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4 NXT legends struggling under Triple H on the WWE main roster

By Methodius Uwizera
Modified Oct 08, 2024 01:40 IST
Some leading lights of the Black and Gold era have hit a ceiling on the main roster [Images from WWE.com]
Some leading lights of the Black and Gold era have seemingly hit a ceiling on the main roster [Images from WWE.com]

Before Paul "Triple H" Levesque was WWE's Chief Content Officer, he was the head of creative in the company's developmental brand, NXT. The King Of Kings oversaw arguably the most acclaimed era of the third brand, featuring a grittier presentation culminating in thrilling matches involving the greatest independent wrestling stars of the 2010s.

When The Game took over main roster creative duties, he was expected to exert the Black and Gold influence on RAW and SmackDown. As part of this, he was expected to rehabilitate his former NXT top stars who had been floundering under Vince McMahon. While there has been an upturn for stars like Rhea Ripley and Sami Zayn, other stars are still struggling as much, if not more, under Triple H.

More than two years into his regime, here are four of his WWE NXT favorites currently struggling on the main roster

#4: Shayna Baszler has never hit her NXT heights on the WWE main roster

The Queen Of Spades has had a solid but rarely extraordinary main roster run [Image from WWE.com]
The Queen Of Spades has had a solid but rarely extraordinary main roster run [Image from WWE.com]

From 2017 to 2020, Shayna Baszler was one of if not the most feared women in NXT under Triple H. The Submission Magician tore through all challengers, defeating the likes of Ember Moon, Kairi Sane, Bianca Belair, and more en route to becoming the first two-time NXT Women's champion and longest combined reigning holder of that title.

Baszler's main roster run kicked off with a bang, bringing a top-two Royal Rumble finish and a WrestleMania 36 world title match. Vince McMahon was then rumored to have canceled her planned push, making her a staple of the tag division instead. Under Triple H, she has received more individual focus, peaking with a Summerslam win over Ronda Rousey.

Alas, attempts to capitalize on that momentum have not gone as planned, and she is currently right back in the tag division, rebuilding for the umpteenth time.

#3: Legendary NXT champion Shinsuke Nakamura is in WWE main roster creative limbo after a brief resurgence

Shinsuke Nakamura arrived to WWE NXT as an NJPW legend, having been the youngest ever IWGP Heavyweight Champion and won 12 titles in total. He made an immediate splash, having a widely-acclaimed bout with Sami Zayn at NXT Takeover: Dallas on his way to becoming a two-time NXT champion. He was quickly called up, arriving on SmackDown after WrestleMania 33.

Like Baszler, he arrived with a bang, winning the Royal Rumble in his first year before eventually losing momentum. He floundered in the mid-card under Vince McMahon before Triple H took over and gave him a main event push opposite World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins and Cody Rhodes.

Since that resurgence, he has barely featured on WWE RAW despite seemingly being healthy, suggesting that The Game and his team have no plans for him. One can only wonder whether The King of Strong Style will ever hit the heights of his Black and Gold days again.

#2: Karrion Kross is yet to connect with the WWE main roster audience under Triple H

Karrion Kross was a two-time WWE NXT champion under Triple H, establishing himself as one of the standouts of the Black and Gold era during the pandemic. Kross's mystical presentation benefitted from the pandemic era's focus on a more cinematic production style, making him one of the most menacing superstars on the brand.

Like many callups, his success did not translate to the main roster, with his career under Vince McMahon immediately doomed by a baffling gimmick tweak which saw him wear a mask. He was soon released before later returning under Triple H, staring down Roman Reigns and Drew McIntyre on the same night.

The Game has since booked him against legends like McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, and Rey Mysterio, but he has yet to win over the fans' affection. Many of his fans are hopeful he can return to and exceed the heights of his NXT days as one of Triple H's biggest stars.

#1: Finn Balor just can't seem to win big matches on the WWE main roster under Triple H

You can't have a conversation about the greatest WWE NXT Superstar of the Black and Gold era without including Finn Balor. A two-time and longest-combined reigning NXT Champion, the Demon King was at the center of many legendary feuds and moments on the third brand. He even had arguably the greatest callup in history, becoming the first-ever Universal Champion within weeks.

Unfortunately, an injury suffered during his SummerSlam title match with Seth Rollins forced him to relinquish the title, and he has never regained it since. Balor was perpetually in the upper midcard under Vince McMahon but could never break through in a scene dominated by the likes of Brock Lesnar. Under Triple H, he has had more main event opportunities but never seems to win when it matters.

Following his latest big match loss to Damian Priest after falling multiple times to Seth Rollins and Gunther, some fans fear The Prince will never become World Champion again. However, given how much focus he and The Judgment Day receive, there's a very good chance that The King of Kings will prove them wrong.