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When the first NXT Breakout Tournament hit the waves in 2019, it introduced the WWE Universe to several talented performers. Many wrestling fans already knew the likes of Isaiah "Swerve" Scott and Joaquin Wilde from their work in other promotions.
For some of the casual fans in the NXT/WWE Universe, however, those fans got their first taste of those performers in the tournament.
NXT GM William Regal announced that the Breakout Tournament would be returning in the middle of July. Several new NXT stars would get the chance to make their impact in the highly-regarded tournament.
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Recruits with prior wrestling experience often debut a lot sooner than other recruits. Someone like Franky Monet was going to show up sooner than someone who was previously a fitness model with little wrestling experience.
Because of that fact, those stars that already have professional wrestling experience seem like the ones most likely to debut in the Breakout Tournament. Former athletes do have skills, strength, and talent. Those with mileage within the industry, however, already have a leg up when it comes to debuting for WWE.
Even with several roster cuts, many talented names have made brief performances for either NXT or 205 Live. Others are ready and waiting for their opportunity. Here are predictions for the field of competitors in the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament.
#8. & #7. Joe Gacy and Andre Chase have already qualified for the WWE NXT Breakout Tournament.
On 205 Live, NXT pitted four Superstars against each other in order to earn a spot in the Breakout Tournament. Andre Chase became the first person to qualify for the Breakout Tournament by defeating Guru Raaj.
Joe Gacy also punched his ticket to the NXT Breakout Tournament by picking up a win over Desmond Troy. Troy has been in developmental since July of 2018. He's been used as an enhancement talent for NXT on many occasions.
Chase and Gacy were both members of Evolve when it was purchased by WWE. With August Grey already debuting and being released, those two will hopefully be able to carry the Evolve banner in the Breakout Tournament. 205 Live will also serve as the home of future qualifying matches.
#6. Trey Baxter & #5. Carmelo Hayes could show up in the WWE NXT Breakout Tournament.
Carmelo Hayes would be perfect for the Breakout Tournament. He faced Kushida and Adam Cole in his first two appearances in NXT. Hayes was impressive in both matches and caught everyone's attention.
Even though he has already appeared in NXT, it doesn't mean that he won't get a chance to compete in and even win the Breakout Tournament.
Hayes has plenty of experience on the independent scene and has shown glimpses of greatness against both Cole and Kushida. Adding Hayes would also give the fans someone that they have at least seen before in NXT. It certainly seems like he wants to be a part of the Breakout Tournament.
Trey Baxter is in a similar position to Hayes. He was signed in February of 2021 and he answered Kushida's 'Open Challenge' on NXT. Baxter showcased some impressive high-flying skills. He even got a nod of approval from Kyle O'Reilly as O'Reilly was looking for an opponent.
With 205 Live in flux due to many releases, it looks like Baxter will be headed to the purple brand. If NXT starts to put more focus on cruiserweights, however, then showcasing Baxter in the Breakout Tournament would be a good move.
He will certainly be a fixture going forward in NXT. Since he already has at least one appearance under his belt, the NXT Universe will have some familiarity with Baxter. Like Hayes, he seems very interested in participating in the Breakout Tournament.
Had he appeared on 205 Live several times as Ari Sterling, then it would have made less sense to involve Baxter in the Breakout Tournament. Nonetheless, the brackets should be chock full of talented Superstars. Baxter and Hayes could very well be among those talented performers.
#4. Cal Bloom would be a second-generation wrestler competing in the WWE NXT Breakout Tournament.
The Breakout Tournament could showcase the NXT debut of a second-generation wrestler. Cal Bloom is the son of former professional wrestler Wayne Bloom.
Wayne is best known as part of the Minnesota Wrecking Crew in AWA. The duo dominated AWA's tag team scene before signing with WWF in the early 1990s. In WWE/WWF, Bloom was a part of the Beverly Brothers alongside Mike Enos.
Cal Bloom signed with the WWE in March 2019. Like most WWE PC recruits who haven't debuted, Bloom has usually been a member of the security team that has attempted to break up fights on NXT. He was also a zombie at WrestleMania Backlash. Is the Breakout Tournament a good spot for his official debut?
Unlike some of the other recruits, Bloom has had a few tastes of main-roster action. In one match, he competed against R Truth on Main Event. His most prominent appearance came against Sheamus on SmackDown during the pandemic.
He also impressed the Chairman of WWE at one point, so much so that he was seen as "a future main-eventer." At 6 feet 5 inches, he is certainly the size that Vince McMahon loves.
Since Bloom has been in developmental for two years, he could be ready to debut in the Breakout Tournament. If he had been signed a few months ago, then it would be less likely that he would be ready for NXT.
With some main-roster seasoning and a lineage in pro wrestling, Bloom might be ready to show his skills in the Breakout Tournament. WWE loves to weave a performer's pedigree into their presentation, so Bloom could certainly take part in the Breakout Tournament.
The WWE Draft will take place after SummerSlam, so some current NXT stars will move up to RAW or SmackDown. That will in turn open up spots for new performers on the black and gold brand. Bloom might be one of those performers ready to move into NXT in 2021, especially if he impresses in the Breakout Tournament.
#3. Xyon "The Samoan Ghost" Quinn is ready for the WWE NXT Breakout Tournament.
