WWE History: Remembering the NXT season that never was

#7 Damien Sandow

He did not have a run in NXT.

Unlike Leo Kruger, Damien Sandow was not a part of the rebranded NXT. He debuted on WWE's main roster in 2012, after spending a couple of years in FCW. Sandow was an intellectual heel, playing the role pretty effectively. He rose up the ranks and even won the Money in the Bank briefcase.

However, the 'Intellectual Savior of the Masses' lost his subsequent title shot and slid down the card. Sandow became The Miz's stunt double, transforming into Damien Mizdow. This was probably the most over he ever got in WWE.

The company failed to capitalize on it and Sandow got released in 2016. He left wrestling a year later but returned to the ring in 2019. Damien Sandow is now a part of NWA and is currently their National Champion under his original in-ring name, Aron Stevens.

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#6 Hunico

There was room for only one Sin Cara in WWE.

Hunico is another Superstar who went straight to the WWE main roster after Season 6 of NXT was canceled. He adopted the Sin Cara character while the original Sin Cara was suspended until the two versions had a rivalry which culminated with Hunico getting unmasked and revealed to be the "imposter".

After a year without a mask, Hunico became Sin Cara once again after the original version was released from WWE. He won the NXT Tag Team Championship alongside Kalisto, before doing alright back on RAW and SmackDown.

Last December, Hunico was granted his WWE release and returned to wrestle in Mexico. He changed his in-ring name to "Cinta de Oro" to continue the legacy of the original performer who died in 2016.