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Are The NXT Big Four The Next Phase Of Evolution In WWE?

Will it be different with the NXT Four coming to the main roster…or more of the same?

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The NXT Four are seemingly part of the WWE main roster, and Tom Clark has some perspective on what it could mean.

The top four NXT stars made their presence known on WWE’s main roster and many fans are wondering what happens now. Ricochet, Tommaso Ciampa, Aleister Black and Johnny Gargano all came to Monday Night Raw and SmackDown Live with little to no fanfare. Indeed, it’s as if the company just threw them out there with no plan.

There’s no way to truly know that, of course. While speculation online holds that Vince McMahon pulled the trigger out of desperation, the truth is that his motives may not matter. The fact is that the black and gold brand’s biggest names have now made an impact on the main roster. So does this mean the company is moving forward?

Anyone that says yes to that question must also remember that WWE doesn’t exactly have the best track record of promoting NXT call-ups when they arrive. That point has been proven over the past several weeks, as one NXT Superstar after another has fallen by the wayside. 

EC3 has the potential to become a top level star on Raw. But he’s barely said a word and has already lost on TV. Heavy Machinery has become a comedy act with no teeth at all. Nikki Cross is floating along with no clear rhyme or reason. Lacey Evans doesn’t wrestle, she dresses up in different hats and walks down the ramp, only to walk back up again.

If fans ever needed any more ammunition to fire at WWE for its lack of focus, they most certainly have it now. It could very well be that none of the five call-ups are main roster worthy, but how are fans to know that for certain? It’s clear that WWE has indeed dropped the ball in every case.

So what are the chances that the same thing will happen again with NXT’s big four? It seems impossible that any of them could fail. That’s because of the immense talent that each man possesses. There’s no weak link among them and if WWE properly handles this, then the red and blue brands will be in good hands indeed. 

But does that mean that they will just walk in and take Raw and SmackDown by storm? This is not a Shield situation, in which three NXT stars came in and changed the company. There’s certainly never been a better transition from NXT to the main roster in the history of WWE. 

However that’s not to suggest that Black, DIY and Ricochet cannot immediately change the company. The fact is that of everyone on the NXT roster, there’s really no better representation of crossover potential than the men that WWE has introduced. But it’s a matter of knowing what to do with them that will make all the difference. 

Tommaso Ciampa is a top heel waiting to happen. He was the most hated man in NXT and with good reason. His campaign of terror against the brand’s favorite son was lengthy and despicable. Gargano fought his heart out but his former best friend would not be denied. Ciampa wanted all the glory and that’s exactly what he got.

Gargano is the smallest of the four but he has more heart than many of his heavyweight counterparts. Johnny Wrestling is the epitome of a blue collar underdog and he could amass an amazing fan following on Raw and SmackDown if utilized properly.

Aleister Black is the most theatrical of the quartet, which means he would theoretically excel on the main roster. His overall presentation is extremely cinematic and visually gripping. His character sets him apart from everyone else in the company and could potentially propel him to the next level of WWE.

But the highlight reel of the four is of course Ricochet. His work provides instant gratification, as he immediately pops the crowd every time he’s in the ring. Fans cannot afford to blink when Ric goes to work because if they do, they could miss something. He’s that dynamic and that innovative between the ropes.

The best thing about these NXT stars is that they do not need much work to prep them for life on WWE’s two primary brands. Each man comes from a different background, with separate levels of experience and their own unique ideas of what pro wrestling should be. But more importantly, each man is fully capable of delivering a main event match every time his number is called.

The fact is that the brilliance Seth Rollins, Finn Bálor and AJ Styles have shown is only the beginning. The NXT foursome all possess the tools to take WWE into the next era, which is precisely what the company needs. These stars give WWE credibility against every other pro wrestling company that features hard-hitting, physically explosive styles in the ring. 

Ricochet, Gargano, Black and DIY are not the physically imposing titans of yesterday’s WWF. But they don’t need to be, nor does the company need them to be. They are the next logical phase of WWE’s evolution and that evolution is now. The company needs them to be at their best and the fans want to see them succeed. With any luck, that is exactly what will happen.

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Opinion

Chris King: The Wyatt Sicks’ Wasted Potential By WWE

Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.

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Wyatt Sicks WWE

Chris King takes a look at the WWE and their wasted potential of Uncle Howdy and the Wyatt Sicks faction.

It’s that time of the year again, folks; it’s unfortunate and downright awful that so many WWE superstars got released today. I’m not going to list all of them, but I am going to talk about one of my favorite factions, 

The Wyatt Sicks. Nikki Cross, Joe Gacy, Erik Rowan, and Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy) were something special. After Bo’s brother Bray Wyatt’s tragic passing, WWE felt like there was a hole that needed to be filled. Wyatt was one of the most creative and brilliant characters, and Bo would be taking over his brother’s concept and bringing it to life. In 2024, at the end of an incredible documentary highlighting Wyatt’s career and struggles, Bo appeared on the screen portrayed as Uncle Howdy. The last time Uncle Howdy was seen on-screen was at the 2023 Royal Rumble, where Wyatt defeated LA Knight in a Pitch Black Match. Howdy jumped off a structure onto Knight. 

