Predicting The WWE Main Roster Success Of Every Post-WrestleMania 34 Call-Up
Authors, meet Writers.
Gauging by the success rate of the Called Up Class Of 2017, the hard graft put in at NXT school matters little. And people say pro wrestling isn't realistic.
The Revival were a bulletproof act; a fusion between old school tag team magic and modern in-ring work, they reconciled also the respect and heel divide. The same fans who admired their brilliance were so swept up in the drama of their incredible NXT classics that they rabidly cheered on their babyface opponents in American Alpha and #DIY.
Injuries and RAW creative shot them down.
Tye Dillinger was a great midcard get for SmackDown. Equipped with a winning, organic babyface schtick, a company unable to produce good guys of their own stumbled upon one.
They picked themselves up, and left Tye in the middle of the road.
Surely, WWE could not f*ck up Shinsuke Nakamura's main roster push?
WWE f*cked up Shinsuke's initial main roster push. Reimagined as yet another underdog fighting from underneath, "Shin's" deranged killer aura faded badly over the summer following dull defeats to Jinder Mahal (!). A heel turn may yet reheat the King of Strong Style, but, and this is the story of his WWE career, that is rooted in hope, not expectation.
In contrast, Elias hit a rare note of form throughout his evolution from troubled troubadour to hilarious entertainment machine.
This year's class promises much.
But don't they all?
5. Ember Moon
Pros: Boasts what is arguably the best finish in the entire company which, provided Mandy Rose is capable of taking it, should garner a reaction from and get her over with crowds unfamiliar with her NXT run. Ember worked the best women's matches in the company, opposite Asuka, in 2017; we know that she can deliver big on the biggest stage, even if her character work and presentation on the yellow brand was somewhat confusing. There was little definition to it, unlike Asuka and the Four Horsewomen: she simply entered the championship picture, lost, entered it again, won, and then lost. So she should fit right in on the flagship.
Cons: Less facetiously, Ember accomplished much in her programme with Shayna Baszler, selling superbly and doing so much to get the newly-minted Women's Champion and her vicious submission game over as a major deal. Is this Ember's role?
The shadow of Asuka loomed over Ember in NXT, and Shayna was always going to get the big push as a result of her Four Horsewomen credentials. We therefore have no clue about Ember's own credentials as a division talisman - though a decent run is near enough assured, given the emphasis placed on the Women's division in 2018.
Prediction: Ember, if programmed against Alexa Bliss, a tremendous segment load-bearer, should find a way to connect with the casual crowd. And, since the lower reaches of the RAW roster surely can't be trusted to work with Ronda Rousey - Rose, and this is no exaggeration, seems to botch every time she appears on television - Ember may yet receive a major match later this year.