Rising stars in wrestling and their key matches that defined story

John Cena has always promoted younger talent to leave WWE in a better place after his retirement. Now that his professional career has come to an end, he hasn’t given up on his primary mission. His final loss to Gunther helped the rising star reach new heights in the WWE. And that’s not the only example when matches defined the brand’s new talents. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable names so far.

Oba Femi

Oba Femi started his professional career in 2023. But his first match took place in January 2024 during the NXT Breakout Tournament. In that debut, he defeated Dante Chen, marking a strong start to his in-ring career. Femi began to gain momentum after entering WWE’s NIL program. He ended the last season with the biggest back-to-back moments of his career. His match against Cody Rhodes became one of the biggest clashes of the year. Femi shocked the audience with his ability to match the intensity and presence of his rival on the mic. His fans actively use the online betting service to wager on the player’s victory in the WWE match.

Despite his rising dominance in the ring, Femi doesn’t try to outshine other young talents like Je’Von Evans and Ricky Saints. He started the 2026 season as NXT Champion, defending his title in a match against Leon Slater. He also defeated Joaquin Wilde.

Sol Ruca

Sol Ruca began her professional wrestling career in 2022 after signing with WWE. Her in-ring debut match took place on NXT in 2022. She won in her debut tag team match while wrestling next to Dani Palmer. The successful debut helped showcase her athletic style right away. She gained a lot of attention for her high-flying moves soon after.

Ruca was a dual champion in NXT throughout the last year. She spent 189 days as the women’s champion in North America and around 200 as the female speed champion. Despite those achievements, her most impressive victory took place at Saturday Night’s Main Event when she defeated Bayley. In 2025, Ruca transformed from having the best wrestling finishes to establishing herself as a top competitor in NXT. She became the champion in both the Women’s Speed division and the NXT Women’s North American division. Ruca has been very active in 2026, mainly in NXT. Despite a few losses, she managed to put herself together and defeat Lainey Reid in singles competition. She now seems to be ready for bigger things by moving from NXT to WWE.

Kevin Knight

Kevin Knight began his professional wrestling career in 2020 after training at the NJPW LA Dojo. His first match took place on the independent/NJPW LA Dojo shows. Despite the loss, he eventually gained prominence in tag team competition. His first year as part of the AEW roster became a prominent event. With wins over Darby Allin and Kazuchika Okada, he has established himself as one to watch in AEW.

Knight has the physical strength and individual charisma to gain a large army of fans globally. In 2025, he had a series of wins that weren’t as convincing as before. But the situation changed in 2026 when Knight established himself as a technical wrestler. He competed regularly in singles and tag team matches, often teaming with The DKC and other NJPW LA Dojo graduates. He gained several wins over mid-card talents, solidifying his position in NJPW Strong’s roster. Knight participated in tag team and multi-man matches representing the Bullet Club faction.

Bron Breakker

Bron Breakker started wrestling in 2019 after training at the WWE Performance Center. His debut match was against Cameron Grimes in 2020. His quick victory made an immediate impact on his future career. His athleticism and technical style led him to become a powerhouse in the NXT Championship. Many fans thought that Breakker’s initial position was meant to be in the cornerstone position. But it wasn’t the case. He is now ready for the World Title program.

In 2026, Breakker continues to be one of the most popular rising stars in WWE NXT. He appeared on RAW/SmackDown, maintaining his status as a powerhouse performer. Breakker successfully competed for the NXT Championship and appeared in SmackDown/RAW specials. He defeated Rohan Raja to retain the NXT Title and participated in special events within NXT TakeOver. The WWE heel faction is built around Breakker. This moment keeps fans both excited and suspicious. They still have questions about the new alliance of Breakker, Bronson Reed, and Paul Heyman. Breakker may fill Rollins’ spot and further expand the faction. But the situation can change at any moment, so fans just have to follow the latest news not to miss significant updates.