Now that WrestleMania has come and gone, it’s time to look forward to the new year of wrestling. WrestleMania is like the Super Bowl in that new champions are crowned and rivalries are ended, but without the impending six month offseason. WWE wastes no time in setting up fresh stories and featuring upcoming stars that have been waiting for their turn in the spotlight.
There are so many relatively unknown performers that the WWE audience needs to learn more about. Some are currently on the main RAW and SmackDown Live rosters, and some are on WWE’s developmental show – NXT – which serves as a means of preparation for future wrestlers while also being a compelling program itself. The following ten wrestlers are some of my personal favorites that could skyrocket to the next level of fame if given an opportunity.
#10 – Bianca Belair – NXT
I haven’t seen much of Bianca, but I’ve really enjoyed the brief glimpses. Her gimmick is that she is the “e-s-t,” meaning the best (get it… b-est?), strongest, smartest, fastest, etc. She’s jacked and has serious swag, but the selling point of her character is her outrageous hair braid that she uses to whip people. Surprisingly, she appeared in the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal match and landed a 450 splash, showing her ridiculous athleticism. She’s still a ways out from becoming a featured member of NXT, nonetheless a main roster fixture, but the potential is there.
#9 – Lacey Evans – NXT
Lacey has been featured a little more on NXT as of late now that her character is solidified. She’s a former marine (in real life, too, which is awesome) who has become a pompous southern bell type. She thinks everyone else lacks class and is beneath her. Not only is Lacey one of the taller and more powerful women in NXT, she’s also an above average promo who seems very comfortable on the mic given her limited experience.
#8 – Chad Gable – SmackDown Live
This guy is comedy gold. As Jason Jordan’s (left) tag team partner on NXT for a couple of years, Gable (right) was the funny one while Jordan was more of an enforcer. Gable’s initial attempts to convince Jordan to become his tag partner and impress him early on are some of the funniest moments I’ve ever seen in wrestling. His talent doesn’t stop there, either. Gable is a phenomenal in the ring. He has a legit amateur wrestling background and competed in the Olympics, and those skills have seemed to transfer very well to the world of sports entertainment. If WWE would just give him a little more freedom with his character, I think he could be one of the most beloved babyfaces (good guys) in the company.
#7 – Sami Zayn – RAW
Sami Zayn got a WrestleMania match against Daniel Bryan. How can he be featured more than that, you ask? Well, I think there’s still a lot to learn about his character. For years, he had just been a happy-go-lucky fan favorite who seemed to run into a lot of bad luck during big opportunities. However, since becoming aligned with Kevin Owens, his character has gotten darker and he’s shown how motivated he is to get to the top. It’s been such a huge transformation that it makes me wonder how much more he is hiding. Along with his character change, I’d say he’s a top three in-ring performer in the company, which people seem to forget. Give him 20-30 minutes in a ring with another good wrestler and he’ll give you a match of the year candidate.
#6 – Tyler Bate – NXT
The first ever WWE UK champion is unique. He’s only 21 years old, which has to make him the youngest male competitor in the company. For being so young, his character is already established as a babyface in-ring technician with a quirky personality. He’s got a signature wave that gets fans to interact with him, he’s got a mustache, and it’s just impossible not to laugh at some of his moves like the helicopter spin that makes him more dizzy than his opponents. There are few pure good guys that the entire crowd can get behind, but he could be one of them and he’s got plenty of time to make it happen.
#5 – Montez Ford – NXT
This guy is maybe the most naturally charismatic member of the NXT roster. His swag is off the charts and he can get a crowd fired up. The clips of him and his tag partner, Angelo Dawkins, interviewing people on the streets are great. He also posted this video of himself jumping over a 64-inch bar, so he’s clearly got a little athleticism (notice the stare down after he clears it…). I’m not sure he’ll ever be even an above average wrestler in terms of technical ability, but that’s not something he needs if he’s in a tag team. If he gets more backstage segments showcasing his personality, I think he’ll become even more of a fan favorite than he already is.
#4 – Aleister Black – NXT
He’s mysterious, has a face tattoo, and beats people with this move. Need I say more?
#3 – Velveteen Dream – NXT
Velveteen Dream is unbelievably only 22 years old and has already had a main event level match against Aleister Black at NXT Takeover: WarGames. His character is a creepy, cocky, provocative bundle of intrigue with an unmistakable look. His interactions with backstage interviewers are must-see because they are so uncomfortable. At this point in his career, he’s adequate in the ring and should only get better as time goes on. His best attribute is his ability to tell a story by saying very little and letting his expressions do the talking.
#2 – Peyton Royce – SmackDown Live
I’ve been on the Peyton Royce bandwagon for years, even since she was known as the ‘Venus Fly Trap of NXT’ and I didn’t know what it meant. She just oozes attitude. However, when talking to other wrestling fans, I never got the impression many of them felt the same. Now that she and Billie Kay have gotten called up to SmackDown Live, I expect the bandwagon to fill up pretty quickly. Her character is an annoying, gossipy one, but she’s the best at it. It also helps that she’s undeniably hot. As the better half of the “Iconic Duo,” her entrance is more unique than Billie’s and her personality is definitely the alpha of the two.
#1 – Asuka – RAW/SmackDown Live
Asuka began her WWE career with a 914-day undefeated streak and just had a title match at WrestleMania, so it’s not like she hasn’t gotten a chance. There’s just so much more she can offer. Her in-ring intensity is unmatched in the women’s division. Specifically, arrogant Asuka on NXT was my favorite wrestler in recent memory. She didn’t care who she fought, she didn’t care what the fans thought of her, she didn’t prepare for championship matches, and she mocked her opponents. The more time she spent as champion, the more conceited she became and the closer she got to losing matches, but it never happened (she eventually relinquished her NXT Championship due to injury). We haven’t seen that side of her on the main roster, but I’m holding out hope it will happen. She barely speaks English, but it doesn’t hinder her in how she communicates or how her character comes across, which goes to show what a talent she is.
The butt slam is 10/10