10 Wrestlers Who Failed In NXT (But Were Successful Elsewhere)

8. Catrina

Cj Parker Juice Robinson
El Rey Network

As Maxine, Karlee Perez was a standout part of the early days of NXT. Whether as an in-ring talent, a manager, or even as a commentator, Perez felt like a star in the making who fit so much of what WWE looks for in its female superstars. Unfortunately, those NXT days didn’t end well as Karlee quit WWE in 2012 due to being frustrated at how she was being used.

Fast forward to two years later, and viewers were treated to Karlee Perez turning up in Lucha Underground as the nefarious Catrina. The unique and magical corner of the wrestling business known as Lucha Underground positioned Catrina as a big-time player who was the manipulative and evil manager of LU’s dominant heel, Mil Muertes.

With the future of Lucha Underground still uncertain as the TV show looks increasingly unlikely to be given another season, one of the biggest shames is that Catrina isn’t on TV right now. Either way, Karlee Perez has taken her stardom to a whole other level since departing NXT seven years ago.

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Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.