VIDEO: Two New Stars Make NXT Debuts

Add them to the roster. Getting to NXT is a big deal for a lot of professional wrestlers. While it is still a few steps behind Monday Night Raw and SmackDown, there is a big gap between the independent circuit and appearing on the USA Network Tuesday nights in prime time. It can be quite a special moment for someone to make their debut on the show and that was the case more than once this week.

Two wrestlers made their NXT debut during this week’s show. First up, AJ Francis appeared at the end of the falls count anywhere match between Isaiah Scott and Leon Ruff. With Scott down, Ruff climbed onto part of the production equipment to dive down onto him but dove onto Francis instead. Francis slammed him down, allowing Scott to eventually win. Francis has been appearing on the WWE Most Wanted Treasures series in recent weeks.

Later, Anthony Henry, under the ring name Asher Hale, made his in-ring debut for NXT, losing to Cameron Grimes. Hale has wrestled around the independent circuit for several years, with some of his most high profile work coming in Evolve, which was purchased by WWE last July. According to Heelbynature.com, WWE trademarked the Asher Hale name this week.

This was a big night. Check out the two debuts:

Cameron Grimes vs. Asher Hale: WWE NXT, May 4, 2021

Opinion: This was a great night for debuts as you had two guys showing up on the same show. That isn’t something you get to see very often but it worked out well here. Francis is still a long way away from being ready to be a top star but his natural size and athletic background should be more than enough to get his foot, if not leg, in the door. Henry is a seasoned veteran and that is always something you can use.

What helps the most is that you need to keep things moving on any wrestling show, especially one like NXT. Above all else, it should keep things from getting stagnant by keeping the wrestlers working a bit harder to stay ahead. You don’t get enough of that on Monday Night Raw or SmackDown, so hopefully it can keep things moving a little bit better on NXT.

What do you think of the new stars? Who will be a bigger deal in NXT? Let us know in the comments below.

Thomas Hall has been a wrestling fan for over thirty years and has seen over 50,000 wrestling matches. He has also been a wrestling reviewer since 2009 with over 5,000 full shows covered. You can find his work at kbwrestlingreviews.com, or check out his- Amazon author page with 30 wrestling books.

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