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00:002025 has been a big year for WWE NXT, particularly when it comes to major free agent signings with the likes of Ricky Sait, Mariah May, Jordan Grace and more all making their WWE debut on WWE's developmental brand.
00:14With that being said, could more stars be on their way to WWE NXT in the future? In this video, we're going to let you know five possible next WWE NXT signings.
00:30Hey guys, welcome back to Wrestling News 365. Hope everyone is doing very well. As always, there are plenty of stories to get into in the world of professional wrestling.
00:41And today we're going to be talking about five potential WWE NXT signings that could be on their way to WWE's developmental brand very, very soon.
00:50As I mentioned, it's been a big year for signings in WWE NXT. We've seen names like Ricky Sait and Mariah May jump over to WWE.
00:59Of course, the former Ricky Starks, Mariah May, becoming Ricky Sait and Blake Monroe.
01:03They jumping over after their AEW contracts expired or they were released from the company.
01:08Meanwhile, others like Jordan Grace have left TNA Wrestling and gone over to WWE as well as others just signing after being free agents,
01:17not being necessarily affiliated with big companies like TNA Wrestling, AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling and or others.
01:24But, of course, this is pro wrestling. It always evolved. The question is always what is next and who is next?
01:29Could there be more signings arriving in WWE NXT before the year is said and done?
01:34Let's get into five potential names that could find themselves in WWE NXT fairly soon, beginning with former TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
01:43Now, Hendry has been one of the real pioneers, flag wavers and bearers, if you will, of this working relationship between WWE and TNA Wrestling.
01:53Before it was really even made official, Joe Hendry was one of the first names that was over as part of the working relationship,
01:59appearing regularly on NXT.
02:01And at points throughout this year, despite still being a contracted TNA wrestler,
02:06Hendry's almost made more appearances for WWE, either on NXT, mainly, whenever you say his name, he appears,
02:13and even on WWE main roster PLEs.
02:16We've seen Hendry be the TNA World Champion and enter the Men's Royal Rumble match.
02:20We even saw him actually wrestle at WrestleMania against one of the biggest superstars in WWE history when he faced off against Randy Orton.
02:30Granted, it was in a losing effort and the match was done fairly quickly,
02:33but the fact that WWE and TNA, for that matter, but certainly WWE, value him and view him that highly,
02:40to have him be in a featured spot with Randy Orton at WrestleMania, that shows you how high WWE views Joe Hendry.
02:47When Hendry made his WWE debut last year on NXT, I think it was the most viewed clip of the year on social media from WWE.
02:56That just goes to show the interest in Joe Hendry in WWE.
03:00Now, of course, he's a former TNA World Champion, and he actually, his ascension to becoming TNA World Champion,
03:06really did come inside of him making these appearances on WWE NXT, challenging for the WWE NXT Championship.
03:13But as we get closer to the end of the year, we get closer to Joe Hendry's contract with TNA Wrestling expiring,
03:18and it's really one of the worst kept secrets in professional wrestling, isn't it?
03:22Once his contract expires with TNA Wrestling, Joe Hendry is going to sign a full-time WWE contract.
03:27Now, although, as I mentioned, he's still part of the TNA roster, Hendry has quickly become one of the most popular stars on NXT.
03:35Now, again, we've seen Hendry have multiple appearances and what have you.
03:40In a recent report that actually came out just a couple of months ago, actually, it was, I don't know, a month ago,
03:44it was in September this report came out.
03:46It came from the takedown on SI.
03:48It came from John Alba, who has very strong sources in TNA Wrestling.
03:52He hosts a podcast with Matt Hardy.
03:54He's got very good inroads into really high-quality news coming out of that organization.
03:59And he reported, as I mentioned a month ago, that sources within both TNA Wrestling and WWE have indicated that Joe Hendry
04:06is already largely being phased out of TNA programming.
04:09He's expected to become a full-time member of WWE as early as next year.
04:14It may even be before them.
04:16The report also indicated that Hendry has been regularly featured on WWE's programming, including house shows and NXT live events.
04:23Besides that report, the report also indicated that WWE's use of Hendry, they've been using that on their official recruitment page.
04:30He's been sporting a t-shirt bearing the logo of WWE as well.
04:35The report also cleared the fan speculation that he had already jumped ship by stating that TNA president Carlos Silva
04:41had told the publication that Hendry is still part of the TNA roster.
04:45And they coordinate talent usage together with NXT.
04:48So, as of right now, Hendry is still contracted to TNA Wrestling.
04:51His contract runs through the end of the year.
04:53But in 2026, Joe Hendry is going to be a full-time WWE superstar.
04:57The question is, it's going to be how long does he spend on NXT?
04:59Does he even spend any time in NXT?
05:01Does he go straight to the main roster?
05:03He's been there regularly enough.
