The WWE has one of the most talented and deepest rosters in the history of wrestling, and although fans love to complain that wrestling isn’t going their way, we’ve seen the quality of matches rise exponentially over the past few years, but unfortunately, there is definitely a gap between RAW and SmackDown Live and NXT. Now, we all know that WWE and NXT are booked differently, and that’s due to several different factors, and unfortunately for those on the main roster behind the scenes who have to book more than five hours of TV a week, it makes some of the main roster stars look weak, oversaturated, and frankly, we are sick of a few of them.
The problem with this solution is that these NXT stars will likely get the same treatment when they arrive on the main roster, and we’ll probably be sick of them in a certain amount of time, but for now, the following are 8 people on the main roster that we are sick of seeing, and the 8 stars waiting down in NXT that we’d love to see replace them on either RAW or SmackDown Live.
16 Sick Of – Jinder Mahal
The WWE brought back plenty of faces when the 2016 brand split was announced, but one that fans really didn’t care for was Jinder Mahal, but even so, the WWE pushed him as their top champion, and now have him challenging for the United States title at WrestleMania. We’ve said it all along, no one cares about the Modern Day Maharajah. His promos are terrible and he’s incredibly average in the ring, and there’s really no need for him anymore, especially when there are so many talented young heels in NXT ready to come up and put on much better performances. Unfortunately for us, Mahal looks to be in great shape, and that means that the WWE are likely going to continue pushing him, at least in the mid-card scene. But for the sake of the fans, please, no more Mahal vs. Randy Orton feuds.
15 Replace With – Andrade “Cien” Almas
Andrade “Cien” Almas is arguably one of the top five wrestlers in the world today, especially after his recent performances against Johnny Gargano, and no matter what happens at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans, a main roster promotion can’t be far away for El Idolo, as he could be a genuine main event player on either RAW or SmackDown Live. Due to his captivating in-ring performances and brilliant manager Zelina Vega, the crowds will likely take to him, so he won’t be as effective in getting heat as Mahal, but he’s a great heel, and if he gets matched up against the likes of Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan or AJ Styles, he’ll get the crowd against him. Expect this to come towards the end of 2018, perhaps after SummerSlam when the likes of Ricochet, EC3 and Lars Sullivan further take over the main event scene of NXT, but it has to happen soon, because he’s just way too good to not be on the main roster.
14 Sick Of – Titus Worldwide
Titus O’Neil and Apollo went on a big of a winning streak to start 2018, and it looked like the WWE was finally going to give them a push, but that’s already stopped, and it’s clear the WWE has no plans for them in the future, so why not bring up a group that will actually make an impact, and give WWE the feeling of unpredictability and excitement that the tag team division on RAW has sorely lacked for quite some time. Apollo may be talented as an in ring performer, but they just aren’t that entertaining, and it’s surprising that WWE hasn’t released them already, but that’s likely coming, and although Apollo may be back one day if he can develop his own character, it should be the end for the bland, boring Titus O’Neil.
13 Replace With –SAniTy
The group known as Sanity, consisting of Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, Killian Dain and Nikki Cross are one of the most entertaining factions to come through NXT in quite some time, and with their unorthodox style and approach to sports entertainment, they could make a huge impact on all divisions on Monday Night RAW. They won’t be as dominant or impressive as The Shield, but all four are great performers, and they play their character roles perfectly, as they’ve done enough in NXT now. This call-up seems inevitable, and if played properly, they could be a huge part of WWE going forward. Dain is an absolute superstar, and Cross is an unpredictable challenger to Alexa Bliss, Nia Jax or anyone who holds the RAW Women’s title, and they have the potential to be huge as a group because they offer much more than Titus Worldwide.
12 Sick Of – Randy Orton
Randy Orton has been with the WWE for 15 years now, and he was once the most exciting and entertaining main event star at a time when WWE was getting quite boring. These days, he just seems uninspired, like he’s going through the motions, and with the rivalries he’s had over the past 12 months, well, nobody can really blame him. He should be a heel, but we’ve seen every routine from Orton, and it leaves him as a bland, boring babyface, and it’s about time WWE transition him into some other role, and allow another performer with some star power, potential and excitement value take his place. Don’t get me wrong, Orton is a legend, by his time has definitely passed, as he’s now nothing more than another bland face on the roster.
