Getting called up from NXT is a huge moment, but according to a new backstage report, WWE has been reminding some newer stars that the honeymoon doesn’t last forever.
Speaking during a Self Made Session, Self Made Pro revealed he’s been told there’s been an issue with some recent NXT call-ups, particularly talent who came through WWE’s NIL and homegrown system instead of spending years on the independent scene. It was added that some of those wrestlers got called up, received strong pushes right away and started believing that was simply how things were always going to be.
“Apparently there’s been an issue with some NXT call-ups when it comes to ego because a lot of these people… when you haven’t been in the business outside of WWE, and you get called up and you get pushed early, you almost have this expectation that you’re just supposed to always be pushed.”
He said that mindset has rubbed some people backstage the wrong way. From what he’s heard, officials and producers have been making it clear that nobody is guaranteed to stay on top forever, even if they debut with a championship or a big push.
“That has led to some resentment with officials and producers looking at certain talents going like, ‘Hey, that’s not actually how it works. You’re not entitled to a push.’ And just because you got called up and got a belt right away, you’re not always going to have one. At times there’s going to be ups and downs.”
According to the report, it was noted that WWE also wants to make sure newer talent understands they don’t have the kind of creative influence that established names like Roman Reigns have earned over the years.
“One of the things they wanted to drill in with some of the newer call-ups is to let them know that it’s not always going to be like that… because there’s been some entitlement issues with some NXT call-ups because of that.
This is not me saying they’re going to cool off Oba Femi, but I’m just saying, like, they also don’t want NXT call-ups even thinking they could, like, they have any level of creative sway like a Roman Reigns. Also, like, that’s like a no-no. So even Oba has to kind of be like, ‘Thank you, sir, very much.’”
Whether it’s Oba Femi or any other call-up, the message being sent is pretty simple: a hot start is great, but nobody is bigger than the process. In WWE, today’s rocket push can become tomorrow’s rebuild, and it sounds like officials want everyone to understand that from day one.
Do you think WWE’s NIL system creates different expectations than coming up through the independent scene, or is this just part of adjusting to life on the main roster? Let us know in the comments below.
This transcript was produced exclusively for Ringside News from the original recording. Republishing the transcription in full is prohibited. When using excerpts, provide prominent credit and a link to this article.
