{"id":216882,"date":"2026-05-22T12:42:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T17:42:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=216882"},"modified":"2026-05-22T12:42:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T17:42:57","slug":"wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-a-game-theory-lil-spotty-page-rises-paige-falls-keys-to-success-americanos-jump-the-shark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/05\/22\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-a-game-theory-lil-spotty-page-rises-paige-falls-keys-to-success-americanos-jump-the-shark\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS:\u00a0 A Game Theory, Lil Spotty, Page Rises, Paige Falls, Keys to Success, Americanos Jump the Shark"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3089807617\" 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>It was a decent week on Raw and SmackDown, and with Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event and Clash in Italy on the way, there\u2019s a lot to look forward to.<\/p>\n<p>One of the most exciting parts of watching WWE these days is all the new faces. Between NXT call-ups, returning stars, AEW defectors, and celebrity contributors, both rosters are completely refreshed.<\/p>\n<p>Who\u2019s thriving in this new landscape, and who\u2019s flailing?<\/p>\n<p>As always, we\u2019ll start with WWE\u2019s successes.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Rising Star of the Week: Austin Theory<\/h3>\n<p>Against the expectations of many fans, Austin Theory has been successfully rebranded as \u201cThe Pressure\u201d of the Vision. Theory has come a long way from the hapless loser who was verbally buried by John Cena and found little success with Grayson Waller as A-Town Down Under.<\/p>\n<p>In The Vision, Theory has reinvented himself as a coldblooded thug, and his intense character work has been convincing. In the ring, he\u2019s shown a fire we hadn\u2019t seen before, his offense is crisp and stiff, and he can sell with the best of them.<\/p>\n<p>Theory\u2019s excellent match with Seth Rollins marked his first main event in years and served as a showcase for how far Theory has come.<\/p>\n<p>Although some see Theory as little more than the fall guy for the Vision, he\u2019s been quietly building up credibility. He looks like he belongs next to two of wrestling\u2019s hottest young talents in Bron Breakker and Logan Paul and its finest promo in Paul Heyman.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2913907913\" 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>Bronson Reed was able to parlay essentially the same spot into heights none predicted as \u201cThe Tribal Thief.\u201d Can Theory do the same?<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s off to a good start.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Runner-up: Ethan Page<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll Ego\u201d is a natural fit for the main roster. His heel work is second to none. Ethan plays his role to perfection. His sit-down interview with Michael Cole helped get across his character: a smarmy, cowardly narcissist who revels in the idea that he\u2019s superior to everyone around him.<\/p>\n<p>Ethan\u2019s only stumble was when Cole questioned his ego. Rather than embrace his moniker and say that he has a great ego because he\u2019s a great man, Page inexplicably responded \u201cIt\u2019s not ego. It is pure confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If that\u2019s what he believes, he should call himself \u201cAll Confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Other than that, Ethan was spot on. He\u2019s just the sort of jerk whom fans love to see get punched in the face. His title match with Penta on Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event marks his first high-profile match on the main roster.<\/p>\n<p>Look for Ethan to get another ego boost on Saturday.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2203121349\" 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<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Second Runner up: Royce Keys<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>His incorporation into WWE programming has come with little fanfare, but over the past few weeks Keys has found his place on SmackDown, giving the show the \u201cPowerhouse\u201d it desperately needed.<\/p>\n<p>Although he\u2019s no Oba Femi, Keys\u2019 size, build, and intensity give him instant credibility as a tough guy. He\u2019s serviceable on the mic and in the ring.<\/p>\n<p>Keys impressed in his match against Gunther on SmackDown. Gunther has had been precious to a few opponents who made him look small, and I can\u2019t recall seeing anyone manhandle him like Keys did.<\/p>\n<p>Wrestling always has a place for someone with Keys\u2019 juggernaut build. He\u2019ll make for a nice clash of styles with the majority of SmackDown\u2019s male wrestlers who are relatively small and agile.<\/p>\n<p>Handled correctly, Royce could be a \u201ckey\u201d part of the Smackdown roster.<\/p>\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-on-their-top-wish-list-to-change-course-of-pro-wrestling-brock-s-return-preview-of-aew-double-or-nothing-more--72078105\">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 on their top wish list to change course of pro wrestling, Brock's return, preview of AEW Double or Nothing, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=72078105&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: Lil Yachty<\/h3>\n<p>It\u2019s easy to forget watching him on SmackDown, but Yachty is kind of a big deal. With multiple top ten hits and Grammy nominations, he\u2019s a legitimate pop star.