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NXT was arguably the best brand in all of pro wrestling in 2019, and with such a stacked roster and six great years behind them, there will be absolutely no slowing down in 2020. The current roster is stacked with unbelievable performers from top to bottom, but waiting down at the Performance Center are plenty more stars waiting to make their mark on the Black and Gold brand.
No matter who comes through NXT, the overall product manages to be amazing, and while there have been a few duds from the Performance Center, NXT is usually quite wise about who they push. So without further ado, sit back and read along as we look forward to the year 2020 and talk about five performers that are going to break out as genuine Superstars in the Black and Gold brand.
#5 Scarlett Bordeaux
While most women in wrestling these days are looking to prove how good they are in the ring and continuing on the women's revolution, Scarlett Bordeaux stands out as an old-school diva. Few expected her to sign with WWE as that would have meant 'The Smoke Show' being toned down significantly, and while we don't know yet if that's true or not, she's just too good at it to be denied.
As a manager or a solo performer, Bordeaux will shine (but needs considerable work if she is to be used as a wrestler at all), but if she were to become a manager full-time in NXT, we'd really see her use her skills to the fullest. With rumors that Killer Kross may be on the way to WWE, that duo could provide the company with a brilliant medium to print money, but whether he joins the company or not, The Smoke Show is going to take over NXT, and there's nothing we can do about it.
#4 Kushida
Kushida is one of the greatest junior heavyweights in the history of Japanese wrestling and while his arrival in NXT was a huge moment, he, unfortunately, got injured and that halted his momentum. It's clear though that the company is still very high on him, so he won't fall to the back of the line as Hideo Itami did, and 2020 is sure to be the year of the Marty McFly cosplayer.
With so many great performers in NXT, there's always a risk to him being lost in the shuffle, but with such great support from the crowd and so much experience under his belt, that's not likely to happen in the upcoming year. We may not see him at the top of the NXT card, given the likes of Cole, Balor, Ciampa, Lee, Riddle and so many more, but a big push and a run as NXT North American Champion are great possibilities.
#3 Deonna Purrazzo
Deonna Purrazzo recently made her debut on Monday Night RAW, and while it was in a losing effort, it signifies just how high WWE is on The Virtuosa. She competed in the Mae Young Classic, and despite not going too far in the tournament, her technical acumen and overall aura were on display, and it's safe to say that she's a star in the making.
The NXT women's division is fantastic right now, and with Rhea Ripley on top, it's going to be fun to see who steps up as a challenger, and while Purrazzo too is a babyface, she has the talent to be on top one day. She has also been working alongside Chelsea Green down on the house show circuit, so a tag team run on the main roster is a complete possibility, but if she stays down in the Black and Gold brand, we expect The Virtuosa to be the NXT Women's Champion by the end of the year.
#2 Austin Theory
Outside of the small stature, Austin Theory has literally everything WWE looks for in a top star and considering the way they've pushed Adam Cole (who possesses similar attributes), it makes sense for Theory to get a strong push straight away. He has been touted as a star his entire career, and after rising to the top in Evolve, he couldn't be ignored any further, and once he steps foot in NXT, it will be the same story.
He may not be the flashiest wrestler, but his character and promo work are second to none, and if he can become the in-ring performer the likes of Johnny Gargano are, he may become NXT's brightest star. We don't know when Theory is going to arrive on the USA Network, but when it happens, expect to be in awe of how polished this young man is, and expect him to be one of the brand's top heels in no time.
#1 Bronson Reed
Bronson Reed was a competitor in the 2019 NXT Breakout Tournament, and despite the fact that he came up short, he proved that he has all the tools to be a big player in NXT going forward. The Australian, formerly known as Jonah Rock, has the size, the look, but most importantly, the skill to be a main event player in the Black and Gold brand, and he's proven on the recent NXT house show loop that he has the backing of the crowd.
The current NXT men's division is incredibly stacked, with at least 15 amazing performers capable of being Champion, but if pushed correctly, Reed could be a big man at the level of anyone in WWE. It may not happen immediately due to the packed roster, but he is just waiting to become a star in NXT, and if the company can handle him right, we may be looking at him holding the coveted belt in his hands some time next year.
