Donald Trump, Samoa Joe, NXT and More from the Independent Wrestling Mailbag

Donald Trump is such a hotbed for controversy, he is beginning to bleed into WWE conversations. Change.org currently has at least two petitions demanding Trump be removed from the WWE Hall of Fame. Does this mean Trump is bad for business?

Dump Trump?

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@ThisIsNasty Considering how it reacted to Hulk Hogan's racism, should @WWE remove Donald Trump from the HOF?

— Jordan Smith (@JSmith_FOX6) December 9, 2015

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WWE Hall of Famer Donald Trump continues to dominate headlines with his own brand of shock politics. Despite steady support and strong poll numbers, he always seems one rant away from going too far.

Given the politically charged nature of Trump's controversies, it is no place for WWE to get involved at this point. Until one of these stunts results in universal condemnation of Trump—the type that will turn off even his most staunch supporters—WWE risks isolating many members of its audience by taking a political stand and banning Trump.

Ever the provocateur and promoter, at least a small part of Vince McMahon has to be loving Trump's attention-grabbing antics. In fact, as Trump's momentum continues to crystallize as the real deal, don't be surprised if WWE reaches out to the former WrestleMania headliner for an appearance and much-needed ratings boost on Raw.

In-de-cline

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@ThisIsNasty Hey! Just curious: what's the alternative to folks from the indie circuit? Just tryna figure out what you mean by home grown.

— Warren G-Von (@Jordasch) December 6, 2015

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With the rise of NXT, WWE can create its own version of Internet darlings and the IWC wouldn't know the difference.

There is no need to build around the high-risk aging veterans from the indie circuit who have been slaughtered by injuries in 2015. Sure, anybody can get hurt in pro wrestling, which is even more reason to shy away from talents with so many proverbial highway miles. WWE can't possibly be surprised with all these injuries to former independent/international stars, can they?

That's like a buying a 1999 Mercedes with 200,000 miles and three accidents, and when it breaks down, chalking it up to bad luck.

WWE can use stars like Tyler Breeze, Enzo Amore and Colin Cassady as examples. None of those WWE Superstars have a lengthy track record of taking bumps from a shady promoter in a high school gym, yet they are among the most popular acts in NXT history.

As I mentioned on a recent installment of WZ Daily, NXT is widely viewed as the cool product. Home-grown talents can develop and connect with hardcore fans without being 30-something free-agent signings.

Full Sail Joe  

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@ThisIsNasty With all the expected NXT call ups, who do you consider NXT mainstays?

— V (@MrVDawg) December 10, 2015

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Earlier this year I said Samoa Joe would have more success in NXT than WWE. I still believe that to be true. Samoa Joe is the prototypical example of what an NXT mainstay should be.

At 36, I'm not sure Joe's body would hold up with a full-time WWE schedule. It's doubtful WWE Creative would even know how to use him properly. Samoa Joe is more marketable to the die-hard wrestling fans who watch NXT. It takes a significant investment on the main roster to make WWE fans truly care, but that's an investment WWE really shouldn't be making on a man pushing 40. 

NXT is a budding business and needs a core group of name-brand stars in order to continue surging. That's where utility veterans like Samoa Joe come in handy. As much as fans love to fantasy book the pipe dream of Samoa Joe making a significant impact in WWE, he is a better fit for NXT and should stay put.

Alfred Konuwa is a featured columnist and on-air host for Bleacher Report. LIKE him on Facebook, and subscribe to his weekly wrestling podcast.