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For months now, speculation has been running rampant about NXT being moved to Wednesday night to combat AEW, and this past week, WWE finally made the announcement. NXT will be running 2-hours each Wednesday Live, and given the incredibly deep, talented and entertaining roster that they possess, it's safe to say that NXT will garner a huge audience.
While the roster is very talented, the Performance Centre is currently stacked with so much talented that they are busting the door down trying to get in, and with another hour on NXT's weekly show, they may just get their chance very soon. So without further ado, sit back and read along as we look to NXT's move to USA Network, and look at 5 current Performance Centre recruits that need to make their way to NXT ASAP.
#5 Tegan Nox
Just a few short years ago, Tegan Nox, then known as Nixon Newell was regarded as one of the best female wrestlers in the world, but due to two devastating knee injuries, she has been struggling to make her mark in WWE. The second knee injury occurred in the second Mae Young Classic, but now, the Welsh sensation is back and ready to take on the women's division, and she needs to be a focus going forward.
Sure, she's not a genuine threat to Shayna Baszler right now, but she has a fantastic story, and if NXT can play up her incredible comeback, the fans will get behind her like few in NXT history. Ultimately, it's only a matter of time until Tegan takes over NXT, as she is still one of the most talented female wrestlers of the entire generation, but if NXT play it right, her story could be one of the biggest highlights and the driving point of the women's division as NXT move to USA.
#4 Elliot Sexton (with Malcolm Bivens)
WWE has been getting an influx of Australian talent over the past few years, and while Sexton (real name Brendan Vink) may be the least talented inside the ring, he has other intangibles that will make him a star. Sexton stands at 6'5" tall and 250 pounds, and looks like he's chiseled from stone, and when you take into account the charisma that made him a star in Australia, NXT may have their next main event stud on their hands.
While Sexton has all of that on his own, pairing him with Malcolm Bivens (F.K.A Stokely Hathaway) would make him even more of a special attraction. The two have been paired together on the NXT house show circuit, alongside Bronson Reed, so whether Sexton comes in as a member of a tag team or a solo star with Bivens by his side, he's ready for stardom, and WWE must know this.
#3 Santana Garrett
NXT's women's division has been utterly dominated by Shayna Baszler over the past year, and while she's got a nice, fresh challenge from Rhea Ripley right now, there's plenty of opposition waiting in the wings. One of WWE's newest signings is the biggest threat to The Queen of Spades, and she's a face that should be very familiar to WWE fans, Santana Garrett.
Garrett is a second-generation performer, and with a 10-year career in the business already, Garrett is finally ready to fulfil all the promise she shows in her latest run with WWE. Garrett has all the tools it takes to be the top babyface in NXT, and given her experience, it's time WWE get behind her in a big way.
We don't know exactly when Garrett will be appearing on NXT TV, especially since Rhea Ripley, as we mentioned is the next big challenger for Baszler, but if WWE were smart, they'd get Santana on USA as soon as they can.
#2 Team 3.0
For years now, one of the biggest positives NXT has had is the tag team division, but now, after losing so many to the main roster, they need to inject some fresh blood into the division. The Undisputed Era are at the top once again, but with few new opponents, their reign may get stale quite early, so WWE would be wise to inject former Chikara standouts, Jeff Parker and Matt Lee, Team 3.0.
They may not be an elite level tag team, but they have been together for quite some time, and working in places such as Chikara and PWG has given them plenty of experience, and they're ready to succeed in WWE. Ultimately, they aren't on the level of the Era or former Tag Team Champions like DIY, The Revival and so many others, but they bring a fresh feel to NXT, and will play a big role in the promotion going forward.
#1 Austin Theory
Austin Theory is one of WWE's latest big signings, and given that he was unveiled at NXT Takeover: Toronto, it's clear that the company has huge plans for him going forward. With all the stars in the singles division right now, it was hard to see where the Evolve Champion would have fit in before, but with the move to the USA Network and 2 hours a week, he will be a star.
Theory has everything it takes to be a top star in wrestling, and even before signing with WWE, he mentioned John Cena at Evolve, claiming he was 'ready for the torch to come his way'. That may be a bit premature, but Austin may be one of the most talented and well-rounded performers in the world today, and it's safe to say that he'll rise through the ranks fairly quickly, and will have some classics against the likes of Riddle, Gargano, Kushida and so many more.
