WWE Breakout Stars To Watch In 2026

2025 proved to be a monumental year for some of WWE’s lesser-known or less featured stars.

While veterans like Goldberg and John Cena retired, others, such as CM Punk, Roman Reigns, and Cody Rhodes, held their spot at the top of the food chain.

These breakout stars, though, managed to claw their way through and caught the attention of the company’s higher-ups.

Some of these stars already exist on the main roster; others had an exceptional run in NXT, leading to them earning a main roster call-up.

Here are a few wrestlers that fans should watch closely in 2026.

Je’Von Evans

Je’Von Evans, without a doubt, deserves all the success that will come his way in 2026.

The Young OG was recently announced as a free agent after being promoted to the main roster. Whether he lands a gig in Raw or SmackDown is anybody’s guess.

Known for his aerial acrobatics and speed, Evans manages to captivate audiences with moves very few wrestlers can pull off on the main roster.

While the 21-year-old may have made headlines on NXT, he failed to capture any title in his 12 attempts. But obviously, the WWE higher-ups have chosen to look past numbers for once and focus on a wrestler’s skills for a change.

Trick Williams (Former NXT & TNA World Champion)

Trick Williams made a surprise appearance on the December 26 episode of SmackDown, where he came face-to-face with Cody Rhodes.

A future clash between the two seems imminent, but this moment is about Williams planting the seeds for a larger success with the promotion.

In NXT, he was a two-time champion, also claiming the North American Championship once. He did the unthinkable by becoming the first WWE superstar to win the TNA World Championship when he defeated Joe Hendry at Battleground.

Joe Hendry (Former TNA World Champion)

Before joining WWE in November, Joe Hendry was signed to Total Nonstop Action.

After both companies signed a multi-year partnership that allowed talent swap between TNA and NXT, Hendry began making regular appearances on the silver and black brand.

In December, he was assigned to the SmackDown brand, where he faced The Miz on the December 26 episode. The superstars competed under street fight rules, with Hendry securing his first official win on the main roster.

Lash Legend

Lash Legend officially debuted on SmackDown in November and has since been an aide of Nia Jax.

Legend made an immediate impact, attacking 5-time Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss by the ringside during Jax’s singles match against Charlotte Flair.

A couple of weeks ago, she even secured a singles victory over Bliss before succumbing to Flair on December 26. Despite the defeat, Legend is destined for greatness and a few championships, owing to her in-ring aggression and dominance.

Legend will team up with Jax to compete in an 8-woman tag team match for the Women’s Tag Team Championship on the January 2 episode of the blue brand.

Roxanne Perez (Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion)

Roxanne Perez debuted on WWE Raw in May.

In her debut match, she defeated veterans Becky Lynch and Natalya to secure her place in the Money in the Bank ladder match.

While she did not ultimately win the ladder match at the namesake PLE, she did put on an impressive show, going up against the likes of Rhea Ripley, Naomi, Alexa Bliss, Stephanie Vaquer, and Giulia.

Perez also emerged as the company’s workhorse in the women’s division, competing in 60-odd matches in 2025 across different brands. She also replaced Liv Morgan as one-half of the Women’s Tag Team Champions after Morgan suffered a legitimate injury.

Oba Femi (Current NXT Champion)

Oba Femi is a 2-time NXT Champion who recently went toe-to-toe against Cody Rhodes.

The 27-year-old took the Undisputed WWE Champion by surprise, putting on a dominant performance, leaving Rhodes bleeding from the ear after a hard uppercut.

Femi missed a few months on NXT after losing his title to Ricky Saints, as speculations emerged that he was main roster-bound

However, he appeared on the developmental brand again and reclaimed his championship at Deadline.

Bron Breakker (Former NXT & Intercontinental Champion)

Bron Breakker has turned many heads within WWE with his in-ring acrobatics.

Son of legendary wrestler Rick Steiner, Breakker is a 2-time NXT Champion and has won as many Intercontinental Championship titles on the main roster.

The 28-year-old is currently involved in a feud with CM Punk and will challenge for the World Heavyweight Championship on the first Raw episode of 2026.

Breakker is a part of The Vision alongside Bronson Reed, Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Paul Heyman.

Sol Ruca (Former WWE Women’s Speed Champion & Women’s North American Champion)

Sol Ruca is to the WWE Women’s division what Je’Von Evans is to the men’s.

Ruca is a gymnast and does not have a wrestling background, but her acrobatics in the ring speak volumes.

Her Sol Snatcher finisher is one-of-a-kind that sees her drop a cutter on her opponent while performing a 360-degree inside-out leap.

While she is a babyface on NXT, she has hinted at a heel turn, and given her in-ring acumen, she could thrive in either role.

Reports suggest that the company’s executives are highly impressed with her performances and she could be main roster-bound in 2026, too.