Superstars That Could Go To NXT

Written By Ben Hercik

With NXT going to TV, it is going to be a rather interesting development and it’ll be interesting to see how the brand develops with the changes that it will be making. While transitioning from a one hour taped show to a two hour live show is not that big of a change for the competitors, it will be a big change for a bit of a smaller roster. I think that the roster is super talented, but their isn’t a ton of established main event or midcard wrestlers on the roster. You know where there is a bunch of established wrestlers that are severely underutilized? The Raw and Smackdown rosters.

Now I think that with the move to the USA network, this confirms that NXT is the new third brand and no longer just a developmental brand. While yes, it is still going to be a call up for superstars, with NXT being a third brand it shouldn’t be considered a demotion to go back to NXT (even though it never was). While yes NXT is full of super talented superstars, it is still a small roster for a two hour time slot. Right now, there are maybe five names that are in the main event scene, only four real tag teams, and Shayna Baszler has run through the women’s division. I do think that once the move is made, we will see some make the jump back to NXT. Most of the men, women, and teams in this article currently aren’t doing much or nothing at all on Raw or Smackdown, so a move back to NXT would be a good thing for these wrestlers. I also have a few wrestlers that are currently on the Performance Center roster, since I feel like they could help the roster as well. Real quick, before I get started, I don't expect all of these wrestlers make the move back to NXT. These are just wrestlers that I think could benefit with a move down to NXT.

Apollo Crews

I’ve run this point into the ground, but it still needs to be said that Apollo Crews is one of the most talented wrestlers that just can’t catch a break. He has gotten opportunities to show how talented he is, it’s just that with all the other talent around him, there isn’t really a spot for Crews on either Raw or Smackdown right now. Crews time in NXT was rather short the first time, spending just under a year on the NXT roster the first go around. Crews already made a trip back to NXT for a one off match against Kushida, which was a great match by the way. If Crews first run in NXT and that match with Kushida is any indicator, Crews could be a great asset to the NXT brand and thrive there.

Austin Theory

This guy is going to be a major star as his career goes on. One of the strengths of Theory is that he is still growing as a pro wrestler. Theory has only been a pro wrestler for about three years. If this is how good of a pro wrestler he is after three years, then imagine how good he will be when he gets to five or ten years as a pro. Theory has been honing his as a part of Evolve, and is the reigning Evolve Champion. One of the things that All Elite Wrestling is to have home grown talent. While Theory may not necessarily be a home grown talent, if they play their cards right, he could be a big star that WWE did get their hands on early in his career. I fully expect Theory to be a future star in the WWE.

Cesaro

Now this one could have been hard to justify, if it wasn’t for Takeover: Cardiff. Cesaro had a fantastic showing in a match against Ilja Dragunov, and showed just what he can do on a show that cares about pro wrestling. Cesaro has been a bit of a journeyman in recent weeks, going to Smackdown to wrestle Aleister Black, being on Raw for the King of the Ring tournament against Cedric Alexander, and the aforementioned NXT UK match. Imagine if on the first episode of NXT on the USA Network, Cesaro comes out and says that he has found a home at Full Sail University. It would also be a big name for the roster, and he would be able to put on even more fantastic matches. Remember back to NXT Takeover Arrival when we saw a fantastic match between Cesaro and Sami Zayn. We could see Cesaro take on the likes of Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, Tomasso Ciampa, Matt Riddle and so many more. If this move for Cesaro, we could finally see him be in the main event scene that we all know he should be.

Denzel Dejournette

Now you’re probably thinking who the heck is this? Well let me tell you exactly who he is. Denzel Dejoutnette is a former amateur wrestler from Appalachian State University, where he was an NCAA All-American in the heavyweight weight class (285 lbs) in 2017. Dejournette joined the Performance Center in July 2018 and debuted on the NXT House Show loop in October 2016, and got his first win in a mixed tag team match, teaming with MJ Jenkins defeating Kona Reeves and Vanessa Bourne. Dejournette would get his first singles win over Cezar Bononi on August 16th, 2019. Now the reason he is on this list is because NXT is going to need guys that can eat loses and gain experience from it, and Dejournette is someone that fits that bill. While he still has a lot left to be seen in the ring, he would thrive in a developmental role and can learn from some of the best wrestlers in the world.

