WWE Superstar Shake-Up: 8 NXT Superstars who could make it to the main roster

Who from NXT, NXT UK and 205 Live might join Raw or SmackDown next week?
Who from NXT, NXT UK and 205 Live might join Raw or SmackDown next week?

One big excitement surrounding the Superstar Shake Up is not only which superstars will switch shows but also which talents from NXT will finally be joining the main roster.

Over the last year, names like Andrade, the IIconics, Lacey Evans, EC3, Heavy Machinery, Lars Sullivan, Nikki Cross, Aleister Black and Ricochet have all been 'promoted' to the main roster.

Some names were called up to refresh the rosters, while others were called up to help the ratings from dropping any lower.

So while some may hope for the likes of Finn Balor to move to SmackDown and AJ Styles to move to Raw, which NXT superstars will show up?

While there are endless possibilities as to just who might move up from NXT, here are eight acts from NXT that could be showing up on Raw or SmackDown next week.

I would have added Rhea Ripley and Buddy Murphy, but Ripley is going to be out for eight weeks with a foot injury while Murphy has already performed on main-roster PPVs.

He might join Raw or SmackDown, however, since he lost the Cruiserweight Championship to Tony Nese at WrestleMania 35.


#8 The Street Profits

The Profits might be ready to move on from NXT after failing in bids to win the NXT Tag Titles
The Profits might be ready to move on from NXT after failing in bids to win the NXT Tag Titles

The Street Profits are like Heavy Machinery in that they were a competitive tag team in NXT but were never destined to be booked as NXT Tag Team Champions.

Not every superstar or team will win gold while down in NXT but that doesn't mean that success will be the same on Raw or SmackDown.

When superstars get to the main roster, they have to go through the 'Mr. McMahon filter', in that he has to have his personal touch on everyone that comes through the system.

Whether that is dropping part of their name or adding or subtracting an aspect of their gimmick, sometimes those subtle changes help or hurt the wrestlers once they move up.

I'm not saying that will happen with the Street Profits, but they've run their course as an act in NXT and might be called up to bolster the struggling tag team division on Raw or SmackDown, depending on which teams switch brands.

#7 Kairi Sane

The Pirate Princess is almost guaranteed to join the main roster next week.
The Pirate Princess is almost guaranteed to join the main roster next week.

If there is one lady who is truly more than ready for the main roster and who has done it all in NXT, it is Kairi Sane.

She won the first Mae Young Classic, won the NXT Women's Title and has been a part of both of the Women's Royal Rumbles. She also participated in the Women's WrestleMania Battle Royals.

And she's even been touring with SmackDown's live event roster along with another name on this list.

Those are indications that someone is being primed for a call up to Raw or SmackDown, and either show would benefit with her type of character.

She's fun-loving and kid-friendly, and if Bayley is being turned heel, she might be taking over as the marketing face.

Sane is also fantastic in the ring and exciting in almost every match she's had. Since she's already been touring with SmackDown, she might be officially announced as a member next Tuesday.

#6 Bianca Belair

Is Belair's time in NXT over, or will she try to embark on another undefeated streak?
Is Belair's time in NXT over, or will she try to embark on another undefeated streak?

While Sane has won the NXT Women's Title, Belair has had shots at it at the last two TakeOver shows.

She did lose in each and was the one of the four women to be defeated at TakeOver: New York. Was that a sign that she might be moving onward and upward?

While I'm not a big fan personally of the hair whip, her other physical talents are hard to ignore. She's among the strongest and most athletic women in WWE and could rival Beth Phoenix for strength.

If she's going to be a heel still on Raw or SmackDown, that's fine, but you can just imagine when and if she has an in-ring stare down with Nia Jax and/or Tamina.

Becky Lynch will also need new challengers as she's faced more than half of the main roster's women at one point or another.

#5 Mia Yim

Will Mia Yim's experience see her on the main roster sooner rather than later?
Will Mia Yim's experience see her on the main roster sooner rather than later?

With her wealth of experience in Impact and on the independent scene, Mia Yim is one of those superstars who needs little time to hone her character in NXT.

She's had a few matches here and there on NXT TV but has already shown that she is more than ready for Raw or SmackDown.

Yim might be a part of the tag team Paige is 'bringing' to SmackDown next week or she might show up on her own.

Since she was already a pro wrestler when she signed with WWE, Yim is ahead of the curve whereas the models and bodybuilders and other athletes are still learning the sport.

There are a great deal of talented women waiting to show the world what they can do in WWE and Yim is one of them. If WWE is smart, she'll be one of the ladies to crash the show next week.

