WWE has revamped the way that it develops talent down at the Performance Center before putting them on NXT TV. A few years ago, they went to the NXT 2,0 model of using athletes with no wrestling background with a storyline-driving product with less focus on-ring action. Over the last year, they’ve brought in more independent talent and have shifted to more of an in-ring product.
The praise
A star who has caught fire in the last four months is Trick Williams, who is days away from challenging NXT Champion Ilja Dargunov for the title at NXT Vengeance Day on February 4. At this same show, Williams and Carmelo Hayes will also take on Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic finals.
As previously reported, following Williams making the save for Hayes on last week’s SmackDown and getting a great reaction, the WWE SmackDown creative team was blown away by the reaction Williams got.
The belief from some influential people in the company now is that Williams has “future WrestleMania main eventer potential.” One top star praised the NXT star for having “great attitude and skill set that he’s cultivating.” They see “nothing but positives for him.”
Latest praise
In the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported more on the impression that Williams made on WWE execs.
Meltzer wrote, “The big reaction that Trick Williams got at the Smackdown show in Miami really upped his standing. He’s already considered the hottest act in NXT.”
