Predicting The WWE Main Roster Success Of Every Post-WrestleMania 34 Call-Up

4. No Way Jose

Iconic Duo
WWE.com

Pros: Your writer witnessed the naff but not inconsiderable power of No Way Jose's appeal firsthand yesterday. A WhatCulture office staffer who does not follow NXT closely was very taken with the man's dancing, copying it in a similar manner to that of a small, enraptured child. That appeal is calibrated to pop a crowd in the opening match house show slot, so his prospects for employment are bright. As for actual success...

Cons: Is a one-dimensional comedy act who wrestled just once on the ultra-competitive TakeOver stage, in a merely good match opposite Austin Aries. Though his act isn't about the wrestling and is better suited to the broad main roster, we know from Adam Rose's recent precedent that an NXT in-joke without the set-up fails to muster laughs. Moreover, Adam Rose made the transition to the main roster just as he was getting over. No Way Jose outstayed his welcome on NXT well over a year ago, which should underscore the extent to which the schtick gets boring. WWE's forced fun bullsh*t might get cloying before even the act itself, rendering his chances of long-term success even lower than they may first appear.

Prediction: The magnification of the act, week after week, Michael Cole feigned enthusiasm and all, will grow tiresome at a quicker rate than Jose has improved. This is a stick or twist call-up, and since WWE isn't great at promoting performers they were high on to begin with, write your own 'No Way' gag.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!