Ranking NXT Championship contenders after Oba Femi vacates title

Oba Femi retained the NXT Championship against Leon Slater at NXT New Year’s Evil 2026 on Jan. 6. But it wasn't a complete cruise-control “handy” win. Slater had his moments where it felt like an upset could happen, stacking near falls and forcing Femi to sell just enough chaos to make the crowd lean forward. 

Femi eventually shut the door the way dominant champions do, drilling Slater with a "Fall From Grace" to win decisively. And then the show took a hard left: in a genuinely shocking twist, Femi left the NXT Championship in the ring afterward. 

WWE followed up the next day and confirmed the title is officially vacant, which turns the conversation from “who’s next” to “who’s most ready the second Ava starts talking tournament bracket

NXT’s chaotic title shakeup has a clear new contender pecking order

7) Myles Borne

Borne at No. 7 is no insult. It’s a warning label. NXT doesn’t pull you into the Iron Survivor orbit unless they see you as a future problem, and he’s already been living in that title-adjacent space.

He’s also got a real edge: he’s talked openly about being partially deaf and learning to adapt on the fly in-ring, and it comes off less like a hook and more like proof he’s built for chaos. In one month's time and this ranking looks silly.

6) Joe Hendry

Hendry’s case is simple: he can walk into NXT, someone says his name, and the whole building erupts. That’s value, and NXT treating him like he belongs in high-stakes spots tells you he’s not just a cameo.

He’s at six because he’s a cheat code. WWE can drop him in as a massive challenger on any brand for instant juice without making him the weekly face. But if NXT ever truly wanted to lean in, a title run would be a launchpad.

5) Dion Lennox

Dion is the clearest “built here, rising here” contender on the list. NXT keeps sliding him into title-adjacent spots with the same main-event names, and that doesn’t happen by accident — it’s them pressure-testing him for bigger things.

The character fits, too. Dion feels like a calculating mastermind steering the chaos, not just surviving it, and even in losses he comes back looking meaner. That’s how NXT quietly builds a real main-event problem.

4) Leon Slater

This one is simple. He literally just wrestled for the championship on NXT’s first big show of the year. 

Even in defeat, Slater comes out looking like someone NXT trusts in high-pressure main events — and that alone keeps him near the top of any “next shot” list.

3) Ethan Page

If NXT wants instant credibility in a vacant-title scramble, Ethan Page is the easiest shortcut. He’s got that “main event adult” energy. One promo and the match feels important, no warm-up required.

Even while he’s been elevating the North American title (and stealing scenes with hilarious-but-still-dominant Chelsea Green bits), “All Ego” is only one pivot away from the top prize. If he decides the main title is the point, he instantly becomes an NXT Championship-level problem.

2) Tony D’Angelo

Tony D being this high is all about the signal WWE chose to end with: the belt in the ring… then the camera panning out to reveal Tony D’Angelo watching from the crowd. That’s WWE telling you who they want in the next conversation. 

And he fits the job. Tony’s already got the hardware on his résumé (North American, Tag, Heritage Cup), plus the kind of character/promo presence that makes a champion feel like a brand centerpiece instead of a transitional champion.

Bonus: he’s not just a gimmick anymore — the industry’s treated him like a legit singles threat too (he landed at No. 94 in the 2025 PWI 500), which is basically the “this dude is real” stamp for a lot of fans.  

1) Ricky Saints

Ricky Saints is the most polished “hand him the keys” option NXT has right now. He looks like a top guy, talks like a top guy, and — most importantly — he makes the title feel important the second he’s anywhere near it. There’s no awkward ramp-up, no “let’s see if this sticks.” It already sticks.

That matters more than ever with the belt vacant. NXT doesn’t only need a winner, it needs someone who can carry the brand week-to-week in 2026, anchor main events, elevate challengers, and make every defense feel like a real event instead of a placeholder.

Like him or not, Saints fits that exact role. He’s the rare contender who can do both jobs at once: be the star people tune in for, and be the measuring stick that makes everyone chasing him feel bigger.