10 WWE NXT Main Roster Call Ups That Must Happen In 2017

9. Bobby Roode

Samoa Joe
WWE.com

Bobby Roode was born to play a starring role on mainstream wrestling television. His time as one of TNA’s biggest stars means he’s more than accustomed to working a sports entertainment style for live cameras, and he’s already got the gimmick, look, and skillset to succeed at the highest level. Roode probably has an NXT Championship run in his near future, but it’d be a crime not to promote him in 2017.

For now, Roode will have to be content with inheriting Samoa Joe’s spot as NXT’s top heel. It’s a great position for him to be in, and he exudes more star power than anyone on the roster not named “Shinsuke Nakamura.” He’ll likely be at the heart of everything that happens in NXT’s main event scene for the first part of the year, but he was ready for Raw or SmackDown from the moment he walked through the door.

Roode would bring familiarity not only from his TNA run, but the Glorious viral hype. It’s hard to think of a wrestler who has benefitted as much from a theme song than Bobby Roode, and he keeps upping the ante with increasingly ridiculous entrances at each new Takeover event. It’s the ultimate addition to his textbook heel gimmick, and it should eventually help make his eventual main roster transition a lot smoother.

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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.