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People In WWE Are Surprised By Ex-AEW Star Still Being In NXT

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• People In WWE Are Surprised By Ex-AEW Star Still Being In NXT

Last year, many expected Ricky Saints (fka Ricky Starks in AEW) to only be in NXT for a short time. Word was that WWE had already set WrestleMania 41 plans, so bringing him to the main roster on the road to WrestleMania 41 didn’t make sense. However, a year later, he’s still there, which has surprised people backstage.

According to Fightful Select, there are a few reasons why WWE is keeping some veterans on their developmental brand. Both WWE and the CW Network believe that having well-known stars in NXT helps bring in new viewers who might not usually watch the show.

Veterans with years of TV experience are seen as great mentors for the younger talent at the Performance Center. While some wrestlers try to skip NXT entirely, WWE usually decides where someone goes based on what both brands need at that moment.

Essentially, NXT isn’t just a training ground anymore, and gets treated as a third brand that needs its own big stars to keep the audience growing.

RELATED: Spoiler On The Main Event Of NXT Stand & Deliver 2026

• 2nd Openly Gay Male Champion Crowned In WWE Tonight (Video)

On tonight’s episode of WWE Evolve, Aaron Rourke defeated Jackson Drake to win the Evolve Championship. You can watch the video of his win below:

Aaron Rourke joined the WWE ID program in late 2024. He is now the second openly gay male wrestler to win a title in WWE, following Darren Young, who became the first in 2015.

Late Hall of Famer Pat Patterson, the inaugural Intercontinental Champion, was also gay but not publicly out during his career.

• Ex-Universal Champion Says He’d Squash Oba Femi, Says Oba Will Never Be Like Him

In the opening segment of this week’s RAW, Oba Femi laid out Brock Lesnar. Oba pointed to the WrestleMania 42 sign, thus accepting Lesnar’s open challenge. Later in the show, WWE officially confirmed Oba Femi vs. Brock Lesnar for WrestleMania 42.

Former Universal Champion Braun Strowman posted a photo of him chokeslamming Lesnar from their No Mercy 2017 match and wrote: “There’s isn’t and will never be another like me!!!”

Fans saw this as an obvious shot at Oba. Strowman went on to have the following exchanges with fans on this topic:

Fan 1: You’re about to get a call and legitimize The Ruler

Strowman: I’d squash him faster than Goldberg lol

Fan 2: Wish [Brock Lesnar] put you over like he’s putting Oba over (hopefully)

Strowman: Wish I knew back then what I know is the real reality.

Fan 3: Oba would wreck you

Strowman: Some shot putter??? lol ok

Fan 4: Omos made you look weak & small be real

Strowman: One powerslam 123 another victim lol

Also Read: Brock Lesnar Attacked Ex-ROH Wrestler On This Week’s RAW

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