In a recent interview, Viktor, one-half of The Ascension, opened up about their experience. He revealed that backstage politics played a role in their struggles. Wrestlers like JBL were instructed to “get heat” for them, suggesting the audience wouldn’t know who they were.

NXT Stars Lost in Translation

However, The Ascension was surprised by this approach. They felt fans already recognized them from NXT. This feeling was confirmed during their first main roster live event at Madison Square Garden. Despite WWE’s concerns, the crowd erupted with cheers when they were introduced.

Viktor believes this positive reception showcased how much broader NXT’s reach was than WWE anticipated. Unfortunately, this disconnect between the brands led to The Ascension and many other NXT call-ups being underutilized.

The lack of investment in NXT from Vince McMahon at the time also contributed to the problem. With a divided vision between NXT and the main roster, talented teams like The Ascension never received the opportunity to properly capitalize on their NXT success.