Rookie Year 2020 - Grading the debuts of WWE stars on RAW and SmackDown

Every year in the WWE, stars join the loaded rosters on either RAW or SmackDown. The new stars are mostly call-ups from NXT, or in some cases, free agents that make the jump right to the main roster, just like AJ Styles did in 2016.

This year was no different with most of the newer stars joining Monday Night RAW. The show itself even got a slight facelift with the addition of RAW Underground during the show's third hour. While it has introduced the likes of Big Jordan and Dabba-Kato, this piece will mainly focus on the stars that have had matches on RAW proper or SmackDown.

Several performers, including former NXT Champions to mid-card stars, to women and tag teams, have all made their marks on RAW or SmackDown in some form or the other. One of the most dominant women in NXT history, Shayna Baszler showed up at last year's Survivor Series. She was also the final entrant and last woman eliminated in this year's Royal Rumble.

Dominik Mysterio has been prominently featured in a program opposite Seth Rollins, while Bianca Belair has sporadically appeared on RAW. Every new star obviously does not get the same treatment, especially when it comes to tag teams. Adding the new stars does help to introduce new feuds and layers to both brands in WWE.

While WWE often waits until after big PPVs like WrestleMania, SummerSlam or the Royal Rumble, different WWE Superstars have popped up at various points in 2020. Here are the grades for those WWE performers that have made their debuts this year on either RAW or SmackDown.

#8 Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake on WWE SmackDown - INCOMPLETE

Steve Cutler and Wesley Blake were previously known as the Forgotten Sons upon their debut on SmackDown. It appeared as if they were headed towards a title program with the New Day, but after Jaxson Ryker made some controversial comments, the trio were taken off of TV.

It would have been an easy way to shift their alliances in WWE had they been revealed as a part of RETRIBUTION. It could still happen, but five seems like the right number of members for that faction. WWE may not want it to turn into another oversaturated NWO.

The in-ring portion of their game was never a problem, but instead, it was their promos. Their main statement was pretty basic - the country they fought for had abandoned and forgotten them. But before they could challenge for the SmackDown Tag Team titles or make a huge impact, they were taken off TV. For that reason, the jury is still out regarding how good or bad they'll be outside of NXT.

#7 Dominik Mysterio on WWE RAW - A-

Short of winning a title in his brief tenure on WWE RAW, Dominik Mysterio has taken to pro wrestling like a fish to water. It's not surprising, considering he's Rey Mysterio's son, but there is usually a learning curve for anyone seeking to join the pro wrestling industry, and especially WWE.

WWE's confidence in Dominik must have been very high since he bypassed NXT completely and was placed into a feud with one of the top stars in all of WWE. Only a few stars bypass NXT TV altogether, like Braun Strowman and AJ Styles. While he isn't huge like Strowman or a living legend like Styles, he does have a famous wrestling surname and that certainly helps.

Even before he had his first match, WWE Legends like Booker T were a bit hesitant about Domink's prospects. Booker T felt that he needed to fill out his body with muscle a bit more. The promos were also a bit wooden but that is to be expected of a young star with a huge legacy to uphold.

In his matches, Dominik has shown fluidity and a range of high-flying and mat-based skills. He's also taken part in a cage match, a street fight and normal contests. His potential for the future is apparent every week and he is clearly being set up as a star of the future. Once he gets better at the promos, he might join Roman Reigns and Charlotte Flair as heavily-pushed WWE legacy stars.

#6 Bianca Belair on WWE RAW - C+

This grade is not for Bianca Belair herself but how she has been handled in WWE since joining Monday nights immediately after WrestleMania 36. The EST of NXT had several shots at the NXT Women's Championship but came up short each time. She was clearly a star in the making for WWE but would leave NXT without having been a Champion. That isn't a big deal anymore since the likes of Alexa Bliss and Carmella also did not win the NXT Women's title but have both won the SmackDown Women's title.

Belair's arrival to the main roster in WWE was a fresh addition to a division that was still evolving. Becky Lynch had dominated the WWE and the division for over a year, having toppled everyone from Asuka to Natalya to Shayna Baszler. Her opponents needed to change but once she revealed she was pregnant, it completely shifted the dynamics of the RAW women's division.

The EST was a unique addition to the roster but she has only had a handful of matches. She primarily battled against the IIconics and Zelina Vega. Over the last few months, she was absent from WWE TV. She did reappear recently, however, in a series of vignettes where she easily completed feats of athleticism while others struggled.

Had she been used a bit more, she might have a more established spot on RAW. Perhaps the call-up was a long time coming and/or used for a big moment following WrestleMania. Whatever the case may be, Belair should be a big player going forward. She's done perfectly fine with what she has been given and has all of the tools to succeed in WWE.

#5 Angel Garza on WWE RAW - B-

Angel Garza debuted on RAW in February alongside Zelina Vega.

Circumstances allowed Angel Garza to make a quick jump from NXT to WWE RAW. He had a brief reign as NXT Cruiserweight Champion, losing the title to Jordan Devlin. It didn't take long for Garza to make another impact in WWE as he soon accompanied Zelina Vega in her ongoing quest against Rey Mysterio and Humberto Carrillo.

Andrade was out of action and the storyline needed to continue so Garza was brought up to oppose his real-life cousin. The in-ring part of his game was never in question and he quickly proved that in many matches. While he has not won any gold on the WWE main roster, he has challenged for the RAW Tag Team titles on a few separate occasions. The match at Clash of Champions, however, was bittersweet as not only did his team lose but he also suffered an injury.

