Ranking WWE's 10 Top Breakout Stars of 2025
WWE had an interesting year in 2025, to say the least. We saw Raw move to Netflix, WWE PLEs moved to ESPN, and John Cena hung up his boots for good after a year-long retirement tour.
We also saw some fresh faces begin to make a mark in this business, especially in NXT where WWE trains its next crop of Superstars.
The top 10 breakout stars of WWE is a mixture of men, women, rookies and people who have been around for a while who finally broke through to the next stage of their career.
Let's take a look at the 10 Superstars who made their biggest impact yet in 2025.
10. Ilja Dragunov
1 of 10
Ilja Dragunov earned his spot on this list late in the year after being sidelined for most of 2025 with an injury.
Ever since he returned, won the United States Championship and began defending it in open challenges almost every week, he has been on fire.
Every single match this guy has is either the best thing on the show or a close second, and it's usually the former. He has become one of the most consistent workers in the entire company.
One of the best parts of SmackDown every week has been watching him remind everyone that he is one of the best WWE has right now.
9. Jacy Jayne
2 of 10
Jacy Jayne has been with WWE since 2021, but it felt like she finally put everything together and became a complete version of herself this year.
She went from being an underling in someone else's group to being the leader of Fatal Influence, she is now a two-time NXT champion, and she has taken everything WWE has given her and made it work.
At this point, WWE could call her up to the main roster at any point. She is more than ready to be part of Raw or SmackDown, but having an established talent like her in NXT is also valuable.
8. Joe Hendry
3 of 10
Joe Hendry has been gaining popularity for a few years with his songs written to mock his rivals, but 2025 saw him finally make the move to WWE.
When the WWE and TNA partnership was first announced, Hendry was a huge part of it. He helped bridge the gap between the two brands while simultaneously transitioning to the WWE roster.
His popularity as a meme wrestler is undeniable, but he isn't just a meme. He is a talented performer who would be great in a feud with just about anyone on any WWE brand.
Whenever someone says his name and he appears, the crowd goes wild. That kind of reaction is going to make him a valuable commodity.
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7. Je'Von Evans
4 of 10
Je'Von Evans has been nothing short of phenomenal in 2025, and it looks like he is only going to keep climbing the ladder of success in WWE based on how he has been booked.
Despite not winning the NXT title after multiple attempts, Evans had the best year of his young career in 2025, with his appearance on the same show as John Cena's final match being his latest highlight.
His alliance with TNA's Leon Slater has allowed him to compete in both the singles and tag team divisions regularly, and if WWE decides to try to sign Slater when his TNA contact is up, it wouldn't be surprising to see them become a permanent duo.
If Evans can stay healthy and continue performing at such a high level, he is going to be a top star on Raw or SmackDown within a few years.
6. Jacob Fatu
5 of 10
Jacob Fatu may be sidelined with an injury at the moment, but there would be no way we could make this list without including him.
After beginning his run as a heel with Solo Sikoa's group, Fatu gained immense popularity with the crowd before breaking away and working more of a babyface style.
He never became the smiling, hand-shaking kind of babyface. In fact, he changed almost nothing about his character except the targets he was focusing on, but sometimes that is all it takes.
Fatu is someone WWE could book to win any title in 2026 and the crowd would accept it because he is not only popular, but he is one of the most believable badasses on the roster.
5. Jade Cargill
6 of 10
Jade Cargill came into WWE with a lot of hype, but her momentum slowed down for a while as she continued progressing.
That all changed in 2025 when she finally found her groove as a heel, which then led to her winning her first WWE Women's Championship.
Cargill has continued to learn the business and appears more comfortable in the ring as time goes on, but WWE management still seems hesitant to put her in longer matches.
If she can prove that she can carry a bout that goes longer than 10 minutes, then she is going to hold onto that title for quite some time.
4. Chelsea Green
7 of 10
Chelsea Green has been one of the strongest characters in all of WWE in 2025 because she is fearless and willing to do anything to get herself and her opponent over.
All of that hard work has been rewarded this year with not only two United States Championship runs, but she is also currently holding the AAA mixed tag belts with Ethan Page.
Being a double champion, while not unheard of, is definitely not something we see very often in WWE. It shows how much faith management has in her.
Green is also one of the few people who has been working NXT, the main roster and AAA shows, making her one of the hardest-working people on the roster. If she doesn't hold a world title by the end of 2026, it will be shocking.
3. Stephanie Vaquer
8 of 10
Stephanie Vaquer came into WWE with a lot of hype and has managed to live up to it every step of the way.
The former CMLL mainstay found immediate success in NXT, transitioned to the main roster quickly, and eventually won the Women's World Championship that she still holds to this day.
Her hard-hitting style and charisma is what have made her a popular act. If she continues down this same path, she is going to end up being a top star for years to come.
2. Dominik Mysterio
9 of 10
The last few years have been great for Dominik Mysterio, but 2025 was easily his best year in his young career.
At just 28 years old, he is already a former tag team champion, two-time North American champion, a two-time and current intercontinental champion, and he is also the current AAA mega champion.
On top of all that, he defeated John Cena in his second-to-last match. That may be a bigger sign of what's in store for his future than either of the belts he currently holds.
Whether you love him or love to hate him, almost everyone has a strong opinion about Dirty Dom, and that is as valuable as anything else in this business.
1. Bron Breakker
10 of 10
Bron Breakker may end 2025 without a belt around his waist, but there is no doubt that WWE brass see him as a main event talent.
He began the year as the IC champion, but lost the belt to Mysterio at WrestleMania. It didn't take long for him to join up with Seth Rollins as part of his new stable after that.
With The Visionary out with an injury, the focus of his group has changed, and now it looks like getting Breakker his first world title is the priority.
At only 28 years old, Breakker is the kind of talent WWE can build into someone who will carry the company for the next decade or more. He has every tool you could ask for from a pro wrestler, but his biggest attribute is his intensity.
A lot of wrestlers appear to be playing a role, but Breakker is as convincing as they come. You truly believe he could snap at any moment, and that makes him interesting to watch.
The 10 names on this list all had a great 2025, but which one do you think will have the best 2026?
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