Adrian Neville, Uhaa Nation and Latest WWE NXT Developmental News

Adrian Neville's trip to the main roster draws near, while Uhaa Nation has reportedly received an invitation to join the WWE NXT family.

When Neville makes his way out of WWE developmental, he'll apparently require a gimmick transformation. It's a story like his that makes signing with the world's biggest wrestling company far from a no-brainer for someone like Nation. 

In other NXT news, a University of Minnesota alum made his in-ring debut, a top indy tag team decided against heading to Full Sail University and a former NWA champ is now free to be a producer for NXT full-time.

All those wrestlers are at extremely different stages in their careers. NXT acts as the crossroads. It's where Neville has spent the more recent leg of his journey, the precursor to his time at WWE proper.

If WWE goes through with its reported plan for him, he may soon wish he was back at NXT.

Adrian Neville's New Gimmick

PWInsider's Mike Johnson reports that "WWE is prepping a new gimmick for Adrian Neville that has been described to us as 'Mighty Mouse-esque.'"

As much as it sounds like it, that is not a headline from Kayfabe News. That is what WWE reportedly has in mind for Neville on the main roster.

Never mind that he is one of NXT's most popular stars. Never mind how fans gasped in awe when he hit his Red Arrow on Raw. WWE seemingly doesn't think that's good enough.

While the company isn't likely to dress Neville in a cape and mouse ears, a gimmick that is built around his being small is a bad idea. 

Lucha Underground wisely presents Prince Puma as a formidable warrior, not a small guy who happens to be tough as well. Neville has to hope WWE changes its mind and leans more toward this type of angle rather than draw inspiration from a cartoon.

Former Football Player Makes Debut

Digg Rawlis (real name: Mike Rallis) began his NXT career in earnest.

At the Dec. 18 live event in Tampa, Florida, the former University of Minnesota linebacker stepped into the ring for the first time. Per ProFightDB.com, Rawlis teamed with Cal Bishop to take on Sawyer Fulton and Angelo Dawkins of Shoot Nation.

As we have seen with wrestlers like Solomon Crowe and Chad Gable, it can take a long time to go from the live-event stage to debuting on TV. Still, this is an important phase in Rawlis' career.

He's a solidly built powerful athlete whose college football experience will aid him in his footwork.

Tag Team Turns Down WWE Tryout

Not every indy wrestler is willing to drop everything and join WWE developmental. That is the case with Matt and Nick Jackson, The Young Bucks. 

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required; h/t Wrestling Inc) The Young Bucks declined an offer in September for a tryout at WWE. 

Many consider these brothers to be one of the independent circuit's most exciting duos. They have wrestled in Japan and for Ring of Honor, amassing a strong fanbase in the process.

While WWE has swiped the best talent from the indys in the last year, it won't get these two men right now. 

Uhaa Nation Update

Rumors and speculation have surrounded Uhaa Nation, as NXT fans are unsure whether or not to expect him to head to Full Sail University. The latest news suggests that WWE is waiting for him to decide if that's the best path for him.

According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (subscription required; h/t Wrestling Inc), WWE has offered Nation a developmental contract which he has yet to reject or accept.

Nation would be a huge get for WWE. He's an explosive, powerful athlete who will wow fans. He remains one of the best options left for the company to pluck from the independent circuit. 

While The Young Bucks have to worry that the company won't value them properly because of their size, Nation's build is the kind that WWE has coveted throughout the years. He's likely to get plenty of spotlight early on should he sign.

Other News, Notes

Adrian Neville's opportunities on the periphery of the main roster continue.

He and Tyler Breeze worked the dark match before the Main Event taping on Sunday night, per ProFightDB.com. This has been a common occurrence in recent months for The Man Who Gravity Forgot. He's getting a similar shot at the end of the month. PWInsider's Mike Johnson writes that Neville will make his Madison Square Garden debut at a WWE house show on Dec. 26.

Neville, Breeze and others may soon be working with five-time NWA heavyweight champ Adam Pearce again.  

Johnson reports for PWInsider that Pearce announced his retirement from wrestling over the weekend. Johnson also writes, "Pearce worked as a producer on the NXT Takeover: R Evolution last week, so it appears he may be WWE-bound. We've no 100 percent confirmation on that, but the puzzle pieces do seem to fit."

Pearce now certainly has the time to contribute to the NXT product if that's his next step. His 18 years in the business provide him with knowledge aplenty to hand down.