New WWE Stars To Debut With Cody Rhodes

On the March 6 edition of Friday Night SmackDown, Cody Rhodes defeated Drew McIntyre to win the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Now that “The American Nightmare” is back on top, this may lead to a character shift for Rhodes that could lead to him introducing new WWE stars to the main roster.

Rhodes helping some up-and-coming talent from NXT or from outside of the company to the WWE audience would be an interesting vehicle to debut some new stars to Raw or SmackDown moving forward.

Here are six new WWE stars to potentially debut with Cody Rhodes.

6. Royce Keys

At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Royce Keys made his debut with the company as an entrant in the Men’s Royal Rumble Match.

Since his strong showing during the Rumble, Keys has not appeared on WWE television in the weeks after the PLE.

The former Powerhouse Hobbs has reportedly been preparing for a featured role on the WWE main roster and getting used to the production side of the company.

Keys debuting next to Cody Rhodes would immediately garner attention for the former AEW star and would also be a great way to play off their real life friendship as well.

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5. Mike Cunningham

On the WWE Evolve brand, the company has introduced several new stars signed to ID deals.

Among those talents, Mike Cunningham is one of the new names that has made their presence felt as of late.

Cunningham has displayed his confidence and athletic ability every time he has been given an opportunity on Evolve in recent months.

Trained at the Nightmare Factory in Atlanta, Cunningham could be someone Cody Rhodes brings in as his new protege and kicks off his WWE career proper on the main roster stage.

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4. Lexis King

In 2023, Lexis King signed with WWE NXT and immediately became someone that everyone was talking about.

After making a name for himself as a second generation star on the indies and AEW, King immediately reinvented himself and has showcased his charisma over the past few years.

As of late, King has recruited Channing “Stacks” Lorenzo, Arianna Grace and Uriah Connors to form his Birthright stable.

King getting called up to the WWE main roster alongside Cody Rhodes would be an intriguing move that would give him a stamp of approval that most fans did not see for him when he first debuted on NXT.

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3. Anna Jay

Another Nightmare Factory trainee that has made their mark on the pro wrestling scene in recent years is Anna Jay.

Debuting in All Elite Wrestling back in 2020, Anna Jay would go on to join the Dark Order and started to make a name for herself as “The Queen Slayer.”

Over the past six years, Jay has had several notable stories and moments against the likes of Mariah May, Tay Melo and Megan Bayne.

With her contract set to expire in 2026, it feels like a no-brainer to connect Anna Jay with her former trainer and mentor Cody Rhodes on the WWE main roster.

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2. Ethan Page

No one has made a bigger impact upon leaving All Elite Wrestling and going on to sign with WWE is Ethan Page.

“All Ego” has accomplished so much since signing with the company in 2024, winning the NXT Championship and becoming one of the longest reigning NXT North American Champions of all time.

Proving himself in the ring, on the microphone and as a character, Page seems more than ready and tailor made for the WWE main roster.

Alongside Cody Rhodes, Ethan Page could add some edge to “The American Nightmare” and signal a heel turn for one of the biggest babyfaces on the WWE roster right now.

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1. Ricky Saints

If anyone is closer to Cody Rhodes outside of the squared circle, it is current WWE NXT star Ricky Saints.

Signing with WWE in 2025, Saints has become one of the top stars on the NXT brand, capturing the NXT Championship and NXT North American Championship in his first year with the company.

With his impressive ability on the mic and as a character, it feels like it will only be a matter of time before Saints moves up to the WWE main roster.

Saints working with Cody Rhodes would be a tremendous way to immediately thrust him into the spotlight and present him as a major star on either Raw or SmackDown.

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