Rob takes a look at the WWE NXT roster after Takeover: Stand & Deliver to see who should move on to bigger things on the main roster.

Now that NXT Takeover is done and we are rounding into WrestleMania the question is being posed as to who should move on from NXT and who should stick around for a bit longer, if not permanently.  Unfortunately this question is sparking way too many conversations about people being ruined or stuck in catering or getting jobbed out to people already on Raw or Smackdown and not enough about whether or not these folks have what’s truly needed to succeed up there.  So what I did was make my own list based on who I think has done enough in NXT and is suited to succeed on Raw or Smackdown sooner rather than later.  Here’s what I got:

SHOULD GO NOW

Adam Cole

There is literally nothing left for him to do.  He held every title and wrestled everyone there from Finn Balor to Johnny Gargano to Tomasso Ciampa to Kyle O’Reilly.  He broke away from the Undisputed Era, and the way his match with O’Reilly ended at Takeover was a quintessential leaving the territory kind of defeat.  The idea of him sticking around to do it all again or face the next wave of guys is not one that should be entertained.  Cole has been pegged for a big star and it’s time to see if that’s true or not.  If it is and there’s real money to made with him then it has to happen on one of the bigger platforms.  And most people including myself think he has the personality to overcome his lack of size.  So it’s now or never.  If you can’t move him over then it’s high time to stop bringing in guys like him from the indies or other companies and just focus on PC recruits.

Bronson Reed

Reed is at the other end of spectrum, having only recently become a regular on NXT TV and yet to win any titles.  So why him?  Well after two unsuccessful cracks at the North American Title it sure doesn’t look like that’s in his future for one.  Another thing is that with his size and athletic ability he’s not going to be left behind on Raw or Smackdown if he moves over.  The only real question is how well he can talk; if he still needs work there then by all means stick around and learn but the time to put him on the fast track is here if there aren’t any title runs ahead.

SHOULD GO SOON

Raquel Gonzalez

She can’t go now for obvious reasons having just won the NXT Women’s Title, but when her reign is over?  Don’t wait one week.  With her size she’s a natural for Raw or Smackdown and will make for some interesting matchups there be it rematches against Rhea Ripley or challenging some of the ladies she’s yet to lock up with.

Dakota Kai

I’m on Team Keep Dakota and Raquel Together, so this is conditional on that.  Dakota’s heel turn was somewhat ineffective before Raquel joined her but really gained direction afterwards; leaving her to fend for herself again doesn’t seem like the best idea in my opinion.  So when Raquel goes, Dakota comes with her.

Karrion Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux

Like Raquel the immediate future is spoken for, but once that’s done bring em up.  Kross and Scarlett have always been more of a Raw/Smackdown act in my opinion, anyway.

Dexter Lumis

Lumis has a character and persona that works on both levels and doing the drawings/paintings while being Mr. Silent is a unique act that should work out fine.  He’s not a guy you put titles on anyway so it’s not like there’s any historical reasons to keep him around long.

Xia Li

Xia Li has a character and personality all ready to go now, so full speed ahead.  No point in having her spend another year or two there, move her up later this year and bring her whole crew with her unless there’s some plan for her to win the Women’s Title.

I’M NOT SURE

Io Shirai

Io is in the same been there, done that boat as Cole so she should be done there.  But there are some real concerns as to how she’d be booked on Raw or Smackdown.  Now let me be blunt and say that there is a communication concern with her.  Not her ability to speak English mind you but her ability to communicate as a whole.  On NXT she does mostly taped vignette style promos, and mostly in Japanese; on Raw or Smackdown she’s have to do something live sometimes and since her English isn’t great (at least not for speaking in front of crowds) then we have a problem.  If you’re not a great English speaker then you have to use things like body language and energy to get across what you’re trying to say so she’s going to have to do that or else she’s going to struggle.  And that’s not all on the bookers, by the way; the wrestlers themselves have to do some of that work themselves.  Now if you want to say throw her in the water and let her sink or swim then I’ll go along so long as you don’t immediately jump up and totally blame the old man if it doesn’t work out.  The easy move of course would be to team her up with her former Stardom ally Asuka as they did with Kairi Sane and hope for the best.  That might be the wisest move, too.

NEXT YEAR

Shotzi Blackheart

Shotzi is a license to print money from green hair wigs to helmets to toy tanks.  She has enthusiasm and energy to boot as well.  So it’s only a matter of time.  For now she’s needed on NXT television but unless they plan on her winning the Women’s Singles title then give her the year and move her on.  And to be quite honest I don’t think a single’s title run is even necessary.  The last thing you want is another act that peaks in NXT and spends their entire career afterwards chasing that high.  Shotzi riding out on a bigger tank at WrestleMania next year is a thing we should all be looking for.

So that’s my take.  In all of this, there is one thing to remember over everything else, and that is that these folks are primarily there not to have great wrestling matches but to play characters on TV.  If they can’t do that then it doesn’t matter how good they are in the ring they are going to have problems succeeding.  If you can’t explain who they are without saying ‘great wrestler’ or referring to something from their real life then they need to do something so that that question can be answered by people who don’t watch 20 hours of pro wrestling every week and know everyone’s history away from the camera.  The people I slated for early arrival are the ones I think can answer that question the easiest.  So let’s shake things up and make some moves.