The WWE is white hot right now, and it may look to showcase new stars to usher in a new era of wrestling
The WWE is on fire, and since debuting its premiere episode of Monday Night Raw on Netflix, things have gotten even hotter. So many contributing factors make the landscape of the WWE unpredictable and exciting. Whether it's superstar shakeups, new titles introduced, or never-before-seen rivalries. Upon the cusp of a seemingly new era in the WWE, the talent is working harder than ever to prove they should be in the spotlight. With so many new eyes after entering the streaming world, the WWE should look to showcase new stars.
Here are the WWE superstars I want to step into their stardom in 2025:
Jade Cargill
Well this is a tricky one because Jade Cargill has been heavily featured on the WWE main roster. After her departure from All Elite Wrestling, she was one of the hottest free agents on the market. Her dominant reign as the company's inaugural TBS Champion would solidify to me that she is a star no matter where she goes. Wrestling fans from all over were clamoring for Cargill to sign with WWE, and soon enough thats exactly what happened. She made her official in-ring debut in the 2024 Royal Rumble with an impressive showing by eliminating Nia Jax and even making it to the final three. Since then she has become a force in the tag team division by becoming a 2-time Women's Tag Team Champion alongside her partner, Bianca Belair, a former Women's World Champion. However, it has been two months since Cargill has been on WWE television. While she is on the Smackdown brand, I would love to see this bonafide star head to Monday Night Raw solo and go toe-to-toe with the likes of Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez. Not before her and Bianca mix it up of course.
Trick Williams
From sidekick to the face of NXT describes the meteoric rise of Trick Williams. There is something about this guy, he has the look, the charisma and the aura. In his start Williams paired with fellow rising star and former NXT Champion, Carmelo Hayes. These two made their mark on the NXT roster by battling guys such as Ricochet, Roderick Strong, Bron Breakker and Wes Lee. However, I started to see Williams's potential when he started competing in his own matches. Gaining big wins plus his intensity on the mic organically won over the crowd, and me too, so much so that people would chant "whoop that trick" as he made his way to the ring.
Soon he would transition from simply accompanying Hayes to taking over the squared circle. Hayes would turn on Williams causing the two to split, sparking a red hot feud. The rivalry ended with Williams as the victor and would mark the start of his solo career. He would strike gold by becoming the NXT North American Champion, but the building truly erupted when he dethroned Ilja Dragunov to win the biggest prize on the brand, the NXT championship. Trick Willy is definitely a star; I hope to see him whoop all the tricks on the main roster and show the world just how big of a force he is!
Austin Theory
Austin Theory aka A-Town Down is a former 2-time WWE United States States Champion. He has proven he can be in the main event going against the best of the best. Theory was no stranger to the spotlight as he made a name for himself in the indies and would soon embark on the WWE superstar journey. He had an impressive stint in NXT racking up some wins and even winning tag team gold alongside Johnny Gargano in stable The Way. Theory would make his main roster debut amid the pandemic in front of no fans. However, once the circumstances returned to normal and crowds were a thing again, it was only a matter of time before he got the true opportunity to shine. He was even dubbed by former Chairman and CEO of WWE, Vince McMahon, as the chosen one.
He has had A-list matches with the likes of Finn Balor, Jeff Hardy, Rey Mysterio, Kevin Owens, and Randy Orton. What made me a true fan was when he became Mr. Money in the Bank; he tapped into his gritty side with a heavy dose of entertaining arrogance. While the cash-in didn't put the championship around his waist he would eventually go on to have mark key feuds with superstars like Seth Rollins. As if climbing the ranks wasn't enough, Theory would still create big moments. He has had success at Wrestlemania with beating John Cena as his biggest feat. Since Wrestlemania, his run would calm down and he would rule the tag division for a bit alongside Grayson Waller. But I want to see him step back into that spotlight and become the world champion.
Carmelo Hayes
I have been a Carmelo Hayes fan since day one. He is just one of those superstars with the "it" factor. He seemingly defies gravity with his unique and fast-paced, smash-mouth wrestling style. Not only is his wrestling a joy to watch, but everything he does screams superstar. His entrance? Fire. His music? Fire. His look? Fire. His mic skills? Fire. Hayes has got it all.
He began by making waves in NXT, winning over the crowd by putting on fantastic matches. As I mentioned earlier, things started to heat up when he formed a partnership with Trick Williams. However, Hayes has said that he's all about making history, and he did just that. Not only did he become a 2-time NXT North American Champion, but he defeated Roderick Strong to unify the Cruiserweight and NXT North American titles.
But the peak of his stardom was when he beat Bron Breakker at 2023 Stand and Deliver to become the NXT Champion. Hayes would then lose the championship to rival Ilja Dragunov, leaving behind an incredible reign. Following his split from Williams, he still pushed forward and made his way to the Smackdown brand. It's no secret that he is a mega star in the making; I need him to shoot his shot and show the entire wrestling world what he's made of. Why? Because "Melo, don't miss."
IYO SKY
Listen, I’m not sure an explanation is even necessary for this superstar, but I'll provide one anyway. IYO SKY is a once-in-a-lifetime talent. She has the accolades, the move set, the intensity, and the perfect vibe for this business. Before joining WWE, she was making waves under the name Io Shirai in Japan and became a top star in one of the country's prestigious women's wrestling promotions, Stardom. She signed with WWE in 2018, making a significant impact on the NXT brand. I first saw IYO SKY when she was feuding with Candace LeRae. They had a series of matches, and it was SKY's impressive physicality during those encounters that turned me into a fan.
SKY can captivate the crowd with just her entrance; her charisma and energy perfectly complement her music, creating an intriguing spectacle. However, things shift once the action begins inside the ring. She is a pure athlete, able to soar around the ring or display her technical prowess by forcing her opponent to tap out. She has prevailed against tough competition that includes big names like Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Kairi Sane, and Rhea Ripley.
SKY is a former NXT Women's Champion, NXT Women's Tag Team Champion, two-time Women's Tag Team Champion, and Ms. Money in the Bank. Her crowning achievement was cashing in at SummerSlam to become the WWE Women's Undisputed Champion. Since losing the title to Bayley at WrestleMania 40, she has moved in and out of the main event scene. Recently, she has had outstanding matches with Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez and has been eyeing the Women's World Champion, Rhea Ripley. I hope she can challenge Rhea at this year's WrestleMania and reclaim her title as "Mega Star.”
Who's on your list? Comment down below and stay tuned for part two!