The only criticism of his handling is the backstage skits with the woman from the Bachelor. A lot of people watch that show, but it just felt strange. There are plenty of other women on the WWE roster or even extras that could have been used.It was done for some mainstream cross-over appeal and to further drive home his "Latin Lover" gimmick. Whatever happens with his injury, he has a very bright future in WWE.

#4 RETRIBUTION on WWE RAW and SmackDown - C-

The new group has been a huge talking point for the last few months

Some people probably think that even this grade is too high but it isn't the fault of the performers. RETRIBUTION were given some strange names but T-Bar and Mace seem like fine names. The others, however, don't do the performers any favors. WWE's visual presentation of all of the stars has been good except for Slapjack. He needs a new mask, and once that happens, it'll be an instant upgrade.

The WWE stars behind those masks are all talented in their own right. Dominik Dijakovic/T-Bar has helped redefine what it is to be an athletic big man in wrestling alongside Keith Lee. Shane Thorne/Slapjack has always been a good worker and has had untapped charisma. This writer hasn't seen much of Mace/Dio Maddin in the ring, but he's an imposing and physical star.

We all know that both Mia Yim and Mercedes Martinez are great in the ring, and have been important parts of NXT during various eras. We've only had one official match featuring the group which ended in a DQ. Causing havoc and assaulting WWE stars is fine but the rhetoric in the promos isn't anything new. Once again, it is what they are given to say, but they could make it sound menacing.

If some of the members get new names and we get more backstory behind their actions, then the group will obviously increase their standing. Fans should keep an open mind regarding the group's potential because outside of a match with the Hurt Business, they haven't had an official feud as of yet. Instead, they've targeted the all of WWE and mainly RAW over the last few months.

#3 Keith Lee on WWE RAW - B+

Few stars in NXT have had the type of year-and-a-half run in NXT and WWE that Keith Lee has had. He looked like a big deal at the end of Survivor Series when he was one of the final two competitors alongside Roman Reigns. He then had a strong showing in the Royal Rumble and then won the NXT North American title.

Lee's trajectory flew even higher as he defeated Adam Cole to become the first-ever North American and NXT Champion after winning a "Winner Takes All" match. His reign as NXT Champ was a bit shorter than fans would have expected but that was because he debuted immediately following SummerSlam.

In his first appearance, he confronted Randy Orton, a made man in WWE. Lee would go on to defeat Orton in his first major brand PPV, Payback. He's also been embroiled in the ongoing WWE Championship feud between Orton and Drew McIntyre. The Limitless One even faced McIntyre with he chance of being added to the WWE title match at Clash of Champions.

For an NXT star to debut at the top right a way is a huge deal. Outside of Finn Balor, not many have had the type of rise right out of NXT for a male star. Lee is clearly a star as we've already seen and it will be interesting to see if he stays on RAW or is drafted to SmackDown. There's that old showdown between him and Reigns that might be too enticing to pass up.

#2 Matt Riddle on WWE SmackDown - B-

Matt Riddle was often entertaining during his run in NXT. He was an NXT Tag Team Champion and a regular challenger for the NXT title. The Original Bro was also a part of last year's Survivor Series and the 2020 Royal Rumble. He didn't have as great a showing in those matches as Keith Lee did, but being a part of those WWE matches is still a big deal.

When he debuted on SmackDown in June, it was in an effort to interrupt Intercontinental Champion, AJ Styles. That led to a non-title match that Riddle won. Picking up a win over one of the greatest of all time is nothing to take lightly. It did lead to a title match with Styles, but Riddle came up short in that match.

Ever since then, however, Riddle has been in a back-and-forth feud with King Corbin. He originally toppled the King but then lost a different match on the latest episode of SmackDown. With that pin, it will mean that the Original Bro was pinned in his last two WWE matches.

Jey Uso pinned Riddle in order to earn the shot at Roman Reigns at Clash of Champions. The former UFC fighter is a building block of the future for WWE so hopefully those losses won't continue.

#1 Shayna Baszler on WWE RAW - B

By the way WWE booked Shayna Baszler after the 2019 Survivor Series, it seemed like it was only a matter of time before she was terrorizing the women on either RAW or SmackDown. Baszler pinned Bayley in a triple threat match at Survivor Series and then had a dominant showing in the 2020 Royal Rumble.

Her dominance continued as she immediately targeted RAW Women's Champion, Becky Lynch. Baszler earned her shot at Lynch by eliminating every other competitor in the Elimination Chamber. That has never been done before and it looked like the time was running out on Lynch's run atop the WWE and RAW.

But at WrestleMania 36, Lynch retained her title. Baszler was then a part of the Money in the Bank Ladder match at WWE HQ and was favored to win. But once again, the Queen of Spades came up short. Baszler has still continued to dominate everyone outside of the Champs, i.e Lynch and Asuka.

She finally captured some main-roster gold when she and Nia Jax captured the WWE Women's Tag Team belts. It helped the break up of Bayley and Sasha Banks, while also allowing the Queen of Spades to be her usual dominant self.

Had Baszler won either the Royal Rumble or the MITB briefcase, this grade would have been a bit higher. It wasn't her fault that she wasn't picked to win either of those matches but it would have helped to solidify a brand new star. It was the direction they were taking with her anyway.

Edited by Nishant Jayaram