Five wrestlers that will get left behind because of the NXT 2.0 rebrand

What used to be the third brand in WWE now feels like the Performance Center on steroids. NXT 2.0 is clearly focused on the next generation of WWE superstars. Unfortunately, that means the superstars that helped build NXT don’t mesh with the new direction. With NXT going version 2.0 there are superstars bound to be put on the back burner.

Here are 5 superstars that will be lost due to the rebrand

The jury is still out on NXT 2.0, but the early reviews suggest the focus is more on characters than the action inside the ring. This could spell problems for superstars of traditional NXT who made a name for themselves inside the squared circle primarily. Whether 2.0 is a huge mistake is a discussion for a later time, for now, these characters might be best served on a different brand.

Oney Lorcan/Danny Burch

Two superstars that have been a fixture of the tag-team division will find themselves on the outside looking in. Lorcan and Burch don’t fit the new vision of NXT 2.0 which focuses on eccentric characters. With the tag-team division featuring new blood along with holdovers like Imperium and the Grizzled Young Veterans, the duo would be better served to add depth to Raw or Smackdown. Removing them from Pete Dunne‘s stable certainly didn’t do them any favors either. With Ridge Holland departing maybe things can change though very unlikely, at least they got their run as NXT tag-team champions.

Candice LeRae

It feels unfair to add LeRae to this list because she is on maternity leave. However, if and when she does return to WWE things will look very different. It’s unfortunate NXT never gave LeRae a run with the NXT women’s title cause it seems that ship has sailed with a new generation of talent. The entire faction of “The Way” may be over as well with Indi Hartwell now teaming with Persia Pirotta, and Austin Theory now on the Raw brand. LeRae could serve as a great mentor for the NXT 2.0 locker room, though it may be viewed as a disservice to her lengthy career. LeRae became an NXT women’s tag-team champ during her stint but feels like she deserved so much more.

Io Shirai

Io Shirai is by far the best wrestler in the NXT 2.0 women’s division, and she is a current NXT women’s tag-team champion. Yet this entire tag-team run feels beneath her. Even before NXT went version 2.0 it felt as if NXT had moved on without Shirai. Since putting over Raquel Gonzalez and losing the NXT women’s title she’s been relegated to backstage segments and a forced tag team with Zoey Stark. While this was meant to add prestige to the tag belts it does more of a disservice to a great in-ring talent. With the emergence of Toxic Attraction and sudden depth in the women’s tag division, expect the odd couple of Stark and Shirai to drop the gold. Perhaps Shirai will be a surprise Royal Rumble entrant in January, leading her to better storylines on Raw or Smackdown.

Johnny Gargano

The one many would call the NXT G.O.A.T may finally have to move on to greener pastures. Not because Gargano isn’t great for NXT 2.0, but because it’s evident newer talent is waiting in the wings for bigger roles. In fact, Gargano’s “Papa John” schtick is actually perfect for the direction of NXT 2.0. But a talent as accomplished as Gargano can’t dwell in that portion of the card for eternity. Gargano is also out on paternity currently, and not much will be the same when he returns outside of InDex. Creative could always give fans one more blood feud with Ciampa and Gargano for the title, but that feud is very anti in terms of the NXT 2.0 vibe and direction.

Tommaso Ciampa

How does the current NXT 2.0 champion make this list? Very simple, transitional champion. The story of Tommaso Ciampa finally overcoming 900 days to reclaim the title he never lost is great, but the timing of it is very inconvenient with a rebrand. While Samoa Joe was a transitional champion due to injury, Ciampa could be seen passing the torch in the near future. The hourglass on Ciampa’s run started as soon as Bron Breakker debuted near the top of the card. Breakker also seems like he’s being given every chance to swim with this new rebrand. Ciampa might not exactly drop the NXT World title at Halloween Havoc, but it’s hard to see a long title run this time around. He’s since softened his stance on moving to Raw or Smackdown and is possibly being given one last dance at the top before putting over the next generation.

As WWE NXT continues to push through its rebrand it will be interesting to see which performers continue to excel, are moved to the main roster, or end up being underutilized after a strong run before the change.