Last Tuesday, Trick Williams defeated Ilja Dragunov at night one of Spring Breakin’ to become the NXT Champion, seemingly kicking off a new era of NXT. It was a long time coming for the popular superstar to reach the top, and with his big title win coinciding with the WWE Draft.

After Night One of the draft on SmackDown, we’ve already seen the full-time callups of Carmelo Hayes, Baron Corbin, and Kiana James. This Monday on Raw it’s expected for more NXT superstars to get called up. Some names like Dragunov, Blair Davenport, and maybe even NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez have been discussed already.

In a time where pretty much all of the top talent is ready to make the jump to the main roster, what will the new era of NXT look like?

Top Singles Talent

Trick Williams has now cemented himself as the top dog on the black and gold brand. So naturally, he’ll need some competitors vying for his top prize. Over the next year, some of the faces I see emerging are Oba Femi, Karrion Kross, Je’Von Evans and Tony D’Angelo.

Femi has been a dominant NXT North American Champion for over 100 days. He looks well on his way to a Gunther-type midcard title reign. Femi is the second biggest name in this new era of NXT, so it feels inevitable for him and Trick Williams to cross paths.

Speaking of cross, Karrion Kross and The Final Testament seem fully committed to returning to NXT. And it’s something that could work out for the better for the stable. Kross was a former NXT Champion and has some legitimacy already. Another full-time stint in NXT near the top talent could work the same wonders it did for Baron Corbin.

Je’Von Evans is the newest face on the black and gold brand, and is already making a major impact. His in-ring ability and athleticism is unmatched. Not to mention and he’s already been trusted in the ring with top talent like Ilja Dragunov. The Young OG is someone the crowd has already gotten behind in just a short time. Not to mention, his moveset makes him an instant babyface. He could even serve as a foil character against Oba Femi in the NXT North American title picture.

As for The Don of NXT, Tony D’Angelo is fresh off an NXT title match against Dragunov. But he and The Family have a lot of untapped potential still yet to be seen on NXT. If he gets more of an opportunity to be a large and in charge heel, he could pose a legitimate threat to NXT’s top title.

Women’s Division

The NXT Women’s division already took a loss with Kiana James on Friday. And they could potentially be losing a few more superstars to the draft. But there’s no shortage of fresh faces that can take the brand by the horns in the next year.

NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez is already a proven talent. But some other names that stand out are Tatum Paxley, Sol Ruca, Jakara Jackson, Lash Legend, and Giulia.

Paxley nearly became the new NXT Women’s Champion last Wednesday, and seems to have the spirit of the NXT universe on her side. Her storyline with Lyra Valkyria is one of the most captivating on television right now, and sure to keep her near the top of the pecking order.

Sol Ruca is a name that just seems primed for a big year. She has the look, the support, and one of the best looking finishing moves in the company. Her potential as a top babyface just makes her a logical foe for the heelish Roxanne Perez for the championship. She has all the signs of being a new era version of NXT Bayley.

Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend have potential both as a tag team and individual wrestlers. They have routinely been one of the most entertaining parts of weekly NXT television with their inclusion in the Meta-Four stable. Hopefully this year is one where we see what they’re capable of in the ring.

Giulia is the wild card. The hottest free agent signing for the company since Jade Cargill. She’s made a name for herself in New Japan Pro Wrestling and got an overwhelming ovation at Stand & Deliver earlier this month. It only makes sense that she’ll be a big deal whenever she debuts.

Potential Main Roster Send Downs

NXT has created a reputation for showcasing the best up-and-coming talent in the business. But in recent years it has also been a place where some main roster talent return to further develop their characters.

We’ve seen guys like Drew McIntyre and Dolph Ziggler even win the NXT Championships in their return stints. So who could be the next ones to do that this year?

We’ve already discussed the Final Testament returning to NXT. But recently we’ve also seen The OC, The LWO, Natalya and Ivar in major programs. And I think it’s safe to say they can be mainstays over the next year.

I’d also love to see returns from superstars like Shinsuke Nakamura and Omos. This could give them a chance to be on television in an effective way.

What do you think the new era of NXT has in store?

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