Rising WWE Star Wears ASÉ Wrestling Hoodie on NXT
When Saquon Shugars stepped into the spotlight on the June 23 episode of WWE NXT, fans were locked in on what he had to say about his former DarkState stablemates.
But for those paying close attention, another detail stood out before he ever grabbed the microphone.
Shugars walked onto national television wearing an ASÉ Wrestling “Engineered by the Community” hoodie, bringing an independent wrestling brand onto one of WWE’s biggest weekly broadcasts.
For a promotion still carving out its place in the wrestling landscape, moments like that matter.
Not because WWE acknowledged the brand.
Because one of its rising stars chose to.
A Different Kind of Representation
Throughout his WWE run, Saquon Shugars has developed into one of the most authentic stars on the NXT roster.
Whether it’s the signature way he ties his du-rag to the side. His streetwear-inspired fits, or the effortless confidence he carries to the ring. Shugars has built an identity that feels rooted in Black culture rather than manufactured for television.
Even the way he wore the ASÉ Wrestling hoodie. With one sleeve hanging loose in a style reminiscent of LL Cool J’s iconic fashions during the late ’90s and early 2000s. All fit naturally into that aesthetic.
The hoodie itself, designed by artist Riley Parks, carries ASÉ Wrestling’s community-first message with its bold “Engineered by the Community” artwork and has become one of the promotion’s signature merch pieces.
Rather than feeling like advertising, it looked like something Shugars would genuinely wear, and sometimes that’s the strongest endorsement a brand can receive.
From Lucky Ali to WWE
Long before WWE fans knew him as Saquon Shugars. Copeland Barbee was establishing himself as one of independent wrestling’s most exciting young performers under the name Lucky Ali.
Trained by George South alongside Caleb Konley and Jake Manning, Shugars quickly built a reputation for fearless athleticism and creative offense.
His résumé before WWE included championships across several respected promotions, including:
- DPW Worlds Champion
- DPW Carolina Classic Tournament winner
- PWX Innovative Television Champion
- ACW Heavyweight Champion
- FIP World Heavyweight Champion
Years of grinding across the independent scene eventually earned him a WWE developmental contract in 2024.
Ironically, that independent background would later become the centerpiece of his biggest storyline.
The June 23 Confrontation
By the June 23 edition of NXT, Shugars’ issues with DarkState had evolved into one of the brand’s most personal rivalries.
After being violently expelled from the faction weeks earlier, Shugars confronted former teammate Dion Lennox in a tense in-ring promo ahead of their scheduled match at NXT Great American Bash.
The exchange wasn’t built around championships.
It was built around respect.
DarkState argued that Shugars was always the weak link—a reckless independent wrestler trying to fit in with athletes who came from Division I backgrounds.
Shugars fired back, claiming he had always been the group’s true star and accusing Lennox of hiding behind his stablemates while taking credit for the group’s success.
The confrontation raised the stakes, making it no longer simply another wrestling match.
It had become personal.
Why This Moment Matters for ASE Wrestling
Independent wrestling grows through relationships.
Sometimes that’s a viral match, sometimes it’s a championship, sometimes it’s something as simple as a wrestler choosing to wear a hoodie on one of wrestling’s biggest stages.
Seeing ASÉ Wrestling apparel appear organically on WWE television speaks to the relationships the promotion has built throughout professional wrestling.
As more talent passes through ASÉ’s locker room and more fans discover the brand, moments like this become part of the company’s growing story.
For a community-built wrestling brand, that’s exactly the kind of recognition that can’t be manufactured.