10 WWE & AEW Wrestlers Poised To Break Out In 2022
3. Austin Theory
Austin Theory's WWE career has been elevated by father figures. In NXT, he was taken under the wing of technical marvel and former NXT Champion Johnny Gargano, which helped propel him up the ranks of the former-black and gold brand and kept him a fixture on TV. In 2020 Theory received the Future Star of NXT Year-End Award, though he didn't manage to grab any gold on WWE's developmental brand.
When Theory was drafted to Raw, he began with impressive gusto scoring back-to-back wins against Jeff Hardy and challenging for the WWE Championship the same month he (re)debuted on the main roster. As part of a bizarre storyline involving the theft of a golden egg, Theory found himself a new father figure - the chairman himself, Vince McMahon!
The involvement of McMahon, whose on-screen role has diminished over the years, speaks well of how the company view Theory. The Vince McMahon rub is a sure sign that Theory's star is on the rise. The current mix of in-ring athletic skill and a comedy heavy gimmick makes Theory a unique prospect who must at least be in line for a run with the United States Championship in 2022.