Mojo Rawley debuted in NXT in 2013 with a character that encouraged fans to not only get hyped, but stay hyped. He was an energetic performer who brought life to the NXT Arena and had fans on their feet from the moment he exploded through the curtain. At least for the first month or two. Then fans began paying attention to his ring work and were not impressed by what they were seeing. The fact was, every Rawley match was limited to him overcoming an early attack, then running over his opponent and hitting the worst butt splash since Doink the Clown's Whoopie Cushion finisher. That he never improved over the course of the year and was surpassed by the much more silently charismatic Baron Corbin, who fans accepted from the moment he dismantled CJ Parker only hurt his cause. An injury ended his year on a sour note but no more sour than when he was jobbing to Tyler Breeze in mere seconds, management apparently catching up to the NXT fans who had grown disenchanted with Rawley's work.
Erik Beaston is a freelance pro wrestling writer who likes long walks in the park, dandelions and has not quite figured out that this introduction is not for Match.com. He resides in Parts Unknown, where he hosts weekly cookouts with Kane, The Ultimate Warrior, Papa Shango and The Boogeyman. Be jealous.
