'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
While most of a year's NXT call-ups debut on the main roster after WrestleMania, a few come around the time of the other big four shows, and a smattering almost always shows up after SummerSlam. Following last year's "biggest party of the summer," Bobby Roode and Asuka made their long-awaited debuts, though the latter's was delayed by injury.
Who will come up after this year's edition? Where should they go? And, given this year's dismal track record, should we be worried how they'll be used, if they'll even be used at all?
Follow Sportskeeda for the latest WWE news, rumors and all other wrestling news
#1 Aleister Black (to SmackDown)
Obviously, Aleister Black is at the top of the list. He participated in a few main roster house shows on the recent European tour and seems to be heading towards the end of his NXT tenure, based on the latest set of tapings(No Spoilers).
He'll take part in a triple threat match at TakeOver: Brooklyn IV featuring Ciampa and Johnny Gargano. It will likely be his memorable NXT swansong. He'd easily be the second strongest NXT call up ever, falling short only of Asuka.
Where should he take that strength? SmackDown is the obvious choice. While there's reason to be concerned as to how much TV time he'll get, he'll fit much better on the blue brand. At the moment, there are only three top singles babyfaces on Tuesday nights - AJ Styles, Daniel Bryan, and Jeff Hardy. All of the other top singles contenders - Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, Rusev, The Miz, and Andrade "Cien" Almas - are heels. With Jeff Hardy working through an injury and Daniel Bryan's WWE future uncertain, SmackDown's lack of top babyface contenders is even more exposed.
Aleister Black would fit nicely into the babyface group and the show's format would make it less necessary for him to do long promos, which arguably dents some of his mystique.
In contrast, Raw is crowded with babyfaces, and the show's main event is so directionless that it hardly needs another top name.
#2 Shayna Baszler (to Raw)
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn usually marks the start of a new era in the yellow brand. Shayna Baszler has terrorized the women's division for close to a year now, being the de facto women's champion even during Ember Moon's reign. She'll now face the only woman on the current roster that has a victory over her, and the only one that has a clear, decisive, win over her at all - Kairi Sane, who defeated her in last year's Mae Young Classic final.
With this year's tournament about to get underway, there's no better time to crown last year's winner, and the payoff to Shayna's bullying ways is tailor-made for NXT storytelling. Kairi Sane will likely win the title in Brooklyn, paving the way for her rival to go to the main roster.
Where should she go? While SmackDown could certainly use a top heel like her in its women's division given the disastrous and embarrassing (if predictable) failure of the Carmella experiment, Raw beckons even more. The reason is obvious. Ronda Rousey will likely win the Raw Women's Championship at SummerSlam, and a feud with her friend turned rival will give the women's division a shot in the arm it badly needs.
#3 Nikki Cross (to SmackDown)
Nikki Cross appeared at a SmackDown house show recently, and she truly has nothing left to do in NXT. One gets the feeling that Triple H is merely waiting for this year's Mae Young Classic to begin so he'll have the numbers to make up for sending her up.
SAnitY has finally debuted on the blue brand and has done a decent job so far. Having its final member finally come up and wreck chaos in the women's division would be ideal. Her association with SAnitY and her crazy antics could make her into the top level heel that the blue brand needs in its women's division.
#4 Lars Sullivan (to Raw)
After suffering a broken jaw at NXT TakeOver: Chicago II, Lars Sullivan recently returned to action at an NXT house show. He was nowhere to be seen or heard in either of the latest set of tapings.
While a match with the newly-arrived Keith Lee would be enticing, there's arguably no real place in NXT for Lars Sullivan now. He doesn't fit neatly into any division. With Gargano and Ciampa sure to have a lock on the NXT title picture for the remainder of the year, and the Undisputed Era dominating the midcard, where does he go?
The main roster is a better place for him right now, and Raw could use his presence. The show lacks top heels, with only Drew McIntyre and the perpetually absent Brock Lesnar, who might be gone soon, being the only notable examples. With a Braun Strowman title reign following SummerSlam in the cards, he'll need as many formidable challengers as possible. Lars Sullivan fits the bill.
And with him being the classic Vince type, one needn't worry too much about his booking.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
