Between the months of October and December, people are full of spirit from sports, the holidays and taking stock of the year that has passed. WWE seems to be in that phase as well. After a year of crossovers with other athletic entities, polarizing appearances in politics and mind-blowing athleticism in the midst of hit or miss storytelling, the company seems to be taking stock of what it once had and what it seeks to gain.
As of this past weekend, John Cena has wrestled his final match and that has made WWE and its fans process how much the business has truly changed. Cena raised a generation of children through television, movies and music. We are now living in a time where those kids are now permeating the wrestling space. They have grown into the mighty dreamers of the future. These stars are taking the chance that wrestling has given them and running furiously into the new year with glory and gold on their minds. Here are three stars who could hold a WWE title for the first time in 2026.
Jordynne Grace
One person who is set to break out as a first-time WWE champion next year is Jordynne Grace. After becoming a decorated TNA Knockout that would stand toe-to-toe with the likes of Mickie James, Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw and Tasha Steelz, she would make a huge splash in WWE after being a surprise entrant in the 2024 Women's Royal Rumble as the then-TNA Knockouts World Champion.
Grace would also pop up on the NXT universe to challenge Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women's Championship. But as she made the transition to from Knockout to NXT star, she struggled to capture gold as she was defeated by Perez, Stephanie Vaquer and Fatal Influence's Jacy Jayne. She seemed to be a bit on the upswing after winning besting NXT Women's North American Champion Blake Monroe in a steel cage, but after brawling with Kelani Jordan, she lost her opportunity to become 2025's Women's Iron Survivor at Deadline.
If one has been a fan of hers since TNA, it may be strange to see the Juggernaut without gold around her waist. But a new year brings new opportunities to rise again, and in a stacked division, Grace stands out as a force to be reckoned with. She continues to evolve in the ring and innovate ways to break out of the powerhouse stereotype. Her hybrid energy and intensity can blast through any woman who stands in her way. 2026 may be the year Jordynne Grace takes her rightful place as a new NXT Women's Champion, Women's United States Champion or Women's Intercontinental Champion.
Lash Legend
Another woman who is set to take her throne in 2026 is SmackDown's Bougie Bully, Lash Legend. The newly engaged stunner made a huge splash with her larger-than-life personality during the NXT 2.0 era. Through her talk show segment, Lashin' Out, Legend took the fandom by storm with her viral attack on fellow NXT recruit Nikkita Lyons. Then she aligned with former NXT Heritage Cup Champion Noam Dar, Oliver Carter (FKA Oro Mensah) and Mara Sadè (FKA Jakara Jackson) to form the quirky faction Meta Four. During their time together, Legend would evolve in-ring as a singles and tag team athlete. She even impressed the silver and black universe when she body slammed fan favorite Otis in a mixed tag team match in 2023. Lash seemed to hit her stride with Sadè in the Women's Tag Team division, being featured on Raw and SmackDown as they pursued tag team gold.
Though Legend was seen as an obvious choice to hold gold in NXT, she would surprisingly get called up to the main roster as Nia Jax's newest ally. Once she yoked up Alexa Bliss and gave a fierce forearm to Iyo Sky, the entire women's division was on notice as its newest star made her mark. As WWE's Women's Tag Team roster reaches the next level of its renaissance, it stands to reason that Legend and Jax could stand tall as the new big bad team to topple The Judgement Day, Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss and the current champions, The Kabuki Warriors (Asuka and Kairi Sane). 2026 could be a fantastic year for the Legendary one.
Je'Von Evans
If WWE's future were a marching band, Je'Von Evans would be its most energetic drum major. Since the wrestling prodigy made his NXT debut in 2024, the Young OG has cast his shadow and stood next to grizzled stars. One can never forget how he courageously stood toe to toe with one of his heroes, Randy Orton. Even in defeat, the former champion gave Evans encouragement as a star on the rise. Je'Von would also battle another vicious veteran in Ethan Page in a brutal New York City street fight at NXT Roadblock this past March, where he sought to prove that he was more than just a gifted wrestler with a sunny disposition.
As 2025 rolled on, Evans would find himself in multiple title pictures throughout the Tuesday night brand and beyond. The Bouncy star would also answer Sami Zayn's United States Championship Open Challenge on SmackDown in a premium live event-caliber clash. He would then end his phenomenal year by not only becoming the 2025 men's Iron Survivor but also fighting in a tag team match with TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater against WWE World Tag Team Champions Dragon Lee and AJ Styles at the Saturday Night's Main Event that was headlined by John Cena's Final Match.
This year marked Evan's twenty-first birthday, and in many ways, he grew into his power not only as a young man, but as an athlete. The wrestling universe saw Je'Von combine his natural abilities as a human highlight reel with his relentless work ethic. He benefited greatly from the notion of staying sharp and prepared for whatever comes next. Evans also learned to lean into his personality that makes young Black men feel seen and represented. In a business that is critiqued by an old white guard, Evans stands out by being true to the roots and trends that speak to him. 2026 stands to be the year that Je'Von finally gets rewarded for his hard work with a crown that is all his own.