NXT Year In Review: Six For The Future

Breakout stars. Ones to watch. Future champions. All Elite. Call them what you like. These are six superstars you need to keep an eye on in 2022.

6. Joe Gacy: I still believe in Gacy. His current gimmick only strengthens my conviction in his potential. He’s embraced a horrible short-term character (yes, a short-term character with no staying power) and turned it into something people are talking about. If he keeps this up, he will earn the right to show his true personality. Wake me up when that happens.    

5. Charlie Dempsey: I have a long-running dream about a wrestler who wins each match with a different submission. Dempsey is that wrestler. He’s Timothy Thatcher with a full set of teeth. His ceiling is low because there is nothing about him that says RawDown, and I say that as a compliment. In the game of physical chess, Dempsey is a future grand master, and he’ll make Papa General Manager Regal very proud.     

4. Pretty Deadly: Sexy Sam and Luscious Louis are the exact opposite of Dempsey. Everything about Pretty Deadly screams RawDown. They can be Edge & Christian 2.0. Side Plate Check is the new 5 second pose. They are old school heels who know every dirty trick in the book. As much as I would miss them, they are ready to be hated on a much bigger stage than the BT Sports Studio.   

3. Blair Davenport: I’m pretty sure she and Shayna Baszler are long lost sisters. Davenport wakes up pissed off and looking to kick someone’s teeth out. She’s got to be a horrible roommate. She is clearly the one chosen to dethrone Meiko Satomura. My only hope is it takes at least two tries, because the world deserves as much Davenport-Satomura as possible.

2. Carmello Hayes: In a linear, predictable world, ‘Melo would have a clear path to WrestleMania. I also said that about Adam Cole, Ricochet, Keith Lee and a host of other NXT superstars that had the look and feel of a champion. Of the new breed, he is easily the best of the bunch. I only wish he had more competition for that superlative.   

1. Nathan Frazer: He is the Beatles of NXT UK. The David Beckham of British wrestling. He looks like a million bucks and moves like a Ninja Warrior. He’s British Ricochet. Frazer is the friend you want to have and the guy your sister wants to date. His face should be on every British tabloid, propelling the brand to a level not even WALTER could have achieved. He’s a generational talent. That’s right. I said it.