<\/p>\n<p>In WWE, however, he\u2019s just sort of there.<\/p>\n<p>With the annual wave of celebrity guests occurring around WrestleMania season, most fans assumed Yachty would stick around for a few months at max and then depart along with Jelly Roll and IShowSpeed. However, WrestleMania has come and gone, and Yachty\u2019s still here.<\/p>\n<p>Beyond his celebrity status, Yachty hasn\u2019t brought all that much to the table. He certainly seems to know his role as a manager and doesn\u2019t steal the spotlight from Trick Williams. However, he doesn\u2019t add much, either.<\/p>\n<p>His inexperience is painfully obvious. He lacks the charisma of IShowSpeed or the relatability of Jelly Roll. Yachty has failed to impress with his promo work, and his poem battle with Kit Wilson on SmackDown was embarrassing.<\/p>\n<p>Yachty has a lot to learn if he\u2019s going to make a real impact in WWE.<\/p>\n<p><strong>First Runner-Up: Paige<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Paige\u2019s surprise return at WrestleMania was one of the event\u2019s highlights. She was welcomed back with open arms by fans in attendance, clearly nostalgic for her unique blend of wrestling skill and charisma.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s been all downhill from there.<\/p>\n<p>Teaming Paige with Brie Bella was a mistake. Brie gets no fan reaction and has sapped away fan interest in Paige. Although we\u2019re told that they are longtime friends, this doesn\u2019t match Paige\u2019s WWE storyline history. It seems completely out of character for the \u201cAnti-Diva\u201d Paige to align herself with the prototypical Divas in the Bella Twins. Even worse, Paige and Brie have little to no chemistry. Both are a step slower than their opponents, and have performed competently in the ring, but barely so. Promos from the two have been generic and uninspired at best, laughable at worst (e.g., Brie cluelessly referring to her opponents as \u201cthe Judgements Day\u201d.)<\/p>\n<p>Despite their status as tag team champions, the duo has failed to generate any interest. In fact, fan enthusiasm for Paige appears to be dropping like a stone. After yelling her signature phrase \u201cthis is my house\u201d mid-match on Raw, you could hear a pin drop.<\/p>\n<p>If Paige is going to find real success in her WWE return, she\u2019ll need to cut ties with Brie and go alone. For her sake, lets hope the Irresistible Forces take back their titles on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Second Runner-Up: The Creed Brothers, a\/k\/a Los Americanos Hermanos<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The Americanos saga has become a black hole of wrestling talent: squandering the talent of any performer unlucky enough to enter its orbit. The latest victims have been the Creed Brothers, who made their masked redebut on Raw as Los Americanos Hermanos.<\/p>\n<p>The Creeds join a group of talented wrestlers mired in a lame duck storyline.<\/p>\n<p>Their six-man tornado tag team match on Raw featured the kind of looney tunes silly antics that fans have come to expect from the Grande Americanos. The goofy action resembles a Three Stooges act more than a competitive sporting event. These spots are often genuinely funny, and entertaining in isolation. However, the come with a high price.<\/p>\n<p>The lack of believability inherent in these comedy matches, like those of Mr. Iguana or Danhausen, really takes wrestling fans out of the moment. It breaks our suspension of disbelief, an unwelcome reminder that professional wrestling is just an show. This makes it harder to buy into the more serious matches that follow and hurts our enjoyment of the entire program.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s hope that the AAA event Noche de Los Grandes puts to rest this whole embarrassing angle.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (5\/18) - WWE Raw w\/Keller &amp; Weigle\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/MgQOSRU3UYM?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-2177118454\"><div id=\"pwtor-2492246589\"><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>It was a decent week on Raw and SmackDown, and with Saturday Night\u2019s Main Event and Clash in Italy on the way, there\u2019s a lot to look forward to. One of the most exciting parts <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/05\/22\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-a-game-theory-lil-spotty-page-rises-paige-falls-keys-to-success-americanos-jump-the-shark\/\" title=\"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS:\u00a0 A Game Theory, Lil Spotty, Page Rises, Paige Falls, Keys to Success, Americanos Jump the Shark\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":209429,"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":[52,4309,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-216882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2025\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-29-at-2.06.05-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216882","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=216882"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":216883,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/216882\/revisions\/216883"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/209429"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=216882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=216882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=216882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}