NXT is about to fix its Naraku problem with two massive indie signings

The Booking Failures of the Abyss

Shawn Michaels is facing a quiet crisis in his main event scene. NXT Champion Tony D'Angelo has run through the immediate challengers, but the creative engine is starting to sputter. The recent feud with Naraku has exposed some serious booking flaws that need immediate correction.

According to a report from Ringside News, relief is on the way in the form of two major signings. New Japan Pro-Wrestling standout Hiromu Takahashi and independent star Richard Holliday are reportedly bound for Orlando. This double-swoop represents a significant shift in NXT's recruitment strategy.

Let us look at the numbers first. NXT's main event scene has struggled to draw consistent ratings since the spring. The Great American Bash on June 28, 2026, drew a modest television audience despite a heavily promoted title match. Michaels needs a jolt of energy, and he needs it before the summer ends.

The booking of Naraku has been a primary source of frustration. The former EVIL arrived in NXT with massive expectations after his contract expired in January. He made a statement in his debut on May 12, 2026, dismantling Lince Dorado in exactly 4:33.

He looked like a monster. He debuted a modified finisher, Enter the Abyss, which looked devastating. But the momentum stalled almost immediately as NXT rushed him into a program with D'Angelo.

The escalation was bizarrely paced. On the June 23 episode, Naraku threw a fireball directly into the champion's face. It was a classic, violent angle designed to build heat.

Yet, just five days later at the Great American Bash, a bandaged D'Angelo defeated Naraku in a match lasting only 10:13. Why build up a monstrous heel with a lethal weapon if he loses his first major title shot immediately? It made Naraku look incompetent and D'Angelo's injury look like a minor inconvenience.

The creative team realized their mistake almost instantly. On the June 30 episode, Naraku blindsided D'Angelo again, using black mist and a steel chair to keep the feud alive. Yesterday on July 7, 2026, Naraku appeared in another vignette to demand a rematch.

This is lazy writing. It is a repetitive loop of post-match beatdowns to justify a feud that should have been built on psychological warfare. D'Angelo just announced the birth of his son yesterday, Vincenzo James Ariola, meaning he will likely miss television time.

The LIJ Connection: Enter Nox Raijin

NXT needs a new variable to break this cycle. That is where Hiromu Takahashi comes in. Under the rumored new name Nox Raijin, Takahashi is the perfect catalyst to salvage Naraku's presentation.

In New Japan, the two were stablemates in Los Ingobernables de Japón. They know each other's pacing, movement, and physical limits perfectly. Bringing Takahashi in as Nox Raijin allows NXT to run a reunion angle that instantly validates Naraku's presence.

My prediction is straightforward. Nox Raijin will debut at the next NXT television special, cost D'Angelo the championship, and align with Naraku. They will establish a dominant Japanese faction that controls the main event scene.

This solves two problems at once. It gives D'Angelo a valid reason to drop the belt without looking weak. It also elevates Naraku back to the threat level he established in May.

Takahashi's in-ring style is a stark contrast to the methodical pace Naraku has adopted. He works at a breakneck speed, using high-risk suicide dives and sunset flip powerbombs to stun opponents. This speed will force Naraku to work faster, correcting his current sluggishness in the ring.

The Work-Rate Challenge for Richard Holliday

Then we have Richard Holliday. The former MLW star was reportedly in line for the Mr. Elegance gimmick in TNA, as noted in the original report by Fightful Select. Choosing NXT instead is a bold career move, but it comes with distinct challenges.

Holliday is a classic heel who relies heavily on character work and slow-tempo heat-building. He is exceptional at drawing crowd ire with simple gestures and condescending promos. But NXT in 2026 is a work-rate brand.

The current roster is packed with high-flyers and fast strikers. Holliday will have to adapt his style to avoid getting left behind in the midcard. His matches cannot feel like slow-motion exhibitions when the rest of the show runs at high speed.

However, his presence provides a necessary foil. NXT's babyfaces have struggled to find compelling villains who do not rely on supernatural gimmicks or stable interference. Holliday is a grounded, arrogant heel who can help elevate babyfaces like Keanu Carver or Niko Vance.

Consider the match on July 7 where Keanu Carver defeated Tank Ledger. The match was solid, but Carver lacks a clear antagonist to test his character limits. A feud with Holliday, who can verbally tear down Carver's athletic credentials, is the logical next step.

NXT's current tag team division also needs this influx of talent. The Vanity Project defeated El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. and Galeno on June 30, but the division lacks depth. Holliday has extensive tag team experience from his time in MLW's Dynasty faction.

If his singles run stalls, a tag team partnership with a rising star could be his saving grace. NXT's creative team has a habit of grouping aimless singles wrestlers into tag teams. To make these arrivals work, the booking team must focus on three specific priorities:

• Provide Naraku with a legitimate ally to justify his heel tactics.
• Slow down the ring pace of Holliday's opponents to let his character work breathe.
• Protect Takahashi's signature moveset during his initial transition.

The success of these signings hinges entirely on creative patience. NXT cannot repeat the mistakes they made with Naraku's first month. If Takahashi debuts as Nox Raijin and immediately loses to D'Angelo, the international experiment is dead on arrival.

We have seen this happen before. Too many international stars arrive with fanfare only to get lost in the developmental shuffle. Michaels must commit to a long-term plan for these two performers.

The talent is undeniable. Takahashi is a multi-time IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion who has performed in front of forty thousand fans at the Tokyo Dome. Holliday has spent years perfecting his wealthy snob persona on the independent circuit.

NXT is at a crossroads. The current championship storyline has run its course and is actively hurting the television product. Injecting Takahashi and Holliday into the mix is the correction the brand desperately needs.

We will see if Michaels has the courage to pull the trigger. If he does, NXT's autumn season will be spectacular. If he hesitates, the brand will continue to slide.