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Let's face it - wrestling is more interesting when multiple factions are battling against each other. It gives us a side to pick and the potential that a beloved performer could join the opposing side. From the Four Horsemen to Evolution to the nWo and DX, there have been great stables in many different eras of wrestling.
Despite the prevailing circumstances worldwide, Seth Rollins was ruling over RAW with his disciples as the Monday Night Messiah. There was also the O.C. On SmackDown, we have the New Day and the Artist's Collective. In NXT, there is only one faction - the Undisputed Era. It has anchored the Black and Gold brand for the entirety that they have been a part of NXT.
But one big question to ask is what happens when they are inevitably called up to either RAW or SmackDown? They've done everything they can at Full Sail and current trends have left Adam Cole as the sole member with his gold. When they are gone, which group will fill the void they leave atop NXT? Will it be one group or a few? Are we going to get some new factions formed? Here are six factions that could be formed on the yellow and black brand.
#6 An Australian faction
While they were all starting in wrestling, the likes of Brendan Vink, Shane Thorne and Bronson Reed have worked with each other. During both RAW and NXT from the WWE Performance Center, Vink and Thorne teamed up. Why not make it a full-time pairing and add some other members?
This group would be heels due to Thorne's attitude and Vink's arrogance based on being bigger than most of his opponents. Reed has played a good guy but has lost more than he's won. He's billed as the King of the Monsters, so maybe by joining up with his countrymen, he can tap more into the monster part of that name. Daniel Vidot has also been in the ranks of NXT for a while but hasn't been featured yet. This could be the time to bring him to TV.
Thorne has been around in NXT for a long time and has proven to have the charisma to lead a stable. With Cole and his boys likely moving on some time in 2020, this could be one of the heel groups to fill the void.
#5 Additions to the Robert Stone Brand
I wrote about this a few weeks ago that being "the Robert Stone Brand" implies that more clients/performers will be added to the group. Stone wants to build a stable or a brand of Superstars that should strive to be the best. They're clearly heels and have a lot of potential additions they could make.
One is Deonna Purrazzo. She's also currently a heel and has teamed with Chelsea Green at NXT Live Events and outside of WWE. There's a natural connection to play with and also the fact that Purrazzo is called the Virtuosa. Bragging about being the best technical Superstar in NXT is something that Stone could loudly do for a new charge.
There's also Superstars we've seen that are naturally braggadocious or confident like Swerve Scott. He's naturally gifted and has told us that Swerve means confidence, but he hasn't acted like he's better than everyone just yet. The brand would need a center piece for the men's division and Scott would be perfect.
#4 A stable of Luchardores
We've already seen this start to play out a bit on NXT TV over the last month. After Raul Mendoza lost to Kushida, a group of masked men pulled up in an SUV and abducted Mendoza. On the latest episode of NXT, the same happened to Joaquin Wilde after he lost to the Japanese Superstar. The abductors could be overheard speaking in English.
At live events, Mendoza had been working with Jorge Bolly also formerly known as King Cuerno in Lucha Underground and El Hijo del Fantasma. He had been out previously with an injury but has returned to action recently. If you've seen his work, you know how explosive he is in the ring. His "Arrow from the Depths of Hell" dive through the ropes alone is worth watching.
This group appears to be targeting stars after they are on losing streaks. They could also go after veteran Mercedes Martinez who also recently joined the company. She doesn't usually come across as a high-flyer but it would give her a group to lean on and play off. We'll likely get a pay off to the abductions in the near future but for now, it definitely appears as if a group of masked men will be making their marks inside of the ring some time in 2020.
#3 Malcolm Bivens Enterprises
Two weeks ago, Bivens announced his intentions after his monsters destroyed Matt Riddle following a match. With no back up in tow for the Original Bro, it was the perfect time to pick their spot. Rinku Singh and Saurav Gurjar are both impressive specimens and just overall big dudes. That size alone is a reason to take Bivens seriously.
But very similar to the Robert Stone Brand, implying that he's his entity or enterprise means that he'll be adding other talents soon. He'll need a female Superstar to push so anyone could fill that role. Someone like Santana Garrett, Taynara Conti, Indi Hartwell or Emily Andzulis would make sense. Garrett might get abducted since she's primarily lost since being featured on NXT TV, but Hartwell is also an impressive physical specimen.
Andzulis would make sense because she won the Titan Games and would be pushed as a winner right out of the gate.
#2 Aliyah, Vanessa Borne and Company
Aliyah returned to action after suffering a broken nose a few months ago. Vanessa Borne was not by her side, but we all know that the pandemic has caused different operating tactics for everyone. But when things get back to normal, or if it's done separately, Borne might look to add some minions or allies.
Taynara Conti has been working with Aliyah at live events and could join the mean girls. If they want to add some men who pride themselves on their looks, there are a few who would make sense. Aleksandar Jaksic was trying out a modelish type gimmick at house shows. Tino Sabatelli is also healthy and was previously working under an Adonis-like gimmick or one spewing that he was better than everyone. That fits right alongside with how Aliyah and Borne have been acting.
Another star that has previously been on TV but who hasn't caught on is Kona Reeves. His whole "I'm the Finest" mantra fits right along with Borne and Aliyah. Surprisingly, they haven't already been paired together. He's already established as a performer within the ranks of NXT but has needed something to put him over. Joining a group like this might work for Reeves and the others that could potentially join their ranks.
#1 The Rik Bugez Experience
Since most of the groups I've suggested are heels, we'll need at least one group of good guys for them to battle against. Most babyfaces have to battle against the groups alone, but NXT could just as easily add a stable of faces.
Remember when Eric Bugenhagen had one of the most memorable debuts back in February of 2019? It was so outlandish right off the bat that it was easy to buy into what he was doing. He believed in it so it was easy to see that he was enjoying himself. That's a great way to get fans to buy into an act. He debuted with a bang but then was quickly gone from programming. Perhaps he is still developing his in-ring skills since he already has the performer part down.
Whatever the case is, his gimmick is infectious and could be used to get others over. I would have previously suggested Joaquin Wilde since he has a loud EDM side to his gimmick but he was abducted by masked men. Instead, the newly named Rik Bugez seems close to Nick Ogarelli who is pictured above with Bugez. Bands have more than one member, right? They even had a few of their names attached to the photo above.
As for who else would make sense, Jessi Kamea was a fun-loving performer before she participated in the last Mae Young Classic. Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro are also friends and want to be a team so they would fit in well with the lovable goofball. Denzel Dejournette looked like his gimmick was close to partying or having fun before getting attacked, so why not put him with the master of the air guitar. The possibilities are endless with an extremely diverse roster.
