page_title: Adam Rose
section_title: NXT (2012–2014)
hierarchical_section_title: Adam Rose / Professional wrestling career / World Wrestling Entertainment / NXT (2012–2014)
caption_attribution_description: Adam Rose being caught by his "Rosebuds" during his entrance on Raw on 19 May 2014 at the O2 Arena in London, England. Cropped from original to remove audience.
context_page_description: Raymond John Leppan is a retired South African professional wrestler who is best known for his time in WWE as Adam Rose.
  Making his debut on the South African independent circuit in 1995, Leppan signed with WWE in 2010, wrestling in its developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling under the ring name Leo Kruger, where he became a two-time FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion. After FCW folded in 2012, Leppan continued to wrestle in its successor NXT as Leo Kruger, before moving to WWE's main roster, as Adam Rose in early 2014. After a series of scandals, Leppan was released by the promotion in April 2016 and wrestled in the international independent circuit until his retirement in June 2019.
context_section_description: When WWE rebranded its developmental territory, FCW, into NXT Wrestling, Kruger's NXT television debut took place on 27 June 2012 episode of the rebooted WWE NXT taped at Full Sail University, where he defeated Aiden English. On 1 August episode of NXT, Kruger was inserted into the Gold Rush Tournament to crown the first NXT Champion, where he was defeated by Richie Steamboat in the quarter-finals. In September, Kruger's character was altered into that of a deranged hunter and mercenary. In December, Kruger formed an alliance with Kassius Ohno; Kruger and Ohno defeated Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel on 2 January 2013 episode of NXT. On 16 January episode of NXT, Kruger defeated Trent Baretta. On 30 January episode of NXT, Ohno and Kruger entered the NXT Tag Team Championship Tournament to crown the inaugural champions and defeated Alex Riley and Derrick Bateman in the first round. On 6 February episode of NXT, Kruger and Ohno were defeated by Adrian Neville and Oliver Grey in the semi-finals. Kruger then moved on to feud with Justin Gabriel when he attempted to attack Gabriel's injured partner, Tyson Kidd; Kruger won the series of matches 2–1. Kruger next set his sights on Bo Dallas's NXT Championship. On 18 July NXT, Kruger won a triple threat match against Sami Zayn and Antonio Cesaro to become number one contender. On 7 August, Kruger fought Dallas for NXT Championship, but lost. Kruger eventually feuded with Zayn with the feud culminated in Zayn winning a two-out-of-three falls match on 1 January 2014 NXT.
  Leppan was then removed from television, and began wrestling at house shows as a new character called Adam Rose. As Rose, he returned to television on 6 March 2014 episode of NXT, with his new character being an organiser of parties with various colourful costumed party-goers, who accompany him during his ring entrance. Rose's supporters are called Rosebuds. The Rose character is loosely based on comedian Russell Brand.
  In August 2014, within NXT, Rose and Sami Zayn participated in a tournament for an opportunity at the NXT Tag Team Championship, defeating Justin Gabriel and Tyson Kidd in the first round, but they lost in the second round to The Lucha Dragons (Kalisto and Sin Cara), with the Adam Rose character being pinned for the first time. On 4 September episode of NXT, Rose suffered his first singles loss at the hands of Tyson Kidd.
caption: Rose (top) being caught by the Rosebuds during his ring entrance in May 2014
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