EC3

Talk about someone who should have been a sure fired star on the main roster that has just flopped face first. Of the group that he was called up with, EC3 seemed like the one with the brightest future on the main roster. Almost a year into it, we have seen very few EC3 matches, and it’s time to change that. I think a return to NXT is exactly what EC3 needs. He was fantastic in his time there and is a perfect heel character that NXT needs outside of Undisputed Era. I think that EC3 would be a great addition to the midcard division, and how big would the names be in the NXT midcard division be with the addition of EC3. Kushida, Keith Lee, Dominic Dijakovic, Damien Priest and Velveteen Dream all come to mind, and EC3 fits in there perfectly. It would be a fantastic place for EC3 to re-establish his character and right the ship for his career in the WWE.

Lio Rush

The fact that Lio Rush hasn’t wrestled since March is a crazy thing to believe. He is such a talented high flyer that 205 Live seemed like it would be a natural fit for him. I do know that he has been rumored to have a bad attitude backstage, but he is still fantastic in the ring. I think another trip in NXT would really help Rush. Triple H runs a tight ship and he wouldn’t let Rush get away with anything backstage. Rush would add a lot to the midcard as he brings his highflying offense like none of the others have.

Mojo Rawley

This is a case of a guy that could use just a little bit more work and was called up a tad to soon. Rawley is still super rough around the edges, but a majority of WWE’s audience hasn’t seen that recently since he’s been on Main Event and the Live Show loop rather than weekly TV. It’s almost as if WWE has nothing for him or they know he isn’t ready for a spot on weekly TV yet. A return to NXT would allow for Rawley to lose that roughness and help him get better in the ring.

No Way Jose

Jose is kind of in the same boat as Rawley in being called up a bit to early. Jose is a more complete wrestler than Rawley, but it is very unlikely that he ever rises above jobber status in WWE. Even though he is a jobber in WWE, Jose hasn’t been seen in weeks and a trip back down to NXT can be beneficial to not just Jose, but the NXT roster as a whole. Jose would allow for the new recruits or new debuts to have someone experienced to go against that has a wealth of knowledge inside a WWE ring and would be able to help the new names look good in their debuts.

Sami Zayn

Talk about a ball that has been severely dropped. When Zayn debuted on the main roster back in 2015, and he was instantly over with the fans. He also injured his shoulder in that match, and that has been the story of his career on the main roster. Fans love him, but he just can’t seem to get further up the card. I think a return to NXT is just what Zayn needs. NXT Zayn was fantastic and always put on a fantastic performance. While main roster Zayn still puts on great performances, the main difference is that NXT Zayn would actually win matches and even championships. Zayn going back to NXT and having matches with the likes of Ciampa, Gargaon, Cole and so many more seemed like a pipe dream, for a long time, but now it could be a reality. If Zayn is going to be used correctly, then a trip back to NXT would be just what the doctor ordered.

Shelton Benjamin

Now some might see Benjamin going back to NXT as a demotion of sorts, especially considering his career to this point. He is a multi time Intercontinental and United States Champion, plus he has had quite a few Tag Team Championship reigns along the way. But there has been one thing that has eluded him for his entire career, and that is a run as the World Champion. Benjamin has never been able to reach the top of whatever promotion that he was in. I think a move to NXT can make that finally happen, even if it’s only for a few months. Add in all the experience and flexibility in the ring that Benjamin brings with him and you have someone that can literally work with anyone you put across the ring from him. Ever since his return to WWE, something just hasn’t felt right with Benjamin, and some time in NXT could help him refocus his entire in ring career.

