10 Things You Miss About NXT Wrestlers On WWE's Main Roster

9. Kalisto's Spectacle

lucha dragons
WWE.com

One of many masked wrestlers to be saddled with the accursed "next Rey Mysterio" tag, Kalisto's main roster career is dead in the water. Aside from brief, forgettable feuds with the likes of Baron Corbin, the former Lucha Dragon has done nothing of note over the past 12 months. He was United States Champion for a while in 2016, but was rarely pushed strongly, even with the gold, and it wouldn't be a stretch to call him a main roster bust at this stage.

This sucks, because he was awesome in NXT. As one half of the Lucha Dragons, Kalisto was instrumental in helping drag the brand's tag division away from the tedium of The Ascension's never-ending reign, and towards the level of prominence it currently enjoys today.

NXT let Kalisto be Kalisto. The brand's looser in-ring restrictions allowed him to play to his strengths as a dazzling high-flier, and while his partner often felt lethargic, Kalisto practically guaranteed an incredible athletic spectacle whenever he performed. Now, he barely even shows up on Raw, and he's never allowed to show off his dazzling array of flippy s*** when he does, which screws his chances of ever getting over.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.