NXT had a big year in 2020, from having the NXT Women’s Championship defended at Wrestlemania, to having perhaps the best show of the year with NXT Takeover: Portland. It remains the most popular brand in WWE, and 2021 could be an even bigger year for the brand. Much like we did for AEW earlier, here are five predictions for WWE NXT in 2021.
The NXT Championship Will Be Defended At Wrestlemania
Much like how Rhea Ripley defended the NXT Women’s Championship at Wrestlemania this year, it feels like WWE could be setting up a major defense of the NXT World Championship for this year’s Showcase of The Immortals. Finn Balor is the current champion, and is a recognizable name to fans of RAW & Smackdown, being a former Universal & Intercontinental Champion.
While we could see someone win the Royal Rumble and challenge for the NXT World Championship, it’s more likely that this is where we see Karrion Kross try to regain his championship, one who only lost due to injury. Kross is a name destined for stardom on the WWE main roster, and his huge entrance is made for the bright lights of Wrestlemania. Having him appear in a match like this would give WWE a test to see how audiences like him, and Balor can be trusted to make him look like a star.
Undisputed Era Start Another Gold Rush
Speaking of the NXT World Championship, in 2020 we saw the Undisputed Era lose all their gold. Once upon a time, they held all the championships they could in NXT, with Adam Cole as NXT World Champion, Roderick Strong as NXT North American Champion, and Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly as NXT Tag Team Champions.
Now, Kyle O’Reilly is their focused singles star, Adam Cole & Roderick Strong intend to win the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic, and Bobby Fish is nursing an injury. Expect them to regain some gold in 2021, perhaps another NXT Tag Team Championship reign or O’Reilly as North American Champion, and that win gets them the confidence they need to reclaim their brand.
British Strong Style Reunites With A New Edge
The fathers of NXT UK have rarely all been seen together in WWE. Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate & Trent Seven are collectively known as British Strong Style. Dunne is recognizable as the longest reigning NXT UK Champion of all time, and Bate & Seven are former NXT Tag Team Champions. However, with Dunne becoming a top heel in NXT, it’s only a matter of time before fans see the true nature of his friends.
Seven is currently on hiatus after losing in the finals of the Heritage Cup, and Bate was set to make a splash in NXT earlier this year. They will all come together soon, and people will learn just how great they are as heels. We could even see them be a faction on the same level as something like Undisputed Era.
More Names Return To NXT
As NXT becomes more and more popular, and has the potential to become a proper touring brand once the pandemic ends, more names want to return. We’ve seen Finn Balor, Ember Moon, Tyler Breeze, Fandango and most recently Gran Metalik & Lince Dorado come back to NXT. Balor & Breezango were able to claim gold, with Balor still NXT World Champion as I write this.
It’s a great way to be able to show your full skills as a wrestler, as RAW & Smackdown aren’t as in-ring focused products. Aleister Black wanted to get back to NXT, and I doubt he’s the only one. We can expect to see more and more names pop up back in NXT, even if just for one off matches.
More Global Expansion
NXT UK might have not been the smash hit that WWE wanted it to be, but it’s given WWE a foothold in the UK to scout for talent. With plans for NXT India and potentially an NXT Mexico in the works? NXT is set to become a more global brand than ever. Once WWE gets the ball rolling, it will be hard to stop them, and before we get NXT Finland before we know it!
Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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