10 Things You Miss About NXT Wrestlers On WWE's Main Roster
Nothing dilutes a great character like a main roster call-up.
NXT has redefined the concept of what a developmental territory can be. As well as fulfilling the traditional role of supplying WWE's main roster with a constant stream of fresh talent, NXT has become a viable third brand in its own right. The TakeOver events are always among the year's most enjoyable, and the cards often look more like those of a top indie promotion, so broad is NXT's talent pool.
The buzz has declined since NXT's 2015 peak, but it remains one of WWE's crown jewels, particularly among hardcore fans. It has been an effective launchpad for many a budding superstar's career, but prospering at Full Sail University brings no guarantee of main roster success, and countless performers have declined after their call-up.
Raw and SmackDown's writers have a habit of marginalising our developmental favourites. For some, this means a chronic lack of TV time, and for others, the dilution of their characters. Even those who've shone on the main roster have lost noticeable character details lost in the transition, and while many continue to prosper, they've become significantly less interesting as a result.
Some of these men and women are still killing it, but we sure miss their old NXT selves...
10. Bo Dallas' Delusions
Bo Dallas has never been anything more than a background player on the main roster, but this wasn't the case in NXT. Starting life as a vanilla happy-go-lucky babyface, Bo was a solid worker, but struggled to connect with the crowd. WWE pushed him regardless, and although it took Dallas almost two years to become NXT Champion, he was continually presented as one of the top stars.
His character took an interesting turn from there. In Bo's mind, he was the biggest babyface in the world, but the fans had grown to loath his corny persona. They'd literally turn their backs on Dallas whenever he appeared, and NXT turned their rejection into a gimmick, amplifying Bo's delusion to create one of the most unique heel personas they'd built in years.
It all fell apart when the main roster came calling. Dallas' 'Bo-lieve' shtick was based on elements of his old NXT persona, but it didn't work. Creative's gross misunderstanding of what had made his NXT run so great shone through as the gimmick grew increasingly goofy, and Dallas became a comedy jobber. His main roster career was dead on arrival, and while Bo has found a consistent role as part of The Miztourage, he left his best character behind in NXT.