#4 Why were there so few WWE NXT Superstars in the Royal Rumble matches?
The Royal Rumble matches in WWE usually allow the Superstars of RAW, NXT, and SmackDown a chance to book their ticket to WrestleMania. This year, WWE looked to do the same while allowing some legends and former Superstars to return to give fans some feel-good moments.
However, it was surprising to watch such few NXT Superstars get an opportunity during this year’s Royal Rumble. The women’s match gave six NXT Superstars a chance, while the men’s match only accommodated one NXT Superstar.
Damian Priest was the lucky NXT Superstar who did manage to make an impact and will likely head to the main roster very soon. With that in mind, why did WWE not give a few more up and coming Superstars from NXT a chance to shine in the Royal Rumble matches?
WWE could have allowed Superstars such as Kyle O’Reilly, Bronson Reed, or even Johnny Gargano to shine in the Rumble match. However, the company did not take that route and relied more on legendary and returning Superstars in the ThunderDome.
Was it the right decision to keep deserving NXT Superstars out of the mix? Could they have benefited from the exposure?