The WWE has made two more expected call ups on Friday. After losing their championships on Tuesday's episode of NXT, former North American champion Ricky Saints (Starks) and former Women's Champion Stephanie Vaquer are now going to be on the main roster.
Vaquer is headed to Monday Night Raw, starting with next Monday's episode where she'll be part of the sixth and final Money in the Bank qualifier match.
BREAKING NEWS!@Steph_Vaquer has officially joined the #WWERaw roster and will face @YaOnlyLivvOnce and @ivynile_wwe in a #MITB Qualifying Match THIS MONDAY! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SLXOU1C2tL
— WWE (@WWE) May 30, 2025
It's yet to be determined where Saints will land.
While it's been clear that the Paul Levesque has had these plans for both wrestlers, and with the WWE forgoing the draft that's been the vehicle for promotions the last two springs, there is a question to be asked.
Are all of these promotions wise moves? Vaquer follows the earlier announcement that Jordynn Grace is being promoted, and that came on the heels of Roxanne Perez and Giulia making the pilgrimage over the last month. Each of those two have qualified for MitB already and Perez has already worked her way into a storyline with the Judgment Day.
But the exodus does have the feel that NXT is being stripped of their best resources, and in the case of the pilgrimage for Saints, perhaps a bit too soon.
Clearly he was not going to be a long timer on the Black and Gold brand, but there's nothing about his reign as North American champion that should lead anyone to believe he has a higher ceiling than as a mid-carder, whichever brand he lands.
It's felt for a while the men's competitors who actually have a chance to make their mark were Oba Femi and Je'Vonn Evans, the latter who wrestled on SmackDown on Friday night. Saints feels like he'll slide into the same zone as wrestlers like Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, Carmelo Hayes and others who have a little sizzle but aren't true elite talent.
Perhaps that's what the plans are all along, to fill out the middle of the roster, but it does seem to be watering down NXT, which has been the favorite brand for many fans who love the big fish, small pond effect.