#4 Candice LeRae

Fans not familiar with LeRae got a taste at the 2019 Women's Royal Rumble match.
Fans not familiar with LeRae got a taste at the 2019 Women's Royal Rumble match.

Like Kairi Sane, LeRae has been touring with the main roster at SmackDown's house shows and live events.

She's was also in the Royal Rumble and the Women's WrestleMania Battle Royal like Sane, showing the readiness for the bigger stages of Raw and SmackDown.

I've said it before and others have as well, but she deserves more matches and spotlight rather than as the support system for new NXT Champion Johnny Gargano.

And if Bayley switches brands or turns heel in the near future, like Sane, LeRae is a natural babyface due to her style and appearance.

She was another indie success story who doesn't need much of any seasoning in NXT, so it would actually be a little shocking for her call-up to be prolonged any more. That is unless they want the couple to come up as a duo, but WWE doesn't often do things like that.

#3 Pete Dunne

The former NXT UK Champion might want another shot to regain his title, but the main roster might be calling as well.
The former NXT UK Champion might want another shot to regain his title, but the main roster might be calling as well.

Dunne still wants a rematch with WALTER in order to restart his record-setting title reign, but the bright lights and bigger matches of Raw and SmackDown are already calling.

He's one of Triple H's favorites as evidenced by the near two-year reign as NXT UK Champion. It just took the right and believable opponent to take the title from around his waist.

If Fox wants SmackDown to be focused more on the athletic side of the sport rather than the crazy storylines, then Dunne is perfect for SmackDown.

He's an extreme Jack Gallagher and has an unspoken charisma due to his aura. He's a fan of Daniel Bryan, hence the dedication to trying to rip off limbs during his matches.

Dunne likely lost the NXT UK Title for this reason and he's been the cornerstone of NXT UK since the show began.

And can you just imagine the matches he can have with Shinsuke Nakamura, Aleister Black, Samoa Joe and Bryan?

#2 The Undisputed Era

Will Adam Cole's promise that the Undisputed Era would be holding all the gold come to fruition on the main roster or in NXT?
Will Adam Cole's promise that the Undisputed Era would be holding all the gold come to fruition on the main roster or in NXT?

A big surprise coming out of WreslteMania weekend was that the Undisputed Era came out of the weekend without any gold.

Adam Cole stated that all members of the Undisputed Era would be holding gold in 2019, but as things currently sit, they are all lacking gold around their waists. Did that portend that it might be main roster gold?

Perhaps the reason why Adam Cole didn't win the NXT Title and that Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish didn't win the Dusty Rhodes Classic was because they were being primed for main-roster spots.

It could have just been me looking to much into things, but one of the biggest impacts that could be made during the Superstar Shake Up would be with having the Undisputed Era showing up and attacking a major babyface or team.

When they do show up, they have to attack someone of consequence, whether it's Finn Balor as the Intercontinental Champion, or one of the main champions in Seth Rollins or Kofi Kingston.

If they show up and attack R-Truth, it would be an immense waste of their talents. They've all been booked as a dangerous group, so to keep that going, they need to wreak havoc on the main roster also.

Just don't have them attack John Cena or Roman Reigns right away because that spells immediate doom.

Triple H might want to still keep them down in NXT because it still needs some more established acts, but with Keith Lee, Matt Riddle, Velveteen Dream ready to take over, it might be time to move them up.

And the likes of Kushida, Trevor Lee and Shane Strickland are also set to join NXT proper, so to make room, the main roster might be the new landing spot for TUE.

#1 Shayna Baszler

Would the current NXT Women's champ be moving on up to Raw or SmackDown next week?
Would the current NXT Women's champ be moving on up to Raw or SmackDown next week?

With Ronda Rousey likely taking a sabbatical from her WWE career after losing her first match at WrestleMania 35, will WWE replace the bad-ass former MMA fighter with another bad-ass former MMA fighter?

Baszler was a natural fit as a pro wrestler and as a heel. She's a bully and can back it up with her submission and striking skills in the ring.

While taking her away from Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke were hurt those two, Baszler is just too good at what she does to be staying down in NXT for much longer.

For that reason, she might not be showing up next week on WWE proper, but she's certainly someone who is more than ready and who could fill the void created by Rousey's departure.

She could also boast that she never lost the title the second time and it could also create an interesting dynamic in NXT if the women had a tournament to crown a new champ.

The same happened prior to Asuka joining the main roster, so if they wanted to keep up Baszler's ruthless aura, they could go this route to have her join Raw or SmackDown.

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