In his latest piece, PWP Nation’s Caden Moran looks back at the NXT career of Tye Dillinger.
NXT has always been the developmental brand for WWE and it has helped produce a ton of amazing talent, which has given many guys the opportunity to make a name for themselves. One of those guys has been the WWE’s “Perfect 10,” Tye Dillinger.
Tye Dillinger has been a mainstay in NXT for many years, but it seems as if his time in developmental is coming to an end as the signs are pointing to Dillinger heading up to the main roster (possibly the Royal Rumble match). For me especially, I am happy for Tye Dillinger to finally get called up, which he has long deserved. However, his career hasn’t been as illustrious as guys like Finn Balor, Samoa Joe and others. Instead, Tye Dillinger has a very bumpy and roller coaster like career in NXT with numerous losses, being used as an “enhancement talent” and not being given the proper push he deserves.
The first sign of Tye’s rise to becoming as popular as he would become was during the UK episode of NXT when he took on the returning Sami Zayn. The reaction Dillinger received said wonders for his future and defined how much Dillinger was loved by the fans. The incredible “TEN! TEN! TEN!” chants have taken over nearly every event in WWE due to the love for Dillinger.
His popularity would only rise from there but still, the “Perfect 10” didn’t seem so perfect. Dillinger’s loss column continued to grow and the entire NXT Universe, including myself, began to grow frustrated. However, it wasn’t until after NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II where the WWE finally began to realize Dillinger’s potential as he began to string up win after win. Tye Dillinger was on the rise and it wasn’t until the “Glorious” Bobby Roode entered Dillinger’s life and changed the path of his career and popularity even more.
Tye Dillinger vs. Bobby Roode at NXT Takeover: Toronto, I don’t know about you, had me very invested and 100% behind Dillinger, even though Roode is pretty sweet, and for me, even though he lost, his match with Bobby Roode was his official coming out party. WWE has done an incredible job of making you feel sympathetic for Dillinger and once he was defeated at Takeover: Toronto, the amount of sympathy I had, and still have, for Tye Dillinger skyrocketed.
Remember the Daniel Bryan storyline and how he kept being put down but finally reached the top of the mountain in one of the best moments in WrestleMania history? Well, WWE did a tremendous job to portray Dillinger as the man who keeps getting put down even when the fans are solidly behind him and is one of the most popular guys in all of WWE. And ever since the departure of Sami Zayn, Dillinger has been the heart and soul of NXT and if the WWE can continue the route they are on with Dillinger, they could have another Daniel Bryan on their hands.
Tye’s time in NXT is coming to an end and when he does hit the main roster, I have no doubt that with the support of the fans and the talent he has, Dillinger will have a strong career. Even though Dillinger’s career in NXT hasn’t been as “storied” or “successful” as some other top guys, the road WWE has placed him on will have Dillinger reach new levels of success in the long run.
If NXT Takeover: San Antonio is the final time we will see Tye Dillinger in an NXT ring, all I can say is thank you. Thank you, Tye for never giving up when it seemed as if they had given up on you. Tye will have an extraordinary career and looking back at the “Perfect 10’s” road to where he is now, as bumpy as it may have been, there is just one word to define it.
Perfect.
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