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| Understated red jacket on Kendrick there. |
While neither Kendrick nor Rhyno have signed new
contracts with WWE both have had profiles added to NXT's website roster section.
Neither man wrestled more than the one match lready mentioned at the most
recent set of tapings so this indicates that they're going to be involved with
the show long-term. Without a contract they remain free to accept bookings
elsewhere, essentially making NXT another indy on their schedule. Which
benefits them as they remain free agents with their profiles being raised with
the NXT appearances. It should see them get more non-WWE work. Meanwhile it
benefits WWE because they get two guys who appeal to NXT's target audience of
"smart" fans and gives the relatively inexperienced roster two
well-travelled lads to work with and learn from.
It's a development that moves NXT a step closer to
becoming its own entity. It adds two guys who can wrestle the current indy
style that NXT partly takes its inspiration from, which is what helps to give
it its own identity. This is important to note as expanding NXT is something
Triple H (the man in charge of the group, not
Vince McMahon) has mentioned he feels could be achieved in several NXT-related
interviews.
Kendrick and Rhyno are two of the best guys that could
have been brought in. They have very different styles, Rhyno being a big,
brawling behemoth and Kendrick being a smaller, more technical guy. They even
have different backgrounds in the business, with Rhyno having made his initial
impact by Goring anyone and everyone through tables in ECW and Kendrick being
one of the early standouts of Ring of Honor. They're both familiar with the WWE
style but different enough that they can bring out different things in matches.
And, as mentioned, helping the NXT roster to learn is a large part of why
they've been brought back.
It will be interesting to see if other former mid-carders
will return in the future. There's no shortage of wrestlers who had loads of talent
and never got to showcase it on WWE television because of the way shows are
timed. There are obvious guys like Evan Bourne, Shelton Benjamin and Carlito,
along with people who'd be easy to overlook like Steve Blackman and Sean
'X-Pac' Waltman.
A guy like Paul London would be interesting, especially
considering his tag team history with Kendrick, but with his well documented
dislike of the WWE system that's unlikely. John Morrison would be great too,
though his current deal with Lucha Underground and his pursuit of acting and
comedy gigs makes an appearance from him unlikely.
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| An ideal female additions to NXT. |
It's not just guys either. Lisa Marie 'Victoria' Varon
and Mickie James are two female wrestlers currently not under contract to a
wrestling promotion. One of them would be an ideal addition to NXT's already
strong women's division. He signing of one of these two women (or someone
similar) is actually far more likely than any of the names mentioned above. They'd
be filling the role Kendrick and Rhyno are for the guys.
While the entire purpose of NXT would be negated with the
signing of all of these names bringing in one or two could be interesting for
the satellite league. It allows familiar faces to be seen in a new light and to
have their abilities fully appreciated. That said I'm perfectly happy with the
way the men's roster is right now. Rhyno and Kendrick provide a perfect balance
and are the ideal long-term additions from the ranks of former mid-carders. Either
of them taking on the current crop of NXT headliners is an appealing prospect. As
is the thought of them facing off with the alleged-to-be-incoming Samoa Joe.
Should he sign the roster will become so packed with feature-worthy talent
it'll be tough to make use of everyone already there. So the last thing we need
is an influx of returnees. Still, it's nice to idly think about candidates for
the veteran spots.
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