{"id":210280,"date":"2026-01-09T17:16:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-09T23:16:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=210280"},"modified":"2026-01-14T00:35:12","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T06:35:12","slug":"wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-featuring-oba-femi-bron-breakker-gunther-maxxine-dupri-izzy-dame-a-j-styles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/09\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-featuring-oba-femi-bron-breakker-gunther-maxxine-dupri-izzy-dame-a-j-styles\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Featuring Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Gunther, Maxxine Dupri, Izzy Dame,\u00a0A.J. Styles"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-950280507\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Happy New Year, wrestling fans! A New Year brings us one step closer to the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season. Momentum for individual performers at this time of year is vitally important, as it helps determine who will be featured in the all-important months ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we look at the best and worst performances this week in WWE, and anticipate how current booking impacts each wrester\u2019s prospects.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Rising Star of the Week: Oba Femi<\/h3>\n<p>After a year of dominance, the Ruler of NXT leaves on top. After convincingly defeating TNA X Division Champion Leon Slater on &#8220;NXT: New Year&#8217;s Evil,&#8221; Femi voluntarily relinquished the title, presumably in accordance with his imminent main-roster call-up.<\/p>\n<p>Like most championships, holders of the NXT Title departing for the main roster have traditionally gone out on their backs, doing favors for the incoming champion. In fact, no man has ever voluntarily relinquished the NXT Title before (although Asuka and Paige were allowed that honor).<\/p>\n<p>Allowing the Nigerian native to abandon the title rather than lose it is a sign of how committed WWE creative is to protecting him. It\u2019s a sign that there are big plans in store for Femi, which require him to look as strong as possible even on his way out of NXT.<\/p>\n<p>Look for the Ruler to take over on the main roster, and look for it soon.<\/p>\n<h3>Runner-up: Gunther<\/h3>\n<p>Was it good booking to have John Cena to tap out to a sleeper, of all things, in his final match? On this point, wrestling fans disagree.<\/p>\n<p>One thing we can all agree on: Gunther is making the most of it.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1747710056\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Self-assured and arrogant, the Ring General has taken apparent delight in rubbing his victory in the faces of Cena\u2019s friends and fans alike. Audiences are livid.<\/p>\n<p>Having defeated Goldberg in the latter\u2019s final match as well, Gunther is developing the persona of legend-killer.<\/p>\n<p>All signs point to A.J. Styles as his next victim. The ultimate destination is unclear, but Gunther is more relevant than he has been in some time, and bound for greater things.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Runner-up: Izzy Dame<\/h3>\n<p>Among 2025\u2019s most improved wrestlers in NXT, Dame has been given a much higher profile in recent months, sparked by the alliance with and subsequent betrayal of her Culling stablemate Tatum Paxley.<\/p>\n<p>Gifted with a tall frame, Dame physically resembles Charlotte Flair. Both former volleyball players are listed at an identical 5-10. Like Charlotte, Dame\u2019s size makes her physically imposing and her long limbs allow for an impressive big boot.<\/p>\n<p>Beginning with her NXT debut in July 2023 until early 2025, Dame\u2019s inexperience has been on full display in a series of forgettable matches. Her missteps culminated in a memorable botched pin on Wren Sinclair in April 2025, in which she released the pin at the count of two to celebrate victory. The hapless referee counted to three in accordance with the planned finish.<\/p>\n<p>The latest year of training and a pairing with Paxley have done Dame a world of good. The two appear to have excellent chemistry in the ring and on the mic. Dame\u2019s promos, in which she defends her treachery, have been compelling and convincing, generating genuine vehemence from the NXT audience. In defiance of near-constant, loud jeering from the audience, Dame has kept her nerve and avoided getting rattled or losing her place.<\/p>\n<p>Although far from a technical wizard, Dame has been able to hold her own in matches of increasing length. Recent grudge matches with Paxley have been Dame\u2019s best to date.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-4184436314\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Almost immediately after cleanly losing the apparent blow-off match with Paxley on New Year\u2019s Evil, Dame outsmarted her former partner to be the first to answer Thea Hail\u2019s impromptu women&#8217;s North American Title open challenge. Dame took advantage of an apparently injured Hail and defeated her convincingly, becoming the new champion in a shocking twist.