8. Two Different Bosses, Two Totally Different Minds
To boil it down to its most simple: Triple H runs NXT, Vince McMahon runs RAW and Smackdown. While both men obviously have significant input and influence in the dealings of both - the hirings, firings, angles and so forth - they are very much separate kingdoms, with separate Kings. An NXT superstar graduating to main roster is like a TV show changing show runners; the new boss's style might be completely at odds with the existing product, things might become simplified or overcomplicated, or changed outright. A lot of it comes down to the tastes of either man, or what they see as the future of the business. Triple H, on Steve Austin's podcast special, has expressed dissatisfactions that he has with WWE current model. When given the opportunity to say what he would change, HHH mentioned reducing RAW to a shorter running time, letting storylines be crafted over a longer timeframe and overhauling the Women's division, all of which are in evidence in the current NXT. Vince McMahon, on the other hand, works with a paradoxically both simplified and overcomplicated mindset. The WWE product has, for the last few years been bogged down with shallow characters, rapidly-shifting then suddenly-terminated storylines, and dumbed-down child-oriented theatrics. This shift in work ethic, and the personal taste of their new paymaster, can completely derail some superstars. Bo Dallas' NXT gimmick was a hit, a completely self-delusional, disingenuously 'nice' creep, who claimed to inspire and motivate the audiences he stood before. When he moved up to the main roster, he started well enough, and began a fluky winning streak that was getting over in a big way, due in no small part to JBL acting like Bo was the second coming of Christ. But then the pushed abruptly ended. The reason? Vince McMahon had soured on him. In recent memory, Vinnie Mac has lost faith in a number of NXT superstars backstage, including Bo, Adam Rose and Paige, which goes some way to explaining the stop-start booking for all three up-and-comers.