The Great Eight: Top 8 WWE NXT Stars to Look Out For

Hello folx! Today is a special one for me. It’s my 100th column here on 411! I just wanted to take a second to say thank you to Ashish and Jeremy for giving me a platform to talk about wrestling. From that first WWE PLE preview to now doing the previews for WWE, AAA, and NXT PLE previews, and two weekly columns, I’ve enjoyed the ride so far! I also want to say thank you to everyone here who tunes in each week and adds to the discussion (Even those of you who disagree or have me blocked).

Anyway, enough about me, let’s talk about NXT and more specifically, some wrestlers who I feel are ready to break out. With this last Monday being the Raw After WrestleMania, we of course had some call-ups. Ethan Page and Sol Ruca had their first matches, and Joe Hendry was announced for next week. While Ruca’s call-up wasn’t made official, it feels like it was a soft debut, and after losing to Zaria last night, it only makes sense.

We are probably going to see some more names pop up on SmackDown. I’m expecting to see Jacy Jane and Blake Monroe, and possibly Ricky Saints.

So, that brings us to the question of who fills those gaps? Who is next in line to move up the card and take the spots in NXT? And you know what that means. It’s time for another list!

Plugs

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Disclaimer:

This is my list; if you don’t like it or have a different list, awesome! Please share your own list and opinions in the comments section. I welcome open discourse about this wacky art we all love. It is an art form, so it is subjective; we all have our opinions on it, and all of them are valid. So, if you want to share your thoughts and opinions, don’t insult others for their opinion. There is already enough negativity in the world; let’s not add to it. And with that, on to the list!

The List

Honorable Mentions:

Zaria, Kali Armstrong, Jaida Parker, Elio LeFleur, Sean Legacy, and Saquon Shugars

8: Keanu Carver

Since returning to the main NXT roster in January, Carver has been on the fast track to the top. He has a great look, and while still green, he isn’t the worst in-ring big man. Carver doesn’t have to try to look intimidating; he just is.

I have him lower on the list, because while they seemingly strapped the rocket to him. I think he still needs a bit more seasoning before he can truly break out and be the star they want him to be. It’s easy to push a big guy like Carver, but you don’t want to fall into the Goldbery trap of too much, too soon.

They need to build him slowly enough for him to get acclimated to longer matches while not cooling him off. Let him cook in the North American division for a bit, and then when he is ready, unleash him in the main event.

A fully seasoned Carver vs Oba Femi could be a massive (pun intended) main event in the future. But only if they handle him correctly now.

7: Jaida Parker

It seems like Jaida Parker is always just on the cusp of moving up. She has had shots at both the Women’s North American and Women’s NXT Championships, but has failed to win when it matters. She has a look that sets her apart from many other women on the roster. And she has the talent to back up the look.

I don’t know why she has been passed up so many times, but with many top women either moving up or soon to move up, it seems like now is the time to get behind her fully. She is still on the younger side, at 27, and has the tools to be a major player if the booking can get behind her.

6: Kelani Jordan

Jordan’s run as the TNA Knockouts World Champion helped to show she was ready for more. She has put in a lot of work over the past four years, and now is the time to see her move up in the division.

She is the inaugural Women’s North American Champion, and moving back to that division to feud with Tatum Paxle isn’t the worst idea. I think she can be a good heel foil now that Paxley is done with both Izzi Dame and Blake Monroe.

Jordan may also not be long for NXT. I could see her being one of the women to bypass being NXT Women’s Champion and moving up to the main roster. Her husband, Carmelo Hayes, is already on SmackDown, and SmackDown is in desperate need of new blood in its women’s division.

5: EK Prosper

Prosper has been tearing it up since he debuted in Evolve. He was officially signed to a developmental contract in January and hasn’t looked back. Prosper is only 23 and is already showing just how good he can be.

He is clearly looking to fill in the Je’Von Evans “Young High Flyer” role in NXT, and from what I’ve seen, he is doing a good job of it. He has the moves and is pretty smooth in the ring.

Right now, he has been placed in the Speed Championship ranks, but Myles Borne is going to need more challengers, and Prosper is a great choice for a small feud. It will give Prosper a chance to prove he is ready for more and give him more exposure.

4: Myles Borne

Myles Borne has slowly built himself into a great prospect. He had a great feud with Ethan Page, which ended with Borne ending Page’s North American Championship reign just a day short of the record for longest reign.

Like so many of the greats, Borne has used his amateur background to achieve success in his short career. Being chosen as the one to end Page’s North American Championship reign shows that Shawn Michaels is high on him, and that means the sky is the limit for him.

I’m not fully sold on how he would translate to the main roster. But give him a couple of more years in NXT, and I’m sure that will work itself out. Borne has the tools to be a top guy, and he is providing strong representation for the deaf community as well.

3: Lizzy Rain

Lizzy Rain hasn’t debuted yet, but she is coming in with a ton of hype. She was the top wrestler at the tryouts held before SummerSlam 2025. And she is coming in with a ton of independent experience, something that a lot of others on this list lack.

She has a super unique gimmick, New Wave of British Heavy Metal girl (which I am totally sold on)! That gimmick also gives her a unique look and promo style. All things that will set her apart before she even steps in the ring. And from what I’ve seen, she is no slouch in the ring.

I think the sky is the limit for Rain, the only question is if fans and the creative will take to her uniqueness. I think Michaels is going to let her cook and be herself. It’s more so the main roster I worry about. Paul Levesque is a known fan of metal, so I am not worried about him. It’s TKO that I worry about trying to meddle in her creative direction.

But she has some time before that becomes an issue. For now, let her get some wins, and then she can either be a solid feud for Paxley or Vice.

2: Tatum Paxley

Paxley has spent the last five years growing into her own. Her deranged goth girl gimmick has gotten her over huge, and she has the in-ring chops to back up the character work.

If any of you have talked to me/read my work for long, you know I am a sucker for dark/goth/unstable type gimmicks. And Paxley’s added twist of being a weird but sweet girl is a huge hit with me. And not at all because I identify as a weird, sweet girl myself. No, not at all.

Paxley is finally getting the chance to prove she has what it takes to carry a division. And so far, she has been knocking it out of the park. Her feuds with Izzi Dame and Blake Monroe have been great, and I’m looking forward to whoever steps up next.

I strongly believe that Paxley is going to be a two-time NXT Women’s Champion before the year is done, and it’s only a matter of time before she brings her brand of weirdness to the main roster.

1: Kendal Grey

Like Borne, Grey has used her amateur wrestling background to garner a lot of success in the WWE. She is the second and longest reigning Evolve Women’s Champion. She held the title for 146 days before vacating it on her way to the NXT roster.

For someone who is only three years into this business, she seems to be a natural and has all the tools to be a top wrestler for years to come. And at 24 years old, she still has plenty of time to develop further.

Dave Meltzer is saying she might be the best female wrestler in the United States. And she has also garnered praise from other wrestlers like Bully Ray. The sky is the limit for Grey, and I’m excited to see her journey to the top. I feel like she would make a great choice to end Paxley’s North American Championship reign. Which would free up Paxley to go after the NXT Women’s Championship, and give some fresh match-ups in the North American division.

Whatever path they go with, Grey will probably be on the main roster sooner rather than later. So, enjoy her in NXT while you can.

Preview:

Tune in next week when we cover the Great Eight TNA World Champions!