Past Failures to Capitalize Immediately
One of the strongest arguments for why the push for Femi, Evans, and Williams needs to happen immediately is WWE’s history. In the past, the company has at times missed the opportunity to build on the momentum that talent initially created.
Wade Barrett is a prime example of WWE failing to push a rising superstar properly. He entered at age 30 as a solid in-ring performer and great on the mic. Unfortunately, his trajectory and that of The Nexus were killed at SummerSlam 2010 when they lost to John Cena’s team. Barrett went from a breakout leader to being relegated to the mid-card, with the company refusing to commit to him as a top talent.
Bo Dallas is another perfect example. He was just 23 years old when he entered the main roster, coming off a run as a brilliant heel character who acted delusional rather than evil. While he did have a winning streak upon his main roster debut, the commentary team and creative treated it like a comedy act rather than a vehicle to build a star.
It is important to mention Dallas in particular, given the fact that Je’Von Evans was 21 years old when he joined the main roster. While WWE isn’t treating him like Dallas, as Evans was the Iron Man for the Royal Rumble, lasting 41 minutes, and secured a spot in the Elimination Chamber match, Dallas is a perfect example of why you shouldn’t put a young talent on hold, simply because of their age.
