Since evolving from FCW to NXT, WWE's developmental system has been a sometimes revolving door for good talent, which has gone on to see great success in other promotions. Some have been world champions, some have been involved in top level feuds and storylines, while some have failed miserably.
All have, at one point in time or another, been a part of the yellow brand. Here's a look at 10 former NXT Superstars and where they are now.
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1- Kassius Ohno
As we all know, Kassius made a name for himself, long before signing a WWE contract, but he made his name as Chris Hero. Upon arriving in the WWE, he was assigned to the normal developmental process, as expected. The problem was not talent related. It was actually the fact that for whatever reason, WWE creative wanted to completely overhaul and change everything about Kassius. This is where the friction started. However, Ohno still managed to have some really good feuds with the likes of stars such as Richie Steamboat and others.
In November of 2013, Kassius was released from his WWE contract, just as many believed he was on the verge of getting called to the main roster. He was rumoured to be the third member of the Shield instead of Roman Reigns. Apparently, WWE trainers and staff had grown frustrated with his lack of ability to trim down and cut some of the fat, which may have played a role in his release.
Since leaving, he went back to his Chris Hero name and has been continuously one of the most requested talents on the indie scene. He's been booked everywhere and all over the map, including Ring of Honor and Dragon Gate USA.
He’s back in NXT as we speak and has been booked as a top tier talent from the get go.
2- Derrick Bateman
There will come a time when Vince and some of his minions look back at all the talent that they let slip away and some of the talents they lost will sting, deep in their souls. Derrick Bateman will be one of those names.
Bateman was a highly talented star, with his abilities squandered on messy, thrown together tag teams for the sake of filling a card. When he was released in 2013, it wasn't long before TNA noticed his talents and signed him to a contract with Impact Wrestling.
Almost immediately, now known as Ethan Carter III, he became a top tier talent and the unofficial face of Impact, winning the TNA World Championship twice so far. Carter continues to thrive with TNA, with no signs of slowing down.
3- Raquel Diaz
She was once dubbed as the "Queen of FCW," which is the promotion that was once what is now NXT. Raquel is the daughter of wrestling royalty, with her dad being the late Eddie Guerrero and her mother being Vickie Guerrero. She spent roughly four years in wrestling before leaving WWE/NXT in 2014, due to her battle with an eating disorder.
Since leaving wrestling, Diaz has been focusing on her acting and singing career, as well as taking some time to enjoy her new married life. She was married to current WWE Superstar Aiden English of the Vaudevillains.
4- Bull Dempsey
Bull was trained early on by Taz and the late Matt Bourne. At the beginning of his NXT tenure, Bull was booked as a monster heel but struggled to get over with the fans. The creative team then shifted Bull to a more comical, babyface gimmick known as Bull-Fit, which was a little more successful than his previous run.
Bull was released in February of 2016 and went directly back to the independent world, which is where he claims he's most comfortable with as far as his career is concerned. Bull has been booked consistently, all over the country and has been getting some work abroad as well.
5- Mason Ryan
There's a lot of people who believe Mason Ryan could've been much bigger than he was. He did see some roster action, during his time with The Nexus in 2011 and 2012, before being sent back to NXT, where he never really rebounded from. Mason received limited action on the NXT roster prior to being released in 2014.
Since leaving the WWE, Mason has been working some on the indie scene, but most recently, has been focusing on his involvement in Japan’s Inoki Genome Federation. Ryan has also been working with Cirque du Soleil as the K character.
6- Brad Maddox
Brad Maddox was someone who also saw some time on the main roster but wore many different hats. He was definitely a company man in every way. While with the company, Maddox was an in-ring talent, an announcer, a referee and of course, a Raw GM. In his final days with the WWE, Maddox was teamed with Adam Rose in a tag team that mostly worked house shows and dark matches. Maddox was released in November of 2015 for using the phrase "cocky pricks" during a dark match promo.
He made a special appearance on the Tonight Show dressed as The Gobbledy Gooker who got tombstoned by The Undertaker.
Since departing from the WWE, Maddox has been taking independent bookings as "Mad Braddox." He's been booked pretty extensively, but mostly for autograph appearances and photo ops.
7- Eli Cottonwood
Eli Cottonwood is a 7-foot former basketball player who wanted to try his hand to professional wrestling. Eli was best known for his brief time as Bray Wyatt’s original Wyatt Family member before being released, at his request in 2014.
Since leaving NXT, Cottonwood retired from in-ring action, but remains involved in the industry as the co-owner of Florida-based independent promotion FHW-Florida Hardcore Wrestling and is also the owner of a yoga business known as Kipp's Life Flip, based in Las Vegas.
8- Sofia Cortez
Sofia was a participant in season five of Tough Enough. Her time as an NXT Star was cut short when she was released in 2012. During a podcast interview with Vince Russo, Cortez stated that she believed her release was a direct result of her reporting former NXT head trainer/coach Bill Demott for talent abuse and mistreatment.
Leaving NXT may have been a blessing in disguise for Sofia, as she eventually found her way on to the Lucha Underground roster, where she remains today as one of the top women's talents on the roster. She is known simply as Ivelisse.
9- Solomon Crowe
After three years with NXT, Crowe asked for his release, which he was obliged with in November of 2015. Many believe Solomon was just unhappy with the slow process of getting to the main roster, which he felt he was ready for. Once he left NXT, the whole world wanted to have him on their roster.
Since his NXT tenure, he immediately went back to the name that made him popular, which was Sami Callihan. He's been booked all over the world and has also been back to his old company, CZW, which is where many remember him from the most. Sami has recently come to terms with a deal to be a part of the Lucha Underground roster.
10- CJ Parker
This is one guy who I personally believe could have really been something special. There have been many current and past WWE superstars who have publicly stated that Parker was one of the most polite, humble and talented young men they have ever worked with. However, his kindness never really earned him a legit shot at success with NXT. Parker was subsequently released on April 3, 2015.
Since leaving NXT, Parker has changed his ring name to "CJP." He's since seen action with CZW and NJPW among other promotions. Most recently, Parker was involved in an angle where he was feuding with several members of The Bullet Club. At only 27 years old, he's got plenty left to give the wrestling world.
