From The Rumor Mill: Possible reason why Nikki Cross wasn't promoted with SAnitY

What's the story?

Nikki Cross has been an integral part of SAnitY throughout their run on NXT over the past year but it was revealed last night that Eric Young, Alexander Wolfe, and Killian Dane have been promoted to the SmackDown brand without her.

In case you didn't know...

Cross was already a known star on the NXT brand before she turned heel and joined SAnitY back in 2016 and over the past year, she has shown that she has the ability to be the difference maker in matches that involved her team.

Nikki hasn't been seen in the Women's Division for a while and wasn't with SAnitY when they were part of the Dusty Rhodes Classic, but it was thought that she was one of the integral members of the group, which is why it came as a shock that she wasn't promoted alongside her teammates.

The heart of the matter

Dave Meltzer discussed Cross' absence on today's edition of The Wrestling Observer Radio and it seems that the reasoning is quite simple. (Transcript via Ringsidenews)

“I’m surprised no Nikki Cross. I think maybe they’re going to do something with Nikki Cross and Shayna Baszler because Shayna is, with the exception of Kairi Sane, really weak on opponents in NXT but I think she would have been good for that act on the main roster.”

It is thought that Cross will remain on the NXT brand for the next few months at least and be one of new NXT Women's Champion Shayna Baszler's opponents moving forward.

“Sanity can be a babyface team, they could be a heel team either one mixed with all the other teams they’ve got. You know, it’s new matches “

What's next?

SAnitY are expected to make their main roster debut without Cross in the coming weeks, whilst Nikki remains part of the NXT Women's Division until there is a place on the main roster for her.

Author's take

NXT have lost Ember Moon and The Iconic Duo over the past week. The Women's Division needs to rebuild with Baszler moving forward and it seems that Cross can help with that. When Enzo Amore and Big Cass were promoted in 2016, Carmella was left behind and has since been able to make a career for herself. Cross could do exactly the same thing and this is her chance to show that she has what it takes to become a star without SAnit by her side.