11 Replace With – Adam Cole (w/ Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly)
The guy who can replace Orton is one of the most charismatic performers in wrestling today, and in Adam Cole, the main roster would be getting someone with presence, a fan following from his days with Ring of Honor, and someone that can be at the top of the game for years and years to come. Sure, Cole isn’t exactly as big as others in NXT, and he hasn’t put as much time in down there, but alongside his two partners, ReDragon (Fish and O’Reilly), the Undisputed Era are incredibly talented, and would be a better use of a main roster spot than Orton. He’s got plenty left to do down in NXT, especially with Aleister Black likely needing an opponent after Takeover: New Orleans and his two friends reigning as NXT Tag Team Champions, but once he is called up, he’ll make for a much better superstar than the washed up Orton, whom we just don’t care about anymore.
10 Sick Of – Baron Corbin
Despite not coming from the independent wrestling scene, Baron Corbin was very highly touted when he emerged in NXT, and despite his limited in ring skills early on, it looked like he was going to be a main event heel on the main roster for years to come, but unfortunately, his booking and progress just hasn’t supported those early predictions. He was having great feuds in NXT, and got started very hot on the main roster, but since winning the Money in the Bank briefcase (and subsequently losing the cash in opportunity), it seemed he wasn’t a priority, and it’s time to move on from him. He is just good enough to succeed on the independents if released, and at this stage of his career, with the talent waiting down in NXT, that’s probably what’s best for his career if he plays it right.
9 Replace with – EC3
EC3 is one of the most charismatic and entertaining performers in wrestling today, and although he only made his official NXT debut recently, he’s already being treated as a superstar. With how stacked the NXT World Title division currently is, he could easily be a star on the main roster in no time. He’s got the look, the charisma, the talent and can play the most likeable face or the detested heel at the drop of a hat, making him one of the most valuable stars that WWE have had in quite some time. Sure, booking on the main roster is completely different to the way stars are presented in NXT, but EC3 can play the comedy or the serious contender role, so he should be fine no matter what way he’s booked, and he’ll be able to transition into the main event star in a way that Baron Corbin should have, but never did.
8 Sick Of – Tamina
The Women’s Revolution in WWE hasn’t slowed down for quite some time, and with women involved in four separate matches at WrestleMania, this could be the best year yet, but they need some new blood and new feuds to keep the momentum going. The first person that comes to mind to be replaced is Tamina, who, in all honesty should have been released quite a long time ago. Sure, Tamina isn’t a main event/championship caliber player in the women’s division, so replacing her with one may clog up the scene, but introducing some new blood into the scene will get us all excited again for the women’s division, especially if it’s Asuka who comes out on top at WrestleMania (which she will, let’s be honest).
7 Replace With – Ember Moon
The NXT system has developed some of the most incredible female performers we’ve ever seen in the WWE, and while there are several names we can point too as the future of RAW and SmackDown (The Iconic Duo, Candice LeRae and Kairi Sane, for example), but the biggest star of the lot is the current champion, Ember Moon. She has everything it takes to be a star on the main roster, and although she doesn’t have the momentum of someone like Charlotte or Asuka as they were leaving NXT, she’s still red hot, and if her match at Takeover: New Orleans with Shayna Baszler delivers like we think it will, it will further solidify her spot. It’s only a matter of time until the WWE calls her up, especially with a very decent women’s division building below her down in NXT, and in all honesty, they could release 3-4 performers to make room for her without damaging the division too much. In any case, they need to make room because Moon and her Eclipse are going to be huge.
