Future Star of NXT: Isaiah “Swerve” Scott
Does anyone else find it hilarious that one of the greatest junior heavyweights of all time (Kushida) and a 37-year-old (Damian Priest) are among the many in consideration for the future stars category?
It goes to show how warped this company’s idea of building for the future is. Even the guy who has the best chance to win – Isaiah “Swerve” Scott – is probably somewhere between his late 20s and early 30s.
Anyway, aside from Kushida, Priest, and Bronson Reed, Scott seems like a prime candidate for a big push once some of the bigger NXT names inevitably move to RAW or SmackDown. At least, he’s the readiest compared to the other nominees.
Xia Li and Taynara Conti still have a ways to go in the wrestling and character department. Cameron Grimes is more than ready, workrate-wise, but his gimmick screams “midcarder.”
Dakota Kai and Tegan Nox are sure to have a great feud in 2020, but with Rhea Ripley as the projected top babyface going forward, both will likely hit a fairly thick ceiling. Ilja Dragunov has enjoyed a nice run as a fun, upper midcard act in NXT UK, but that may be as good as it gets for him.
The fans may vote for Kushida to win this on the strength of his name value — it helps that he didn’t receive a goofy and/or generic name upon his arrival to WWE — but if you go by the letter of what this award should represent, he’s already a star. And within the next year, Scott will be too.