Wrestling: Ten Potential Breakout Stars In 2018

Velveteen Dream

When Patrick Clark was repackaged as the Velveteen Dream, I immediately assumed the worst. I thought that WWE would simply cast Clark as yet another androgynous character that acted effeminate for cheap heat. It didn’t help that early Dream appearances were a bit clunky in the ring, with Clark clearly trying to incorporate the gimmick into his ring work. Since those early matches, Dream has put it all together and he has become one of the best characters in WWE.

Although he’s still a heel, Dream has the potential to catch on in the same way Dalton Castle has in ROH. Like Castle, Dream has the respect of the fans due to his abilities in the ring and his 100 percent commitment to the character. If you don’t believe me, then go back and watch his TakeOver: WarGames match with Aleister Black. Go ahead, I’ll be here when you’re done…

(20 minutes later): See? That was a great match, wasn’t it?

If Dream stays in NXT all year, I could definitely see him challenging for the NXT Title either as a babyface or a heel. If he gets called up, he could be one of the few NXT talents to successfully transition to the main roster, that is, unless Vince McMahon strips the character down to its base elements and we get a black Adrian Adonis instead. Either way, 2018 will be a good year for the Velveteen Dream.