<\/p>\n<p>Following two years of poor to middling performances, Dame has been given her first true spotlight. Like Jacey Jayne, Dame has risen to the occasion, giving memorable performances inside the ring and out. Her title victory suggests that NXT bookers have taken notice.<\/p>\n<p>In a few short months, Izzy has evolved from lame to game.<\/p>\n<h3>Honorable mention: Trick Williams<\/h3>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Podcast weekly Tuesday Flagship: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/new-flagship-keller-fann-discuss-wrestlekingdom-and-whether-it-set-up-new-japan-for-2026-jericho-wwe-teases-punk-breakker-outcome-more--69336589\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NEW FLAGSHIP: Keller &amp; Fann discuss WrestleKingdom and whether it set up New Japan for 2026, Jericho-WWE teases, Punk-Breakker outcome, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=69336589&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Fading Star of the Week: Bron Breakker<\/h3>\n<p>Breakker isn\u2019t ready.<\/p>\n<p>Although he can more than handle himself in a main event match, his promos in a war of words against C.M. Punk were just okay. The Future of WWE he may be, but he\u2019s not the present. Not yet, anyway.<\/p>\n<p>Although he may yet find a way back to the title picture by WrestleMania, Breakker is being put on the back-burner yet again. This may be in service of a storyline, but it also gives him precious time to practice his mic skills.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019ll need it if he is to become the top-level star WWE clearly wishes him to be.<\/p>\n<p>Back of the (Steiner?) line, Bron.<\/p>\n<h3>First Runner-Up: Maxxine Dupri<\/h3>\n<p>After years of paying a joke character, Dupri reinvented herself to become an MMA badass. WWE invested a great deal in her: promos, videos, three wins over Becky Lynch, and a reign as intercontinental Champion. Lynch in particular did everything she could to make Dupri look like a star. Did it work?<\/p>\n<p>Not really.<\/p>\n<p>Dupri did not lack confidence in her demeanor, and her wrestling skills have improved to barely adequate.<\/p>\n<p>However, you don\u2019t go from Bridget Jones to Rhonda Rosey overnight. Not unless your name is Jacey Jayne.<\/p>\n<p>Asking fans to swallow this transformation was asking too much, and Dupri couldn\u2019t quiet convince us otherwise.<\/p>\n<p>Fans responded to Becky, but not so much to Dupri.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Runner-Up: A.J. Styles<\/h3>\n<p>Styles is in a tough spot.<\/p>\n<p>Given Phenomenal One\u2019s recent record and that of Gunther, it\u2019s impossible to believe that Styles stands a chance against Gunther one-on-one. Styles could conceivably win their first encounter in a massive upset, but it won\u2019t matter in the end.<\/p>\n<p>Given that Styles has announced 2026 will see him retire from in-ring competition, and Gunther\u2019s pattern of destroying bigger stars on their way out, there\u2019s only one way this can end. All signs point to the rivalry ending with Gunther destroying Styles. It\u2019s a challenge to tell a compelling story along the way when such an unhappy outcome seems inevitable, and Styles\u2019s limited acting chops make it a greater challenge still.<\/p>\n<p>Styles\u2019s saving grace is this: The match itself looks to be, for lack of a better term, phenomenal.<\/p>\n<h3>Dishonorable Mention: The Wyatt Sicks<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (1\/7) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Klein\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/a9CCE8X2lGg?start=32&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3501179191\"><div id=\"pwtor-2464690735\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Happy New Year, wrestling fans! A New Year brings us one step closer to the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania season. Momentum for individual performers at this time of year is vitally important, as it helps <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/09\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-featuring-oba-femi-bron-breakker-gunther-maxxine-dupri-izzy-dame-a-j-styles\/\" title=\"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: Featuring Oba Femi, Bron Breakker, Gunther, Maxxine Dupri, Izzy Dame,\u00a0A.J. Styles\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":210283,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,52,4309,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-210280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-spotlightarticles","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-09-at-4.53.41-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=210280"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210280\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":210285,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210280\/revisions\/210285"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210283"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}