05:04I think he'll probably have at least a couple of months on WWE's developmental territory.
05:08But he's certainly a very safe bet for a future signing of WWE NXT.
05:13And before we get on to the next name on this countdown list, a reminder,
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06:17Now, the next name that could be on their way to WWE NXT soon is former AEW and Ring of Honor tag team The Righteous.
06:24Now, back in May, it was reported that The Righteous, Vincent and Dutch,
06:28were no longer part of all elite wrestling or Ring of Honor.
06:31The news was broken by Mark Johnson of PW Insider.
06:34It was reported that actually their exit really took place at the end of April and they were moved from the AEW roster page.
06:41Now, they had officially signed with AEW and Ring of Honor back in March of 2023.
06:45They were previously part of ROH during the Sinclair Broadcast Group era of Ring of Honor.
06:51As part of that run, they held the Ring of Honor World Six-Man Tag Team Championships on multiple occasions.
06:56The Righteous was actually quite a big faction towards the end of ROH's run.
07:00And in AEW and Slash Our Weights, they had limited success.
07:03Probably their most high-profile situation was with the whole better-than-you, baby.
07:09And they were feuding with them over the Ring of Honor Tag Team Championships.
07:13And they were suggesting that someone was a liar, someone was the devil.
07:16It turned out it was Adam Cole.
07:17But that was about it.
07:19They were aligned with Jake Roberts for a very brief period there.
07:22But they never really had anything of a real substantive run, which was a shame considering a lot of people were fans of The Righteous.
07:29And WWE's interest in The Righteous goes back a long, long time.
07:33Even prior to signing with AEW Slash Ring of Honor in 2023, they actually had a tryout with WWE in late 2022.
07:41This was when Triple H had just got creative control of WWE.
07:44And he was rehiring a lot of the previously released WWE superstars.
07:48And he was looking to bring in other talent as well.
07:50And then things kind of changed because Vince McMahon forced his way back in.
07:54There was an unofficial hiring freeze while they were looking for the merger or the acquisition of WWE by Endeavor and the merger of UFC to form TKO.
08:04But they did have a tryout with WWE in late 2022, The Righteous.
08:09They were actually even spotted.
08:10I don't think it was shown during the broadcast, but they were spotted in the crowd during an episode of WWE NXT during that time period.
08:17And there were rumors at the time that they were going to be part of this Wyatt Six faction.
08:22Of course, during that time period, Bray Wyatt had just returned to WWE at Extreme Rules in 2022.
08:28And with the introduction of Uncle Howdy and possibly a revamped new version of The Fiend,
08:32there was going to be a scenario whereby you had this what has now become the Wyatt Six faction.
08:37But it was going to be led by Bray Wyatt and new characters were going to be introduced.
08:40And Vincent and Dutch were going to possibly be a part of that.
08:43Obviously, it didn't end up happening, as I mentioned.
08:46They went to AEW slash ROH.
08:47But now they're no longer affiliated with any major company.
08:51And you can absolutely see Shawn Michaels wanting to work with Vincent and Dutch.
08:56There's huge creativity there.
08:57The vignettes in AEW slash ROH were very, very interesting.
09:01Whether or not they end up in NXT or they go onto the May roster and they actually do end up with the Wyatt Six faction.
09:08Because the Wyatt Six faction at this point is obviously doing its own thing.
09:12But it still is a tribute to the late Bray Wyatt and the people that have been featured in that faction.
09:17Were people that Bray Wyatt wanted to work with when he returned in 2022.
09:21And maybe Vincent and Dutch are part of that as well.
09:23So maybe that would make them skip the NXT brand.
09:26We'll have to wait and see.
09:27But I think at some point in the relatively near future, I think we'll see Vincent and Dutch under contract with WWE.
09:34Next up, The Inspiration.
09:36Yes, the former IIconics.
09:38Because they're on a roll and they're already appearing back on WWE programming.
09:42Now, The Inspiration returned to TNA Wrestling earlier this year.
09:46And it's been very successful for them.
09:48They're the current TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions.
09:51Winning the titles a couple of weeks before Bound for Glory.
09:54They then retained their titles at Bound for Glory as well.
09:57They were a part of the TNA invasion of WWE NXT, if you will.
10:02And was part of the Women's Elimination match at NXT vs. TNA Showdown on the CW a couple of weeks ago.
10:08And it was a real homecoming for them.
10:09Because, of course, they're probably best known for their time in WWE.
10:13And, ironically enough, NXT as the IIconics.
10:16And it was such a popular gimmick that when they got called up to the main roster in WWE back in 2018, they were hugely popular.
10:22They were part of the segment which saw Carmella cash in her Women's Money in the Bank briefcase on Charlotte Flair.
10:28And win the SmackDown Women's Championship on the post-WrestleMania edition of SmackDown.
