8 WWE NXT Call-Ups That WILL Happen After WrestleMania 34
New season, new roster...
As the closest thing WWE have to a season finale, WrestleMania guarantees big changes.
The Show Of Shows isn't just the year's biggest spectacle, but a fresh start for the entire promotion, with the fallout often as exciting as the event itself. It's the one spot on the calendar that promises a shake-up in a company plagued by chronic creative stagnation. Thus, the Raw after 'Mania always pops a rating, and the enthusiasm typically carries through until the annual summer slump kicks in.
Reshuffling the roster is one of WWE's go-to excitement generators, and NXT call-ups are guaranteed. Last April saw Shinsuke Nakamura, The Revival, and a handful of others arrive on Raw and SmackDown, but there could be even more this year, as the Performance Center is currently stuffed to the gills with wrestlers who could conceivably move up.
Each of the names within will make their way to the main roster before long. Some could definitely benefit from a longer stint in developmental, of course, but with NXT now more crowded than ever, hot-shotting is inevitable.
Here's hoping for more Alexa Blisses than Tye Dillingers in 2018's batch of post-'Mania call-ups...
8. Lio Rush
Best known for making an almighty Twitter fool of himself following Emma's WWE release last year, Lio Rush has barely featured on NXT since signing. If he shows up, it's usually to take a quick beating, and after making only a single televised appearance since last September, pushing him doesn't appear to be on Triple H's immediate list of priorities.
Despite this, there was speculation a couple of months ago that 'The Game' was quietly grooming the 23-year-old for a spot on 205 Live. Rush was initially linked with a role in the Cruiserweight Title tournament, which didn't come to pass, but if Triple H is a fan, there's little standing in the way of a potential call-up.
Whether or not Rush is ready is another matter entirely. He's a great athlete, but the Emma incident shows worrying immaturity, and his indie-centric, spot-heavy style may not resonate with sports entertainment audiences. Still, he's only four years into his wrestling career, and full of potential. Expect big things from the wee man someday, even if it doesn't come within the next 3-6 months.