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Bobby Lashley on his first night back in a WWE ring.
Bobby Lashley on his first night back in a WWE ring.Credit: WWE.com

Full Projections for Bobby Lashley and Every New Superstar on WWE's Main Roster

The Doctor Chris MuellerApr 12, 2018

The Raw and SmackDown episodes following WrestleMania are arguably the biggest of the year due to the number of debuts we typically see.

This year was no different. Six Superstars were called up from NXT, and one returned after being gone from the company for over 10 years.

It's hard to believe, but the last time we saw Lashley in a WWE ring before Monday was at The Great American Bash in 2007 in a match against Mr. Kennedy.

With the Superstar Shake-up scheduled for next week, we could see even more call-ups and returns.

Let's take a look at each new and returning Superstar's potential on WWE's main roster.

No Way Jose

1 of 5

The first NXT call-up on Raw was the dancing machine, No Way Jose. This came as something of a surprise because he has been relatively inactive in NXT recently.

Jose was accompanied to the ring by a conga line in New Orleans. There is no indication of whether or not this will be a regular part of his gimmick or if it was a one-time thing for his debut.

Either way, No Way Jose doesn't have a great chance of success on the main roster if history is anything to go by.

He is a good in-ring performer with a big personality, but anyone who dances as part of their character tends to be used to put other people over after their initial push cools off.

Here is a list of some of the dancing wrestlers who barely made it to the middle of the card:

  • Alex Wright
  • The Disco Inferno
  • 3 Count
  • Men on a Mission
  • Brodus Clay
  • DJ Gabriel
  • Summer Rae
  • R-Truth
  • Flash Funk

Then again, there are always exceptions to the rule. Naomi, The New Day and Too Cool have found plenty of success while busting a move.

No Way Jose needs to build a large following quickly if he hopes to avoid the same fate as some of the names listed above. 

Ember Moon

2 of 5

Raw only got one addition to the women's division on Monday, but it was one of the biggest call-ups of the week.

Ember Moon made a successful debut in a tag team match with Nia Jax against Alexa Bliss and Mickie James, just 48 hours after Shayna Baszler defeated her for the NXT Women's Championship.

Moon received a huge ovation when her music hit, and fans were even chanting her name in anticipation of her arrival before they knew it would be her.

The War Goddess already has a reputation as someone who can deliver top-notch wrestling against a variety of opponents, and there are even a few people on Raw she has faced before.

Moon will add more variety to an already deep women's roster. The idea of seeing her face stars like Bayley, Sasha Banks and Asuka should get any fan excited for what's to come.

The Authors of Pain

3 of 5

Not only did The Authors of Pain make a clear statement by dominating Heath Slater and Rhyno in less than two minutes during their Raw debut, but they also ditched their manager, the legendary Paul Ellering.

Akam and Rezar have been running roughshod over the NXT tag team division for the better part of two years, and it looks like they are going to continue their winning ways on the main roster.

For two guys the size of refrigerators, Akam and Rezar are surprisingly quick on their feet and have already shown a willingness to take risks when necessary.

They might not have as much experience cutting promos as other teams, but they can easily pull off the strong, silent gimmick. 

There is a good chance they will win the Tag Team Eliminator and face The Bar for the vacant tag titles at The Greatest Royal Rumble on April 27.

Putting them in the hunt for the belts right away shows WWE has faith in their ability to win over the crowd quickly with their brand of brutality. 

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Bobby Lashley

4 of 5

Bobby Lashley's return has been speculated in wrestling circles for the past couple of years, but nobody was ever sure if it would happen.

Lashley seemed happy working his own schedule while also pursuing MMA, but after a decade, WWE's appeal must have been too much to resist.

The former United States champion is the kind of athlete Vince McMahon loves. He is built like a tank, has the speed of a man half his size and has improved tenfold since his first run.

The obvious dream match would pit Lashley against Brock Lesnar at some point down the line, but WWE may want to wait until the entire WWE Universe knows who he is.

A whole new generation of fans has started watching pro wrestling since Lashley was released in 2008, and many of them don't watch Impact Wrestling. He needs a little time to establish himself, but once he does, he will be unstoppable.

The Iconic Duo

5 of 5

SmackDown only featured two call-ups from NXT, but they are going to have a big impact on the women's division.

Peyton Royce and Billie Kay, known collectively as The Iconic Duo, established themselves as some of the best heels in the entire company in one segment. 

Their mean-girl personas are nothing new, but they do it so much better than Laycool, The Bella Twins or The Beautiful People ever did.

They may have received a babyface reaction from the crowd in New Orleans, but it's not going to take long for them to start getting the kind of heat they were generating in NXT.

If WWE has plans to start a women's tag team division, The Iconic Duo should be at the top of the list of duos to hold the titles first.

Their brutal attack on Charlotte set the stage for a potential feud, especially since they cost her the women's title in the process. If WWE is pairing The Iconic Duo up with The Queen right away, management must be confident in their skills. 


Which new Superstar do you think has the best chance of finding success on the main roster?

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