10:32So, they were very, very popular.
10:34And they were continuously very popular.
10:35And they had success in WWE.
10:37They won the Women's Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 35 back in 2019.
10:42But then, after that, they were split up during the pandemic, which no one really understood.
10:46Then, you had One On Raw doing decent work.
10:50That was Peyton Royce.
10:51Then, you had Billie Kay was on SmackDown.
10:54And she actually had a quite fun gimmick handing out her resume at the time.
10:59But no one understood why they were split up.
11:00Eventually, they both got released by WWE.
11:03They went to TNA originally, back when they were Impact Wrestling.
11:06Then, decided they were going to take some time away.
11:08You know, they were having children.
11:10And they were going on hiatus.
11:11But now, they've come back.
11:12And it's like they've never missed a beat.
11:14As I mentioned, they've already started appearing once again on NXT.
11:17But the critical thing here is their contracts.
11:19Because it was reported prior to Bound for Glory that actually, when they returned to TNA Wrestling earlier this year,
11:25they actually signed really short-term deals.
11:27And their deals were set to expire after Bound for Glory.
11:30Now, the fact that the Inspiration had successfully retained the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championships
11:35against the Elegance brand at the TNA pay-per-view,
11:38had maybe suggested some that there was a feeling that they were going to be sticking around with TNA.
11:42But, as of last we heard anyway, their TNA contracts had expired.
11:47And they were currently working without contracts for the company.
11:51Now, Sean Ross Sapp in his report from Fightful Selected,
11:53did state that Inspiration and TNA officials, they're interested in continuing their partnership.
11:58And the expectation is that they could probably stick around in TNA Wrestling.
12:03But even if they do, a run continuously in NXT is not out of the question at all.
12:09They're the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champions.
12:11They've got history in NXT.
12:13So, who's to say that they don't end up going back to NXT for a more prolonged run?
12:18I mean, we're really talking about signings here.
12:20But as long as they're not under contracts, we shall see.
12:23Whether or not WWE would really want to gazump TNA Wrestling,
12:27a working partner of theirs, and sign the Inspiration to contracts when TNA are looking to do that,
12:31I don't know.
12:33You have to also factor in, as I mentioned, the Inspiration.
12:35They're both mothers now, and the schedule is important too.
12:38So, there's a lot of different factors to consider,
12:41but I don't think you can rule out a return of the IIconics to WWE NXT more full-time.
12:47Next up, Britt Baker, DMD.
12:52I mean, how many videos have we done talking about Britt Baker,
12:56talking about returns, exits, signings, and what have you?
13:00And every time I've done it, folks, the information right now on Britt Baker is exactly the same.
13:06In 2024, Britt Baker, she returned at Forbidden Door for AEW.
13:12This was her return after over nine months of hiatus.
13:15She interrupted Mercedes-Monnaie.
13:17She then revealed on the following episode of Dynamite that she'd been sidelined by herniated discs,
13:22a torn hip labrum.
13:23Then she suffered a transient ischemic attack, which is almost like a stroke.
13:28It led to a match between Mercedes-Monnaie and Britt Baker at All In.
13:33But how we got there, my goodness me, there was controversy in August of 2024,
13:39just like a couple of weeks after actually returning to AEW.
13:43It was reported that Britt Baker had been suspended.
13:46There was a backstage altercation with MJF and his then-girlfriend Alicia Aitout, of course, now wife.
13:52So, she was suspended for a couple of weeks.
13:54She came back, had a match with Mercedes-Monnaie at AEW All In, lost.
13:58We then didn't see her for a couple of months.
14:00Then she returned in November.
14:02She defeated Penelope Ford on an episode of Dynamite.
14:05Afterwards, she was confronted by Serena Deeb.
14:07And Baker responded by saying, nobody cares, nobody cares, nobody cares, towards Deeb and the camera.
14:13And as of October 2025, that's the last we saw of Britt Baker and AEW.
14:18That was nearly a year ago.
14:20Nothing. We've seen nothing.
14:22Now, there have been numerous reports and false claims that she'd been gone from the company,
14:26been let go from the company.
14:27As of the time of recording this video, she's still under contract to AEW.
14:32There have been reports and suggestions that maybe Tony Khan and people of senior authority in AEW
14:39have basically just had enough of Britt Baker and had enough of the backstage drama.
14:43And considering all of the backstage drama that has been in AEW throughout its shorts history,
14:47they're just not really interested in adding to it.
14:50But she's still under contract.
14:51Because I think the assumption is that once they let her go, she's probably going to end up in WWE.
14:56Now, as of the last sort of comment that we heard regarding Britt Baker and a possible departure from AEW, what have you,
15:03we did hear the AEW president, Tony Khan, talk about her in the buildup to AEW All-In Texas.
15:07This was back in July on a media call.
