The NXT system is a massive part of the WWE product today. Triple H invested a lot of time, money and other resources into creating the NXT brand along with expanding on the Performance Center. It all is meant to provide a way for the younger stars or newly signed big names to get their feet wet in the WWE system. They are meant to learn the tricks of the trade before getting called up to the main roster on Raw or Smackdown when prepared.
Great wrestlers like Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Charlotte Flair and Big E showcase how much NXT has helped the current roster before making the big leap to the bigger stage. However, not every wrestler can thrive in NXT. There have been quite a few to either get released or request their release. We will look at ten of the top stars to get released from NXT along with an update of what they are doing now.
10 Solomon Crowe: Impact Wrestling
NXT’s Solomon Crowe went back to his old independent wrestling name Sami Callihan after leaving the company. The NXT release came on his request when he realized that the promotion viewed him as beneath most of the other stars on the roster.
Callihan would find a new home in Impact Wrestling when the regime of Scott D’Amore and Don Callis booked him. Impact uses Callihan as one of their top stars with his heel work leading to impressive feuds with Pentagon, Brian Cage and Tessa Blanchard.
9 Nick Miller: NJPW
The tag team of Nick Miller and Shane Thorne tried to find success in the world of NXT as The Mighty Don’t Kneel. A few injuries and inconsistent booking would lead to them struggling to get momentum or even television time.
WWE and Miller agreed to his release with Thorne staying on as a singles performer. Miller has already found success on his own appearing in New Japan under the name of Mikey Nicholls. The popularity and success of NJPW makes it a great place to work in after NXT.
8 Abbey Laith: Independent wrestling scene
Independent wrestling star Kimber Lee signed a deal with WWE under the new name of Abbey Laith. The NXT run did not find much success for Faith despite strong expectations. Ruby Riott ended up outshining her of the talents signed in that class.
Faith would get release from NXT without making an impact and returned to the independent wrestling scene under her prior Kimber Lee moniker. The time away from NXT has seen her working for smaller promotions like Beyond, Shine and Chikara.
7 Sawyer Fulton: Impact Wrestling
The wrestling career of Sawyer Fulton has seen him get involved in multiple factions. NXT fans will remember him as one of the original members of the Sanity faction. Fulton would be removed before the main core of the group went on to win gold.
NXT did not see much potential in Fulton and released him from his contract. Impact Wrestling recently would add him to the roster as a new signee. Sami Callihan enjoyed working with Fulton in NXT which led to the request of bringing him to Impact to join the oVe faction. Two former NXT performers are now united in Impact.
6 Alex Riley: Acting
Alex Riley is one of the few wrestlers that went from the main roster to NXT. The potential of Riley gave him a noteworthy push as The Miz’s sidekick and eventually a feud with him. Riley never panned out and missed out on his chance on the main roster.
WWE tried moving him into a broadcasting role, but Riley instead requested to try wrestling again from scratch in NXT. It did not go well as Riley looked lackluster compared to Kevin Owens in his one chance at a big feud. Riley was released and is now trying his hand at acting. A cameo as a wrestler in an episode of GLOW is the one role of note he’s had so far.
5 Blue Pants: AEW
Leva Bates had a bizarre stint in NXT under the name of Blue Pants. The few appearances as an enhancement talent earned her fanfare from the Full Sail audience that enjoyed that she always wore the blue pants in each match. Blue Pants’ NXT run peaked when she helped the Vaudevillains win the NXT Tag Team Championship at the first TakeOver: Brooklyn.
The stint did not find long-term success as NXT did not view her as a main star to push. Blue Pants was eventually let go and returned to full-time independent wrestling as Leva Bates. AEW recently added her to their roster as part of a storyline where she plays a librarian.
4 Bull Dempsey: Independent wrestling scene
The NXT run of Bull Dempsey featured a few different gimmicks. There was the start of him playing a tough, hard-hitting heavyweight like his trainer Tazz. It didn’t work which led to NXT giving him the Bullfit comedic gimmick of him trying to get into shape.
Nothing worked out and NXT eventually decided to release him before too long. He has remained on the independent wrestling scene under the name of Bull James. Most of his appearances take place on smaller East coast shows like NYWC, Outlaw Wrestling and Tommy Dreamer’s House of Hardcore.
3 Raquel Diaz: WOW ring anouncer
Eddie Guerrero’s daughter Shaul Guerrero joined the WWE developmental system to try to continue the family legacy under the name of Raquel Diaz. The stint in NXT did not provide much momentum or success as she would eventually get released.
Shaul did meet Aiden English in NXT as the two are now married all these years later. However, she decided to try a life away from wrestling for a while. A recent return to the industry would see Shaul sign with the women’s promotion WOW as they hired her to become their ring announcer moving forward.
2 Eli Drake: Free agent wrestler
The NXT run of Eli Drake would see work under the name of Slate Randall. WWE reportedly did see potential in him, but it would never come in the form of a push. Randall primarily worked as enhancement talent putting over other wrestlers like Baron Corbin and Mojo Rawley.
An eventual release would lead to Impact Wrestling signing him to work as Eli Drake. He would rise to the top of the company and win the Impact World Championship among other titles. Drake recently left Impact after refusing to work an intergender program with Tessa Blanchard to hit the free agent market.
1 CJ Parker: NJPW
CJ Parker showed some charisma in his NXT run, but he always used as a comedic enhancement talent. The most memorable moment for Parker during his time in NXT was losing to Kevin Owens in Owens’ first NXT match that sparked a friendship between the two.
Parker requested his release from NXT to build a name elsewhere by showing his talent without restrictions. Following a stint in NJPW Dojo, he would get a run in New Japan under the new name of Juice Robinson. The run of Juice has provided success against the likes of Dean Ambrose and Cody Rhodes. Robinson is now a rising star for NJPW.