WWE: Who should be called up from NXT after SummerSlam?

Johnny Gargano

As the first NXT Grand Slam Champion, one could argue that Johnny Gargano has nothing left to accomplish on the black and gold brand. So while he may think that NXT is the actual main roster, it’s time for him to take that theoretical next step.

To be fair to Gargano and any fan that worries about what could await him on Mondays or Tuesdays, those concerns carry plenty of weight. Yes, “Johnny Wrestling” cultivated a pristine in-ring legacy in his four-year NXT run, but WWE CEO, de facto head booker, and man who thinks Santino Marella is funnier than Richard Pryor, Vince McMahon, could look at him and see a 205 Live mainstay, someone Bobby Lashley or Drew McIntyre could steamroll every once in a while, or the latest member of the 50/50 booking club.

Still, there’s a chance that McMahon recognizes Gargano’s top babyface potential. Neither RAW nor SmackDown are exactly brimming with marketable star protagonists, so the former NXT Champion could step right in and fill a much-needed spot at the top of the card.

Granted, this all hinges on the result of Gargano’s Three Stages of Hell match with Adam Cole at Saturday’s NXT TakeOver: Toronto show, but if that bout ends the way most people believe it will, rewarding Gargano’s efforts with a call-up seems like the next logical step.