I mean, I know he was out of shape but... he actually looked better than JBL for most of JBL's run with the company aside from his debut.
But JBL was on the road. He was in NXT which tours around Florida, has a performance center with the best equipment, catering for the guys, and all. He really has access to his home most times. It's such an easy way to test your habits. Take care of yourself reasonably and just shake your head yes and no, and he would be called up.
Its not a Indy hate thing at all. Harper, Neville, Paige, Ambrose, Rollins, Emma, Graves, Woods, Sasha, Bailey, and Sammy off the top of my head are all Indy talents who have deals and stay in shape down there while also putting on much better performances. Then there's wwe created talented like Langston, Ascension, Bo, Reigns, Bray, Eric, Summer who do the same.
You have to remember he failed his entry testing. The gave him another shot when guys like Nigel and Axl for instance were told buzz off after. He got fat, and they sent him home to lose weight. Top it off with he's not even a top 15 worker on NXT including the girls when he should have been.
I really doubt you you would see Bryan, Punk, Del Rio for example be granted an opportunity like this NXT with top production value, a performance center, multiple agents, and so on at their feet and drop the ball because of their attitude even if they felt they were above it because the current NXT is so much bigger than OVW, FCW, or DSW. Stuff like this is why I always laugh when people bash a guy like Miz who would jump thru any hoop for a shot to even be there and prove himself
I'm sure we all have had that class, seminar, training session, or practice where we couldn't give a flying fuck what was screamed at us but knew it had to be done and just shook out head and said yes or no and put in enough effort to pass.
This truly is a bummer as I was hoping to see him on the main roster. Shit, working with Cesaro could have helped him loads! Real shame, but I guess we still have the indy circuit. Not sure if I want to see him on TNA just because I don't think they'll be able to use him as properly as he deserves. Mind you, if the work ethic thing is legit, I have no sympathy. You gotta bust your ass for that WWE paycheck!
I think swagger clicking with Cesaro was a nail in the coffin.
I would probably like TNA if he's not booked like Wolfe was, come in hot for a month, get beat, and then really fall thru the cracks.