What’s Next for the ‘We Believe’ Movement?
During the February 3rd episode of NXT, a seven-man ladder match took place to determine who would be crowned the new NXT Champion. This ladder match came about after Oba Femi decided to vacate the championship after defeating Leon Slater at NXT New Year’s Evil. This championship ladder match featured five superstars that never received an NXT Championship title match: Evolve Champion Jackson Drake, Sean Legacy, Keanu Carver, Dion Lennox, and Shiloh Hill. Both Ricky Saints and Joe Hendry have received opportunities in the past, yet Saints was the only competitor to have held the NXT Championship. At the end of this wild and brutal match, Saints would crash and burn onto a ladder after fighting with the man who ‘say his name, and he appears’ in Joe Hendry on another ladder, in which Hendry would then grab the vacant title to win his first championship in WWE. The ‘We Believe’ movement is at the top of the mountain of NXT, but everyone wants to know what’s next.
DarkState
Since debuting in NXT, DarkState has ravaged superstars and made a name for themselves. One superstar they frequently attacked was Hendry. Yet, since their last encounter, the former TNA Champion has gotten some payback on the group, making it a must not to say his name, so he appears. It would make sense for Lennox and the rest of DarkState to come after the new NXT Champion and make Hendry’s life a living hell. Hopefully, this time around, Hendry has backup like Bronco Nima and Lucien Price of OTM to help him even the odds against the four men in DarkState. While in 2025, the faction rose to the top of NXT, yet 2026 could be their downfall, and it could all begin with the NXT Championship reign of Hendry.
Tony D’Angelo
Speaking of DarkState, on the February 3rd episode of NXT, we finally heard Tony D’Angelo speak about his actions from the past couple of weeks, which saw him being arrested and eventually bailed out by former NXT general manager Ava. D’Angelo spoke on the first of his two reasons for coming back to NXT, and that first reason he explained was taking out DarkState. If the former North American Champion is going to be the one to erase DarkState, is he going to do it alone, or will he have some help? If he recruits other NXT superstars in the fight against DarkState, Hendry could very well be one of those guys in the fight. However, D’Angelo attacked Hendry a few weeks ago when Hendry and OTM had a six-man tag match against DarkState. The former North American Champion could deal with the notorious faction by himself and then turn his attention to Hendry and the NXT Championship.
Ricky Saints
After losing the NXT Championship to Femi at NXT Deadline, Saints has turned heel and has become obnoxious, doing everything he can to preserve his spotlight and stay in the NXT Championship picture. Now, after losing the title in this seven-man ladder match, the ‘Absolute’ will do everything he can to retrieve the title he once held for 70 days. It’s likely Hendry’s first challenger for the title is Saints, who will be eying to hold the NXT Championship for a second time. Unless NXT has different plans for Saints, it seems like, at least for now, the path and plan are to have the former champ go after what he lost.
Whether it’s Lennox from DarkState, D’Angelo, or Saints, the ‘We Believe’ movement must continue as we head closer to Stand & Deliver. Hendry’s character, mic work, and in-ring abilities can blossom as NXT Champion. With the right feuds and matches, the man who ‘say his name and he appears’ could be a cornerstone piece in NXT until WWE decides to push him to the main roster. If we don’t see Lennox, D’Angelo, or Saints as Hendry’s first challenger, maybe expect a Keanu Carver as a likely choice. However, the ‘We Believe’ movement is happening in NXT and is pushing the brand by storm.
