NXT Callup News (Potential Spoilers)

[mistery]

Gunther and Marcel Barthel are being discussed as part of an NXT callup, according to Fightful Select. Also there is talk of LA Knight and Tommaso Ciampa being moved to the main roster.

WWE is considering calling up Imperium to the main roster. Fightful Select reports there have been internal discussions about the move with SmackDown being the brand that they join should the decision be made. It was said the call-up could happen as early as this weekend.

The pitch specifically involves Gunther and Marcel Barthel going to the main roster, but not Fabian Aichner.

This would explain why Gunther was booked to lose to NXT Champion Bron Breakker in the main event of Tuesday’s NXT as well as Aichner and Barthel dropping the NXT Tag Team Titles in a triple threat match to MSK this past Saturday at Stand & Deliver, although Nash Carter of MSK has since been released by the company.

It was said that once Gunther moved to the United States, the plan had always been to bring him to the main roster on either Raw or SmackDown. WWE typically does NXT talent call-ups right after WrestleMania.

wrestlingnews.co/wwe-news/two-top-wwe-nxt-2-0-stars-could-be-headed-to-the-main-roster-soon/

To add onto this, SRS was asked in his podcast earlier today about Io Shirai and if she is getting called up. The answer right now is no. She's not slated to be called up any time soon apparently.

[Deleted]

Give me Gunther vs. Drew. Drew needs a program like that after working with Jinder and Happy Corbin for so long.

I... just flat out don't understand not calling Io up. But that's a discussion I'll stay out of since there's nothing else I can really say.

[Nosnorb]

Not sure that Tommy Sports Entertainment is going to the main roster, didn't he say his body was battered and it couldn't handle a full time schedule?

LA Knight, he should absolutely be brought up. Dude is great on the mic, not too shabby in the ring.

[Deleted]

Apr 6, 2022 15:33:58 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Not sure that Tommy Sports Entertainment is going to the main roster, didn't he say his body was battered and it couldn't handle a full time schedule?

LA Knight, he should absolutely be brought up. Dude is great on the mic, not too shabby in the ring.

Knight could easily be a top face on the main roster, but... you know.

[Totorob101]

Think Io will probably leave soon if indeed they have no need or want for her on the main roster and it's clear she isnt going to be used to much now on 2.0 so hopefully E does the right thing and let's her go elsewhere as she is the best womens wrestler on the planet.

[mistery]

Apr 6, 2022 15:33:12 GMT -5 @dax said:

Give me Gunther vs. Drew. Drew needs a program like that after working with Jinder and Happy Corbin for so long.

I... just flat out don't understand not calling Io up. But that's a discussion I'll stay out of since there's nothing else I can really say.

I dunno why they won't call Io up either. It's likely because Vince or Bruce sees no real value in her. Bruce especially has a problem with Asian women. See how he handled the Kabuki Warriors as a good example of this. Paige not so subtly implied on her Twitch stream at one point that they weren't pushed as a featured act on Smackdown because Bruce didn't think they would get over because they are "too foreign". But once they got to RAW and were under Heyman's creative direction, they ended up becoming one of the most over acts in the company. And it's little wonder their stock immediately fell once Bruce took over RAW as well.

[Deleted]

I hope SRS is wrong about Io much like he was wrong about how he said Seth would not be on Raw monday even though yes they are vastly different.

But if not then Io time to start lookin for the exit honey because it is absoloute horseshit you are kept in developmental STILL wasting your prime years away , get out because every other company will be chomping at the bit to have you.

[ThankGodForSidJustice]

So I guess Gunther and Barthel are going to be a tag team? Don't really get that as I thought the previous layout of Imperium was much better. I guess they need to keep Fabian behind because they need people for Tony D's crew when they do the Mafia vs. Cartel feud they teased last night.

[ayumidah]

Apr 6, 2022 15:33:58 GMT -5 Nosnorb said:

Not sure that Tommy Sports Entertainment is going to the main roster, didn't he say his body was battered and it couldn't handle a full time schedule?

He's been working a main roster schedule along with his NXT schedule for awhile. He's been on Main Event off and on for the last couple months, dark matches. Things like that.

This was from December:

Tommaso Ciampa has high hopes for his main roster debut for WWE and he is specifically hoping to get into the 2022 Men’s Royal Rumble Match.

Ciampa believes that 2022 will be his year. The year would start on the perfect note if he finally gets the chance to be a part of the Royal Rumble.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Tomasso Ciampa revealed that despite WrestleMania being the pinnacle for many, he has always held the Royal Rumble close to his heart.

The current NXT Champion stated that the surprise factor of the Rumble is one of the most exciting aspects for him. The Royal Rumble is known for its surprise debuts, returns and twists which keep fans on the edge of their seats.



The speculation now is he may get a short main roster run before he shifts to being a full time trainer.

More time off during the pandemic or just less house shows in general may have swayed him.

