10 WWE Wrestlers Who Should Have Bypassed NXT
1. Drew McIntyre
After Drew McIntyre was released from WWE in 2014 following an awful period as part of the 3 Man Band, it felt like his original moniker of The Chosen One was deader than Hulk Hogan's in-ring career.
Of course, fans all knew he'd kill it on the indies, and after reinventing himself, it seemed like his return wasn't a question but a certainty. Which is what made his NXT debut such a surprise.
It's safe to say that he tore through the brand like a bull in a china shop, as he captured the NXT title and ascended to the main roster in just over a year, which made people question why he ever went there in the first place. The decision was his own by all accounts, as he wanted to work with guys he knew and get in front of the hardcore Full Sail crowd, but it's surprising that WWE let it happen.
McIntyre had become what WWE wanted him to be, and you can see that clearly from the eventual - and highly successful - main event push they gave him. When looking back, it's hard to remember that he even spent time in NXT because it was never right for him.