Why Undisputed Era Never Made It to WWE’s Main Roster

The Undisputed Era was one of the most dominant and beloved factions in NXT history—but they never made it to WWE’s main roster.

During an with TMZ Inside the Ring, Bobby Fish finally explained why the group was never called up to Raw or SmackDown, and according to him, it came down to a mix of bad timing, backstage chaos, and a premature breakup.

Fish made it clear the idea of bringing the group up was on the table, “I think it was considered. I think it was given quite a bit of consideration.” But that plan never came together—and Fish believes the COVID-19 era played a huge role in derailing those plans.

“Why it didn’t happen? I think maybe more timing than anything else. And then eventually, like, we’re in the COVID era—no pun intended. I don’t think that did us any favors.”

Advertising

Advertising

Fish said things began to shift creatively after the group’s WarGames feud with Pat McAfee. What was supposed to be a longer arc got cut short due to contract-related issues with McAfee.

“I do know for a fact that some of what happened booking-wise after the fourth WarGames, where we wrestled Pat McAfee and that group… I know there was, obviously, they ironed things out eventually because Pat is there—but there was a contract something-or-other going on there.”

Once that story was scrapped, WWE didn’t seem to have a strong next step for the faction. That’s when the wheels started to fall off.

“That’s as much as I knew, but we weren’t going to continue with that storyline. So that’s where it was like, ‘Okay, well, what else do we do with UE?’ And I think they pulled the trigger on the split prematurely.”

Fish believes the breakup came far too soon—and the group was still white hot when WWE chose to end things.

“I think the powers that be at that time would probably agree with me saying that. I think that would’ve been the time to bring us up because that would have given us a fresh coat of paint.”

He said the decision was a result of circumstances out of their control, and the group got swept up in the confusion.

“We just got caught up in that mix—wrong place, wrong time. And they pulled the trigger on a split earlier than anybody wanted to see.”

Even now, Fish thinks that lost opportunity is part of why fans still want to see the Undisputed Era reunited on a major stage.

“That was pretty evident. And I think that’s still why you have the clamorings now of just seeing the four of us together on screen. It hasn’t been. And absence makes the heart grow fonder, right? My mom says that to me all the time.”

The truth hurts for longtime fans of the faction, but Fish’s honesty pulls back the curtain on one of WWE’s most questioned creative calls of the last decade.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.