WWE NXT: Eric Bugenhagen Has Immediately Become One To Watch
WWE NXT has some of the most acclaimed wrestlers in the world, but it’s also home of the promotion’s next homegrown group of stars. Eric Bugenhagen, a former All-American wrestler at the University Wisconsin and the king of the Zercher squat, could be the Black and Yellow brand’s next big star.
Intensity is the first word that comes to mind when describing Eric Bugenhagen, who has been in the WWE NXT for some time and made his television debut tonight. “The Bugez” faced Drew Gulak in his first match, and while he lost, he got himself over immediately.
It’s hard to describe Bugenhagen, because his character is deserving of all types of superlatives. He’s insane, unique, addicted to adrenaline, a rocker, and, above all else, a very positive person.
That positivity radiated to the NXT Universe, with fans sending a huge amount of praise his way during his debut. Though wrestling Gulak, a top superstar on 205 Live and one of the best technical wrestlers in the company, on his debut was an honor, fans were much more impressed with Bugenhagen’s character work – and it’s his character work that has real staying power in WWE.
Anyone who is familiar with Bugenhagen’s YouTube videos, lifting advice, and overall philosophy understands how intense his approach is. The man loves life, and he attacks everything he does with the utmost vigor. It’s why his character in WWE NXT is unsurprising. And the cliche about “creating a character that is you turned up to 11” doesn’t even apply here, because Bugenhagen always operates at 11.
Backstage segments often give a great glimpse into a wrestler’s character work and promo skills, and Eric Bugenhagen absolutely nailed his first backstage segment. This was everything an introductory backstage promo should be, and other wrestlers in the Performance Center should take notes on how confident and composed Bugenhagen is. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that he’s able to stay so committed to his character because his character is him.
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He’s the guy who would deadlift 600+ pounds to Bullet For My Valentine’s “Breaking Point” or hit the most ridiculous triceps pump with the “Shoots and Ladders” music video playing in the background. Caffeine, hard rock, insanity, whole milk (or dates and seeds!), and a passion for making an impact in this world fueled Bugenhagen’s lifts, and his mindset made him one of the most popular lifters in the online space.
That same infectious positivity and charisma was clear to see tonight, and Bugenhagen has a bright future in WWE. The NXT fans – both in the arena and online – have quickly taken to “Sticky Ricky”, who has an X-Factor that many others on the NXT roster lack; he’s not afraid to be “extra” and give fans something different.
Bugenhagen has a world of potential as an accomplished athlete and charismatic performer, and it will be exciting to see how he develops on NXT television in 2019. He could very well be this year’s breakout performer and NXT’s next big homegrown star. The brand has produced the likes of Alexa Bliss, Roman Reigns, Carmella, and Elias over the years, but they’ve only had a handful of notable homegrown talents, in comparison to the many former independent stars who have become future main roster champions.
That’s understandable – the experience of wrestling outside WWE is invaluable – but WWE still needs to show that they are capable of turning elite athletes in other sports into elite pro wrestlers. Everything about Bugenhagen, from his background to his personality, screams “pro wrestler”, and he just might be the future star to watch in NXT this year.
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I’d recommend hopping on this bandwagon early, and anyone who has followed his work before WWE can confirm that this performance wasn’t just a flash-in-the-pan; Bugenhagen is capable of big things in this industry.