Former NXT Champions The WWE Are Failing

The long line of champions over in NXT is pretty impressive to say the least! Consisting of the likes of the Revival, Samoa Joe, Charlotte Flair, and Seth Rollins it’s an impressive little history the black and yellow brand has created in a short space of time. All the previous title holders have left fans believing that they will have a fantastic main roster/WWE career and while that has been the case for many there are a select few who currently find themselves struggling either on RAW or Smackdown LIVE and in today’s blog post we are going to be exploring that. Looking at six former NXT title holders who could be in a better position than they are right now and discussing how the WWE is failing those massively popular superstars with bags of potential asking the question: Why has the WWE given up on these stars?

Bayley

While I will admit that I haven’t always been the biggest Bayley fan I can at least say that there was a time I honestly enjoyed watching her compete. Rivalries against the likes of Charlotte, Asuka, and of course Sasha Banks made for career highlights. She had a fantastic run as champion, squared off against a number of NXT female superstars, and her story with Sasha Banks made for some of the best work we have seen in the WWE possibly of all time. Throughout her run, in NXT it was clear Bayley was one of the strongest, most convincing, and well-perceived babyfaces of this generation having the potential to make a similar impact name including John Cena made in terms of appealing to the younger audiences. With so much potential fans were convinced great things would be awaiting the former champion especially considering her title reign and build to become champion was so standout, however, since joining Monday night RAW things have only gone south. Cringe-worthy segments booed during promos, and anticipated rivalries disappointing Bayley finds herself in a difficult position and while a simple twenty-minute match up against Sasha Banks could change that it won’t be easy portraying Bayley as the star the WWE pushed her has during her NXT run.

The Ascension

Anyone that knows me will know that I have always been a huge fan of the Ascension. I spent a lot of time writing about them here on my blog and I massively enjoyed watching them during their time in NXT. They brought a touch of old school tag team dominance and character with a modern, dark, and intense twist and it was clear the pair had bags of potential and loads to offer up on the main roster; however, from the moment Konnor and Viktor were called up to the main roster the WWE have been failing them massively. Everything they have done from that debut to this point has been so wrong its almost laughable and the duo have reached a point where I doubt there is any real saving them. From unnecessary changes to their character and image to an awful debut feud to a lack of airtime, the WWE has taken one of their most promising tag teams in NXT history and created an unfixable mess.

Bobby Roode

Now, this next name may just be the most frustrating to add to this list today. From the moment news broke regarding Bobby Roode’s signing with the WWE I was super excited. As someone who was always a fan of his work over in TNA, I was excited to see what a WWE career would look like for him and I was positive and confident great things would be waiting for him and they were. His run in NXT was fantastic. His character work was brilliant, he shined brightly as a heel, and worked as a solid champion, however, as of today, things are pretty bad. Still working as a babyface highlights the first problem and a recent pairing with Chad Gable further proves that things may never really improve for Roode. Not only does this tag team make no sense but the two have zero chemistry, fans have a lack of interest, and the two just don’t work. Roode could have gone on to be a huge part of Monday night RAW/ the main roster and it’s a shame the WWE have got it so wrong. Can things turn around? I believe a move back to Smackdown LIVE may be the only way things could improve for the former NXT champion.

The Revival

In all Fairness, there may be signs of things moving forward for The Revival. The duo has worked some pretty impressive matches recently and there are little indications a title run could be on the cards for them at some point within the next year; however, with that being said it must also be noted that the past year has been awful for these two. Once dubbed as one of the best tag teams not only in wrestling today but possibly of all time they worked some of the best tag team matches I have ever seen and looking at those days over in NXT and looking at where they are right now things are so far from how they should be for these two insanely talented superstars. They haven’t been given the attention, the push, or the in-ring time they truly deserve and it’s such a shame the bigger crowds still haven’t witnessed just how amazing these two former champions really are. Not a fraction of what they are capable of has been seen over on RAW.

Chad Gable

I really wanted to include new names in this post today. Discuss superstars I don’t get to talk about all too much here on my blog and Chad Gable is exactly that. His NXT journey was very interesting but memorable and looking at where he currently sits it’s disappointing, to say the least. The tag team work we saw with him and Jason Jordan really did kick-start a tag team evolution over on the black and yellow brand and he has shown great potential from day one whether it be as a singles star or a tag team competitor. Personally, I do really believe there is so much Gable has to offer in both roles and I strongly feel as though the WWE could turn things around for him so easily, however, whether or not that will actually happen is something I continue to debate.

And that concludes today’s blog post. There were other names I wanted to talk about today but as I said, I did want to stick to including different names than I usually would talk about! As always you can have your say and tell me who you would include in this list by leaving a comment below. 

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