WWE fans should prepare themselves for a big Nikkita Lyons push

WWE Extreme Rules has come and gone, with mixed reactions across the board. The return of Bray Wyatt will be the moment that fans remember, along with some big moments throughout the night. One such moment was who was shown in the crowd, as NXT Champion Bron Breakker and Nikkita Lyons were presented to fans on screen. This is another indication that WWE is preparing to go all in on Lyons, regardless of what a loud contingent of fans on social media says about the young performer.

At 23 years old and with just three years of experience under her belt, it goes without saying that Lyons is young in the game. Her resume is limited to both WOW and her tenure in WWE which started back in 2021. Yet, it is clear that WWE sees something in her that has allowed her to be positioned in a strong way in such a short amount of time. She’s been booked well in matches against NXT Women’s Champion, Mandy Rose, and now that she’s paired with Zoey Stark the expectations are that they will win the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship in the coming days.

The fact that it was Lyons shown on television rather than the NXT Women’s Champion speaks volumes to how high her future may be in the biggest wrestling promotion in the world.

However, if WWE leadership sees Lyons in one way, there’s a loud contingent of fans online that see Lyons in a completely different light.

The issues around her presentation were immediately brought to light when her first video package for NXT. Much of what Lyons has said and done has been placed in a category of cultural appropriation which is very familiar to Black fans that enjoy the WWE product. To call her the Iggy Azalea of professional wrestling would not be far off.

The problems do not stop there, as on Memorial Day she posted a video using the song “The Patriot” by Topher that talks openly about the January 6 insurrection where domestic terrorists attempted to circumvent the peaceful transition of power after the 2020 Election. It’s quite ironic and questionable post that is still live on her social media profiles as of October 9, as more facts about the incident are available for public consumption.

Lyons is one of many young names that WWE has picked up and added to its women’s division in recent months. Individuals like Sarray, Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade, Lash Legend, Amari Miller, Ivy Nile, Gigi Dolin, and many more adorn a roster that is full of women’s talent who can be the future of the profession. Lyons seems to be the one that’s in line to have opportunity laid at her feet, much like Austin Theory months ago. Hopefully, WWE decision-makers will be prepared to make the right calls based on her performance and the reception from fans.

There are plenty of examples of wrestlers who were seen as “the chosen one,” only to get major pushback from the viewers they are meant to entertain. It’s too early to call, but WWE should avoid a comparable situation here at all costs.

Nikkita Lyons has a lot of potential but also needs a lot of reps if she’s going to grow into who her fans and the company believes she is going to become. Those that are willing to support her will continue to do so, while those that choose to do the opposite will as well. Either way, be prepared for what is seemingly a major push on the horizon.