WWE NXT: 5 wrestlers with massive breakout potential

NXT is in a transition state. Who could rise as breakout stars for the brand? Here’s a look at some wrestlers with massive potential.

NXT has been the best WWE brand for a number of years now. Much of that is due to the ability to create new stars as top performers transition to the larger audiences of RAW and SmackDown.

Think back to 2014, when the first TakeOver event occurred. NXT was headlined by the likes of Adrian Neville (PAC), Sami Zayn, Charlotte Flair, Natalya, Tyler Breeze, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Bayley. Shortly after saw the rise of Finn Balor, Kevin Owens, Shinsuke Nakamura and Samoa Joe.

Then we have the top of the card occupied by The Revival, AoP, American Alpha, Johnny Gargano and Tomasso Ciampa, Andrade, Ember Moon, Asuka, Robert Roode, and Drew McIntyre in what may have been the most stacked time in NXT.

The most recent years have seen the likes of Aleister Black, Ricochet, Velveteen Dream, Undisputed Era, Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, Kairi Sane, Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, Street Profits, and others become stars for the brand.

With NXT seemingly in a transitional state, who might be the next breakout superstars for NXT?

Much like my piece last week asking the same question for AEW, I will apply a specific criteria. In-ring ability and promo skills are to be expected, but I’m also looking at character, personality, and how all that coalesces into the connection (or potential connection) with fans. Even heels need to connect with the fans lest they be received with silence or go-away heat

I am going to avoid naming current/former champions (mostly) because as champions, there is a belief that they’ve already achieved a certain star status. I will also avoid the names above and others that are stars already for whatever reason (high-profile feuds, name recognition, etc.).

Unlike AEW, NXT has the double-edged sword of being around longer. This means much of the roster has been at or already at a star level based on the criteria above. I love Mia Yim, but to say she still has to “breakout” would be a misnomer at best and insulting to her at worst.

The deep roster helps, however, particularly when including talent from NXT UK. There will be two wrestlers in this list from the United Kingdom brand.

I also do include a former champion, but because they were a tag champion and I am looking at singles pushes, I decided to focus on their singles potential rather than use the championship as a burden against them.

With that said, let’s begin with someone WWE has high hopes for in terms of their international reach.

Honorable mention to “Stallion” Timothy Thatcher and the pair of Karrion Kross/Scarlett. If they weren’t introduced into such high-profile roles and opponents, they would have surely made this list. While the latter did make a name in Impact,altered names and rebranded characters create their own little bumps.