5 big stars who were sitting ringside at WWE NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia

WWE NXT TakeOver events are always the best WWE wrestling shows of the year. Everything is all about the wrestling with no time to stop for interviews, segments or extra-long entrances. Something else that happens at almost every TakeOver event is plants in the audience, and I don't mean the kind to make the show look important, I mean new big signings.

WWE likes to show off it's freshly newly signed talent that just departed another company or was a top Independent star, and show them on camera to elect a big response from the live crowd. We have seen it many times, most notably with Asuka and Bobby Roode, and NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia was no different. Let's take a look at the 5 stars that were shown ringside.

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#5 Maria Menounos

A lot of skill for who she is

The very striking Maria Menounos is not a full-time WWE employee, but at this point you would wonder why not. Maria is an American actress, journalist and television host, who also spends some time as an ambassador for WWE. She is best known as a TV correspondent for Today, Access Hollywood and Extra.

Maria is a lifelong WWE fan who is no stranger to the ring as she has wrestled several matches for WWE, most notably a tag team match at WrestleMania XXVIII in Miami, Florida. Maria will be the special guest ring announcer for the first ever WWE Women's Royal Rumble tonight.

#4 Candice LeRae

More than just a crowd plant

Female Independent sensation and wife of NXT Superstar Johnny Gargano, Candice LeRae was sitting ringside for her husband's main event NXT Championship match with Andrade "Cien" Almas.

A participant in the Mae Young Classic last Summer, Candice was finally signed to a WWE contract earlier this month. Candice was far more than just a seat filler for this match, getting tired and frustrated with Zelina Vega's constant interference, Candice would attack Zelina Vega and send her running to the back and was bombarded with chants of 'Thank You Candice' from the NXT faithful.

#3 War Machine

Watch out, A.O.P

Former Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions and 2 time IWGP Tag Team Champions, Hanson and Raymond Rowe, better known as War Machine, had been rumoured to be joining WWE as far back as the Summer, and earlier this month it was finally made official.

Two very tall and large men, War Machine are two of the most gifted big men too ever step inside the squared circle. They can have a highly entertaining match with just about any team and I look forward to seeing them in action in NXT.

#2 Ricochet

NXT or 205 Live?

Wrestling all over the world, most notably for NJPW and Lucha Underground, Ricochet made waves in 2016 for a series of high flying match in England, Ireland and particularly in Japan.

Strangely, when shown on screen at TakeOver, Ricochet was referred to as Trevor 'Ricochet' Mann. Using his real name like this may possibly imply that WWE may intend on changing his name from Ricochet but here's hoping they don't.

#1 EC 3

Bye, bye Impact Wrestling and Derrick Bateman

Yes, the biggest surprise of the night came from the final superstar to be shown on screen, former NXT star Derrick Bateman, or better known as one of the biggest Impact Wrestling stars in recent years, Ethan Carter III, or EC3, the storyline nephew of former Impact Wrestling President Dixie Carter.

This former Impact World Heavyweight Champion had been rumoured to be joining WWE since late last year, and those rumours ignited when he was granted an early release from Impact Wrestling and had been spotted in the WWE Performance Center. WWE NXT announcer Mauro Ranallo confirmed EC3, or EC 3 as he is now, contract signing as he was being shown to a huge pop from the live audience. Fans are already very excited to see what the future holds for him.