Coming off the heels of WWE NXT Great American Bash 2026, it should be interesting to see how the brand changes moving forward.
In an effort to alter the landscape of NXT, the brand might add some new talent to the roster to bolster their ranks with other stars moving up to Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown.
From those from Evolve and LFG to talent coming over from TNA Wrestling, there are a variety of names who could make the move to the NXT brand in the near future.
Here are seven new WWE NXT free agent signings to potentially debut soon.
7. Mike Santana
At TNA Slammiversary 2026, Nic Nemeth defeated Mike Santana to win the TNA World Championship.
This was a prediction that many fans got right considering recent rumors have indicated that Santana’s TNA Wrestling contract is set to expire.
Adding to the sense that his time in TNA is coming to an end, WWE has expressed interest in bringing Santana into the company.
After his success in TNA and AEW, Santana’s logical next move should be WWE where he could become a top star for the NXT brand soon.
6. Leon Slater
In a similar vein to Mike Santana, Leon Slater has felt like another no-brainer signing for WWE when he becomes available.
Through the working relationship with TNA Wrestling, Slater has appeared on WWE television over the past year.
This has given WWE fans the chance to see how talented the 21 year old is and what he can bring to the table if he signed with the company one day.
Considering his TNA deal expires in 2026, Slater should be a high priority free agent for WWE when he is on the open market.
5. Cappuccino Jones
The WWE ID program was created in 2025 in an effort for the company to sign some of the top independent talent and create a path to the Performance Center for these names.
Among the first signings under the ID program was Cappuccino Jones, who has gone on to be a mainstay of WWE Evolve.
Following in the footsteps of his fellow day one ID signings Sean Legacy and The Vanity Project, Jones feels like the next up who can make his way to NXT in the near future.
With his in-ring ability and coffee enthusiast character, Jones feels like someone who would fit right at home on WWE NXT.
4. Harley Riggins
Another WWE prospect that fans have been getting to know on Evolve as of late is Harley Riggins.
Alongside Kam Hendrix, Riggins has become among the most prominent heels on the Evolve roster in recent months.
When many fans see Riggins for the first time, he has been compared to Triple H based on his looks alone, which should work in his favor.
Riggins signing with WWE NXT could see him bringing his act with Hendrix to Tuesday nights moving forward.
3. Harlem Lewis
Another WWE Evolve standout who could make their way to the NXT brand soon is Harlem Lewis.
As one of the original Evolve stars, Lewis instantly caught attention with his no-nonsense attitude and hard hitting style in the ring.
Then on WWE LFG, Lewis was able to show more of his personality and learn from the likes of Booker T in the PC.
With Lewis likely heading to WWE NXT soon, it’ll be interesting to see what he is willing to do to gain the spotlight on the brand.
2. Elijah Holyfield
Since signing with WWE, Elijah Holyfield was always going to garner plenty of attention considering he is the son of Hall of Fame boxer Evander Holyfield.
The second generation athlete has been training at the WWE Performance Center and started appearing on the company’s programming on the LFG show on A&E.
Stemming from his success on LFG, Holyfield has made his way to the Evolve brand and started to make a name for himself there as well.
Holyfield signing with WWE NXT sounds like a foregone conclusion that could happen a whole lot sooner than some fans even realize.
1. Hiromu Takahashi
Following NJPW The New Beginning in Osaka 2026, Hiromu Takahashi departed New Japan Pro Wrestling after a 15-year run with the promotion.
‘The Ticking Time Bomb’ is a highly sought after free agent considering his status as one of the most decorated junior heavyweights in NJPW history.
Considering that Naraku has established himself as a top star in short order on NXT, it would make sense if WWE decided to place Hiromu alongside his former Los Ingobernables de Japan stablemate.
Takahashi joining forces with Naraku in a new faction could become one of the most important stories on the NXT brand moving forward.
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