5 Women from NXT to take forward the WWE women's revolution

With Evolution just a few days away, fans and the company look to see how this PPV performs and what it means for the future of WWE's Womens division. Regardless of the result though, there's no doubt WWE will hold sequels to its first ever all women's PPV. It is after all the next and most consistent step in the evolution of women in WWE.

With that said, the influx of new talent will bring the growing division onto a whole other level. The addition of a women's UK division and a promise of global growth for NXT makes the possibility of a woman led show even grander. Imagine instead of yearly editions of Evolution, there might just be an Evolution weekly show.

To fill such a show you need talent and as mentioned a lot of it is incoming in the next few years. Yet how much of this talent can stand head and shoulders with the top class of the current division as well as legends of past. The answer to that question is here as we look at five top prospects from developmental to take forward the women's division of the future and continue to build the WWE's women's revolution.

Because if there's any guarantee about Evolution, it's that it is always changing.

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Main Roster Prospects

Since we are looking at just NXT talents, it means that a few women still finding their footing in the main roster won't really count. Even then there are few talents who are first in line to sort of take the mantle forward of the women's division before the next crop of superstars graduate.

At the top of that list is Sonya Deville. If it weren't for the meteoric rise of Buddy Murphy, Deville would definitely be this year's most improved performer. Plucked raw from NXT and planted on RAW, she's proven as an outstanding talent in absolution. That's a mouthful of praise, but no less than Deville deserves considering all things. A lengthy feud with Charlotte Flair would prove sensational and help establish her as one of the women's revolution's key players.

Just as easily as Deville has stunned with her in-ring performances, slowly but surely Mandy Rose is picking up the right attitude to formulate the perfect character. She's the proto-typical WWE female that could launch Vince McMahon's vision for the division while improving enough and become Triple H's mandate for it as well. Rose has got the spunk and she's growing well too.

Joining them is the Riott Squad leader, Ruby Riott. Though her partners are decent, especially the fiery Sarah Logan. It is Riott that has the most upside as an alternative character with stellar skills between the ropes. She's got the Lita and Paige style down to a tee, and has had excellent feuds with Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks that have proven she can go far.

After them is the successor to the Bella's model in Peyton Royce; the Nikki to Billie's Brie is decent given the time in the ring and much more of a perfect mean girl heel character. She grates and plays her role expertly, making her just a smidge away from a top prospect on Smackdown.

Finally, among all these women we have Asuka. Not really a rookie prospect who holds promise, rather one neutered by management. If they can recapture the thread to her vicious NXT side, they can once more present Asuka in a promising light to kick the head of a whole division.

Honorable Mentions

The pirate might not walk the plank as perceived

There's enough talent to go around the WWE and NXT rosters, that a few potentially superb women just don't make the cut. Despite not touting the heydays of the women's evolution, whose roots began in NXT. The two NXT rosters, the original and British version boast a host of talents who might or might not make it on the big stage. At least, not as the cream of the crop.

Ripping the band-aid early, there's Kairi Sane. The current NXT Women's champion is a riot with her pirate gimmick. That, unfortunately, is on NXT and as is in the past, main roster management fumbles with characters unable to adhere to a certain bland standard. Sane's gimmick might be to fun to translate to anything beyond silly, being Japanese just doubles the trouble in the eyes of the notoriously narrow-minded Vince McMahon. It's sad but it's true and so this list is being cautious.

While one with a fighting heart, Candice LeRae may just become another trope in the women's division. The evolution might have moved past sexualizing the women for the male gaze, yet they haven't fully dived away from relationships being the central figure to a lot of women, especially if the women is with another wrestler. LeRae may face the same fate sadly, yet one can still see her shine.

A history of neck injuries nearly derailed any chance of seeing Io Shirai join the WWE. However, she's back and now the Japanese sensation is headed to the finals of the second Mae Young Classic taking place on Evolution. Yet much like Sane and Asuka before her, Shira is a superstar with a visible limitation. The injury scares don't help, yet they also provide the story for a heroic comeback. One which could see her win the final, or not considering her opponent. Either way, colour us shocked if this isn't the highlight of her WWE career.

A newbie joins the list in Chelsea Green. The crazy bride from Impact wrestling is much like fellow NXT prospect, Matt Riddle. She's a talent who doesn't need to do much, before taking on the main roster. She's got the character and act down, especially since she's wrestled and improved under the arclights. She's talented and a ferocious competitor, yet she's still unknown in the WWE. It depends on what they do with her in NXT and how far that takes her elsewhere.