15:11Now, he shut down rumors that she was looking to leave the promotion.
15:14He said at the time, quote,
15:15I've never had a conversation about Britt departing AEW.
15:18I like Britt a lot.
15:19He then used this sports team analogy to explain why certain talented wrestlers like Baker may not be featured on television at all times.
15:26He said, quote,
15:27He then said, quote,
15:54Britt is a great example of somebody that's very talented and we could utilize in AEW with the right situation and at the time.
16:01Just like in pro sports, when you have some really talented people that aren't necessarily starting every game,
16:06at that point doesn't mean they won't be starting in the future.
16:10It makes sense for me to look at the AEW roster like a sports team and try and manage the minutes and rotation.
16:16But there's managing minutes and then there's not being featured on the show at all.
16:19So the general feeling is that Baker is probably done in AEW.
16:22This might be a similar situation to, say, Ray Phoenix, Penta, Ricky Starks and others,
16:28whereby the general feeling is that they're going to leave.
16:31They're going to end up going to WWE.
16:33So the decision is kind of made.
16:34Well, why would we continue to feature someone on television?
16:37That is going to leave us fairly soon and jump to our rival.
16:39We're better off investing our precious TV time and money into talents that are going to be sticking around and aren't a problem backstage.
16:46So with that kind of forecast, you do feel that Baker's probably, regardless if it happens sooner rather than later or later rather than sooner,
16:54she's on her way out of All Elite Wrestling.
16:56And once she goes, she'll probably find herself in WWE.
16:59I think following the trajectory of other top AEW talents that have signed with WWE,
17:04I think she probably ends up in NXT, similar to Ricky Starks, similar to Blake Monroe,
17:10who was one of the biggest AEW female talents that they had.
17:13I think that she probably ends up in NXT first and then ends up on the main roster.
17:18And finally, Mike Santana.
17:21We spoke earlier on about Joe Hendry, the former TNA World Champion, possibly, most likely, being on his way to WWE next year.
17:30Well, what about Mike Santana, the current TNA World Champion?
17:33And I know you'll say, oh, he's only just won the TNA World Championship.
17:36He's not going to go to WWE.
17:37Well, there have been numerous reports this year that during his appearances on WWE NXT,
17:42because, like several other TNA talents, Mike Santana has appeared on NXT numerous times,
17:48multiple times, challenging for TNA World titles, challenging in main events.
17:52And as of June, this was even prior to him winning the TNA World Championship,
17:57according to a report from PWInsider,
17:58there was reportedly a lot of internal talk within WWE and NXT about Mike Santana and potential interest in him.
18:06He's received high works for his work in NXT so far,
18:09and every single time he does have a match or makes an appearance,
18:12reportedly his stock grows even higher in WWE.
18:16As I've said, he still just won the TNA World Championship in the main event of Bound for Glory,
18:21TNA's biggest show of the year.
18:22So the expectation would be he's going to be sticking around in TNA Wrestling for some time.
18:27He's going to be the new flag bearer of that company with Joe Hendry looking to depart at the end of the year.
18:32The big thing, though, when it comes to Santana,
18:34we don't have a ton of information about his contract.
18:38There had been a report in the summer, as I've said,
18:40that he was under contract to TNA through the end of the year.
18:44He did sign a contract with the company in April of 2024.
18:47Of course, prior to that, Santana worked for AEW as part of the Santana and Ortiz tag team.
18:52He had previously been in Impact Wrestling prior to arriving in AEW, of course,
18:56and he bet on himself. He wasn't happy with not being featured on AEW television.
19:01Ortiz was saying, look, we've got a good thing here.
19:04Why ruin it? And it led to them falling out.
19:06But Mike Santana's come off better.
19:08He bet on himself as a singles talent.
19:10He's gone to TNA. He's got over, over so much that he's their world champion,
19:14over so much that WWE, most likely when Santana's contract is up,
19:18they're going to at least make an attempt to sign him.
19:20So it's worked out for him, certainly.
19:23The biggest question is, like I said, is just how long does he have left on his contract?
19:27Has he signed a new one?
19:29You would think with the promotion putting the world championship on him,
19:32it would be bizarre if he then dropped the championship in the next couple of months
19:35and ended up signing with WWE.
19:37So I feel like he probably sticks around until at some point next year.
19:42But contracts are contracts and timing is everything.
19:44So we'll have to wait and see if Santana finds his way on WWE NXT permanently.
19:48So there you go, guys.
19:50There are five possible signings that could be on their way to WWE NXT in the near future.
19:54Let me know your thoughts about it in the comments section below.
19:56Which ones are more likely than others?
19:57Let me know your opinions, your hot takes, your thoughts as always.
20:01Be sure to smash the like on the like button.
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20:04And I'll speak to you again very, very soon.
20:18I'll speak to you again very soon.