As WWE releases more and more Superstars (more than 40 so far this year) it is leaving its roster looking pretty sparse. The best way to remedy that is to dip into its developmental system. Some NXT Superstars might not like the brand being referred to as that, but Vince McMahon continues to prove that's still how he views it. In recent weeks, NXT stars have been competing in dark matches on SmackDown, and even wrestling on Main Event.
The belief is that those stars are being weighed up for potential call-ups. If McMahon sees something he likes, then they will be plucked from NXT and placed on either Raw or SmackDown. Some of the NXT stars to get tryouts so far include Tegan Nox, Toni Storm, and Karrion Kross. However, the one who seems most likely to appear on another brand at this moment in time is Bronson Reed.
Bronson Reed Is Main Roster Bound
Reed competed in a dark match on SmackDown and then beat Drew Gulak on Main Event the following week. According to reports, he hasn't been seen at WWE's main roster tryouts since, at least not in a match. While that might be an indicator to some that Reed is staying put, what has happened to him in NXT since tells a different story. Reed lost the North American Title to Isaiah Scott and hasn't been seen on the black and gold brand since.
All signs point to Reed showing up on either Raw or SmackDown any day now. Great news for Reed, of course, but maybe not so much for fellow NXT alumnus Keith Lee. Reed and Lee are very similar wrestlers. Not just in appearance, but also in style and attitude. In an alternate universe, Reed is stood opposite Roman Reigns at Survivor Series 2019, and clashes with Brock Lesnar in the Royal Rumble shortly after. Had that been the case, those moments would have been deemed just as big as they were with Lee in the spotlight.
Omos Is Just Going To Be Strowman, Only Bigger
There is a very recent precedent for this too. The release of Braun Strowman shortly after the arrival of Omos. When Strowman first arrived on the scene he was McMahon's big and shiny new toy. Now that Omos has arrived, even though he isn't a polished performer yet, he's much bigger than Strowman and appears to be just as quick. When your gimmick is a monster of a man that can move pretty fast, someone bigger who can also move quickly showing up pretty much renders you obsolete in the boss's eyes. Not to mention how much less Omos will be earning right now compared to Strowman's wage in a time where WWE is trimming the budget wherever possible.
While the gulf in pay between Reed and Lee won't be nearly as vast as the one between Strowman and Omos, it will certainly still be there. Part of the process for Reed will now be trading in his NXT contract for a main roster one. WWE has the luxury of making sure Reed is earning less than Lee, especially if McMahon does indeed see him as a replacement for The Limitless One.
Come Back Soon, Keith Lee
Lee's continued absence from TV also can't be ignored. Whether he is working through some injuries or something else is going on, McMahon's habit of losing interest in stars who go missing for a few months, or in some cases only a few weeks, will be hanging over him. The imminent arrival of Reed may well be worrying him too. If Reed shows up on Raw and is showcased in the same way fans wanted Lee to be, it could well spell the end for the former NXT Champion.
It's unclear why exactly Lee's main roster run appeared to be snakebit from day one after his cameo appearances went down so well. There are moments, of course. The music, for starters. WWE ditched Lee's NXT theme and replaced it with something incredibly generic. It might seem insignificant but think back to when people like Shinsuke Nakamura, Bobby Roode, and Finn Balor made their debuts. Their music was a big part of that first entrance. That would have been the case for Lee had he been allowed to keep his black and gold music.
Above all else, McMahon clearly had a vision for Lee, and that vision didn't pan out the way the chairman thought it would. Lee was sent to the Performance Center to work on whatever it was McMahon didn't see in him, and it has now been five months since he last wrestled on Raw. If Reed shows up anytime soon, Lee could well go the same way as Strowman. A tremendous waste of talent if so, and a massive gain for AEW or anyone else who might be in the market for Lee should he become a free agent.