WWE stars to be repackaged for main roster run: EK Prosper & others in NXT who could change character on Raw or SmackDown

WWE

The path from NXT to the WWE main roster is a clear one, even if it isn’t always obvious when call-ups will happen.

As another WWE Premium Live Event approaches, with Money in the Bank taking place on October 10, there’s a likelihood that new main roster stills will appear shortly afterwards.

This doesn’t rule out the possibility of new stars appearing on Raw or SmackDown before the PLE, with Lola Vice being one such name to make the move this week.

Looking ahead, however, how about the stars who could move to the main roster, albeit with a change to their characters?

Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo

A holdover from The D’Angelo Family, “Stacks” was a member of the faction themed around a mafia-style crime family.

Tony D’Angelo has undergone a change of persona, although remains a fixture on NXT, while Lorenzo continues to carry much of his past as a member of BirthRight.

Outside of his former faction, the “Stacks” aspect carries no purpose, with Channing Lorenzo being a perfectly serviceable ring name.

Arianna Grace

Also a member of BirthRight, Arianna Grace is the daughter of TNA Wrestling name and former WWE star Santino Marella, with the pair crossing paths during her run on iMPACT with her real-life fiancé, Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo.

A move to the main roster would be an ideal time to reference the star’s heritage, perhaps as simply as renaming her Arianna Marella. There’s little to be lost by recognizing her as a second-generation star, with her father being a former United States, Intercontinental and Tag Team Champion.

Whether a main roster run would try to recreate the love the fans had for Santino Marella or not, there’s plenty of stories to tell with the former TNA Knockouts World Champion.

EK Prosper

Signed through the WWE ID program, EK Prosper would originally be Eli Knight, before his name was changed earlier this year. Eli Knight was the star’s independent wrestling name, also being the star’s real name.

While there are arguments to be made that Eli Knight underwent a name change to prevent confusion with LA Knight, there’s also the argument that fans are smarter than that.

Returning Prosper to Eli Knight and allowing him to compete on whatever brand LA Knight isn’t assigned to at the time would create distance between the two, although a Knight vs Knight match would be worth it just for the commentary.

In the meantime, of the names on this list, Prosper is the one who would be best served remaining on NXT to hone his talents and potentially secure a title before being called up.

It’s All About The Name, And How You Say It

Whether a star is repackaged or renamed during their WWE run depends on the direction of creative at the time.

Criticizing star names is something that occasionally happens, despite WWE having had some clankers in their history. Some are just ridiculous (T-Bar, Slapjack and Reckoning, anyone?) while others may seem awkward at first but become accepted over time (The Rock and Edge as two examples).

It’s more apparent when a star signs after a solid run elsewhere, yet eventually even a name such as Royce Keys becomes just as accepted as Powerhouse Hobbs ever was. The same can be said for EVIL, who is currently Naraku in NXT.

A change of name or character doesn’t erase the past, but can set a star on a different path with a renewed mindset in the right circumstances.

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• wwe
• main roster
• nxt

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