Predicting NXT Call Ups For RAW

Written By Ben Hercik

We are slowly approaching the time of year folks. The post Wrestlemania call ups. While their are some that many of us expect, but let’s face it, NXT is a whole lot better than the main roster right now. So let's look at which members of the NXT Roster would do well with a call up to Monday Night RAW.

Let’s face it, Raw has a lot of issues right now. I go more in depth on this on the NXT UK section of this 4 part series, but they are the depth of each division and the overall wrestling ability of their roster. Don’t get it wrong, there are good wrestlers on Raw, like Seth Rollins and Sasha Banks to name a few. I think that many of these wrestler can help that if they are utilized correctly.

*DISCLAIMER* Before starting this list, I made these lists with the thought of only including those who have made their debuts on NXT, The Mae Young Classic, or who are just jobbers for right now on NXT. These lists don’t include Punishment Martinez, Chelsey Green, Dominik Dijakovic, Humberto Carrillo (Ultimo Ninja), Marcel Bartel (Axel Dieter Jr) Tegan Nox (Due to Injury), Jessamyn Duke, or Marina Shafir.

EC3

I remember when EC3 was still Derrick Bateman and on the 4th season of NXT, when it was still rookies and pros. Man, how things have changed. EC3 is someone who I went back and forth on for some time in deciding on where he should go. He would work well on Raw and Smackdown, but I settled on Raw, simply because there are more matches that I want to see him have. EC3 has a skill that would really help him thrive on RAW. He is great on the mic and, while he is not the best wrestler in the ring, he is still really good. His character screams heel, and on a show where the only people that get booed consistently are Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, and Roman Reigns, another heel would be very helpful for RAW.

Kassius Ohno

I am not just saying this because I want to see Ohno vs Rollins in a WWE ring, I promise! Ohno brings something to the table that many wrestlers his size don’t usually have, and that is his agility. Ohno’s suicide dive fake out top rope flip is something of beauty. Ohno’s wrestling ability is a thing of legend now. Most fans have heard of his matches with C.M. Punk, Tyler Black (Seth Rollins), Bryan Danielson, and Samoa Joe. Ohno being on RAW would be the right decision because aside from a handful of guys, Rollins, Ambrose, McIntyre, and Ziggler, Ohno would be one of the best pure wrestlers on the RAW Roster.

Keith Lee

The Man of the Hour, before Lio Rush took that name, has just debuted in NXT and I’m already talking about his call up. Keith Lee has the most charisma I’ve ever seen a wrestler possess and it is crazy. In the limited amount of time he has had in a WWE ring, Lee has shown tremendous power and athleticism that many fans of independent wrestling have known about for years. Lee would work well on Raw because his charisma and skill work better on that brand. He just has something about him that screams entertainer. Just imagine seeing big Keith Lee flying through the air on Monday nights.

Lars Sullivan

If you haven’t seen Lars before, imagine a more compact version of Braun Strowman. This man is a throwback to the old days of wrestling. When you think of old school WWF, Lars Sullivan would fit right in. He is 6’2”, 303 pounds of a big scary man, and it makes me wonder why Vince hasn’t called him up yet. Lars going to Raw is the best case scenario. Just imagine Lars vs McIntyre, Lars vs Reigns, Lars vs Corbin, and so many more. What Lars lacks in wrestling skill, he makes up for it in his pure power. And while Lars isn’t the tallest, he would still be one of the most powerful in the land of the giants.

Tomasso Ciampa

This one may be the biggest surprise of the group, as we all know how great of a wrestler Tommaso Ciampa is. There are actually 2 reasons that I want Tommaso on Raw. One is that this way he stays away from Johnny Gargano so their feud can still feel special and have next to no contact for a long time. Also this would work because of how Ciampa has been referring to himself on Twitter, and now NXT. Tommaso is calling himself the greatest sports entertainer of all time. While I do think that Ciampa would be a great fit for Smackdown, Raw needs him more. Raw is lacking pure wrestlers, and Tommaso can be a real solution for that problem. Also, can you imagine Ciampa vs Ambrose in an extreme rules match? That would be a great sight to see. I mean it may be bloody, debris everywhere, and both men injured, but that would be awesome! Right?

The Velveteen Dream

When the Dream is in the ring, he always finds new ways to surprise us. Whether it’s his in ring action, his attire, his promo skills, or some other weird 4th thing, we all are in awe when Dream steps through those ropes. The best thing about Velveteen Dream is that he is an amazing entertainer, who always loves to put on a show. For that reason, I think Dream on Raw makes sense. You use the man that has some of the best work over the past year, and someone who helps prove that the WWE can still make their own stars, and use him on your flagship show. Raw sometimes seems to be lacking something on shows, and it alternates every week it seems. Velveteen Dream can help with that.

Heavy Machinery

The RAW tag team division sucks, plain and simple. Well, minus AOP and Revival of course, and I don’t count McIntyre and Ziggler as a team as that is temporary while other teams will be together for a lot longer.So these next 3 slots are here to help that issue. Heavy Machinery is a very young team, but one that is very entertaining. If they ever were going to be serious, then they could be scary. Otis Dozovic and Tucker Knight are two of the best kept secrets of NXT, with Dozovic even winning the PWI Rookie of the year in 2017 from Pro Wrestling Illustrated. These two would work on RAW because of the sheer size and entertainment factors. While they are both big and very entertaining, they can also turn it on in the ring. This tandem may be the best pair of big men wrestlers since Big Show and Kane.

Street Profits

These two men just love to have a good time when their out their. They are very unique team that is very reminiscent to Cryme Tyme in the way that whenever they go out their, they just have fun. Dawkins and Ford are two of the most impressive wrestlers that I had never seen footage of before watching NXT. I honestly thought that they were Performance Center products created by WWE. This team would really help boost the RAW tag team division, and allow for them to to work a more freestyle, and the tag scene on Raw could use. It often gets a little stale at times, and the Street Profits could really help the show as a breath of fresh air to that division.

War Raiders

Now for a team that can anchor the division for years to come here. The War Raiders have come to the WWE and now there are matches that they can finally have, against the likes of The Revival or A.O.P. These guys are two guys that will probably spend the rest of their careers. While they would do great on Smackdown, that tag scene is pretty crowded at times.With teams like New Day, The Bar, The Usos, Sanity, Bludgeon Brothers, and The Club. The only real teams on Raw are The Revival, A.O.P., and The B-Team. If you add War Raiders, and the other two on the list, then we have a solid division. These two would work perfectly on RAW due to the fact that, while yes they are solid in the ring, they aren’t the best wrestlers. These two are very solid and their style of wrestling is perfect for RAW.