WWE Officials “Very Pleased” With NXT Stars at Cena’s Retirement Show, Call-Ups Imminent

WWE didn’t just close the chapter on John Cena’s in-ring career at Saturday Night’s Main Event—they quietly opened the door for the next generation.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WWE was extremely pleased with how their featured NXT talent performed in front of the Washington, D.C. crowd, treating the event as a stress test for developmental stars on the verge of major promotion. Meltzer made it clear that WWE is no longer just toying with crossover appearances. These stars are officially on WWE’s radar for main roster elevation—immediately.

“Well, they did a video pretty much, you know, like that I thought made it pretty clear that Oba Femi, Sol Ruca, Je’Von Evans, Leon Slater, and Joe Hendry were, you know, going to be up [on the main roster].”

He then explained why Je’Von Evans’ recent NXT loss may have been intentional.

“That’s why he [Je'Von Evans] lost that match last Tuesday and lost his title shot—because he was being called up Saturday. Great. Get these guys off of NXT and on the main roster and let's get going with them.”

The DC crowd wasn’t shy either. WWE officials saw big reactions—particularly for Oba Femi and the Evans-Slater team. Meltzer said these aren’t maybe stars; these are prospects WWE is firmly backing.

“They see Oba Femi as a superstar. They see Sol Ruca as a superstar. They see Evans and Leon Slater as superstars. It’s not like—they may botch it—something may happen. But it’s not like they’re not seeing it.”

Joe Hendry, who was featured in a backstage RAW segment with Nick Aldis and Adam Pearce, is also viewed as a surefire hit due to his charisma and connection with fans.

“Joe Hendry, everyone knows. He’s a guy who's gonna go out there and he's gonna get a great, great, great crowd reaction, and that's a big part of their business.”

The show’s crowd reactions helped validate those internal beliefs, especially considering the time constraints these newcomers faced.

“They got over with the crowd in DC, which is a big thing. I mean, Oba Femi was very over with the crowd.”

“Evans and Slater were fantastic in the match, given the handicap of doing a six-minute match when they should have done twelve.”

As for Sol Ruca, Meltzer acknowledged she may face a longer path—but her potential is undeniable.

“She's got a good look, and she's a very great athlete who can do unique things. So she's gonna have it a lot tougher, I think, than the other ones. But her athletic ability is just so strong that I think she's going to make it.”

WWE may be closing the book on one era, but they’re clearly betting on the next generation to carry the company forward—loud, athletic, and ready to deliver.

Are you buying the hype for WWE’s next breakout stars? Who do you think has the brightest future among the NXT names called up? Drop your take in the comments.

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