Chelsea Green

Green was such a hit in Impact Wrestling, many fans, myself included, wondered why she hadn’t debuted on the show yet. The reason why became clear after awhile, it was a broken wrist. Now that she is back in the ring, hopefully we see her on the show soon. She is to talented of a wrestler to just sit and wait at the Performance Center. It does help that Baszler is in need of new competition, and Green is just the talent that they need for that. Plus you look at the possible matchups waiting for Green when she does come to NXT like Mia Yim, Io Shirai, Bianca Belair and more, it can’t be a long wait until she does debut.

Dana Brooke

When Dana Brooke was first called up, she was so green that there were so many questions as to why she was called up in the first place. Over the past four years, fans have seen her improve and become better and better in the ring. That being said, she isn’t really seen as a viable challenger for any championship, and she doesn’t really seem to have anything happening on the roster since her appearance in the Money in the Bank match. A trip back to NXT would help Brooke improve even more in the ring and allow for her to have some meaningful matches and possibly even have a storyline here and there. Brooke does fit into the midcard of the women’s Division of NXT with the likes of Dakota Kai, Kacy Catanzaro, Taynara Conti and Xia Li, along with any of the Performance Center wrestlers. It would also allow her to help those wrestlers develop, and allow for Brooke to show how much she has improved in her career.

Lacey Lane

I think that during the 2018 Mae Young Classic, one of the stories that flew under the radar was just how impressive Lacey Lane was. Lane wasn’t as big of a name as Shirai, Storm, Nox, or Satumora, or have as dominant of a run as Ripley yet she was just as impressive as those five women. Lane is one of the wrestlers that seems to have a ton of potential and is someone who WWE can mold into their design. If I was a gambling man and had to put money down on one breakout star that will come from NXT moving to USA, I would pick Lane. She still has a long career ahead of her, and with how varied and deep her move and skillset is already, she is going to be one to watch these next few years.

Mickie James

James being in NXT is two fold. One is that she offers the veteran leadership that the locker room currently lacks. James is one of the most experienced women in the WWE and has won the Women’s Championship six times in her WWE career. She also has the issue of not having done much recently in the WWE, prior to her ACL tear. The last thing that she did of note was being in the Raw Women’s Championship Elimination Chamber match. I think once she returns from injury, a move to NXT would be good for her. She can be the veteran leader of the women’s locker room and help all the younger talent make the strides that WWE would want to see. Plus, Mickie James is one of the names that old wrestling fans know and could bring some of them back to the product.

Rhea Ripley

If you know me, you know that I’m a big fan of these next two wrestlers. Rhea Ripley debuted in the WWE in the 2017 Mae Young Classic, and had an okay showing but it was nothing too special. Her 2018 Mae Young Classic and her character change was a major part of the tournament. Ripley is someone that NXT seems to be high on based on her time in NXT UK. She was the first women’s champion, she beat all comers before Toni Storm finally beat her for it, and she has looked strong since, since she beat Viper in a high profile match on weekly TV. Also, I feel like there is going to be the perfect spot for Ripley in NXT that is going to open up soon. I don’t think Baszler will be long for NXT, and the dominant enforcer type heel role will open up. While Shirai will be the lead heel for NXT, Ripley will be the second in the pecking order of the women’s division and perfect person to take the top heel role once Shirai gets the call up.

Ruby Riott

With Liv Morgan moving to Smackdown and Riott being injured, I think that it’s the perfect time for Riott to go back to the singles division. Raw does feel like a natural fit and Riott could have a great spot in the division. But with Sasha Banks returning and now the top heel in the division, Riott almost feels like an afterthought on that roster. Riott had a great run during her time in NXT, but the fact that it kinda stalled out toward the end never really felt right to me. I think she deserves a second shot in NXT. With Riott going back to NXT, it would also allow for her to develop her own character and not just be someone that makes things slightly inconvenient backstage. Riott being in the same women’s division that features the likes of Shirai, Baszler, Kai, Yim, Belair and LeRae just seems like a natural fit and something that can produce great match after great match week in and week out.