6 Sick Of – Kane
Kane is a legend in the wrestling industry, and alongside his brother The Undertaker, he was one of the key figures of the Attitude Era, but since that point, the WWE has been weakening him year after year. These days, he may only show up in a part-time capacity, and it’s this in combination with how weak he’s become that’s just made us completely lose faith and interest in the character. It’s been like this since Corporate Kane, and with his political interests outside of the WWE, it’s time to put the character to rest permanently, as there are much more deserving stars of a spot on the main roster. One last run would obviously be appropriate, or maybe we’ll see the Imposter Kane storyline again so that another person can take up the mantle of Kane, but either way, this should be the last we see of Glenn Jacobs as Kane.
5 Replace With – Lars Sullivan
We’ve seen with guys like Braun Strowman that the age of the monster in WWE is definitely far from over, as anyone in WWE can get over if they’re booked correctly. The next step in the line of great monsters from the WWE is Lars Sullivan, who has the potential to be one of the greatest big men in wrestling history. It’s very early on in his career, but he’s a unique man away from wrestling, and he has all the tools inside the ring to be a huge star, and if WWE don’t rush him to the main event like they attempted with other monsters (see: The Great Khali & others), he’ll be a player for years to come. Kane doesn’t wrestle too much anymore, but he’s still around, and to tell the truth, we are over his character; he’s just not believable or entertaining anymore, and Sullivan is a great replacement.
4 Sick Of – Byron Saxton
The WWE have an odd obsession with three-man commentary teams these days, and it’s just not working, especially when it gives us people like Byron Saxton, who actively take away from the product. As such, it’s time to not only end the three-man booth, but to put us out of our misery by getting rid of Saxton. Most of the time, he’s passable at best, but when watching WWE, I find myself actively rooting against whoever Saxton backs, because he is just so annoying and terrible, especially when you compare him to fellow play-by-play man, Tom Phillips. Sure, Phillips and Graves could call the show on their own, but going back to a two-man booth would allow Graves to stay exclusive to RAW (with someone like Renee Young or Mauro Ranallo), and would allow us the team of Tom Phillips and the next man on SmackDown Live.
3 Replace With – Nigel McGuinness
Nigel McGuinness is one of the greatest independent pro-wrestlers of all time, and would likely be plying his craft in the WWE if it weren’t for medical problems when the two sides were looking to come together. But that wasn’t to be, and like Corey Graves, he’s taken to the commentary booth in an impressive manner, and this led to him taking over Graves’ spot as the lead man in NXT. Percy Watson isn’t great, but he’s improving, so it’s likely that McGuiness could fill the same role Graves did on both rosters until Watson is ready to go it alone with Ranallo, but the two man team is just so much easier to follow for the fans, and having Phillips/McGuiness just makes sense, and could finally rid us of the incredibly boring Byron Saxton.
2 Sick Of – Brock Lesnar
Thankfully, Brock Lesnar’s WWE career is likely all but over, with a move to UFC seemingly a certainty after WrestleMania 34, and after he’s held the Universal Title for the last year, it can’t come quick enough, as we’ll finally see the WWE’s ‘top title’ on TV more than once every few months. Sure, Lesnar is capable of putting on some great matches when he’s motivated, as we saw last year with AJ Styles at Survivor Series, but the problem is that he just isn’t motivated anymore, and with one last shot at the UFC left, he has to take it now. The fans are turning on him anyway, so either way, whether it’s Brock quitting or the WWE just not wanting to bring him back, 2018 is the last you’ll see of Brock as a part-time performer.
1 Replace With – Drew McIntyre
This is a spot that’s rumored for Bobby Lashley, and if he does come into this spot, he will be a worthy replacement, but this list is about in-house replacements from NXT, and who has got more star power down in developmental than the former NXT Champion, Drew McIntyre? Sure, if booked properly, guys like Aleister Black and Andrade “Cien” Almas could be bigger stars, but Drew has everything you look for in a top guy; the looks, a great physique, charisma and he’s a fantastic in-ring performer as a face or a heel, and he should come in straight away to be a main event player. He’s indicated on Twitter that he’ll be coming for the NXT Champion when he returns from injury (which is reportedly any day now), but there are too many guys down there in line now, and a promotion to the main roster to challenge Roman Reigns or anyone on RAW is the way to do it.