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Io being stuck in developmental was a questionable move when it was a real show and they could at least use her as their top draw. Keeping her there now, toiling away doing nothing is just about the worst possible statement on thow much they value here. I'd drop an in-joke here from Prichard's podcast if i could stand having my ears waterboarded long enough to know what its in-jokes are.

And RIP Fabian Aichner in all this I guess.

[Deleted]

Fabian Archer is insanely talented but the dude looks like default on a CAW.

[knsffa]

No Io? No Dakota? No Raquel? No Nikkita Lyons doing dual brands? I mean, I'll believe Dakota when I see it and gl83 made some good points about her development recently favoring a stay where she is. I actually am surprised about Io despite many doubting she ever will be. Raquel is always on her way up so no shocker there. She'll be the next lifer. Actually not joking about Lyons, I would be surprised if they aren't at least considering that for social media reasons.

[asuka007]

Fabian being part of Tony D’s crew against Legado is a pretty reasonable bet if this report is true. He is Italian after all.

[jhbboy198917]

Said it earlier if Cesaro was still around he'd be the perfect 3rd person for IMPERIUM to replace Fabian

[mistery]

Apr 6, 2022 15:46:03 GMT -5 knsffa said:

No Io? No Dakota? No Raquel? No Nikkita Lyons doing dual brands? I mean, I'll believe Dakota when I see it and gl83 made some good points about her development recently favoring a stay where she is. I actually am surprised about Io despite many doubting she ever will be. Raquel is always on her way up so no shocker there. She'll be the next lifer. Actually not joking about Lyons, I would be surprised if they aren't at least considering that for social media reasons.

He said he would try and find out more names as the week rolls on.

Apr 6, 2022 15:43:17 GMT -5 This Player Hating Mothman said:

Io being stuck in developmental was a questionable move when it was a real show and they could at least use her as their top draw. Keeping her there now, toiling away doing nothing is just about the worst possible statement on how much they value her. I'd drop an in-joke here from Prichard's podcast if i could stand having my ears waterboarded long enough to know what its in-jokes are.

And RIP Fabian Aichner in all this I guess.

I mean does it really shock you? They took the title off of her and put it on Raquel who crashed and burned as champion, and then put it on Mandy who then pinned Io clean. Despite Mandy pretty much crashing and burning as well. People joke about Toxic Attraction being some big deal but in reality they...kinda are not good for the division.

It's painfully obvious at this point they are just toying with Io. She's made it explicitly clear she wants to be called up and make an impact on a bigger stage. It's why I'm fully behind the theory that when her current contract is up, WWE is going to freak out like they did with Cole and Gargano and offer her a bunch of stuff (including a callup), but she'll go elsewhere because it's hard to trust WWE after they yank you around like that.

This is why I have a very strong dislike of NXT 2.0. Talented women like Io are being shoved completely to the side in favor of Toxic Attraction, Tiffany Stratton, Nikkita Lyons, and Lash Legend.

[Legion]

It's possible they are keeping Io in NXT because they see she is the only substantial ratings popper they have.

Better to keep here there as an attraction they can bank on than move her up and know they wont do shit with her.

[mistery]

Apr 6, 2022 15:54:33 GMT -5 Legion said:

It's possible they are keeping Io in NXT because they see she is the only substantial ratings popper they have.

Better to keep here there as an attraction they can bank on than move her up and know they wont do shit with her.

If they saw her as a ratings draw, they would put the title back on her instead of keeping it on Mandy, and build up the division around a woman who can actually wrestle and carry green workers. But instead they had her eat the pin at Stand and Deliver to Mandy who is absolutely going to crash and burn on the main roster again once she gets called up, because she spent like 6 years being nothing more than a jobber.

It's obvious they are still trying to rely on sex appeal. Look at last night's show where they put the titles back on Jacy and Gigi.

[Legion]

Apr 6, 2022 15:57:31 GMT -5 mistery said:

Apr 6, 2022 15:54:33 GMT -5 Legion said:

It's possible they are keeping Io in NXT because they see she is the only substantial ratings popper they have.

Better to keep here there as an attraction they can bank on than move her up and know they wont do shit with her.

If they saw her as a ratings draw, they would put the title back on her instead of keeping it on Mandy, and build up the division around a woman who can actually wrestle and carry green workers. But instead they had her eat the pin at Stand and Deliver to Mandy who is absolutely going to crash and burn on the main roster again once she gets called up, because she spent like 6 years being nothing more than a jobber.

It's obvious they are still trying to rely on sex appeal. Look at last night's show where they put the titles back on Jacy and Gigi.

I dont think they know what they are doing with NXT.

They changed two title changes within 3 days of them happening.

But, I stick with them seeing Io as more useful as an NXT draw in whatever role than knowing they wont bother doing anything with her on the main roster.

[J is Justice]

This sucks.

[Deleted]

Imagine having this level of female talent and doing nothing but keeping her in your developmental.