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WWE recently decided to release a few big names as part of its efforts to reduce costs during the ongoing pandemic. WWE SmackDown was hit hard by the releases, as several up-and-coming names from the brand were asked to leave the company.
Aleister Black, Murphy and Ruby Riott are some of the big names who were released from the SmackDown brand earlier this month. This has left the SmackDown women’s roster and the men’s mid-card looking rather weak, and WWE could look to move some NXT Superstars to the Blue brand in the coming weeks.
There are many superstars on NXT who are more than ready for a move to the main roster. SmackDown could end up being the perfect destination for these men and women who could do well and give the creative team something new to work with.
With that in mind, take a look at five surprise WWE NXT call-ups fans could soon see on the SmackDown roster.
#5 Ridge Holland could return from injury and join WWE SmackDown
Ridge Holland came into WWE NXT and tried to take the brand by storm. After a short stay on NXT UK, Holland was moved to the NXT brand where he attacked Adam Cole backstage.
It looked like WWE had some big plans for the big guy, but a freak injury halted his rise. Pat McAfee was supposed to bring Holland into his faction, but the double leg injury put the massive superstar on the shelf.
Holland revealed some interesting details regarding his injury during an interview with Alex McCarthy of talkSPORT.
“Pretty freak incident. On my left leg I fractured and dislocated my ankle and then on my right leg, I dislocated the kneecap and ruptured my patella tendons. Kind of a buy one get one free on injuries! But, it’s coming on well. The WWE medical staff are top notch and they’ve got me well on the road to recovery.”
In October, Holland said that doctors had told him that he was set to miss six to nine months of action in the ring before making a return.
“It’s early days yet, but the doctor has said six to nine months, so I’m just taking it day-by-day and see how the knee and ankle feels. If I look too far in the future I’ll probably take my focus on what needs to be done today. So yeah, we’ll see how it goes.”
It’s been eight months since Holland was injured, and he could look to make a return to the ring sooner rather than later. WWE seemed to be big on the superstar, and the creative team could surprise the fans and give him a push by allowing him to make his SmackDown debut.
Holland could fill the void left by Aleister Black, and he could come out to build a rivalry with Big E that was started by The Dutchman last week. Holland could prove to be a great addition to the SmackDown roster.
#4 Jake Atlas could bolster the cruiserweight division of WWE SmackDown
Jake Atlas has been doing a phenomenal job as a cruiserweight superstar on WWE NXT. Atlas has had several great matches on the Black & Gold brand and has managed to carve a niche for himself on NXT.
Atlas is the perfect mix of power and agility, just like Murphy. Murphy was recently released by WWE after the superstar was not fully utilized by the SmackDown brand. Unlike RAW, SmackDown has a smaller number of cruiserweights on the brand and could do with some new names.
With that in mind, WWE could look to move Atlas from NXT to the SmackDown brand in the weeks to come. Rey Mysterio was attacked by someone backstage last week, and Atlas could be brought into the storyline as Mysterio’s attacker.
His introduction into the storyline could end up being a pleasant surprise for the WWE Universe. Giving Atlas a big push and having him move to the SmackDown brand could prove to be a good move for the company.
SmackDown needs some cruiserweights in the mid-card to make things more exciting for the fans. Jake Atlas could provide the spark to deliver some fast-paced matches on the Blue brand.
#3 Roderick Strong's decision to quit NXT could take him to WWE SmackDown
Roderick Strong was seen as one of the biggest stars on WWE NXT. As part of the Undisputed ERA, Strong was able to make a big impact on the NXT roster. However, things went downhill for the WWE Superstar once the Undisputed ERA imploded.
Strong was stuck in a rivalry between Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly, and he could not handle the stress and frustration. After a loss to Cameron Grimes in late March, Strong decided to quit NXT on-screen in mid-April.
During the segment, William Regal praised Strong’s work in the ring and told him that he would be welcomed back to the brand at any time.
"I can't say that there weren't times that were trying when dealing with you and UE, but you are the ultimate professional and you're welcome back here any time. Thank you," Regal said.
The Messiah of the Backbreaker seems to be done with the Black & Gold brand, however, he still has a lot left in the tank for the rest of WWE. Strong could end up moving to the main roster and showing up on SmackDown to surprise the WWE Universe following his exit from NXT.
He is among the top wrestlers in the company today and could do well to replace Aleister Black or Murphy on the Blue brand. Strong could appear to ignite a rivalry with Big E or Rey Mysterio before moving forward on SmackDown.
#2 Toni Storm could strengthen the WWE SmackDown roster
WWE NXT has a loaded women’s roster at the moment. Although Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and Shayna Baszler have moved out of the brand over the past year, NXT still has some big names competing for the women’s championship.
Toni Storm is among the biggest names in NXT, and she is looking to leave a mark on the brand after already winning the WWE NXT UK Women’s Championship in 2019.
SmackDown needs some women to bolster its women’s division, and WWE could look to bring in some surprising names soon. While Storm is in a rivalry with Zoey Stark, WWE could look to give the talented and experienced superstar a major push.
Storm is still young and is looking to takeover WWE's women’s division. This could be her chance as WWE will be looking for some names to take to the Blue brand sooner rather than later.
The New Zealander has all the caliber needed to make a huge star. She could end up having a few dream rivalries with the women on SmackDown. The current releases could end up giving Strom the push of a lifetime to fast-track her to the main roster.
#1 Io Shirai could end up on WWE SmackDown
Former NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai has built up quite a fan following for herself in WWE. Shirai is regarded as one of the best wrestlers around the globe, and fans can't wait to see her take on some of the big names on the main roster.
The Genius of the Sky had an incredible reign as the NXT Women’s Champion before dropping the title to Raquel Gonzalez. Instead of moving to the main roster soon after her loss, Shirai decided to take some time off from the ring.
WWE seems to have already planted the seeds for a rivalry between Franky Monet and Shirai in NXT. However, the recent releases have left the SmackDown women’s roster looking thin, and WWE could soon surprise fans by bringing the former NXT Women's Champion to the brand.
The Japanese Superstar is one big name who can make her move to SmackDown soon rather than getting into another rivalry on NXT. Shirai is more than ready for the main roster, and she could go on to lead the SmackDown roster early in her career.
The Genius of the Sky could have some great rivalries against top names such as Bayley, Sasha Banks, Carmella, and Bianca Belair. That could certainly help strengthen the Blue brand’s women’s division.
