NXT Deadline has passed, and with Saturday Night's Main Event giving NXT stars a chance to showcase themselves, it's time to talk about who's actually ready to be called up to WWE's main roster. Some of these names might surprise you, while others feel overdue. Let's break down the three acts I think are absolutely ready to make the jump, plus a few more who are getting close.
🤼 IN THIS VIDEO:
OBA FEMI - READY NOW
Has the complete package and the aura
Not the most technical wrestler, but EXCELLENT at his style
Dominant big man character is perfected
Promos have improved dramatically
Should have been called up already - Royal Rumble and beyond
Surprised he came back to face Ricky Starks instead of going to War Games
RICKY STARKS - READY NOW
Was already a "main roster player" in AEW
Has the promos, the in-ring work, everything
Built-in connection with Cody Rhodes
Absolutely ready for the call-up
ETHAN PAGE - The Complication
1000% ready for main roster
Already has ready-made gimmick with Chelsea Green
Would be spectacular bumping for Jade Cargill
BUT - NXT lacks men's main event talent
Taking Oba, Ricky, AND Ethan would destroy NXT's top of the card
Pick TWO of these three - one needs to stay to carry NXT
FATAL INFLUENCE (JC JAYNE, FALLON HENLEY, JACY JAYNE) - READY NOW
Jacy Jayne improved MASSIVELY during her title run
She's clearly main roster ready
Fallon Henley could work on main roster now
Jacy Jayne is close enough to get by in the faction
Would benefit from house show touring (if those still existed)
Ready for increasingly competitive women's tag division
CLOSE BUT NOT YET:
Izzy Dame & Tatum Paxley
Both leveled up significantly at Deadline
Showed there's real potential with both
Dame is at a higher level than people realized
Paxley exceeded expectations even with brief title reign
Crowd is behind Paxley
Not this round, but soon
Kalani Jordan
In-ring she's absolutely ready
As a babyface she could go tomorrow
Heel character needs 6 months to develop fully
Similar to Roxy Perez - let her round out as a heel first
Would be fun paired with Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes
There's another layer of "ready" to reach
Sol Ruca
Main roster ready RIGHT NOW
Look, in-ring, charisma - has it all
Star written all over her
The Bottom Line:
NXT has WAY more main roster ready talent on the women's side than the men's side. The developmental brand is in a tough spot - it needs to be a TV show AND develop talent, which sometimes conflicts with call-up timing.
đź’¬ Who do YOU think is ready for the main roster? Should they call up all three men or keep one? Is Fatal Influence ready as a unit? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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