Every Original WWE NXT Black & Gold Roster Member - Where Are They Now?

2. CJ Parker

CJ Parker NXT
WWEcom

What was he doing at the time?

Jobbing, but gradually finding his feet doing so. CJ Parker was initially just a guy to tag with other guys to lose to pushed guys, but sooner or later his patience and persistence paid off. He was given one-note eco-warrior gimmick, that was so preachy that it never once strayed from annoying into endearing.

As good as he was in the role, it turned out to be what actually forced him out of the WWE system in the end. Parker's persona lacked the depth to connect with an audience that was changing in line with the product itself. It was all too on-the-nose, much like the accidental shot he landed on Kevin Owens as the designated loser for 'KO's debut when the Canadian rocked up in late 2014. They were passing ships, and the differences were all too clear. 

What is he doing now?

CJ Parker’s failure to get over in NXT stood in remarkable contrast to his rapid ascent in NJPW in the second half of the 2010s. Reinvented and reinvigorated as Juice Robinson - an extension of himself that was more personality than persona - cartoonish sanctimony was replaced by a zest that instantly connected with the New Japan faithful. He brought that with him back to America via AEW in 2022. As of 2026, he's still there. 

Contributor
Contributor

Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation for nearly 10 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 65,000,000 total downloads. Within the podcasting space, he also co-hosts Benno & Hamflett, In Your House! and Podcast Horseman: The BoJack Horseman Podcast. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, Fightful, POST Wrestling, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has provided in-person coverage of some of the biggest pay-per-views and Premium Live Events in wrestling history, including WrestleMania, Survivor Series, All In & Double Or Nothing in destinations such as New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live.