the last two years, I think they are more than overdue a call-up. Both men impressed on the indie scene before WWE and have only soared in popularity since making the move to WWE. It's time for the company to cash in on their ever increasing popularity and tremendous work ethic and move them up soon.
As for when they move up, they'll need to be booked a lot better than most of the other teams that have made the move to either Raw or SmackDown so far. For example, The Ascension did well on NXT only to flop when being moved up.
#DIY need to be treated a whole lot better. Both men are exceptional wrestlers and deserve to be booked well as they're held in such high regard in NXT.
They would definitely be a welcome addition on SmackDown. Of course, the temptation is to put them on Monday Night Raw because The Revival are also on the show.
However, after the stellar matches they have put on during their time in NXT, it could be good to give them some time away from each other and then have them return to the same show in the future and continue their feud on a bigger stage.
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| DIY have had a lot of success in NXT |
So who could test the tag team when they first move up then? I think it would be a good first feud for them if they took on a smaller team, like Primo and Epico or The Ascension at first and then throw them into some matches against The Usos—even if they do have the titles.
Even though they would be new to the show, their performances in NXT and on the indies has clearly shown that they have what it takes to be a top tag team in a company and on a brand. They're always entertaining, individually they're both great wrestlers and together they are even better and a feud with The Usos wouldn't just benefit #DIY, but could benefit the two brothers as well.
It would also be good to see them face off against American Alpha, as both teams are so good that they would be bound to put on a great match. The only issue is that both teams are face and both look like staying that way too. They could still face off, but any rivalry would have to be in the mold of the current Hardy Boyz vs. Sheamus and Cesaro storyline (although I can see the latter two turning heel soon enough).
As for when they should make their main roster debut, I believe that they are ready anytime now. The team's match against The Revival and The Authors of Pain at NXT TakeOver: Orlando seemed like a fitting end match for both The Revival and #DIY but the latter team has stayed off the main roster for the time being.
I can see them making a move up to either Raw or SmackDown before SummerSlam, just in time to have a match on the show.
Asuka
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| Nobody has been able to stop Asuka since her debut in 2015 |
Finally, there's Asuka. She's been on NXT since 2015 and has continued to break records and impress many.
Asuka is now not only the longest reigning NXT Women's Champion of all time (and it's even her first reign with the title too!) but she has been unbeaten since her debut almost two years ago.
She has gone a phenomenal 166 matches without losing, beating Goldberg's record in WWE. It's incredible to think that something like that has been done in this era and the creative team clearly see something in her and like her to enable her to go so long without defeat.
Female superstars have come and gone against her without being able to break that streak and claim that title off her. Ember Moon was the latest to try and fail against Asuka and when someone does finally end this streak, it will be a momentous occasion.
If she does get the call-up, then I think it should be to SmackDown. Raw have the likes of Bayley, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Emma and Nia Jax to hold up the women's division on Monday Night Raw for the time being.
Losing Bliss is a blow, but Charlotte has been her immediate replacement on the blue brand. However, I still feel the addition of Asuka would make things even better for them and they could genuinely fear Asuka after her undefeated streak. She would definitely be a top contender for the title.
A good starting feud for her would be against Becky Lynch. She's one of the top faces on SmackDown and could definitely put on a good match against her, while a win for Asuka over the Lass Kicker would definitely prove that Asuka was a genuine threat,
There's only one problem: I, for one, am not sure WWE will ever move her up to the main roster. She can't speak much English, which could be a problem in terms of promo work and some reports have even claimed that the company signed her purely to use on NXT to establish it as a bigger brand.
If that is the case, then, unfortunately, we may never see her grace Raw or SmackDown. But there's no denying that after her fantastic run in NXT and the fear that her undefeated streak would bring with her, she would be a genuine threat to every other woman on the roster and a genuine title contender if brought up.
All three then should, in my opinion, get the call-up to SmackDown. Do you agree, or do you think that any of these three talents would be better heading to Monday Night Raw? Do you think somebody else on NXT is more worthy of a call-up? Let us know in the comments below!
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