10 WWE Superstars Who Failed To Rejuvenate Their Careers In NXT
8. Jinder Mahal
Similar to Drew McIntyre, Jinder Mahal was among the main roster members to become regulars on NXT upon its redevelopment in 2012 in order to work with the younger talent, and interestingly enough, it was the best run he ever had in WWE.
On the main roster, Mahal was never given the chance to blossom into the star he was destined to be, often being overlooked and relegated to working "WWE Superstars" instead. Taking his talents to NXT in June 2012, he immediately became one of the brand's biggest heels. With a few squash wins under his belt, he entered the chase to crown the first ever NXT champion.
The tournament came down to Mahal and newcomer Seth Rollins, and in the end, it was the future Shield member that emerged victorious and walked away with the gold. He spent some time in NXT after that, but was never perceived as the same sort of threat as he was before.
His NXT tenure allowed him to hone his skills as a singles competitor, but once he returned to the main roster, nothing changed. As part of 3MB, he was cast as an enhancement talent before his inevitable release last summer.