After the Call-Ups: Who Will Lead NXT?
Was it Seth Rollins who said, “You can't be afraid to burn everything down and start from scratch. Because the only direction you will go from there is up.”
I think that quote was written specifically for NXT in May of 2026? Because after this latest wave of call-ups, it sure feels that way. Goodbye Sol Ruca, Ethan Page, Joe Hendry, Jacy Jayne, Ricky Saints, Blake Monroe, Fallon Henley, and yes, even you, Lainey Reid. So now the question becomes: who’s left to carry Tuesday nights?
Tony D'Angelo and Lola Vice are still around, but this doesn’t feel like the same NXT roster we had six months ago. The cupboard suddenly looks very bare. But if there’s one thing Shawn Michaels’ version of NXT has proven over the years, it’s that the machine never stops moving. As quickly as stars leave, new names arrive. Hungry, unknown, and desperate to claim the spotlight.
So let’s talk about the newest wave of recruits and try to figure out who might eventually become the next breakout star for your Draftastic roster.
Naraku (formerly EVIL) is the most fascinating name on this entire list because he’s not arriving as a raw developmental prospect. He’s arriving as a fully formed international star. Before WWE, “EVIL” built his reputation in New Japan Pro-Wrestling as the ruthless leader of House of Torture and a former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, most notably shocking the wrestling world when he betrayed Tetsuya Naito after their New Japan Cup run. That experience immediately makes him different from almost everyone else in this class. When WWE fully integrates him into NXT, it likely won’t be as a prospect learning the ropes. It’ll be as a dangerous veteran presence who instantly raises the brand’s credibility. With so many established names moving to the main roster, Naraku could slide directly into the role of final boss for the next generation. His slower, more methodical style would also help diversify a brand currently overloaded with high-speed athletic wrestlers.
The biggest question is how much of the original EVIL presentation WWE chooses to preserve. If they let him keep the dark aura, calculated brutality, and big-match presence that made him successful in Japan, he could become a major attraction almost immediately. We simply haven’t seen enough of him in a WWE environment yet to know exactly how high the ceiling goes.
Lizzy Rain already feels ahead of many developmental prospects because she understands one of WWE’s most valuable currencies: identity. The “Maiden of Metal” presentation immediately gives her something memorable. You can already picture the entrance, the look, the merchandise, and the social media clips. In today’s version of NXT, standing out visually matters almost as much as delivering in the ring. Before arriving in WWE, Rain developed a following on the independent scene through appearances for promotions like Reality of Wrestling, where she leaned heavily into the rock-and-roll aesthetic that now defines her character. Honestly, pairing her with Tatum Paxley for a chaotic goth-gremlin alliance feels like something NXT should test immediately. She still needs polish in the ring and more experience working longer television matches, but the foundation is there. Character work is often the hardest thing to teach, and Lizzy already seems to “get it.” If her development continues steadily, there are shades of Rhea Ripley in the overall package. Not necessarily in-ring style, but in the way presence alone commands attention. At minimum, she feels like a future Women’s North American Champion. If everything clicks, maybe much more.
He’s big. He’s bad. He’ll bodyslam your dad! Mason Rook (formerly Will Kroos) feels perfectly designed for the Shawn Michaels-era NXT. There’s an intensity and unpredictability to him that immediately grabs your attention. And with so many major names departing the brand, the timing couldn’t be better for a fresh monster heel to emerge. Before WWE, Kroos gained attention on the independent scene through hard-hitting appearances in promotions like Game Changer Wrestling, where his chaotic brawling style helped him stand out among a crowded indie field. That same chaos translates well to NXT television. WWE loves performers who can create emotional reactions immediately, and Rook already feels like somebody fans will either love or desperately want to see get punched in the face. Either reaction works.
If he develops stronger promo confidence and finds a signature rivalry early, he has a chance to become one of the brand’s centerpiece heels. There’s a little bit of young Bronson Reed energy in the presentation. Future North American Champion feels realistic. Beyond that? We’ll see.
Kam Hendrix fits one of WWE’s favorite developmental archetypes: the terrifying athlete with ridiculous upside. WWE’s recent success with talents like Oba Femi has clearly reinforced the company’s belief that dominant, physically overwhelming performers still matter. Hendrix enters NXT at exactly the right time to benefit from that philosophy. Prior to WWE, Hendrix made waves as a standout football athlete and performance-based prospect, with several showcase appearances at WWE ID and NIL-related developmental events that reportedly caught the attention of scouts early. The tools are obvious. The size jumps off the screen immediately. The challenge now becomes personality. WWE can teach timing, structure, and television pacing, but eventually, Hendrix needs something fans can emotionally connect to beyond “big guy destroys people.” Right now, his projection feels somewhere between Julius Creed and Royce Keys. Explosive power with real upside if the character side develops properly.
Tristan Angels feels like the type of wrestler hardcore fans are going to latch onto very quickly. You can already see the blueprint: high pace, smooth athleticism, crisp execution, and matches that get clipped all over social media every Tuesday night. In a restructured NXT landscape, there’s suddenly a lot more room for pure in-ring standouts to break through. Before signing with WWE, Angels earned buzz through standout independent matches in regional promotions across the Southeast, particularly for Pro Wrestling REVOLVER, where his speed and athletic creativity started turning heads. The confidence is already there. He carries himself like somebody WWE views as a long-term project worth investing in. The next step is character depth. Plenty of wrestlers can have great matches. The stars are the ones fans emotionally invest in between the bell rings. At the moment, his trajectory feels similar to Nathan Frazer's. Though maybe with a little more edge and aggression baked into the presentation.
Tate Wilder may end up being one of the biggest winners of this entire NXT reset. Why? Because WWE suddenly needs babyfaces. Real ones. The roster lost several established personalities, and Wilder already feels naturally easy to root for. He has underdog energy, explosive athleticism, and the kind of style that creates highlight-reel moments fans remember after the show ends. Before WWE, Wilder built momentum wrestling for smaller independent promotions throughout Texas and the Midwest, where he gained attention for his crowd connection and fast-paced comeback-heavy match structure. WWE has always valued performers who can generate sympathy and excitement quickly, and Wilder checks both boxes immediately. The key now is confidence on the microphone. If he develops stronger promos and refines his character work, he could become one of the central weekly babyfaces of the brand. Long-term, he feels like the kind of performer who consistently lives in that upper-midcard sweet spot while quietly stealing shows every month.
If you were drafting purely based on upside, Kali Armstrong might honestly be the first name off the board. She checks almost every box WWE currently prioritizes when developing future stars: legitimate athletic background, charisma, physical presence, confidence, and a modern presentation that already feels television-ready. Before joining WWE, Armstrong competed in collegiate track and field, where her explosiveness and natural athleticism reportedly made her an immediate standout during WWE recruitment evaluations. And with several top women already called up or preparing to leave NXT soon, the brand is actively searching for its next centerpiece. Kali feels like somebody WWE could fast-track in a hurry if she adapts quickly to television. There are flashes of Bianca Belair in the athletic profile and hints of Lash Legend in the overall presence. That’s an incredibly high bar, but the raw tools are there. The scary part? She’s probably nowhere near finished developing yet. If things break correctly, Kali Armstrong doesn’t just project as a future NXT champion. She feels like somebody WWE could eventually build an entire WrestleMania season around.