Who Is About To Become The Next Tribal Chief In The World of Professional Wrestling?

People who are familiar with pro-wrestling might notice how it can be separated by different eras, like the attitude era of «Monday Night War» between WWE RAW and WCW Nitro, or the PG Era during the mid-2000s. These days, we live in the era of constant changes in a rivalry between WWE on Netflix and AEW on HBO Max. Fans of wrestling betting in Ireland try to predict what to expect from this sport right now. It is possible to say that in the current state, you cannot right away say who is going to be the next superstar to raise the industry to the whole new level, like Dwayne «The Rock» Johnson once did. 

John Cena has retired in December 2025, and now it feels like a proper time to move to the new chapter of professional wrestling as the entertainment industry needs a new king like never before. Kyle Fletcher went from a great midcarder to AEW World Champion, while Stephanie Vaquer had a long reign of dominance in the WWE Women’s Division. 

Considering WrestleMania 42 has finished and people already saw a couple of new names debuting on the grandest stage of them all, it is worth taking a look at who is going to be at the top of wrestling’s mountain. For those who follow the industry’s development not only for the show but also through analytics, it is important to understand that these fighters’ current positions are a starting point. Studying odds and trends in markets like Ireland, one can see that interest in young talent grows proportionally to their screen time and the quality of the stories.

Kevin Knight – Speed ​​Becomes Legitimate Power

No one expected that the first year in AEW would be such a great display of what Kevin Knight is capable of. He is a technical high-flyer, and it’s a rare type of fighter these days, as people try to be more accurate and delicate to opponents to make sure there are going to be zero accidents on the ring. His resume from last year was impressive, with victories over Darby Allin and what is even more impressive – Kazuchika Okada. 

Knight possesses a rare combination of qualities: 

• World-class athleticism.
• Charisma.
• Ability to tell a story in the ring. 

His work with JetSpeed ​​and Mike Bailey was impressive, but experts agree that the confines of the tag team division have become too confining for him. Knight’s path in 2026 will in many ways resemble Kyle Fletcher’s. 

Success for him in the next twelve months will look like winning his first solo title, whether it is the TNT Title or the International Championship. Knight has proven his professionalism in big matches, and AEW management is ready to trust him with central storylines.

Sol Ruca – The Evolution of a Solar Athlete

The thing that made Sol Ruca stand out among all other wrestlers is the incredible finisher she managed to create during her NXT run – Sol Snatcher. It is a very creative, personalized version of moonsault, combined with the elements of Randy Orton’s RKO. Visual spectacle to say the least, and it helped him to mark every appearance with dominance, including reigns over the Speed Championship and the North American Women’s Title. She is currently in a feud with Becky Lynch, and her debut on the main roster looks promising. It is not going to be a shock if she is going to outshine Liv Morgan, at least for a while.

A key milestone came with a victory over Bayley in December 2025 at John Cena’s farewell tour. It was a clear signal from WWE management: Ruca is ready for the big stage. She is expected to be a top contender for the US Women’s Championship, and her athleticism, combined with her established stage persona, will make her a favorite in any match.

Jacob Fatu – Samoan Werewolf on the Loose

People are annoyed by how many relatives of Roman Reigns have entered the WWE these days. At first, everyone was sceptical about Jacob Fatu when he stormed the WWE with victory over LA Knight at WrestleMania 41 in a match for the United States Championship, but as time went on, it became clear – he is one of the best ones in the game right now. 

After Wrestlemania 42, he finally became a part of a bigger storyline, involving the OTC – Roman Reigns, Jimmy, and Jay Uso. He is aiming to become the new Tribal Chief and while the first attempt during Backlash 2026 was not a success, the match was rated good by fans and highlighted as one of the best ones on the show. He should get new opportunities at shows like Saturday Night’s Main Event. 

Megan Bayne – A New Force in the AEW Women’s Division

Megan Bayne was among the strongest debuts of AEW in early 2025 as she showed that she is not only here to stay in the main roster, but also aims to become the main star for the women’s division of the company. She demonstrated her dominance in the Casino Gauntlet match and a victory over Toni Storm in a tag team match, which created an aura of invincibility around her. She failed to capture the title from Storm in her first attempt, but the foundation had been laid. 

Megan spent part of 2025 balancing between AEW, the independent scene, and Japan, which allowed her to hone her skills. Now, in 2026, AEW needs to bring her back to the singles division. She has it all: height, physicality, and a unique, «godlike» persona. In a roster where the women’s division is becoming increasingly competitive, Bane stands out as a natural counter to technical wrestlers. Her potential matches against Jamie Hayter or Kris Statlander could become classic hard-hitting matches.

Oba Femi – A Phenomenon That Cannot Be Ignored

If you are looking for the next megastar, Oba Femi is the number one choice. His charisma, unique appearance, and impressive entrance have created everything you need to see in a top-tier wrestling machine. Femi has risen above the NXT level so fast. His dominance as North American Champion set the stage for what people saw late last year. 

His work outside the ring deserves special mention. In late 2025, he proved himself capable of holding his own against Cody Rhodes in a verbal duel on SmackDown, matching the «American Nightmare» in both intensity and confidence. It is this aspect that makes him a ready-made superstar. Analyzing his prospects, it is worth highlighting several key factors that will ensure his success:

• Incredible physical presence, making any opponent look like an underdog.
• Quick learning curve and the ability to adapt to the style of any opponent – from technical lightweights to powerful heavyweights.
• The support of management, which was demonstrated in his protracted match against the WWE Champion in December.
• His lack of fear in front of a large audience made him an ideal candidate to debut at the 2026 Royal Rumble.

The match that has elevated him to the next level was a much-anticipated match against Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42. Who could have expected he would retire «The Beast» on the showcase of the immortals? Classic made in the modern era – a must-watch for all fans of good-old wrestling storytelling.