WWE: Ranking The Upcoming NXT Call-Ups By Expected 2019 Impact

2. Nikki Cross

Nikki Cross has been one of NXT’s most valuable superstars for quite some time, shining as an unhinged promo or a capable in-ring talent for months. Her Last Woman Standing match with Asuka was an instant classic, and she put together some more solid NXT performances in 2018 against wrestlers like Candice LeRae, Bianca Belair, and Shayna Baszler.

Besides her NXT Women’s Championship match against Baszler at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II, Cross’s most exciting match may have been her “Open Challenge” match against Becky Lynch on the episode of SmackDown Live in the United Kingdom. Cross gave “The Man” all she could handle, popping the live crowd and reminding the main roster audience of her talent.

Cross’s involvement in the “Whodunit” storyline surrounding Aleister Black’s real-life injury was excellently done, as it boosted her stock as a star in WWE even more.

While it is more difficult to project where, say, Sullivan or Evans will end up on the main roster, I’m sure most fans are expecting Cross to re-unite with Sanity, who have taken a backseat in the elite SmackDown Tag Team Division despite being called up after this year’s Superstar Shakeup. Sanity isn’t short on talent, but they’ve missed that something extra without Cross helping them.

That said, Cross is even more important than just being an extra hand for Sanity, so keeping her separate from the faction is another possibility. But regardless of what happens with Cross, her popularity and overall ability cannot be questioned. She is a standout performer in WWE.