Just a quick teaser to kill some time before 8PM Eastern and the show that so many of us are waiting for. These are the names that are getting buzz from NXT house shows, or that some indy favorites have assumed now that they're under WWE contract.
I give you...the ones to looks out for!
Baron Corbin
Another former (American) footballer, he's slimmed down considerably from when he was a lineman for the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts (as Tom Pestock). He not only was a teammate of Mojo Rawley's with the Cardinals, but he's a multi-sport star from his amateur days, including a multiple-time Golden Gloves winner for boxing.
He's mostly jobbed on television, but has been given a couple of higher profile spots against guys like Damien Sandow and CJ Parker.
Kalisto
Was Samuray del Sol in independent and international competition prior to signing. If you're thinking Sin Cara, don't. Despite the impressive physique, he can fly and has worked Western and Japanese-style matches enough that he'll be able to work with a wider variety of guys.
Adam Rose
I still don't really understand this one...he was ready for a call-up as Leo Kruger, a South African hunter/soldier of fortune-type. Can you think of any black-clad paramilitary gimmicks on the main shows? That are rumored to be needing reinforcements soon? Me neither.
The dude isn't young, so he may be a developmental lifer now. This new gimmick is rumored to be inspired by Russell Brand's character from Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Get Him to the Greek. NXT has a good track record with high concept characters, but if it wasn't broke.
Whatever the character, the man has the sweetest spinebuster since Arn Anderson.
Oliver Grey
He was one-half of the first tag champs before an injury took him out. He's been seen in The Performance Center footage rocking a Magnus meets John Morrison look.
Scott Dawson
Speaking of Arn Anderson (a guy or so back we were, I swear), NXT announcers always want to paint this guy as the next AA. He seems more like the next Jamie Noble/James Gibson to me. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Not being paired up with Sylvester Lefort when he comes back would probably do wonders for my estimation of the guy.
Simon Gotch
One of the great things about NXT is the Chikara-light aspects that they allow to drift in and actually have the spotlight (sometimes literally, in the case of Aiden English). Indy worker Ryan Drago's new Flex Mentallo inspired scientist strongman character looks to be the latest edition.
Solomon Crowe
He was Sami Callihan. He's like what if Dean Ambrose was a hoss. Working a hacker revolutionary gimmick and probably destined to take over your televisions soon, figuratively if not literally.
Becky Lynch
She's Irish. She can work. She woke up like that.
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That's my list. Who am I missing, Cagesiders? Whose NXT debut (or-re-introduction) are you looking forward to?