The world of wrestling listens when WWE Hall of Fame Sean Michaels identifies talent for future main events. In a recent interview with Brad Gilmore of Reality Wrestling, Talent Development’s Senior Vice President of NXT identified what rising stars are heading for the big stage.
Michaels, who oversees WWE’s developmental brands, has specifically named NXT women’s champion Stephanie Verker as an outstanding female performer.
“I think we have to be our NXT women’s champion, Stephanie Verker from the women’s side,” Michaels said. “She just swept the whole world. I think she’s already an international name, but I think NXT programming, the whole world, the whole world, and her popularity has skyrocketed.”
On the men’s side, Michaels highlighted both NXT champion Trick Williams and North American champion Obafemi as two distinctive talents with potential for the main roster.
“I think it’s going to be thrown at our boys side,” Michaels explained. “Trick Williams and Obafemi are two guys, and Trick has unlimited charisma, but Oba also has mystique and aura about him. They are two very different individuals, but they are easily superstars that people think will become raw Smackdown superstars in the very near future.”
Gilmore reinforced the review, saying, “Obafemi has a presence and credibility about him and will one day see the main event of WrestleMania.”
As WWE continues to build the next generation of stars, these support from one of the greatest wrestling ever has considerable weight. As NXT moves to the CW network and improves visibility, these performers have a platform to develop their characters before joining Raw or Smackdown.
As WWE’s Memorial Day weekend takeover in Tampa, which features Saturday night main event, Battlegrounds, Monday Nightrow and NXT, fans will have the opportunity to see these future stars and decide for themselves if Michaels’ high praise is justified.
