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Original Plans for NXT wrestlers (Past & Present)

6K views 39 replies 32 participants last post by  trizzypballr 
#1 ·
It's a common occurrence in the wrestling industry (especially WWE) that ideas are nixed or shot down, whether the angles exist for a few weeks, or never come to fruition. The basis for this discussion is cancelled plans for NXT superstars that never happened. Here's a few examples:

Reports were saying in January 2014 that WWE developmental officials felt as if Mojo Rawley would be the next John Cena (the focal point of the company) and he would be receiving a big push when he would go to the main roster. It seems as if those plans are long gone and barely anyone remembers them.

In speaking of NXT prospects being rumored to be the next ace of the WWE, Troy McClain was an NXT superstar with much potential, according to Gerald Brisco and Jim Ross. He was brought in by John Cena, after Cena noticed his work that McClain had done in Southern California. Although there aren't any specific plans for McClain that have been revealed, there may have been big plans discussed among NXT officials.

Last example is Kendall Skye. For those of you who have watched NXT, or at least followed it since about late 2012, Kendall Skye was one of the ring announcers for NXT. Supposedly, WWE originally wanted to make Kendall Skye their version of Ronda Rousey, who at this point was beginning to become an extraordinarily big name in the mixed martial arts industry. Skye had a background of kickboxing, which supported the plan. Although officials were supportive of the idea, the plan was eventually dropped. Another plan was to call up Skye and make her the bodyguard of AJ Lee, although that opportunity was given to Tamina Snuka instead.

Those were a few example of plans for NXT wrestlers that never saw the light of day. For this topic, original main roster call up plans for NXT superstars can be included as well as nixed debuts (Solomon Crowe's debut in March 2014 for example), and house show personas that never made it on NXT TV.
 
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#4 ·
Old (and the only one) Ascension was in front of big push and main roster call-up, but Kenneth fucked up really bad that time around. :mj2
 
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#5 ·
Gable and Jordan were with a few other guys on the house show circuit and formed a full-blown stable, called Shoot Nation (a play on legit wrestlers being able to 'shoot' on opponents).

Granted, it gave us the Jordan/Gable tag team. So it all worked out in the end. But the stable would have been great and a few other guys could get that spotlight/rub.
 
#7 ·
#9 ·
If i remember rightly, it was also going to be even less than that, i think the initial plans were to have Rollins be called up on his own and be in the 'Shield' faction with Kane and Big Show. fpalm
 
#20 ·
I don't follow the reports/rumors too much so this has probably been covered on this site numerous times but I think Chris Hero(Ohno) could be a major player in the WWE. Don't know what went wrong - maybe it was from both sides. The guy is an incredible worker and can talk. He'd be perfect for the main authority guy - the place where Sheamus is right now.
 
#21 ·
I have dug up a few more cancelled plans:

Solomon Crowe's debut from the February 28th, 2014 tapings, which was going to air on March 5th, was scrapped in favor of Adam Rose's debut which was from the January 30th tapings.

In speaking of the January 30th, 2014 tapings, it seemed as if Adrian Neville was not NXT champion, and Dallas still was the champ. What I know from those tapings is that only the Adam Rose vignette and debut was aired. Also, with the February 28th tapings, the Crowe debut was the only thing cut from those tapings to my knowledge.

Another top NXT superstar, Baron Corbin, may have had a valet, that being former NXT diva Raquel Diaz. There had been a couple of pictures circulating around the Internet in April of 2014 of Corbin and Raquel with a motorcycle. Raquel Diaz was released later that month, which ended any plans for this angle. No plans have been revealed concerning this supposed storyline.

At the day of Survivor Series in 2012, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose, and Roman Reigns were about to debut as The Shield. Originally, they were supposed to have actual fiberglass shields that said "SHIELD" going down. After all 3 guys had bad thoughts about the aforementioned shields (being stuck in the ring while Ryback would be standing over them), then Vince asked them if the shields were necessary. Ambrose, Reigns, and Rollins proceeded to abandon the fiberglass barriers and the rest was history.

Originally, Dean Ambrose was supposed to have debuted on the main roster as a part of a feud with Mick Foley. Dean Ambrose eventually confronted Mick Foley at a few contract signings, in which one of the confrontations were recorded and uploaded to YouTube (the WrestleMania 28 hotel confrontation), although WWE has blocked the video on copyright grounds, and there doesn't seem to be a mirrored version on the web. The backstory of this feud was Ambrose accusing Foley of influencing the new generation of wrestlers taking extreme bumps, just to get over with the audience. Another addition to the rivalry was for FCW wrestlers to have Twitter accounts, to make it seem as if Ambrose wasn't the only one to have a Twitter, and to build the feud through the aforementioned social media site. The feud was cancelled as Mick Foley could not get medical clearance from his doctor.
 
