7 Superstars unlikely to thrive in WWE's New Era: Dominant Women's Champion, international star & more
Triple H's New Era in WWE has been a success. Without constant rewrites, the storytelling makes sense. Matches are longer than five minutes, giving performers the time to tell a story in the ring.
Superstars are given much more creative freedom under The Game than Mr. McMahon. Fewer words are banned for strange reasons. The biggest change is that some stars who probably wouldn't have been given a chance under McMahon are getting a better focus in the New Era.
Triple H has featured Chad Gable, Sami Zayn, Pete Dunne, Tyler Bate, Johnny Gargano, Lyra Valkyria, and LA Knight. The next seven stars, however, still may not thrive in WWE's New Era.
Someone who may not thrive will be categorized by stars who still aren't used or those who randomly appear only to lose. Someone like Tamina, who hasn't been seen in over a year, won't be included.
#7. Omos was pushed hard by Mr. McMahon
![The Nigerian Giant always pops up for battle royals. [Image credits: WWE]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/06/666bd-17189357924161-1920.jpg?w=500)
Baron Corbin and Apollo Crews may have fallen into this category, but they were used on the latest SmackDown. There's untapped storytelling in Corbin as a good guy, and if he's paired with Crews, the two could help each other out.
However, Omos is a specialty attraction. He was last used in the Andre the Giant Battle Royal. McMahon loved featuring The Nigerian Giant, but he usually only appeared in squash matches or against a powerhouse at a big WWE show.
WWE still has many powerhouses he could face, but his size limits his in-ring ability. Triple H favors stars who can work a 20-minute match. While he is still a sight to behold, Omos probably won't be used in the New Era.
#6. Tegan Nox, #5. Candice LeRae, & #4. Indi Hartwell had better luck in NXT
Success in NXT doesn't always translate to the WWE main roster. Conversely, not winning a belt in the brand doesn't mean someone won't capture gold on RAW or SmackDown. Liv Morgan, Alexa Bliss, and Nikki A.S.H. all won titles on the main roster but not in developmental.
Tegan Nox, Candice LeRae, and Indi Hartwell were all important parts of NXT. LeRae and Hartwell were in The Way faction with Johnny Gargano, Austin Theory, and Dexter Lumis.
All three women have been unable to sustain momentum or success. Part of it may be due to a lack of connection with the fans. LeRae and Nox are plentiful in the ring but haven't shown much personality. Hartwell peaked in NXT and probably won't thrive in the current WWE landscape.
#3. Natalya is one of the most respected women in wrestling
![Natalya has been a fixture in the women's division. [Image credits: WWE]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/06/dc7b5-17189361301355-1920.jpg)
Natalya has been with WWE for over 15 years. She's won singles and tag team gold but is primarily used to put over other stars. This has happened on RAW, SmackDown, and even recently in NXT.
The Queen of Harts has credibility due to technical skills, longevity, and lineage but still has trouble standing out. The WWE women's division is only improving yearly, but Natalya still tests the newcomers.
Since she's fallen into the role of gatekeeper rather than perennial title challenger, she'll likely endure a similar booking in WWE's New Era. Her best bet for a major chance will come at Money in the Bank in Toronto since she's Canadian.
#2. Shinsuke Nakamura hasn't been used much since the 2024 WWE Draft
Despite being a fan favorite due to his natural charisma, Shinsuke Nakamura hasn't been able to win a major title on RAW or SmackDown.
He's won mid-card titles but always falls short in big title programs. This happened against AJ Styles in 2018 and against Seth Rollins last year. With a renewed focus, he pushed Cody Rhodes to his limit.
While Nakamura still has much to offer, he hasn't factored much into the New Era. It could be to hold him off for a bigger program or to let some new names get the spotlight. Whatever the reason, Nakamura's place on the card will probably stay the same.
#1. Shayna Baszler once ruled over NXT
It's mind-boggling that Shayna Baszler is yet to win a singles title on RAW or SmackDown. She was one of the most dominant women in NXT history and had a legitimate MMA background to support her claims.
Baszler has been used in the women's tag team division over the last year. She usually eats the pin in big matches and is a stepping stone for newer stars. Her spot is very similar to Natalya's.
Despite being a highly-trained MMA star, she's lost big matches to everyone, including Lola Vice in NXT. Baszler may be used on RAW but will likely continue to come up short when big opportunities are up for grabs.