5 NXT 2.0 Superstars to Watch in 2022

#4. NXT Superstar, Joe Gacy

The NXT creative team made the right move by focusing less on Gacy as an in-ring performer and booking him more consistently as a manager for newcomer Harland. This has given him more opportunities to cut promos and establish his character in NXT as a cult leader of the "inclusivity movement."

Hopefully, the NXT team will study what worked and what didn't with past cult leader characters, most notably Bray Wyatt, so that there's depth to the character that evolves throughout his run. One of Wyatt's biggest criticisms on the main roster was that he would cut the same type of promo from program to program and would often be on the losing end. This eventually made him less effective as a character. NXT needs to take its time with Gacy, build the character and, when the time is right, give him some big wins.

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3. NXT Women's Superstar, Cora Jade

Think back to when Bayley debuted in NXT. She was the intimidated, plucky underdog who slowly found her confidence and became one of the darlings of the brand. While WWE ultimately botched her babyface push and found renewed success with her as a heel, NXT has a chance to re-create a similar babyface with Jade.

There is still some work to be done, particularly on the microphone, but given her recent performance at NXT WarGames, it's clear that the fans are starting to buy in and the creative time is planning to give her a push. She likely will not win the NXT Women's Championship at the "New Year's Evil" show, but it's likely not the end of her rise to the top of the card in NXT.