WWE NXT: Is Velveteen Dream Ready for the Main Roster?

Could the red or blue brands benefit from a shot of purple? With speculation following the Superstar Shakeup on Raw and SmackDown this week, fans are busy drumming up dream scenarios for future rounds of surprise NXT call-ups. Some contemplated names have been intercepted by insiders, and now many are wondering if one of these Dream scenarios may be Velveteen.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has mentioned the name of Velveteen Dream multiple times on Wrestling Observer Radio since the NXT TakeOver: New Orleans show on April 7th, up to their April 17th Superstar Shakeup episode. While the rumored Dream didn’t come true during this week’s Shakeup, Meltzer has remarked that Velveteen Dream was “certainly been talked about” backstage as a potential addition to the main roster in the near future.

There is no doubt that Velveteen Dream has become an incredibly unique figure in NXT. More than just a memorable ring entrance, the Dream resonates with fans for his colorful charisma, remarkable physique, and captivating in-ring ability. But the idea of integrating the Dream into Raw or SmackDown leads to two equally integral questions: is Velveteen Dream ready for the main roster? Moreover, is the main roster ready for Velveteen Dream?

Is Velveteen Dream ready for the main roster?

At only 22 years of age, Patrick Clark, AKA the Velveteen Dream, has less than four years of in-ring experience.

After a brief stint cutting his teeth following a 2014 debut on the independent scene, Clark ended up on the sixth season of WWE’s contract competition show, Tough Enough. Though he only placed 9th on what was the final season of the show, the future in Clark’s talents were obviously much brighter than that of the defunct reality series.

Though Clark began making sporadic appearances on NXT from 2015 onward, it was only in May of 2017 that he and NXT creative hit a purple shade of gold with the rebirth and repackaging of Patrick Clark as the Velveteen Dream.

As an eccentric and Prince-centric character with a distinguishable aesthetic and impeccable style, Velveteen Dream captured the attention of the NXT universe when he entered a program with now NXT champion, Aleister Black. Dream went on to torment Black with his now famous demand to “say my name” in what would be awarded NXT’s 2017 Rivalry of the Year. The feud culminated with a loss to Black in Dream’s greatest career match thus far at NXT TakeOver: WarGames.

Velveteen Dream has stayed near the tip of NXT fan’s tongues with a memorable bout against Kassius Ohno at TakeOver: Philadelphia, and as a part of the Meltzer-rated 5 star, six way ladder match for the NXT North American Championship at TakeOver: New Orleans.

But does a hot six month run prove that the young and vivacious Velveteen Dream is ready for the big leagues?

Less than four years of match experience is not a whole lot in the early career of a wrestler. That being said, three of Velveteen Dream’s years have been under the roof of the WWE performance center. While some independent wrestlers face the adjustment period of being integrated into WWE’s style, Dream has the advantage of being groomed by the company over a fundamentally important three year span.

There is no question Velveteen Dream has already established his potential as a future face of the company, but the real concern may be my next question…

Is the main roster ready for Velveteen Dream?

Sometimes it feels like WWE are still scrambling to catch up with the progressive approach to a wrestling product that NXT has developed. Ironically enough, a division that was purposed for developing talent to fit the main roster of WWE has become a creative model that the upper-tier of the company appears to be struggling to learn from.

Evident in the warm-up role Tye Dillinger has tragically taken on Smackdown, the WWE seems like they can be indecisive, unsure, or perhaps oblivious to their mishandling of the already “over” talent that are uprooted from team yellow.

Velveteen Dream’s current momentum should not be interrupted. Even the length of time it took to figure out how to make Shinsuke Nakamura work on the main roster would be too much downtime for Dream at this point in his blossoming career.

Perhaps the better idea is to let Velveteen Dream continue to ride his high on NXT, even in just one championship program. There is no shortage of NXT talent to pair the versatile Dream up with, and even a rekindling with Aleister Black, now as NXT Champion, could be worth a run in the TakeOver-bound picture.

Next: Grading Both Brands After The Superstar Shakeup

As always, WWE will do what they will. So as we patiently await the future plans for Velveteen Dream to become clear, we need to just remain hopeful on one sentiment: no matter what happens, may the bright future of Dream never be buried by nightmarish booking.

WWE, don’t mess this one up.