#22 ·
The Original Lucha Dragons were Kallisto and El Local.
Raquel Diaz's first run, she was essentially meant to take Summer Rae's role during early NXT. Then she was released and Summer had pretty much the same gimmick, during her second run she was meant to be Corbin's valet but was released again.

Oh and Eva Marie being face and her current run being her 'redemption'
 
#26 ·
Shaun Ricker release was the most confusing move WWE have done for years - total legit.
It what way? He was a pain in the ass. Not confusing at all. Some TNA wrestlers have hinted at him being the same way in TNA.

Chris Hero was all weight issues was it not? Which is no surprise, total shame because the dude has 'it'
It is nearly December 2015 and people still think it was weight issues. He was in the best shape of his life at the time of his release.
 
#28 ·
The issues with Hero are available all over the internet and this forum. But you seem to have immediately made your mind up that it was WWE's fault and not his. When in fact Hero has had many the fallings out with people and promotions even before his stint with WWE.

Ricker is hardly gold. He's pretty uninteresting in the ring and once you realise his promo is mostly a Rock impression the initial wow factor kind of wears off.
 
#31 ·
Zahra Schreiber was actually introduced as Solomon Crowe's sister at a house show shortly before her release.

Alexa Bliss was Scott Dawson's trailer park girlfriend for a while, appearing on house shows for a few months and at one of the leaked promo class sessions.

Marcus Louis was supposed to feud with Breeze after Tyler berated him for being an uggo. He appeared in the background behind Breeze on two occasions - after one of Tyler's matches and during one of his entrances.

Jake Carter (Vader's son) was supposed to have a Flair-esque gimmick. He started wearing a robe and long tights. A promo class segment that was leaked showed he had no mic skills to pull it off and he had a dark match against Tensai which was said to be really poorly worked.

Sawyer Fulton started off with a Clockwork Orange gimmick. He later teamed with Corbin. Then, he had a very brief jungleman gimmick and only then did he become a member of Shoot Nation.

Speaking of the Shoot Nation, they had a fifth member - Tucker Knight.
 
#32 ·
I used to attend FCW shows regularly and the superstars and divas always pitched stuff. Don't know if most of these were actually planned or just stuff they suggested. Most of the stuff I've read in this are just rumors and non factual and the wrestlers themselves had no clue about.

Bray Wyatt (before he was Bray Wyatt when he first started this gimmick and had Eli Cottenwood as his manager) was supposed to re-debut with Tyler & Curt Hawkins on the main roster.

When they first debuted Bayley they had her under a mask for a few shows. Heard they were thinking of keeping the mask on her for a while but don't know if that's 100% true.

Viktor and Anya were supposed to be paired together but she got injured.

Paige was supposed to debut as some geek/computer nerd (think they aired her on the computer watching one match on FCW TV) but it was scrapped after only filming one promo. She was going to be the lover of Seth Rollins.

Caylee Turner was supposed to team with her sister on the main roster much like The Bella Twins.

Audrey Marie was supposed to debut with the Wyatt Family.

Summer Rae was supposed to be paired with Corey Graves during the first few NXT TV tapings but it was changed last minute.
 
#37 ·
Paige was supposed to debut as some geek/computer nerd (think they aired her on the computer watching one match on FCW TV) but it was scrapped after only filming one promo. She was going to be the lover of Seth Rollins.
Yeah she had a walk on segments with Rollins showing him the lap top screen and walking away

then shown watching one of matches in the crowd with her lap top

and came to ring during a match between Rollins and Maddox where pushed Summer Rae over and left


I think the angle got scrapped here because she was then partnered with Sofia Cortez as "The Anti Diva's"
 
#34 ·
Losing Shaun Ricker was a big mistake. But they also lost Bateman and he ended up great. I think the guys behind the scene in the WWE are not into Sport Entertainers anymore and it shows.
 
#35 ·
Mojo and Zack pairing will hopefully work out good for both men and Mojo can be on the main roster after having a good tag title run with Zack down there, I think both men could do great in the mid card. I actually really like Mojo. He could be something major if he continues to put everything into it.
 
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