11 NXT Call-Ups Who Are No Longer With WWE
6. Austin Aries
Austin Aries was touted as "one of NXT's greatest signings to date" by NXT general manager William Regal when he was brought into the promotion at the onset of 2016. Although his arrival was overshadowed by fellow newcomer Shinsuke Nakamura at the time, he was still a stellar signing for the brand given his long list of accomplishments.
His run in NXT was short-lived due an eye injury he suffered at the hands (er, feet) of Nakamura that fall. However, the setback ended up being a blessing in disguise for the self-proclaimed greatest man that ever lived, as it allowed him to take on a commentary role upon 205 Live's launch (which in turn got WWE fans more familiar with his work and wit).
Following a successful WWE Cruiserweight Championship defense from Neville in March 2017, Aries stepped up to challenge him to a match at WrestleMania. As wonderfully as they worked together throughout the spring, Aries never captured the title at any point during their feud. He lost to the King of the Cruiserweights in his final match for WWE at Extreme Rules before being released one month later.
Some speculated he quit the company while Aries himself said he was fired because Creative had nothing for him, but regardless of the reason, it was a shame to see him go when there was so much more he could have done under the WWE banner.