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WWE airs weekly shows from three different brands. While RAW and SmackDown have been the top two shows of the company, NXT has managed to increase its viewership over the past couple of years.
NXT was seen as a developmental brand before, but fans have watched it evolve into a full third brand over the past two years. This has prompted several top Superstars from RAW and SmackDown to move back to the Black & Gold brand.
Superstars such as Tyler Breeze, Fandango, Finn Balor, Killian Dain, and Ember Moon, are some of the top names who moved back to NXT a while after being called up to RAW or SmackDown.
Recently, a few top Superstars from RAW and SmackDown have expressed their desire to move to NXT and pick up some rivalries on the Black & Gold brand. Let’s take a look at the top names who are looking to head over to NXT in recent months.
#5 Former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens wanted to return to NXT
Kevin Owens has become a major player in WWE over the past few years. However, the Superstar initially made his name during his time in WWE NXT, and Owens has continued to show his love for the brand even after moving out of it.
At NXT TakeOver: WarGames in 2019, Owens made a surprise return to the Black & Gold brand for one night only and won the hearts of the NXT Universe. Last year, KO opened up about the prospect of moving to NXT full-time. Owens revealed that he had even discussed it with Vince McMahon and he was looking forward to it.
"For a while there, it looked like I was going to head back to NXT. I had even discussed it with Vince McMahon and stuff like that. I was excited about it, I don't know if it would have been a long or short term thing. I've been vocal about wanting to go back there because I'd love to help make it grow even more and help make it as big as it can get and make it, so we have three brands people know about. I would love for people to be just as aware of NXT as they are about Raw and SmackDown. I would have loved to be a part of that, but some decisions were made that I had to stay put on Raw and SmackDown. That's fine, but I would love the chance to go back."
While Owens did not move to NXT, he made it clear that its something he would like to do. With WWE Superstars such as Johnny Gargano, Adam Cole, and Bronson Reed tearing it up on the NXT brand, having KO compete there could give WWE some major storylines to play with.
#4 Aleister Black has been off WWE TV and he reportedly wanted to head back to NXT
WWE has missed a few big opportunities over the past couple of years, and Aleister Black tops that list. The former NXT Champion moved to the main roster and it seemed like 2020 would be his year to shine. However, he had a few rough patches from a booking standpoint and was taken off television for extended periods.
After not finding any solid storylines on RAW or SmackDown, fans began to question why WWE was mishandling him. Recently, Black’s real-life wife was also released by WWE, and reports suggested that Black had requested the company to move him back to NXT.
“There's a bit more behind the scenes to the Zelina Vega release. Frustration from both sides is an understatement. While it can't be directly tied to today's news, Aleister Black recently requested to move back to NXT and was denied. Dissension amongst the parties involved.”
The Striking Man from Amsterdam’s request was reportedly declined by the company, adding to the frustration of the Superstar. Since Black hasn’t competed since October 2020, NXT could call him back to the roster to build some big rivalries.
NXT could benefit from having Black go up against newer opponents such as Finn Balor, Karrion Kross, and Timothy Thatcher.
#3 WWE SmackDown Superstar Bayley wants to take part in the Dusty Rhodes Classic on NXT
The WWE EVP Triple H has a tough job, and he has had to entertain a few major requests from WWE Superstars. Recently, SmackDown Superstar Bayley made a special request through Twitter.
The former SmackDown Women’s Champion took to the social media platform and requested Triple H to add her to the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic tournament. While WWE NXT has been holding the Men’s Dusty Rhodes Classic since 2015, this year will be the first time fans will get to watch the women participate in their own aforementioned tournament.
Bayley is a former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, and that shows that the SmackDown Superstar knows a thing or two about tag team wrestling. While The Role Model has been doing well on the Blue brand, she was one of the cornerstones of NXT for some time.
She’s held the NXT Women’s Championship in the past and was seen as one of the top Superstars who helped women’s wrestling evolve in WWE.
Fans replied to Bayley’s tweet and asked if she would team up with Bianca Belair, Carmella, or some other WWE Superstars. However, The Role Model did not seem interested in teaming up with her SmackDown roster-mates.
#2 Former WWE Champion AJ Styles wants some dream matches in NXT
WWE has tried to keep the quality of RAW and SmackDown high over the past few years. To ensure that the Superstars are ready for the big stage, WWE usually sends new signees to the NXT brand before calling them up to RAW or SmackDown.
While big names such as Samoa Joe, Kevin Owens, and Finn Balor had to go through NXT to climb the ladder in WWE, AJ Styles took a completely different route. The Phenomenal One was pushed to the main roster as soon as he made his debut during the Royal Rumble and instantly became a big star.
Styles took to his Twitch channel last year and opened up about the possibility of wrestling in NXT. The Phenomenal One said that great matchups were waiting for him on the Black & Gold brand, and it is something that he’d like to do before retiring.
“The great thing about NXT is, you know, I wouldn't mind going down there and wrestling NXT guys because there are so many different matchups that we could get. I want to be able to do them before I retire, too. So who knows what we'll get next.”
Styles could end up being the biggest names in NXT if he decides to make the move. He has already appeared on the brand during the build-up to Survivor Series 2019, but a move to NXT could help the brand reach out to a larger audience.
#1 WWE Champion Drew McIntyre has his eyes on NXT UK
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre is a top star on RAW at the moment. The Superstar had a great 2020 and he defeated Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 36. Following his victory over The Beast Incarnate to win the WWE Championship, McIntyre has defeated some top Superstars such as AJ Styles, Randy Orton, and Keith Lee.
While The Scottish Psychopath is currently tangled in a brand new rivalry with Goldberg, the Superstar has expressed his desire to head over to WWE NXT UK for some big matches.
Speaking on the In The Kliq podcast, McIntyre said that he has spoken to Triple H on a few occasions to head over to NXT UK.
"I’ve said in a few interviews that I bother Triple H every so often to let me get back to NXT UK and do something with him (Walter) because I came up in UK wrestling when there was no UK wrestling scene. I used to travel 12 hours just to learn to wrestle."
McIntyre is a former NXT Champion who can potentially have some great rivalries in NXT UK against Superstars such as WALTER and Tyler Bate. The Scottish Warrior grew up in the UK, and he is someone who would love to get involved in NXT UK sometime.
"To see it go from where we took to it to WWE getting involved and creating NXT UK, I couldn’t have imagined that when I was a kid – like having WWE in the UK. Now we’ve got such a great system for people to learn. Things are on fire and I want to get back, and yes, I do want to fight WALTER."
While McIntyre has his hands full on RAW, fans can only hope to watch him head over to NXT UK once he is done conquering all of the top faces on the Red brand.