5. Nikki Cross

The fact that Nikki Cross has a prominent place in the high-profile Aleister Black attacker story means management has lots of faith in her. She's sublime when it comes to her acting and an equally adept hand in the ring, right on point with who her character is. In many ways, she's the perfect package to rule the roost of NXT. Yet she doesn't need to as well.

That's where her image becomes scary because that Scottish accent and crazy character may not go too well when it comes to higher-ups in the WWE. Even then there's no denying Nikki Cross's talent. She will make an impact no matter what brand she debuts on, much to the unfortunate fortunes of her former Sanity team-mates.

Cross is one a destructive path on NXT, yet the future is laden with possibilities. Wild feuds against parallels such as Sarah Logan, Becky Lynch, and perennial rival Asuka will be a treat. What will be even more tantalizing is interactions with the likes of Charlotte Flair, Bayley and especially Alexa Bliss. This is a woman to match everyone and anyone, and hopefully, this chance will come soon.

4. Rhea Ripley

Believe it or not (sorry couldn't avoid that joke), Rhea Ripley is just at the ripe age of 22. Even then, she's kicking butt and taking names. Including making a subtle mockery of the CharlotteFlair-Becky Lynch sequence from Smackdown this week. Sure Lynch shoved it back to her like a real champ. Yet Ripley's got enough time to prove her A-game.

Mildly unconvincing in the hard-nosed fighter role, the Australian will get there especially if her appearances across the last two years are anything to go by. A definite lynchpin of the NXT UK division. If that version allows prospective elevation to the main roster, there's no denying she'd be a nice fit.

A perfect and acceptable foil to Ronda Rousey (if the Rowdy one sticks around), Rhea Ripley is a hell of a fight for pretty much anyone. Her snark gives another edge, especially the way she bullied Mia Yim out of the second edition of the Mae Young Classic. This is the perfect banter wrestler for a women's division with none as of yet.

3. Shayna Baszler

Much like her horsewoman friend Rousey, Shayna Baszler has taken to wrestling in unbelievable fashion. The ultimate bully, she's perfect as a rough housing heel; the kind Rousey may need as a backup soon enough. Creating a perfect blend of feist and attitude, Baszler isn't too long for the NXT roster.

Once her main roster promotion does happen, WWE would be wary to give up her aura at the altar of Rousey. Instead, using her to build to a blockbuster Rousey match with Charlotte Flair and then a face-off between two sides of the four horsewoman factions.

Sure it may sound like Baszler's just muscle, but remember a muscle-bound man began the same way for WWE's current COO and resident, The Game. That man went on to become Batista. Baszler has that same spirit, enough to see her be a top class heel boss for a number of babyfaces. Bayley, for example, would be the perfect feud for Baszler on her main-roster debut.

2. Bianca Belair

Belair has got the flair and by this, I don't mean the Charlotte kind, though she might just beat it out of the Queen. The young one found her footing just recently, now that the NXT women's division has started to clear and creative is picking up the pieces.

Among them is this diamond in the rough, Belair has just the perfect swagger with a smart move set. This is a motor mouth that could revolutionize promo work in the WWE. That's saying a lot considering the kind of mic work the likes of Bliss, Lynch and Banks can deliver. She's the perfect one to attract the ruthless aggression mantra of Vince McMahon.

Belair feels like someone who will chase the brass rings until she possesses them. That's her brilliance, her attitude, and determination. It's taken her this far, though hope is she gets more time to develop in NXT. Yet whether called sometime now or later down the line, Bianca Belair shall light up the Big 'E.

1. Toni Storm

Yet none seem to come close to defining perfection like Toni Storm. Currently, the best women's wrestler working today, she's been a mainstay of the Indie scene on a whole other level. At just 23 she's dazzled from British shores to Japan. Her style and brilliance in Progress Wrestling found her in the main event and center of a stellar underrated women's division.

Time in Stardom has been just as fruitful in Storm's development. She's got the perfect look for the head of a division, which she will be with NXT UK. She's talented and multi-faceted in the area, learning disciplines around the world. Also, she's one of the few pure thriller type babyfaces who have the perfect grasp on her character.

To give the uninitiated a point of reference. She is undoubtedly the best mix of a peak AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan with a hint of John Cena's charisma. It's time the company ran with her for the next Evolution in women's wrestling.

Edited by Liam Hoofe