Word from within WWE is that merchandise sales for NXT star Kevin Owens are doing extremely well. Owens' first-ever WWE t-shirt first went on sale during the weekend of Takeover on December 11th.
WWE officials are very happy with how the former Kevin Steen has brought his fanbase with him to NXT, something a lot of NXT talents don't do.
I think he's a little too much for Raw so don't see him going anywhere. Kind of like Ambrose, I don't see him being a comedy guy but maybe replacing Kane in a while as interference jobber.
YES! Owens is probably the only person who would keep me watching if Bryan left. As much as I love Balor, Wyatt, Rollins, etc. I wouldn't keep watching the trainwreck just for them, but if WWE pushes Owens hard on the main roster I'll keep watching.
Hohoho, Cena won't be burying anyone for a while. If Reigns goes over clean on Lesnar he'll be so strong kayfabe wise that he will bury anyone he faces, which means these NXT call ups are going to be in for a fun surprise.
Happy for him, I'd heard of Steen before he debuted but never checked out his work and when he debuted, I truly understood the hype. He's one of my favourite guys on NXT, really entertaining in the ring, cuts a good promo, WWE better not screw him up on the main shows. Kevin Owens can be a major player.
Finn Balors t shirt sold out in hours upon hitting the WWE store but of course we didnt hear anything about that.
I wonder why that is? OH looks at Balors heigh and weight
That's what happens when you make a shirt people aren't embarrassed to wear in public. Hopefully all the NXT guys do well on the main roster. The only way I see it happening is if the brand split comes back, and they all go to Smackdown with HHH booking.
That's great he's impressed them but I'm at the point now where if anyone builds up any hype for themselves independently it means they're fucked and will be buried.
Well to be fair Kevin Owens doesn't look as cookie-cutter "friendly" or underdog-ish as most indy guys so fans probably don't see him as nerdy, plus he is way more confident than most wrestlers which is something casuals pick up on. It's also much more impressive seeing a 250lbs guy do things sub 200lbs guys usually only do. Oh and he can talk...damn well. His mic work is very proportionate to his ring work - he's like Austin Aries or Nigel McGuinness in that way. Good mic + ring worker beats good mic or ring worker anyday of the week.
Even The Rock endorsed in years ago when he was still in ROH - and I think that's the only guy from the indies he commented on so there is something about him that separates him from the rest of the pack.
You know what's going to happen, they're going to gut his moves, script him to death. Make him stop interacting with the crowd so much and then make him a jobber. Sorry but none of these NXT guys are going anywhere, roster has talented guys already and look where they are.
that is why its a catch 22 to want t see guys like Balor, Zayn, Neville, Owens, and Itami on the main roster.
Right now they are booked like they should be booked once they get called up they will get he Ziggler and Sandow booking .
I've got my pessimist hat on still from the rumble but I genuinely fear for the future of anyone who gets over in NXT.
I can picture the disdain that Vince has for any of those guys, "the fans love you on a show I have nothing to do with, how dare you get over like that. You're gonna be tagging with santino and feuding with Big Show under my booking" :vince3
I would also argue that Owens / Steen had the biggest fan base to bring over. sure Zayn was really popular but I don't think he was as over as Steen was and Balor had probably the smallest following out of the 3 since you have to put in much more work to find NJPW over ROH, PWG, and other indy orgs that Zayn and Owens were in.
I also don't understand why people feel like WWE is shitting on everyone else they brought in over Ownes. They are probably just surprised with how many rabid Steen fans their we're and his shirt sold out almost immediately.
They probably look at Owens now as a second coming of Austin with how he holds himself in ring and his character. start off as a bad ass heel that takes out anyone and everyone to get his title turn face to shove it in the nose of the boss, cause now he's champ he doesn't need them will revolt against the system to keep his title.
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