With NXT Championship, Trick Williams takes charge of brand with 'Whoop that' era

Even with all the talk about WWE being in a new era under chief content officer Paul "Triple H" Levesque and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, you can’t forget about what’s happening in NXT.

It has gone from being known as the developmental stage of WWE’s main roster to becoming its own impressive brand, spearheaded by Shawn Michaels, senior vice president of talent development creative of NXT. And just like how Levesque has Rhodes to lead the main roster, Michaels has his guy: Trick Williams.

It’s not outlandish to say no star in all of WWE has had such a meteoric rise in the past year as Williams. He’s gone from Carmelo Hayes' partner to a flourishing singles competitor, lighting up the WWE Performance Center with "Whoop that Trick" chants during his entrance.

It’s been a whirlwind in just the past few months; he main evented NXT Stand and Deliver – the brand’s premier event ahead of WrestleMania – in April with Hayes, marking the first time two black men were the headliner of an NXT premium live event. A few weeks later, he reached the mountain top by winning the NXT Championship, and with him as an overwhelming crowd favorite, he has cemented himself as the top guy of the brand.

Williams hasn’t crumbled under the growing fanbase either. It’s not only evident his confidence in the ring has blossomed, but he hasn’t lost the charisma that made him a beloved figure in wrestling. Safe to say, all seems to be going right in the "Whoop that" era.

"I'm blessed, man. I can't complain at all," Williams told USA TODAY Sports.

Much like when Rhodes won the Undisputed WWE title at WrestleMania 40, the WWE universe erupted when Williams defeated Ilja Dragunov on April 23 to win the NXT Championship. The WWE Performance Center only holds about 300 hundred fans, but the place was "roaring," Williams said, when he emerged victorious.

Cameras were shaking from the cheers, but Williams added it doesn’t do it justice. He said it was so loud, he couldn’t hear the referee after the match. But he soaked in the "once in a lifetime type experience," realizing all the work he’d done had paid off.

"It took so much for me to get to that moment right there. So much preparation, so much time devoted to the craft. Take a chance on myself just to get the opportunity," he said. "It was just a great moment. A moment that I'll never forget. Hopefully it goes down as one of the best moments in NXT."

What's in store for the 'Whoop that' era?

When Williams looks around the NXT roster, he feels like he’s in the last episode of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," when Will Smith is in the empty living room looking around at everything that is no longer there.

Just a few months ago, the NXT men’s roster was stacked with stars such as Hayes, Dragunov and Bron Breakker. But those guys are now on the main roster, leaving a void on the men’s side of who could be the guys representing the brand.

So with the "Whoop that" era underway, the champion believes this is a great time for several up-and-coming wrestlers to thrust themselves into the spotlight. Some talent Williams believes has the potential to become superstars include Je’Von Evans, Malik Blade and Luca Crusifino.

"What we will see with this era of NXT is it’s a lot of opportunity for people to stand up and show out, make a name for themselves," Williams said. "A lot of us are not proven. When that's the case, when people are trying to make a name for themselves, I think that's when you get the best product because people are willing to go to heights that you're not probably willing to go to when you are comfortable.

"There's a lot of hungry people working – who've been in the shadows – training for a long time, who are just dying to get their plate."

Even with the young roster, NXT has flourished into becoming its own brand and developing must-watch TV. Some main roster stars that are either struggling on Raw and SmackDown or in need of a rebrand have gone to NXT and found success in a new path. Wrestlers last seen in other promotions, like the recently debuted Ethan Page, have gone through NXT, and TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace will be competing for the NXT Women’s Championship this weekend.

That’s why Williams sees NXT as a developed – not developmental – program.

"(Wrestlers) want to be part of us because we work very hard, man," he said. "We have great leadership and Shawn Michaels, who's taking this show to brand new heights. It’s cool. By all means, come in and shoot your shot at the big titles. But know, NXT is NXT for a reason."

NXT will make a big jump this weekend with NXT Battleground, which will take place at the UFC APEX facility in Las Vegas, the biggest collaboration between WWE and UFC since it merged to create TKO Group Holdings in 2023. Williams' opponent for the event hasn’t been announced yet, but it very well could be Page after he attacked him last week. Williams isn’t thrilled by a guy coming in and instantly getting a title match, but he welcomes the challenge.

Sexyy Red takes over NXT

Not only are wrestlers wanting to go to NXT, so are celebrities. Rapper Sexyy Red became a hit with WWE fans after she revealed on social media she watches NXT. It wasn’t long before she appeared on NXT, unveiling the NXT Women’s North American Championship and accompanying Williams and Evans to the ring for their tag team match.

Williams said Sexyy Red it was "pretty dope" to have her be part of NXT, but people couldn’t help but laugh during their entrance. It went viral as Sexyy Red practically twerked in the middle of the ring, and Williams’ reaction when he turned around and saw what was happening drew laughs as he appeared stunned. He couldn’t believe his hyped entrance could be topped.

"That's a bit more energy than I think I've ever brought to my own entrance. I wasn't quite ready for it," Williams said with a smile. "It just so happen that I happened to peek over my shoulder to see what was going on."

Sure it was chaotic, but Williams said she is a natural in the ring. Sexyy Red will get to have another moment in NXT when she hosts Battleground. And if there are any more celebrities that want to come hang around, Williams welcomes all. It just gives him another reason why NXT is popping.

"It speaks to what we're doing here. We’re on the rise," he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NXT champion Trick Williams leads brand with 'Whoop that' era