This post-credit scene sparked so much speculation and excitement that Wyatt’s brother would carry on his legacy and possibly debut the faction that was Wyatt’s concept. On the June 17th episode of Monday Night Raw, The Wyatt Sicks made their dramatic debut ,destroying the backstage area as well as “murdering” Chad Gable. It was such an iconic arrival for Howdy as he made his menacing walk from the back into the audience who were chanting “Holy Shit.” The Sicks and American Made (Chad Gable and The Creed Brothers) battled for months, with The Sicks being victorious. On the September 9th episode of Raw, The Sicks defeated them, with Howdy getting the win with Sister Abigail. 

The following year, The Sicks would move over to Friday Night SmackDown, and it seemed like WWE had a plan in place. They would win the tag team championships from The Street Profits and start to look dominant. Now, what should have happened next is Howdy should have won the United States title. The Sicks could have held all the gold over on the blue brand, but it never happened. The Sicks entered into a never-ending feud with The MFT’s (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, JC Mateo, and Talla Tonga.) It started off exciting, and the WWE Universe was red-hot for their interactions. 

After months of repetitive matches and The MFT’s stealing their lantern, the feud grew tiresome and boring. Even Tama asked Solo why they are still holding onto the lantern, as it was destroying them as a whole. Finally on the SmackDown before Mania, Tama

gave the lantern back to Howdy against Solo’s wishes. Please explain to me why both factions fought almost every single week instead of just having one final blowoff match at WrestleMania. 

It should have been either a massive street fight or a falls count anywhere match on the grandest stage of them all. Instead, it turned into a meaningless week-after-week extravaganza that benefited no one. The MFTs won the rivalry, and The Sicks don’t even work for WWE anymore. This was the same criminalized creative process that Wyatt dealt with during his first run in the company. 

We’ll never know how much of a dangerous force The Wyatt Sicks could have been in the WWE. For all their careers’ sake, I hope they stay far away from the company for as long as possible. Every superstar that was cut deserves better!

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SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes

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Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)


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Opinion

Chris King: Bloodline Saga: Is This the Right Call For WWE?

Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns 

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WWE Jacob Fatu Roman Reigns Backlash

Chris King questions the WWE’s logic in setting up Jacob Fatu as the next challenger for World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns

Roman Reigns is once again World Heavyweight Champion after his dominant win over CM Punk at WrestleMania 42. On the following night on Monday Night Raw, The OG Bloodline came back together as a well-oiled machine as The Usos stood side by side with Roman. With the WWE Universe asking who would be the first to challenge “The Tribal Chief,” Jacob Fatu shocked the world by answering the call. 

Fatu is running hot after his impressive win over Drew McIntyre and feels like he is ready to become the new world champion. This bloodline segment ended Raw, and it picked right back up on SmackDown with even Solo Sikoa and the MFTs involved. This is now two shows that have been centered around The Bloodline saga, and it’s made me question whether or not WWE should be retelling this story. 

The Bloodline (Roman Reigns, The Usos, and Solo Sikoa) ran WWE for over four years as Reigns’ henchmen, doing his dirty work to retain his title. Even though Roman has declared he doesn’t want Jey and Jimmy to serve him, it sure seems like WWE are spinning their wheels. Fatu could add a whole new chapter into the story, even if he’s not able to beat Roman at Backlash. “The Samoan Werewolf” could be forced to do the same thing as Jey did all those years ago and fall in line. 

 In my opinion, I feel like Fatu should be challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship because that’s a title I feel like he should win. I understand standing up to your blood and trying to prove you’re the best, but I don’t think this is the right move. It feels like 2022 all over again, as The Bloodline is the central focus on both shows. If Fatu doesn’t win, what happens to all his momentum he’s been building over the last two years? 

Why did WWE make this the best choice for storyline purposes? Why couldn’t creative have come up with a different challenger for Roman? There are so many other superstars that could challenge The Tribal Chief, such as Rusev, Bron Breakker, Gunther, or even a returning Sheamus. 

I just can’t help but question WWE’s logic here, and it kind of reminds me of all the times The Shield reunited. Could WWE be pushing the same storyline too many times here? Could the WWE Universe get tired of this rinse and repeat cycle of The Bloodline Saga?

Are we about to see all the weekly episodes solely focused on The Bloodline again? Will it be cinema… Yes. Is there still money in The Bloodline… Yes. Was it the right call? That’s to be determined!

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WEDNESDAY - The Greg DeMarco Show (wrestling) 

THURSDAY - Nefarious Means

FRIDAY - DWI Podcast (Drunk Wrestling Intellect)

SATURDAY - The Mindless Wrestling Podcast

SUNDAY - 30 Mindless Minutes

CHAIRSHOT RADIO NETWORK PODCAST SPECIALS

Attitude Of Aggression Podcast: The Big Five Project (chronologically exploring WWE's PPV/PLE history) Unidentified History (Ufology) & Game Gone Wrong (Game of Thrones Universe)


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