Santana Garrett

Garrett is one of the best women’s wrestlers in the past few years, and is one of the wrestlers that helped put modern women’s wrestling on the map. I think Garrett won’t just be a Performance Center wrestler for long, and she’ll be on weekly NXT TV soon. Garrett is someone that is very talented, but also offers some much needed depth for the NXT women’s division. I’m not saying that Garrett will be just a name for the division, but it’s the biggest issue with the division and Garrett will be a great addition for the division.

Sarah Logan

One of the very underrated women’s wrestlers in the WWE is Sarah Logan. She was kinda brushed to the side in the 2017 Mae Young Classic, and had a rather short run in NXT, only lasting 10 months. With the disoval of the Riott Squad, Logan needs something new to do. There have been some rumors that Logan will be parring up with the Viking Raiders, but I think she should go back to NXT to help create her new character. She would also have the opportunity to establish that new character and win matches in doing so. It would also allow for Logan to get momentum going forward and we could see her in meaningful matches, plus she could have a ton of big matches.

Sonya Deville

I don’t think that the team of Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville will be a career tag team. Both are too talented to just be a tag team for their entire career. While I think that Vince sees more right now in Rose, so the odd one out would be Deville. I do think that Deville is still in for a long career ahead of her, and a return to NXT could really be beneficial for Deville at this point in her career. Deville’s first run in NXT, like many of the women on this list, was far too short. I do feel like Deville could use a little more fine tuning and small work to help her get even better in the ring. The main reason I have for Deville moving back to NXT is I feel like her style works better in NXT I feel. I think with the likes of Shirai, Yim and Belair will allow for Deville show how talented she is.

Toni Storm

Toni Storm has helped make NXT UK as strong as she could. She has beaten all comers before dropping the NXT UK Women’s Championship to Kay Lee Ray. With NXT going to weekly TV, they need more challengers for Shayna Baszler, and Storm is the biggest name that NXT UK has is the easiest choice to come over to the division. I think that Storm also does make sense to be the one to end Baszler’s reign, but there is another wrestler that comes to mind to also being the one to end Baszler’s reign and that’s Dakota Kai. Of the two, I think Storm makes sense to be the one to end Baszler’s reign. The only reason I do think that Storm will be the one to end the reign is because Strom is a better known name in the wrestling world. There is already the rumor that Storm is making the jump over to main brand NXT as well. I think that Storm is going to be the new face of the division and help carry the show on the USA Network.

The Ascension

Talk about a fall from grace. Ascension in NXT was so good and dominated the division, but after they got called up, they haven’t really done much since then. I think of all the tag teams on this list, Ascension need the move back to NXT the most. They have literally done nothing since going to the main roster, and a move to a very small NXT Tag Team division will allow for them to reestablish themselves as a force in WWE.

The Grizzled Young Veterans

I expect these guys to split time between NXT and NXT UK. Zack Gibson and James Drake are so talented and almost criminally underrated. Both guys have so much to offer the tag team division in NXT. One thing that has been missing in NXT for a while is an old school tag team like the Revival. While Grizzled Young Veterans is a great throwback to the old school tag team wrestling, they also have a bit of new school wrestling about them with how Drake moves around the ring. They would add an interesting dynamic to the NXT Tag Team division.

Zack Ryder & Curt Hawkins

These two actually won the Raw Tag Team Championships this year at Wrestlemania, and now are back to doing next to nothing on the main roster. It’s like they have been forgotten about and need a change of scenery. A move to the NXT Tag Team division would be a huge boost for that division. They are two very experienced wrestlers and being able to offer that to not only the tag team division, but the Performance Center wrestlers as well. Being able to pick the brains of these two veterans would really help all involved.

Moustache Mountain

With their buddy Pete Dunne making the jump to NXT, it seems logical that Tyler Bate and Trent Seven would make the jump as well. I think they offer a ton to the NXT Tag Team division, especially considering the match that Bate was just a part of with Walter at Takeover Cardiff. These two are also names that a lot of the American fans already know and would eat up. The talent is obvious and what else is really important is that these two have that X-Factor that a lot of other wrestlers just don’t have. I doubt that both Street Profits and Undisputed Era are long for NXT, and they are going to be in need of new faces of the division, and one of those options should be Moustache Mountain.