NXT Roster Analysis in alphabetical order



A



Adrian Neville

Status : Waiting main-roster call-up



One of the most spectacular in-ring performers in recent years. Fantastic athlete with a modern high-flying style. Can work every type of wrestling style and get a good match out of nearly everyone. Excels against bigger opponents who have the ability to look vulnerable while feeding for his spectacular comebacks. His ring work may be better than almost everyone on the main-roster. Not just a spot-monkey. His finishing move, the Red Arrow will get a big reaction out of the deadest of crowds. Lacks a defined character or gimmick but has a very compelling underdog personality. Promo ability is lacking but has clearly improved since his debut. Needs a good storyline for his debut to avoid being forgotten or stuck in the midcard for the entire year. Will be a fixture in ladder matches or multi-man matches for as long as he wrestles but will need to work hard to avoid being labeled as a "jobber to the stars" as his exciting style, lack of size and phenomenal selling makes him a perfect candidate to fill that spot where he's credible enough to put over top stars but not credible enough to actually become one of the top stars.



Best case scenario : First legitimate cruiserweight main-eventer

Worst case scenario : Popular version of Tyson Kidd



Aiden English

Status : Waiting for a main-roster call-up



Has an arrogant and presumptuous artist gimmick. Almost a finished product but still needs six to twelve months of NXT to perfect his gimmick while working longer and more important feuds. Works similar to Damien Sandow as he can switch easily between a serious or more comedic persona, which will likely be detrimental to his success while in the main-roster. Ring-work still needs improvement but is above-average and will improve when he's given the opportunity to work longer matches. Has a good look, good size and great promo ability. Was able to get over with the crowd almost instantly due to his elaborate singing entrance. Real life acting background will work in his favor in the future. Strong in in-ring talking segments. Most likely will never become anything more than an upper-midcarder but he'll be very popular as long as he's being featured on TV weekly.



Best case scenario : Mix of Damien Sandow with Fandango

Worst case scenario : Midcard jobber



Alex Riley

Status : Inactive wrestler; part-time commentator



Commentator for both NXT, Superstars and guest stints on Main-Event. Career as a wrestler is likely finished but shows great promise as an announcer. Frequently makes use of his sports background to draw analogies between real sports and wrestling. Is very enthusiastic and youthful on the microphone. Has decent knowledge of both pro-wrestling history and the technical aspects of in-ring competition but still needs work. Has a tendency to draw knowledge from personal experience which can be annoying at times. Has shown improvements in a short time and seems like a natural at it. Does a great job balancing the storytelling and athletic parts of the match during the broadcast. Has great upside.



Best case scenario : Future permanent announcer on Raw

Worst case scenario : Josh Matthews



Alexa Bliss

Status : Awaiting NXT television debut



Still very young and inexperienced. Ring work and promo ability are still to be determined. Has a good youthful and spunky look. Appears to have some sort of natural charisma if Mickie James' opinion is to be believed. Has made her in-ring debut in NXT live events and has also worked as Scott Dawson's valet. Still practically an unknown.



Best case scenario : TBD

Worst case scenario : TBD



Alexander Rusev

Status : Waiting for main-roster call-up



Plays the foreign brute very well. Has great size and strength. Good ring work for a wrestler of his size and style but is still green and unproven in long matches. Great presence and natural charisma. Current gimmick makes any sort of mic ability useless. Works a powerful heavyweight style, with some wacky touches. The lack of originality of his gimmick could hurt him in the future but that's unlikely to happen in the current era, where his size alone will make him stand out. Couldn't have a more generic finisher. Is ready to debut on Raw tomorrow if he's given a storyline that plays to his strengths and makes him look like a monster. Still, he's not big or impressive enough to play a monster role for the rest of his career, so he'll need to learn to adapt and evolve.



Best case scenario : Reliable, bulgarian version of Umaga

Worst case scenario : More competent Vladimir Kozlov



Angelo Dawkins

Status : Awaiting NXT television debut



Worked a few live events as Sasha Banks' partner. Has good size and an athletic background as he had a solid career in amateur wrestling. Was not a wrestling fan before getting signed. Had trouble adapting to pro-wrestling in the beginning of his career but apparently has now succesfully turned the corner and has shown signs of improvement. Aside from this not much else is known currently.



Best case scenario : TBD

Worst case scenario : Not making it to the main-roster



B



Baron Corbin

Status : Work in progress



Sometimes used as a jobber on TV, something usually reserved for people whom NXT doesn't have high hopes for or are a long way from being ready. His good size, physical build and former NFL experience would indicate the latter. Will probably be used in some sort of "dark" gimmick due to his current look. Still very green in the ring and hasn't been given a chance to showcase any sort of promo ability yet. Mostly a work in progress at this point but has some potential and appears to be well liked among his peers and coaching staff.



Best case scenario : TBD

Worst case scenario : TBD



Bailey

Status : Waiting for main-roster call-up



One of the most popular current NXT divas. Began slowly, losing one-sided matches against more established talent but over time was given more opportunities to shine and eventually won over the NXT crowd with her upbeat and bubbly personality. Gimmick is very adequate for the current product, with the potential to be equally as effective with children, who can relate to her youthfulness and see her as the ultimate underdog, as with adults. Has somewhat of a bland look but the gimmick does a great job hiding her flaws. Ring work may be the best out of all the NXT divas. Has shown tremendous talent in backstage segments and in training promos. Main roster success will depend on WWE's will to treat the divas division seriously. Nevertheless, has all the tools to be a great contributor to whatever becomes of the divas division.



Best case scenario : Younger Mickie James

Worst case scenario : 2011 Gail Kim



Bo Dallas

Status : Waiting for main-roster call-up



The most hated man in the history of WWE developmental. Continuous, forced and unexplainable pushes turned the crowd against him and his young fiery babyface “gimmick”. Almost everything about him is a matter of dispute and contradictory opinions. Has good size but his body and overall look is not remarkable, though some will disagree. Was the very definition of generic before his heel turn but an outstanding job by creative turned most of his flaws into positives and is now one of the most original characters in WWE, playing a heel, exagerated version of himself as a babyface. One of the few men on the current roster capable of drawing legitimate heel heat, though some would dismiss it as “X-Pac heat”. Ring work is very solid, if unspectacular. Extremely competent at the WWE style. Sounds very unconfortable on the microphone and almost always has an awkward delivery but promo content is usually excelent. Will be afforded multiple chances to succeed. Will need to be featured heavily in order for his current gimmick to get truly over. It's not very likely he'll ever become the top babyface some people intended to make him but has a very good chance of becoming a reliable and constant presence in the upper midcard and main-event scene for the foreseeable future.



Best case scenario : Less popular version of John Cena

Worst case scenario : Bo Dallas



Byron Saxton

Status : Inactive wrestler; part-time ring announcer, part-time commentator, jack of all trades backstage



The most experienced member of the NXT roster, having been on WWE developmental since 2007(!). Stopped wrestling after a serious injury and since then took on every other possible job - manager, commentator, ring announcer - being competent at all of them. Took on creative duties in 2012. Will probably be involved with NXT in one form or another until he's released. May show up on the main-roster one day as a manager or if his announcing skills are required but his in-ring days are almost certainly over.



Best case scenario : Non-smark version of Matt Striker

Worst case scenario : Absent from TV; reduced to backstage role



Rest to come soon.