8 NXT Wrestlers Too Good To Fail On WWE's Main Roster
WWE don't always do call-ups well, but this lot are Raw and SmackDown proof.
That WWE will inevitably ruin every NXT favourite when they hit the main roster is an earned slice of pessimism evidenced by the likes of Finn Balor, Asuka, and Bobby Roode, who aren't half as compelling today as they were in developmental.
Many among the current group won't translate well either. The unique star auras of Aleister Black and Velveteen Dream will be strangled by Raw and SmackDown's normalisation. Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano could well be consigned to 205 Live, dooming them to eternal purgatory on a fun but expandable show. Ricochet is an athletic phenom, but a dull promo, and will be exposed for his lack of spoken charisma. The list goes on.
But while fans are right to be worried about anyone's call-up these days, some of NXT's biggest and brightest will hit the main roster with more encouraging prognoses. This isn't a compilation of developmental's best wrestlers, but those best equipped to cope in a bigger spotlight, following the paths set by Charlotte Flair, Kevin Owens, and other successful NXT call-ups.
We won't complain if they stick around in NXT a while longer, but we aren't panicking about their Raw/SmackDown compatibility.
8. Mia Yim
The former Jade finally checked in at the Performance Center last week, officially kickstarting an overdue WWE run that should've begun after last year's Mae Young Classic, during which she stood out by leading two less experienced athletes in Shayna Baszler and Sarah Logan through their clashes.
A long-term injury suffered after the competition held her up, but the former Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion is now on board. She'll debut on the live event circuit this weekend, and her varied skill-set, wealth of experience, and familiarity with the company after working both MYC tournaments should ensure a quick transition to television, where she'll fast become one of the NXT women's division's major players.
Though, it'll be a year or two before we see the 29-year-old hit Raw or SmackDown, Yim has all the tools for main roster success. Her Impact run means she's already comfortable working for TV audiences, and she's a polished, well-rounded wrestler and personality with much more in her locker than the average Performance Center graduate. Expect big things, unless the company decide to saddle her with a go-nowhere gimmick.