WWE: Ranking NXT’s Post WrestleMania 33 Call Ups
By Rob Furness
7) The Revival
Main Roster Moment: Defeating the New Day in their debut match
On an April 3 edition of Monday Night RAW, NXT’s Top Guys Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson faced off the New Day. They were impressive in their first match on the main roster, by defeating the team of Xavier Woods and Big E. The following week, they defeated the New Day again before New Day were sent to SmackDown Live. However, since that time The Revival momentum has been slow to pick up. While finishing up his NXT commitments, Dash Wilder broke his jaw and was shelved for eight weeks.
Upon Wilder’s return, the two were briefly intertwined in the Enzo Amore and Big Cass storyline. Eventually they were vindicated by accusations they had assaulted Enzo and Cass, when it was discovered Cass was actually the culprit.
The Revival then entered a story with The Hardy Boyz and The Club. However, they were once again bitten by the injury bug. During a live show Dawson went down with a right bicep injury. Five months later, Dawson returned and the duo have been toiled around in the midcard ever since. They squared off against The Club in a losing effort during the main event of RAW 25. Most recently The Revival participated in a Tag Team Battle Royale in a losing effort. Heading into WrestleMania 34, both Wilder and Dawson have declared for the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
While the team enjoyed some initial success, The Revival will need to stay healthy in order to recapture the moniker of Top Guys.
Credit: WWE.com
6) Tye Dillinger
Main Roster Moment: Challenging for the United States Championship at Hell in a Cell
The Perfect 10’s main roster run has been nothing but squandered potential. WWE teased his call up to the main roster during the 2017 Royal Rumble. Debuting at number 10, Dillinger had a pretty good showing before being eliminated by Braun Strowman. Dillinger would stay in NXT, finishing up a feud with SAnitY until after WrestleMania 33. On the April 4 episode of SmackDown Live, Tye Dillinger made his official debut; defeating Curt Hawkins.
Dillinger toiled around the roster, making sporadic appearances on PPV pre-shows and episodes of SmackDown Live. In August, Dillinger got his first real story when he was embroiled in the United States title picture. During that time, AJ Styles was the champion and title became the de-facto main event.
On October 8, at Hell in a Cell, Dillinger entered a Triple Threat match between AJ Styles and Baron Corbin. To fans, it seemed evident that Dillinger was only there to take the pin. Nevertheless, the three put on a very good match which was won by Corbin. Many fans hoped that the triple threat match would propel Dillinger to better booking and story lines.
Unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be. Since then Tye Dillinger returned to his post as keeper of the undercard. Despite some flashes of greatness and some very memorable matches, it seems that WWE has set the ceiling pretty low for someone as talented as he is.