PINFALL: NXT CALLUPS CONTINUE AFTER MANIA

While the WWE continues to entertain despite the lack of crowds, the after WrestleMania staple of NXT call ups took place last week with the call up of Bianca Belair to RAW and the Forgotten Sons (Jakson Ryker, Steve Cutler, Wesley Blake) to Smackdown.

Now with the NXT call ups, the previous call ups have proven the usual waste of talent that Vince McMahon just brings up and then does nothing with them on the main roster.

For example, two call ups from last year, Aleister Black and Ricochet, both on the RAW roster, have no real storyline direction. Black is fresh off his WrestleMania win against Bobby Lashley and Ricochet is now paired up with Cedric Alexander to form a new tag team on the red brand.

Most recently another call up that was released was Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson, The Revival. While in WWE, The Revival became the first time in history to be the RAW, Smackdown and NXT Tag Champions. A team that showed all the talent in the world, an epitome of what old school tag team wrestling was, but instead they get a push, then rarely booked, get misguided character changes and then officially released.

Now it goes without saying that the main roster has reaped the benefits from the call ups, because the core of both the male and female rosters in WWE have come from NXT. Stars like Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Big E from The New Day, King Corbin, current United States Champion Andrade, Shorty G (former Olympian Chad Gable) and the Four Horsewomen (current Smackdown's Women Champion Bayley, Sasha Banks, current NXT Womens Champion Charlotte Flair and current RAW Women's Champion "The Man" Becky Lynch) have highlighted the greatest of the NXT call ups.

The one NXT call up that actually went backwards, was Finn Balor. Balor who made his career in NXT, as "The Demon", jumped to the main roster and after years of misusage and lack of character direction, the decision was made to send him back to NXT, leading to his current run on the black and yellow brand. Why he left playing The Demon, I'll never know, because that was the character that put NXT on the map.

Like Balor, who wrestled all throughout the world, several superstars who developed careers with other corporations joined NXT to prepare themselves for their eventual call up. Now while they all won the NXT Championship, the top prize in the company, Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura and "The Glorious" Robert Roode have reached minimal success scoring runs as either the Intercontinental, United States or their respective brands tag team champions.

The call ups that proved to be busts have been many. Perhaps, the most notable to date, was Enzo Amore and Big Cass. At one time, they were considered the most popular team on NXT, perhaps one of the most overall popular teams in the entire company. But both superstars damaged their runs with WWE due to legal matters and personal demons.

Other busts of NXT call ups have included Tye Dillinger, who is now "The Chairman" Shawn Spears on AEW and the superstar that was meant to be the future of Impact Wrestling, EC3 (Ethan Carter The Third).But there are call ups, that get brought to the main roster but yet having nothing to show for a legit push on the main roster. Superstars like No Way Jose, perhaps considered a novelty performer which is why his call up has led to random bits on RAW that have no tie in to the main story line.

Personally, the one call up that has been put to waste and through no fault of his own is Apollo Crews, (a superstar that was named by WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes), one of the most dynamic talents I have seen in all my years of watching wrestling. But what does the main roster do, puts him in mid card factions and squash matches. Perhaps, the match he had last week with Aleister Black was a step in the right direction.

So what would the recent calls up lead to? Well I think Belair, is one of the most talented performers in all of WWE. As a current heel, RAW perhaps was the best option for her run on the main roster, because there would have been no way to sell her as legit competition for Bayley on Smackdown. Now for never winning the NXT Women's Title, shouldn't lead to minimal success on the main roster. But as a fallback, she can always be both an in ring competitor and the valet for the Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Belair's husband Montez Ford).

The Forgotten Sons, on the other hand, may not be so lucky. The trio has shown great potential while on the black and yellow brand. Ryker, showed promise, during his time as Gunner on Impact Wrestling made the move to NXT and has now become the heavy of the trio, whereas Cutler and Blake became the primary team. Blake, a former NXT Tag Champion with Buddy Murphy or Murphy, who is currently on RAW. Do I see tag titles, in their future, NO, because the tag title picture on Smackdown has to seem center on three teams: The New Day, The Usos and current champions John Morrison & The Miz.

In closing, the call ups that I hope does not take place is the superstars who have been to be the heart and soul of NXT, Johnny Gargano & Tommaso Ciampa, formerly the tag team DIY and a superstar that has shown he's main roster worthy, the Velveteen Dream. In reference to Gargano & Ciampa, they have been openly stated they wouldn't go the main roster, if asked, Ciampa even adding that he would rather retire.

The Dream, who I feel is the modern day version of WWE Hall of Famer, "Macho Man" Randy Savage has turned into the most dynamic personality on the brand. A former Tough Enough contestant, Dream (Patrick Clark) has evolved from upstart to top draw, currently in a feud with NXT Champ Adam Cole.

The call-up that has to happen, although probably held back due to "world events" is the Undisputed Era. Adam Cole has made his mark and then some as the current longest reigning NXT Champion as well as his cohorts Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish. No matter, what brand they are sent, this nouveau version of the NWO should continue their undisputed legacy.

What Has Been The Best Call Ups EVER?

Heres My Top Five

1. Roman Reigns

2. Seth Rollins

3. The Four Horsewoman

4. King Corbin

5. Big E

*I'd count Finn Balor, but his call up really was null and void, since he's back on NXT