According to a report from last week, the removal of WWE NXT star Ricky Saints’ “Absolute Experience” segment from the company’s social media channels has led to discussions within WWE about his continued presence on the NXT roster a year after his debut.
Fightful Select recently released a report discussing WWE’s approach to new signees. They evaluate each talent on a “case-by-case” basis to determine whether they will start on NXT or the main roster. The report noted that when Saints was initially sent to NXT, sources indicated he was placed there because plans for WrestleMania 41 were already set, and they didn’t expect him to remain there for long. However, it seems those expectations have not been realized.
Additionally, the report highlighted that The CW and WWE view established TV talents like Saints, Ethan Page, Joe Hendry, and Blake Monroe as potential stars who can attract new viewers to NXT—viewers who may not have considered watching otherwise. The television experience these stars bring is seen as valuable to NXT’s growth.
Regarding the decision-making process for starting new signees, some talent have strongly insisted on beginning their careers on the main roster. It was previously reported that WWE was determined to have Royce Keys start on the main roster rather than NXT. Keys made his debut at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble PLE. Although he has not appeared on WWE TV since then, he has been traveling with the main roster crew weekly, participating in dark matches. He is signed to a multi-year deal, but there is currently no information on when he will make his weekly TV debut.