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NXT UK is the newest brand within the WWE and Triple H's plan for global expansion, and given the amount of talent they've got on the books, it's only a matter of time until they're just as good as NXT, or even better. NXT and NXT UK have become brands all to themselves, and the Takeover shows have become reason enough to have a WWE subscription alone. But at the end of the day, they are still developmental programs for the WWE, aiming to find the next generation of top stars for RAW and Smackdown, and they're doing just that.
NXT UK has only had one Takeover, so to continue building it as a credible brand alongside NXT, and that will need all of their top stars, but eventually, they all need to move onward and upwards to the next level within the WWE.
We've seen people like Seth Rollins, Finn Balor, Andrade, Kevin Owens and countless others come from the NXT system, but within the current system, there are so many more with the potential to be top stars on the biggest stage.
That's for the future, but in the current NXT UK landscape, there are plenty of talent who are ready for RAW or Smackdown, and although they may not be headed there immediately, as the NXT UK brand still needs consolidating and building.
These following 6 performers already have what it takes to be main event players on the biggest stage.
#6 Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley was the first ever NXT UK Women's Champion, and although she's still quite young and has a lot left to do in NXT, if the WWE were to promote her in the upcoming Superstar Shakeup, The Nightmare would thrive.
Ripley first came to our screens as a fresh-faced youngster in the first ever Mae Young Classic, but since that point, she's completely reinvented herself, and it's done nothing but great things for her career. Her complete character change has seen her rapid rise through the ranks of NXT, and with an appearance in the 2019 Women's Royal Rumble, it's seemingly only a matter of time until she is on RAW or Smackdown Live.
Given how new NXT UK is and how limited the women's division is with talent, it's unlikely that we see Ripley on RAW or Smackdown in the next few months, but come late 2019/early 2020, we all better prepare ourselves for The Nightmare.
#5 Mark Andrews
NXT UK started with a bang back in early 2017, and it was a small group that carried the flag until NXT UK was officially announced, and of that group, Mark Andrews is the only one to not taste NXT success. Moustache Mountain have won titles on their own and as a team, Pete Dunne is reigning as NXT UK Champion and James Drake is currently one-half of the NXT UK Tag Team Champions, but White Lighting has been left behind.
The company haven't had much for him to do, and even a relationship with Flash Morgan Webster hasn't helped his cause too much, but as a singles competitor, Andrews has so much potential.
He doesn't have the jaw-dropping aerial arsenal of someone like Will Ospreay or Ricochet, but Andrews can fly with the best of them, and if the WWE give him a chance, the entire world would enjoy watching his 'high-fives and stage dives'.
#4 Toni Storm
Sometimes when you see a wrestler, you just have to recognise that they have the 'It Factor', and that's certainly the case with Australia's Toni Storm, the current WWE UK Women's Champion. Her WWE work may not involve the strong style she became known for across the UK and in Japan, but she's still a fantastic worker, and with her great connection with the crowd, she's a megastar in the WWE waiting to happen.
Like Ripley, Storm is still in her early 20's, so if she were to stick around NXT UK for another year or even two, she'd still only be entering her prime, and considering how good she is already, we can't wait to see that Toni Storm.
It's unlikely that she will be involved in the Superstar Shakeup, especially considering she's in the early stages of her first reign as Champion, but if the WWE can keep adding young stars to this division, Storm will be free to head to RAW or Smackdown Live and become the worldwide star she's destined to be.
#3 Moustache Mountain
The duo of Tyler Bate and Trent Seven are one of the best tag teams in the entire world, and given how valuable they've been to the growth of NXT UK, it's unlikely that they leave anytime soon, but one day they will have too, as they could be one of the world's best tag teams.
They arguably are one of the best in the world already, but with the platform that RAW and Smackdown Live provide, they will need to go there to prove it, and it's only a matter of time.
Like the women's division, NXT UK's tag team division is coming along slowly, but with The 198 (Flash Morgan Webster and Mike Hitchman, not together yet), The Grizzled Young Veterans and Gallus around, it's in quite good hands.
Sure, both men could pursue singles careers in NXT UK, but these two just work so well as a tag team, and given all the potential new opponents that await them on the main roster, it's something that's likely going to happen in the next year.
#2 Walter
Walter has been Europe's hottest professional wrestler for a few years now, but given his ability and the resume he put together, many people though there would be a bidding war for his signature, but like always, the WWE got their man. He made his NXT UK debut at Takeover: Blackpool, but despite that limited time with the company, it's clear he's ready to be a top star in the wrestling industry.
It's been said that Walter only wants to work with NXT UK so he can continue to be a coach/trainer for wXw in Germany, but a man this talented needs to be seen by the biggest audience possible.
Walter is big, he has a great presence and hits harder than most professional wrestlers in the entire world, and given how the WWE is lacking in genuine top stars, Walter would make a huge impact on RAW or Smackdown, and if the WWE can convince him to change his mind, he'll be a main event player in no time.
#1 Pete Dunne
Pete Dunne has been ready for the biggest stage in sports entertainment for a number of years now, and given how heavily they've pushed him and his historic title reign, it's a matter of 'when', not 'if' Pete Dunne is main eventing RAW or Smackdown Live.
The Bruiserweight has a unique style and a great look, and given how he's stepped up to the plate time and time again over his 600+ day reign as NXT UK Champion, the WWE clearly see him as a future top star.
Like Matt Riddle, Dunne has also called out The Beast, Brock Lesnar several times, and although we may not get that match, he's going to be competing for the top titles in WWE very soon.
We've already mentioned Moustache Mountain, and if Pete, Tyler and Trent, collectively known as British Strong Style, were to arrive on WWE's main roster together, they'd thrive, but Dunne will be a megastar for the WWE regardless.
