Percy Watson has become a big hit with WWE’s online fanbase and elicits more of a live reaction than most other NXT rookies, but he has apparently not been impressing the organization’s most popular Superstar.
In a Twitter post Wednesday, John Cena criticized Watson, notably attacking the developing wrestler’s notorious facial expressions.
“If Percy Watson makes another one of those faces where I’m supposed to think he’s mad, but it looks like he just crapped himself…I’ll eliminate him,” wrote Cena. “He has gone downhill every single week.”
Cena praised Watson’s athletic ability, but argued that he “may be suffering from yep yep syndrome; looking for something special when all he needs is what he’s got.”
Although Watson has received face time and was booked to defeat WWE Pro Zack Ryder Tuesday night, it is clear that WWE’s internal opinion of the wrestler is not as favorable as that of the NXT audience. His positioning as fourth in the NXT Poll, behind Michael McGillicutty, Kaval and Alex Riley, despite almost certainly doing well in the fan vote, indicates that WWE is not currently eyeing him as the show’s winner.