WWE has promoted Trick Williams to the main roster, with three other NXT talents, including Oba Femi, expected to join either RAW or SmackDown soon. Williams was recently seen backstage at tapings for both shows, signaling the end of his time in the developmental league.
Internally, Williams is listed with the SmackDown roster, according to Corey Hayes from BodySlam.net, and he is anticipated to be the first of at least four wrestlers called up in the near future. Dave Meltzer shared on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE plans to bring up Oba Femi, Joe Hendry, and Sol Luka next. Hendry and Luka are confirmed on the list after their prominent appearances on Saturday Night’s Main Event (SNME), which coincided with John Cena’s retirement.
While it’s unclear when Sol Luka will transition from NXT to RAW or SmackDown, his victory over Bayley on SNME was notable. Hendry, meanwhile, wasn’t part of that match but appeared in the segment by defeating The Miz and partnering with R-Truth. Oba Femi started the match against WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, which ended via disqualification due to interference from Drew McIntyre. Despite holding the NXT Championship, Oba is also considered a strong candidate for a move to the main roster and is viewed as a major main event prospect.
Meltzer highlighted the significance of their SNME performances, noting that while these wrestlers were always expected to succeed, their impact on a larger stage changed many opinions. WWE appears poised to refresh its roster in the new year by promoting four of its top talents. This decision will be intriguing given Oba Femi is set to defend his NXT Championship against Leon Slater, the TNA X Division Champion, at New Year’s Evil on January 6th.
In addition, Jevon Evans seems to have already made the jump to the main roster. Though Meltzer didn’t mention him, his involvement backstage with RAW general manager Adam Pearce on December 22 suggests he is a “free agent” who could join either RAW or SmackDown. Previously, Evans teamed up with Leon Slater at SNME, securing a significant win over World Tag Team Champions AJ Styles and Dragon Lee. Cena’s focus on introducing next-generation talent gave these five stars a valuable spotlight on the show.
Fan Take: This influx of fresh talent signals an exciting shift in WWE’s landscape, offering fans new stars to rally behind while reinvigorating storylines across both main shows. It also underscores WWE’s commitment to building the future of the sport by elevating promising NXT performers to the spotlight.
