As WWE’s developmental brand, NXT is built on constant roster turnover, with talent constantly elevated to the main roster once considered ready.
In the post-SummerSlam period, as the company moves into the Fall, we’re likely to see a wave of fresh faces join the brand.
To keep the roster fresh, WWE continues to scout the independent scene closely, looking to sign standout performers.
Below are stars who could soon be making their way to WWE’s third brand.
9. Leon Slater
At TNA’s recent Slammiversary PPV, the star coming out of the show was 20-year-old British wrestler Leon Slater.
Winning the X-Division title, he became its youngest holder in the best match on the card against Moose.
In the post-match, he was congratulated by returning TNA legend AJ Styles, who put the British wunderkind over massively as the heir to his own TNA legacy.
With Styles’ endorsement, it is clear that WWE has its eye on Slater, and it surely won’t be long until he makes the transition to NXT.
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8. Marcus Mathers
For several years now, Marcus Mathers has been one of independent wrestling’s standout workers.
He is already on WWE’s radar, as one of their ID talents – “a program where top independent wrestling prospects” are supported through “their developmental journey,” basically given a retainer by the company to continue working on the indies.
The 22-year-old has appeared on WWE’s EVOLVE show but continues to kill it, performing relentlessly across US indies, including a critically celebrated recent intergender trios match alongside Alec Price & Jordan Oliver against Billie Starkz, Megan Bayne & Miyu Yamashita at Game Changer Wrestling’s The Top Play.
Sooner rather than later, his ID contract will likely become an NXT one.
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7. Kylie Rae
Over SummerSlam Weekend, GCW promoted the “ID Showcase,” an event featuring the finals of both the WWE ID Women’s and Men’s Tournaments.
The tournaments have been running since April, with matches taking place across different independent shows, and the winners of each becoming the inaugural WWE ID Women’s and Men’s champions.
In the semi-main event of the show, Kylie Rae defeated Zara Zakher and Zayda Steel to take the women’s title.
Former AEW and TNA star, 32-year-old Rae, has consistently been one of the best female workers on the indies, and WWE putting this title on her means she is surely soon set to make her way to NXT.
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6. LJ Cleary
Over SummerSlam weekend, WWE held its latest round of tryouts for prospective stars.
The Wrestling Observer reported that 55 hopefuls attended the session.
One of those was Irish independent wrestler and partner of WWE’s Lyra Valkyria, LJ Cleary.
The 26-year-old’s in-ring work has improved markedly in recent years, and he recently impressed during tours with Pro Wrestling NOAH – it would not be a surprise to see him join the ranks of the NXT roster.
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5. Daga
Also at the tryouts was luchador Daga.
The 37-year-old was the most experienced with the biggest name recognition of all the prospects – a mid-card star for years in AAA and a regular in TNA.
Since 2023, he has become a regular in Pro Wrestling NOAH, becoming both GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion and GHC Tag Team Champion, while also becoming a noticeably better in-ring worker.
At 37, age may be against him; however, Daga has proven himself a standout in-ring performer in recent years, one from whom the younger talent at WWE’s Performance Centre could learn.
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4. Rayne Leverkusen
For the first time ever at a WWE tryout session, they named an MVP.
This inaugural accolade was awarded to British female performer Rayne Leverkusen.
With only 150 matches under her belt, she has wrestled consistently for the UK’s premier all-women’s promotion, EVE, completed a tour for the Japanese absurdist promotion DDT, and recently impressed in the main event of Progress Wrestling’s Chapter 182, challenging for the women’s title in a three-way against Kanji and champion Rhio.
A hard in-ring worker with inherent likability and understated charisma, it’s clear WWE has its eyes on the British indie worker.
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3. Cappuccino Jones
At GCW’s ID Showcase, Cappuccino Jones beat Jack Cartwheel in the tournament final to become the inaugural WWE ID Men’s Champion.
With only two years of in-ring experience, Jones has proven himself a standout talent on the indies.
Exuding charisma, he has character work down and in-ring work that is improving rapidly, refining an already spectacular aerial moveset – during WrestleMania weekend, he had a standout indie match at Pandemonium: The House Always Wins against Dragongate stalwart KZY.
Giving him the title clearly demonstrates that WWE has plans for him, and there’s little doubt Jones will soon be signed to an NXT contract.
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2. Mike Santana
TNA star Mike Santana has already appeared on NXT in recent months, feuding over the TNA World Heavyweight Title against Trick Williams.
Although losing to Williams in successive efforts, he still appears to be the chosen one to eventually take the title from Williams – something suggested by his victory over former heavyweight champion Joe Hendry on 24 July edition of TNA Impact.
Having proven himself to be a star babyface to the TNA audience, Santana offers a level of authenticity to his character, something rarely seen on either TNA or WWE programming.
It is clear, due to his prominence on NXT, that WWE has their eyes on the 34-year-old star, and it seems he will make the transition sooner rather than later.
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1. Masha Slamovich
One of the best matches from SummerSlam weekend came at GCW’s Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIV.
In the main event of the independent show, WWE star Nattie Neidhart took on TNA’s Masha Slamovich in a heated and ferocious battle – one that saw the pair engage in hard striking, ground and pound, and submission attempts.
Arguably Neidhart’s best bout in years, this was nothing out of the ordinary for Slamovich, the former TNA Knockouts Champion who has been cutting a relentless path across the indies, where she has remained one of its standout workers.
Already appearing on NXT programming during her recent feud with Jacy Jayne, Slamovich is clearly on WWE’s radar, and it seems unlikely TNA will be able to keep her for much longer.
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