10 WWE Wrestlers Who Should Have Bypassed NXT
9. Rhea Ripley
There's an important distinction to make here, in that Rhea's time with NXT UK actually wasn't the worst move. Her aggressive and corporate-mould breaking look was something that WWE needed to get used to, and giving her a dominant run with the United Kingdom Women's Championship helped build her prestige. But once she was done in the UK, she should have been done with NXT.
It seems strange that NXT UK doesn't lead stars right to the main roster, as it appears to act as a developmental brand for the developmental brand. This is best seen in stars like Toni Storm, Pete Dunne and, of course, Rhea Ripley, who got themselves ready for a main brand debut, only to transition to another training promotion.
Even though she recently - once again - lost her title to Charlotte Flair, the proof is in the pudding with this one, as Ripley's presence on the main roster has been a treat. She's such a unique star and is one of the most believably tough members of the women's division, so WWE made a mistake by not taking advantage of her as soon as possible.