6 Bold Predictions for WWE NXT in 2019

It has been a fascinating year for WWE NXT with the roster rapidly shifting throughout. In just one year, every title has changed hands multiple times, and several stars have taken the next step forward.

NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia featured Andrade "Cien" Almas, Ember Moon and The Authors of Pain, and all moved up shortly after that event. The developmental brand has largely grown over the past 12 months as new talent such as War Raiders to Matt Riddle arrived to make an impact.

The surprising elements have been clear. DIY's breakup has dominated the NXT Championship scene, allowing Tommaso Ciampa and Johnny Gargano to fight in three straight TakeOver main events during which time the former stole the NXT title from Aleister Black.

The Undisputed Era continues to be the brand's guiding force in the tag team division, as Adam Cole gained a brand-new title, the NXT North American Championship. That same belt also introduced perhaps the biggest new star in NXT, current champion Ricochet.

No one truly could have predicted all that would happen over the course of 2018, and it is now time to think about what is coming next. Who will emerge? Which stars will leave and which stars will be signed to take their place?

It's tough to make those predictions right now as there are so many outcomes available, but let's have a go.

No One Will Be Brought Up from NXT Between May and December

The McMahon family promised great change in WWE through the coming months, with several stars debuting on the main roster, including Lars Sullivan and Nikki Cross. However, there are only so many names the company can bring up without leaving Raw and SmackDown Live feeling bloated.

For this reason, it seems like these next few months will be the only time in 2019 when NXT stars make the jump. Beyond the previously announced names, more talent should emerge, especially after WrestleMania 35.

Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir will likely link up with Ronda Rousey. Ciampa, Gargano and Black have all spent enough time in NXT and would make a splash on the main roster. Velveteen Dream is likely to also take the next step even if he still needs some development.

This will leave a lot of space in NXT and not much room on the main roster.

NXT will change significantly, and more call-ups would negatively affect the brands. While moving to the main roster has value, it is not quite the end goal it once was.

It would be more likely main roster stars, such as underused guys like Tyler Breeze or Zack Ryder, come to NXT later in the year rather than the other way around.

NXT UK Will Produce the Best TakeOver Event of the Year

NXT UK will showcase its first exclusive TakeOver in January with NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool, and this feels like the start of an interesting conflict. NXT and NXT UK will be vying for attention, and the new brand has already proved it has talent to spare.

Those who have been watching since it started airing have witnessed countless great Pete Dunne title defenses, while wrestlers such as Joe Coffey, Rhea Ripley, Jordan Devlin and Dave Mastiff have taken major steps forward. This is a brand on the rise.

NXT TakeOver has been the gold standard for WWE Network events for years now, but now it's NXT UK's turn to make its mark. Not only will the second brand outshine its counterpart, but the best WWE event of 2019 will also come from NXT UK.

It only makes sense. The brand has an overwhelming amount of stars. Just looking over the current Blackpool card is exciting, and the stories will only continue to develop and grow more volatile with time.

Bianca Belair, Mia Yim and Kacy Catanzaro Will Win NXT Women's Championship

Credit: WWE.com

The NXT women's division feels like it is on the verge of a dramatic shift. Baszler still reigns supreme, but time is running out. She's likely on her way to the main roster, which will leave room for new stars to emerge in a division that has been waiting for its moment.

If Baszler, Duke and Shafir do leave, not many genuine stars will remain. Kairi Sane and Io Shirai would be the brand's top performers, while Candice LaRae likely will follow her husband, Gargano, to the main roster.

Who can take advantage of all this opportunity? Bianca Belair obviously has a major claim. While still more of a project than her booking would indicate, the undefeated Superstar has earned a shot at the NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: Phoenix, which could be the start of a major run.

Other women who could emerge include the veteran Mia Yim and several interesting talents from the Performance Center such as Kacy Catanzaro and Chelsea Green. Yim is a massive talent NXT will need to rely on, while Catanzaro proved in the Mae Young Classic she's going to be ready soon.

It's exciting to think about what's next for the women's division because there's been such a narrow focus for so long. It is time to open up and embrace a new wave of female Superstars.

Ricochet Will Remain NXT North American Champion for 365 Days

Ricochet has taken NXT by storm in much the same way he did the independent scene. He is a rare breed of athlete who cannot be stopped. He moves like he's been able to fly his whole life.

While he can certainly make an impact on the main roster, it feels like his place is still with NXT. The wild high-flyer is adding much-needed credibility to the NXT North American Championship, and he can be the highlight of every TakeOver by defeating everyone who challenges him.

While the main event scene may continue to shift, the constant will be Ricochet. He will be standing with his title all year long and putting on great matches with old and new faces.

Imagine all the possible matches he can have at TakeOver. Names who quickly come to mind are Riddle, Keith Lee, Kassius Ohno, Dominik Dijakovic and, of course, better-known guys like Velveteen Dream and Black. More stars will also likely come in as the year goes along.

If the title reign goes as well as it should, Ricochet may even be main-eventing over the NXT champion before the year is out.

Undisputed Era WIll Be the NXT Tag Team Division Constant

Credit: WWE.com

The Undisputed Era has been a group to watch in NXT for well over a year now as the lone strong faction on the brand. They push the rest of the roster to match their cohesion and incredible in-ring work week after week.

It may seem foolish to assume a group with this much talent would spend another year in development, but NXT has become defined by its presence. It needs to remain dominant for now before making the jump because the group may not translate well.

Cole and Roderick Strong feel like the stars, especially with the latter finding his personality in the group. Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish are solid performers, but they may not stand out on the main roster. The stable can continue to build credibility by remaining the tag team division's dominant force.

NXT's tag team division is a disappointing mess at the moment. There's just not enough talent. Hanson and Rowe should return soon and likely win the championships, but their only rivals are Strong and O'Reilly. The two teams can only trade the gold for so long.

Cole should get at least one chance to challenge for the NXT Championship in 2019, and the rest of his friends can continue to make an impact before fighting one more time at WarGames.

The NXT Champion at the End of 2019 Is Not Currently Signed

The NXT Championship has often been used to highlight the biggest names WWE has signed to the brand.

Shinsuke Nakamura, Finn Balor, Samoa Joe, Bobby Roode and Drew McIntyre all won the title as a sign of their status outside of WWE, as well as their potential impact on the main roster.

Once most of the current leading performers in NXT head to the main roster, there will be space for new stars to emerge. If Velveteen Dream doesn't head up as well, he might be the only guy left in NXT who has even challenged for the title.

The roster has enough talent to compensate, but it's hard to say there's anyone right now who is an outright shoo-in to carry that gold. For that reason, it only seems right to predict someone will be signed to take that spot.

NXT is Triple H's brand. He wants it to always stand out, and he is not afraid to take risks. If he doesn't trust anyone currently around to carry the top title, he'll find someone.

Some names that recently have come up in conversation who might fit the bill are any member of The Elite, Pentagon Jr., Jay Lethal, Dalton Castle, Brian Cage, Eli Drake or Johnny Impact. There's a variety of options, and whoever gets the spotlight will be sold as a huge star.