The Breakout Tournament should showcase several stars that have been a part of WWE developmental for a few years. Xyon Quinn is the ring name for former Australian Rugby player Daniel Vidot, and he certainly fits the bill.
Vidot signed with WWE in May of 2018. His name was trademarked in October 2020 and that usually means a debut isn't far off from happening.
Once the Breakout Tournament was announced last week, several aspiring NXT stars tweeted about the event. Quinn was one of those stars, warning anyone and everyone who might get in his path.
In addition to tweeting around the announcement of the Breakout Tournament, Quinn had his eyes on the qualifying matches from last week's 205 Live. He was clearly supporting some fellow WWE PC recruits and possible participants in the Breakout Tournament.
As a former rugby player, Quinn is certainly used to physicality and punishment. WWE has been signing athletes from all types of sports including powerlifting, football, rugby, gymnastics, and MMA.
WWE invites any athlete to participate in a tryout rather than simply focusing on pro wrestlers. That's how Otis, Top Dolla, and several others made their way to WWE.
The Samoan Ghost has also appeared in front of the WWE Universe without the fans even knowing it. He was one of the many WWE PC recruits used as zombies at WrestleMania Backlash. Alongside Cal Bloom and others, Quinn attacked Miz and Damien Priest during the Lumberjack Match at WrestleMania Backlash.
Quinn is Samoan and the WWE Universe is extremely familiar with Samoan stars and their history in WWE. Roman Reigns, Nia Jax, the Usos, and the Rock have proudly represented Samoa as WWE Superstars.
The former rugby player has met Reigns. He also faced Sheamus on SmackDown last year following WrestleMania 36. WWE won't have random stars showing up on RAW or SmackDown unless they are passable in the ring.
If Quinn gets his chance, he could be a part of the next generation of Samoan WWE Superstars to make an impact. The Breakout Tournament could be the start of his NXT career.
#2. Josh Briggs would be one of the bigger stars in the WWE NXT Breakout Tournament.
With Gacy already qualified for the Breakout Tournament, Josh Briggs seems like another former Evolve star who could debut. Briggs was the final Evolve Champion, winning the title from Austin Theory. He was a part of the WWE PC class from October 2020 alongside Gacy, Brandi Lauren, and Leon Ruff.
Ruff has already debuted for NXT and Gacy qualified for the Breakout Tournament last week. Briggs should be the next former Evolve star to appear in NXT in the Breakout Tournament,
One thing working in his favor is his size. Standing 6 feet 8 inches tall, Briggs has the size that the WWE Chairman covets. Most pro wrestlers are under 6 feet, five inches, so when one is taller than that, they catch the eye of promoters.
Briggs worked for Evolve for two years, facing several big names like Riddle, WALTER, Dominik Dijakovic, and Austin Theory. He has in-ring acumen and experience with several stars already under the WWE banner.
The former Evolve Champion could be one of the next big men in NXT to make an impact. NXT lost Dijakovic, Keith Lee, and Priest all during the pandemic era, so the brand needs some physically bigger performers. That becomes even more important when Karrion Kross is promoted.
The summer months could see a shift in talent in NXT. The Breakout Tournament will offer up some of the new Superstars. The return of the fans could also factor into which new stars get pushed. Their reactions during the Breakout Tournament will be interesting to monitor.
Austin Theory has had a slow, steady rise. His current role with Johnny Gargano has been both necessary and entertaining. Theory has been able to learn under the tutelage of one of the greatest in NXT history.
Briggs has size on his side but if he debuts, the sky is the limit. It may take a year or two, but the Breakout Tournament could produce future Champions like Briggs.
#1. Parker Boudreaux was coined "the Next Big Thing" even before the Breakout Tournament.
The 2021 Breakout Tournament was created to showcase someone like Boudreaux. The former college football player was touted as the future Brock Lesnar even before he signed with the WWE. Paul Heyman was very high on the young man and he has even trained with Eva Marie.
Despite being a physical specimen and a highly touted prospect, he is still extremely new to pro wrestling. Fightful reported the following in March regarding Boudreaux's potential to be fast-tracked,
There is a ton of buzz around the Brock Lesnar-esque Parker Boudreaux, with a ton of questions about him being fast-tracked. Several WWE Performance Center sources have told us that people should probably pump their brakes on that.
Boudreaux very clearly wanted to come into WWE and was excited to join, but we are told that he is "extremely early" in learning the wrestling business itself and came in with very little knowledge of the basics and what goes into them. This isn't out of the ordinary by any stretch, and happens with plenty of recruits and new signings, but as of now, we're told there is plenty of work to be done on that front.
It doesn't sound like someone who is ready to debut in the Breakout Tournament. WWE could still fast-track him if they so choose, as they did with Nia Jax and others that were promoted to the main roster.
Should he be included, however, then the whole tournament would be about him and not the other competitors. He even tweeted the word "Breakout" after the announcement was made.
If Boudreaux is included in the Breakout Tournament, he might squash most of his opponents. Things are different in NXT as even stars like Leon Ruff have appeared competitive against most opponents. Against someone like Kross or Boudreaux, however, the likelihood of squash is very high.
Athletes have an easier time adjusting to the nuances of pro wrestling, so perhaps Boudreaux has improved since March. If he has, then the Next Big Thing might be marching through the 2021 Breakout Tournament.
