WWE WrestleMania 33: Our Post-Show NXT Main Roster Call Up Predictions

The Road to WrestleMania is always an exciting one, isn’t it?

What’s even more of a thrill is seeing who the newest members of the main roster are after the “Showcase of the Immortals” concludes. WrestleMania 33 will feature the best of Raw and SmackDown Live in some of the biggest matches in professional wrestling for 2017. But right now, we’re not going to focus too much on the “Grandaddy of ‘Em All.” We’re looking towards the future. It’s no secret that several members of the NXT roster will make their way up to one of WWE’s two main brands and start anew. After looking through the NXT talent pool and following their progress up until now, we found a group of Superstars who deserve that main roster call up.

Here’s our predictions for which NXT wrestlers will get the call up to Raw and SmackDown Live after ‘Mania 33.

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Asuka (Raw)

NXT’s empress and one of the most dangerous female competitors in wrestling is quite the gem. Asuka has made the transition from Japanese Joshi pro to NXT’s unstoppable world-beater. Her run as the NXT Women’s Champion is one of the strongest reigns we’ve ever been witness to, but we get the feeling that she’s going to be on her way out. Ember Moon is challenging Asuka for her championship at the NXT TakeOver before ‘Mania 33 and this looks like a passing of the guard type of situation. Asuka has been built up perfectly into someone who’s seemingly unbeatable. We see Ember Moon rising up to be the one challenger who ends up besting Asuka once and for all. Once that title change comes to pass, we envision Asuka getting the call up to Raw. Asuka would be the perfect fresh face needed to change up the formula for Raw’s Women’s Division. After that big Fatal 4-Way for the Raw Women’s Championship comes to a close, Asuka should be brought in as the next foil for the new champion. Imagine this – Asuka vs. Charlotte, Asuka vs. Sasha Banks and rematches with Nia Jax and Bailey. Two never before seen matches and bouts that we don’t mind seeing again have us excited for the prospect of Asuka making it to the Raw brand.

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Hideo Itami (Raw)

This pick might seem a bit off, but hear us out – Hideo Itami has been quite the bust on NXT. Let’s all keep it a 100 with each other now! The multitude of injuries he’s had to take time off for has stunted his run on the developmental brand. Now let’s not take anything away from him – Itami is a stiff, hard hitting athlete who’s capable of putting on a good match with foes both big and small. Speaking of small, Raw has a division that’s perfect for Itami’s inclusion. The Cruiserweights could use another hand and Hideo Itami seems ready made to be that extra body the division needs. But we can’t see him coming up to Raw as the bland babyface character he’s adopted in NXT. Itami needs to tap into his Pro Wrestling NOAH origins as the always pissed off, strong style Jr. Heavyweight known as KENTA. Itami can prosper in the Cruiserweight Division against opponents like Aries, Nese, Neville, Gallagher, Tozawa etc. Seeing him on Raw as the WWE’s most dangerous Cruiserweight makes complete sense to us.

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#DIY – Johnny Gargano & Tomasso Ciampa (Raw)

Notice how both of the NXT to Raw call up’s we’ve spoken of stick to the mantra of “save one of Raw’s title pictures.” This next prediction not only calls upon the talents of a tag team that can aid Raw’s tag team division, it also adds two Superstars who can prosper in the Cruiserweight Division. Those quality athletes happen to be NXT’s beloved babyface tandem – #DIY, Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa. We get the feeling that the current NXT Tag Team Champions (The Authors of Pain) will retain after their Triple Threat bout against #DIY and The Revival (more on them later). This 3-way feud will have gone on long enough by that point, which makes us think Gargano and Ciampa will move on to greener…well, redder pastures. Both men could do a great deal at freshening up Raw’s lackluster tag team division (them vs. Gallows & Anderson in a battle of “nerds” vs. the bullies that refer to them as such could be fun). Plus Gargano and Ciampa can be called upon to thrive in the Cruiserweight Division at any time. #DIY’s double duty status could do wonders for Raw.

Shinsuke Nakamura (SmackDown Live)

“The King of Strong Style” left NJPW a star, arrived in NXT as a star and now it’s time for him to be that same star on the Blue Brand. He’s spent plenty of time already in WWE’s developmental brand and enjoyed a good run as the NXT Champion. His NXT TakeOver: Orlando rematch for the championship against Bobby Roode will be his swan song and then it’ll be the right time for him to make that main roster transition. Nakamura can thrive on any WWE brand, but we think he has more interesting dream matches in the works for SmackDown Live. He had a MOTY candidate against AJ Styles during last year’s Wrestle Kingdom, so we’re itching to see them pull off something just as great in the WWE. Then there’s John Cena, of course. He presents one of the more intriguing dynamics when it comes to interacting with Nakamura. Epic bouts against Ziggler, Orton, Wyatt, Ambrose etc. all sound like great opportunities for Nakamura. SmackDown Live’s needs another shining singles star beacon. And that’s most definitely Shinsuke Nakamura.

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The Revival – Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder (SmackDown Live)

The Revival went from no one caring about them to being on everyone’s short list of the greatest modern tag teams. They’re not knock-off’s of The Brain Busters like a lot of old school fans have deemed them. They’ve incorporated the best traits of wrestling duos from the past and given them a present day spin. We always look forward to whatever team they’re set to do war with. The Revival have enjoyed success due to their amazing matches against American Alpha and #DIY. We see them creating magic in the ring once again at NXT TakeOver: Orlando when they take on The Authors of Pain and #DIY. They won’t be winning, if you ask us though. That loss will be devastating to them, without a doubt. But all that sadness will quickly slip away when they get the call up to SD Live. Dawson and Wilder need to “revive” the Blue Brand’s tag team division by putting on the same amazing bouts they’re known to have. The Revival vs. American Alpha? We definitely want to see that again. Plus they can start up a new rivalry with The Usos and create some fresh synergy. Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder could be just what SD Live’s faulty tag team division needs.

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Tye Dillinger (SmackDown Live)

10! 10! 10! 10! One of NXT’s most over personalities has been a part of WWE’s developmental system for a long time now. It’s crazy to think that Tye Dillinger was already on WWE TV several years back on their revival of the ECW brand. After getting released and getting the call to come back to WWE, he’s retooled his gimmick in NXT and transformed into the “Perfect 10.” Even after taking a couple of devastating losses, the crowd still chants his chosen number and treats him like a Superstar when his music hits. We think his final feud in NXT will be the one he’s currently embroiled in with SAnitY. It looks like he’ll come out on the winning end of that feud. Once he’s done dealing with Eric Young and his maniacal stable, we envision Tye taking his “Perfect 10” magic over to SmackDown Live. SD Live’s lower to upper midcard is ripe with the type of talent that can put on something worthwhile against Tye – Ziggler, Crews, Corbin, Ambrose, Harper and so many more. His fan following is strong, so we’re hoping all that audience adoration propels him into the upper stratosphere of the Blue Brand.

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