Grading the 2021 rookie years of new main roster WWE stars

#1. Damien Priest helped a non-WWE performer to a great showing at WM 37.

Damien Priest's WWE career seems like something that could have happened to Karrion Kross or Keith Lee. All three are talented big men but only Priest remains in WWE. He's also the only one to win a title on RAW or SmackDown.

The Archer of Infamy was a mid-carder in NXT, winning the NXT North American Championship. He debuted in this year's Royal Rumble, eliminating four stars while lasting for 15:34. After that, he became a regular on RAW.

His first main-roster feud was with the Miz and John Morrison. Priest's first major task was to make rapper Bad Bunny seem like a legitimate WWE Superstar. The four had a tag team match at WM 37 with Bunny and Priest picking up the win. The U.S. Champ recently revealed that he was almost replaced in that match.

Because Priest was willing to help a non-athlete in a major match, his stock rose. After suffering minimal losses, Priest defeated Sheamus at SummerSlam for the United States Championship. He still holds the title as 2021 comes to an end.

With so many releases this year, WWE will need to push some different stars. Priest appears to be on the trajectory to be one of those stars.

He has also recently undergone some character development. When he's pushed too far in a match or situation, he seems to change to the dark side. It's an exploration of both of his names.

Since Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Jeff Hardy, Kross, Lee, Aleister Black, and Daniel Bryan are all gone from WWE, there are voids to fill.

Priest has shown management that he's willing to do whatever he is asked to do. That, coupled with his in-ring game, adds up to a star with a promising future in WWE.

Grade for Damien Priest: A-