WWE: Ranking The Top 10 Breakout Stars Of 2018

5. Buddy Murphy, 205 Live

Buddy Murphy’s Cruiserweight Championship will be on the line at TLC when he faces Cedric Alexander in a rematch, as Murphy defeated Alexander in a memorable, show-stealing contest at Super Show-Down in Murphy’s hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

Regardless of the outcome at TLC, Murphy clearly earns a spot on this list and has been neck-and-neck with Alexander and Mustafa Ali has the MVP of 205 Live. The argument can be made that only Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins have been better than Murphy in 2018 among main roster superstars.

Able to adjust to any style on the fly, Murphy has indeed been “The Juggernaut” on 205 Live and a menace to defeat in one-on-one competition. He carries himself with the confidence of a man who knows he’s more powerful and explosive than everyone else. Murphy has beaten the best of the best on 205, and while it seems like Ali’s had his number, Murphy is the one walking around as the champion and did vanquish “The Heart’s” challenge at Survivor Series.

Murphy has done yeoman’s work in trying to get 205 on the map, and it’s remarkable that NXT failed to take advantage of a man with his talent. An underrated promo whose in-ring skills are simply off-the-charts, any of Murphy’s matches with Kalisto, Alexander, and Ali are worth watching over and over again.