5 Reasons why Kevin Owens should return to WWE NXT

This week's episode of SmackDown Live featured the return of the Blue Brand to the iconic Madison Square Garden for the first time in almost 10 years. However, by the end of another epic night, there a bizarre turn of events that took place on the show, as former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens was fired from WWE by Shane McMahon.

Officiating a King of the Ring Tournament semi-final match between Chad Gable and Shane McMahon (who had stepped in for an injured Elias), the latter being the commissioner of the Blue Brand ordered Owens to make sure he came out as the winner of the match and proceeded to the finals of the KOTR. However, that wasn't the case to be as Gable first pinned McMahon and then made him tap out to the Ankle Lock to advance to the finals.

Following the dramatic conclusion to the match, Owens was blindsided by McMahon, who eventually fired the former Universal Champion for failing to work accordingly as there was a massive turn of events to end this week's SmackDown Live.

Shortly afterward, Owens sent out a cryptic tweet with the numbers '14-20-24' which seemingly is an indication towards a potential return to the developmental brand for the former NXT Champion. With that being said, here are five potential reasons why I feel Kevin Owens should be making his return to the Black and Gold Brand.

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#5 Justifies his firing from SmackDown Live

Kevin Owens was fired on SmackDown Live

With Kevin Owens being fired from the Blue Brand by Shane McMahon, we still don't know for sure what WWE has next in store for the former Universal Champion. However, one thing we do know is the firing is definitely not legitimate and remains withing kayfabe boundaries.

Earlier in the year, then-SmackDown Live General Manager, Daniel Bryan also fired Owens along with Sami Zayn which led to The Prizefighter showing up on RAW as a free agent and working for the Red Brand instead. WWE could possibly pull off something similar on this occasion and have Owens show up on NXT, as it would give meaning to his firing from SmackDown Live.

#4 To boost NXT's live viewership

KO would play a vital role in terms of NXT viewership

With NXT set to air live from next week, WWE would be giving their best to make sure that the Black and Gold Brand gets off to a solid start as they prepare for a brand new start on the USA Network. Owens, who made his WWE debut with NXT in 2014, has certainly established himself as one of the biggest fan-favorite stars to ever step foot in the Full Sail University.

Since coming up to the main roster, the former NXT Champion has also grown a reputation of being one of the biggest stars in the company, especially considering his run in 2019 that saw him adapt Stone Cold Steve Austin's iconic Stunner as his finishing maneuver, as well.

If Owens is to make his return to NXT, then WWE could surely expect a major boost in the live viewership on Wednesday nights, given that NXT already has a stacked roster with the likes of Adam Cole, Shayna Baszler, Matt Riddle, and adding Owens to the mix would only turn out to be beneficiary.

#3 Owens is a main event caliber star

Owens has faced and beaten the very best in NXT

As previously mentioned, during his time with NXT, Kevin Owens was a star of the main event caliber and headlined several notable NXT TakeOver shows alongside some of the best talents the roster had to offer, including the likes of Finn Balor, Sami Zayn, and Samoa Joe among notable names.

If Kevin Owens is to return to NXT, then expect him to be pushed as a top-level main event star and with Johnny Gargano likely to depart from the Black and Gold Brand, the former Universal Champion could very well replace Gargano as NXT's main man. Whereas, the latter, on the other hand, could take Owens' place on SmackDown Live (which is moving to FOX next month).

As of now, it can very well be argued that there aren't many main eventers in NXT other than the exception of Adam Cole and Tommaso Ciampa. I mean, if you look at it Velveteen Dream is busy defending the North American Championship, the likes of Matt Riddle and Killian Dain are busy beating the living hell out of each other, leaving us with the likes of Pete Dunne, Keith Lee, Damien Pries, and Dominick Dijakovic, who are all yet to be pushed into the main event scene.

With NXT losing several top main event caliber stars such as the likes of Finn Balor, Aleister Black, Seth Rollins, Andrade, Drew McIntyre, Samoa Joe, and Shinsuke Nakamura to the main roster, having KO return as a main-event star would definitely give the NXT roster a major boost.

#2 Adam Cole's NXT Title challenger

Adam Cole and Kevin Owens have a long history with each other

As of now, the NXT Universe is still not sure what's next for their current champion Adam Cole. The leader of the Undisputed Era is currently on the back off a grueling title defense over Johnny Gargano from NXT TakeOver: Toronto, bringing an end to the duo's historic rivalry on NXT.

And, in Cole's latest title defense, The Panama City Playboy retained his title over Jordan Myles on NXT after the latter had won the NXT Breakout Tournament recently. So that being said, what's next for Adam Cole? Which star could step up to the leader of the Undisputed Era and challenge him for the NXT Title?

As of now, there is certainly a strong possibility in Matt Riddle being a potential challenger for the NXT Championship, given that The King of Bros remains as one of the hottest prospects on the black-and-gold brand. But, with Riddle still in the middle of a feud against Killian Dain, NXT doesn't really have too many options other than former WWE UK Champion, Pete Dunne.

However, starting off 2020 with a feud between Adam Cole and Kevin Owens will certainly lay the groundwork for an amazing year ahead for NXT. The two men have previously faced off against each other on several occasions and another match on WWE premises should definitely be another instant classic.

#1. The newest member of The Undisputed Era

Kevin Owens repping The Undisputed Era colors

Current NXT Champion Adam Cole and former champion Kevin Owens have wrestled each other on several notable occasions during their respective tenures on the Independent Circuit. But, one thing that we've certainly learned over the past few years is the fact that to date Owens and Cole still remain close friends, so much so, that the two even celebrated together when Owens won the Universal Championship in 2016.

Another interesting point that wrestling fans have pointed out is Kevin Owens' back-and-forth teasing of a potential alliance with Adam Cole and his faction The Undisputed Era. Owens recently also took to Twitter and posted a fanart of him with Cole and the boys and in the past, the former Universal Champion was also seen sporting Undisputed Era colors at an NXT TakeOver show, as well.

KO aligning himself with The Undisputed Era would surely break the internet and turn out to be one of the most historic alliances in WWE history, to say the least. And, it is something I'm pretty sure fans would love to see, as well.