Nearly five months ago, we highlighted five male NXT superstars who seemed destined for the main roster in 2026. At the time, Raw and SmackDown were in desperate need of a fresh spark to revitalize storylines, and new talent was the perfect solution. It turns out our predictions were spot on; that list aged like fine wine, with all five superstars having already earned their call-ups to the main roster.
Before this year, WWE hadn’t seen a single male superstar addition to Raw or SmackDown from NXT in nearly two years. However, since the start of 2026, the company has promoted six male and six female superstars. It’s a move that shows WWE is prioritizing the future of the business just as much as the present.
Leading the January call-ups, Oba Femi has made an immediate impact, defeating and retiring Brock Lesnar in his debut WrestleMania appearance. His popularity has since exploded to heights beyond even WWE’s expectations, and it is clear he is destined for greatness on the main roster.
Trick Williams has quickly become one of WWE’s most popular stars in a short period of time, most recently defeating Sami Zayn to become the new United States Champion at WrestleMania 42. His connection with the WWE Universe has reached a fever pitch, with “Whoop That Trick” chants echoing through every arena he enters. His momentum is only just beginning.
As for Je’Von Evans, he is rapidly becoming one of WWE’s most exciting superstars to watch, serving as a walking highlight reel in every match he enters. Despite falling short of capturing the Intercontinental Title in the ladder match at WrestleMania, his high-flying contributions were a major reason the match felt so thrilling and high-energy.
Since WrestleMania alone, WWE has added three more male NXT superstars to the roster. Among them is Ethan Page, who made a statement in his Raw debut by defeating Evans and immediately setting his sights on the Intercontinental Championship.
Meanwhile, Joe Hendry made his Raw debut this past Monday with a concert for the crowd, notably taking shots at Logan Paul and calling for his firing. The momentum continues on this week’s episode of SmackDown, which is scheduled to feature the addition of Ricky Saints.
The women’s division has also gained six new faces since the beginning of the year. Aside from Jordynne Grace, who arrived in January, the rest of the new additions made their first appearances within the last two weeks alone.
Since WrestleMania, the roster expanded even further with Jacy Jayne, Fallon Henley, and Lainey Reid debuting together as the faction “Fatal Influence.” Meanwhile, Sol Ruca made an instant statement, winning over the crowd after her impressive showing against Liv Morgan.
Rounding out the recent call-ups, Blake Monroe is set to become the sixth addition to the women’s division when she officially debuts on the blue brand this Friday.
These NXT newcomers don’t even include recent signings from other promotions, such as Royce Keys and Danhausen, or the return of established stars like Paige, Brie Bella, and Matt Cardona.
Fans are buzzing over the new arrivals, but there’s a growing sense that this might be too much, too fast. Although Raw and SmackDown certainly needed a refresh in both talent and storylines, such a seismic shift has many questioning if the roster can actually accommodate so many newcomers. We’ll be diving into one specific reason that likely triggered this uptick in NXT call-ups, and whether this is too much of a good thing.
