Some wrestlers look destined for greatness before they reach 25 years of age. There's always that select group of performers who able to get noticed at a young age and appear ready to take their career to the next level. Randy Orton is the classic example who had the potential to be a mega-star at a young age and just look at The Viper now.
It becomes obvious early on whether a wrestler has what it takes to make it big in the business or not. The industry is experiencing a boom in general, despite the pandemic, with several extremely talented workers emerging as the megastars of tomorrow. There are a select few, who despite being in their early-to-mid-20s are exhibiting phenomenal potential really early in their career.
9 The Velveteen Dream
Odds are that a few months ago, 25-year-old Velveteen Dream would have been featured in a much more prominent spot on this list. But amid the allegations leveled against him in the #SpeakingOut movement, WWE has understandably cooled off on the former North American Champion in recent months.
Regardless, Dream is an exceptionally gifted wrestler, capable of working great matches on a regular basis. He also has a strong presence on the mic and is currently working as one of the most unique and enigmatic characters on the entire roster. WWE's response to the allegations and Dream's alleged complicity will dictate just how far he can go in the business.
8 Austin Theory
When WWE was struggling to get enough talent to pad out three hours of Raw, the company turned to Austin Theory. His run on the red brand was short-lived, but it proved that the promotion has a great deal of confidence in the 23-year-old's abilities.
Theory is far from the finished product but has shown flashes of brilliance over the last several months. He also has the kind of look that Vince McMahon absolutely loves, which will always work in his favor. It will only be a matter of time before Theory becomes one of the major players on NXT.
7 Jungle Boy
As a part of Jurassic Express, Jungle Boy has the distinction of being a part of one of AEW's most exciting teams. The 23-year-old has proven himself to be a massive asset to the promotion in its first year, working exciting matches and entertaining audiences on a regular basis.
While Luchasaurus might hog the limelight on most occasions, Jungle Boy is the real star. Sometimes it is truly shocking to think about the fact that he is just 23-years-old. Despite his diminutive frame, Jungle Boy has 'star' written all over him, and AEW is the perfect promotion for him to realize his potential.
6 MJF
MJF may still be very new to the game, but he is already one of the finest heels in the industry. There are very few wrestlers who could claim to be genuinely detestable, without having the kind of 'go away' heat guys like King Corbin are accused of having.
Everyone knows of MJF's ability on the mic, but in recent months, he has proven that he is no slouch in the ring either. MJF will more than likely hold the AEW World Championship at some point in his career, that much is guaranteed. If he can continue to build on the skills he already has, the 24-year-old could be the face of the promotion for decades to come.
5 Toni Storm
Toni Storm became the second-ever NXT UK Women's Champion when she defeated Rhea Ripley for the gold at NXT UK TakeOver: Blackpool in 2019. She held onto the gold for 231 days, before being a part of Team NXT at last year's Survivor Series.
Storm has repeatedly proven herself to be an exceptional in-ring worker. Her recent return to NXT after an 8-month hiatus has been a joy to behold. There is absolutely no doubt that if she continues on her current trajectory, the 25-year-old will be one of the biggest stars in WWE in just a few years.
4 Rhea Ripley
Rhea Ripley became a star when she entered a feud with Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship. Her title win was one of the greatest moments in the black-and-gold brand's history.
Even though she floundered for a little while after dropping the championship to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 36, the 24-year-old has proven that she can bounce back from the occasional terrible booking choice. She has one of the most unique looks in the promotion and puts on great matches on a regular basis. When she does make her way to Raw or SmackDown, she should and probably will be a major player almost immediately.
3 Riho
While AEW has gotten a lot right since its inception, the Women's Division has been a consistent weak spot for the promotion. The company has failed to come up with interesting storylines or create new stars in the division.
But in that darkness, Riho has been a shining light. The 23-year-old was chosen to be the inaugural AEW Women's Champion. While her reign wasn't the most exciting, the promotion's vote of confidence in her was proof of the fact that she is an extremely exciting performer. Riho has an extremely high ceiling in AEW and could be the promotion's doorway to a Japanese audience as well.
2 Tyler Bate
It will only be a matter of time before WWE makes the call to bring over Tyler Bate to NXT from NXT UK for good; he is simply too good to not be under the bright lights of network programming on a regular basis. Bate has worked some truly great matches in the UK, most notably his 40-minute marathon match against WALTER.
The 23-year-old is phenomenal in the ring and could very easily be a megastar for WWE if the promotion books his character correctly. Bate is amazing and the fact that he will only get better is mindboggling to think about.
1 Dominik Mysterio
From the moment, Dominik Mysterio got involved in his father's storyline with Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series last year, fans knew he would be making his in-ring debut sooner rather than later.
That's exactly what happened when he took on Seth Rollins in singles competition at SummerSlam. Even though he lost, Dominik looked like an absolute star. The 23-year-old is not the most naturally talented wrestler on this list, but the fact remains that his last name will undoubtedly earn him more opportunities than a lot of his compatriots. Assuming that he keeps delivering in the ring and improves on the mic, there's nothing stopping him from casting a shadow over his father's legendary career.