Not too long after WrestleMania, WWE had a Superstar Shake-Up, which happened in lieu of the traditional brand draft. The rules were made up and the points didn’t matter, and it wasn’t really clear what the canon, in-universe rules for the thing were. It led to some NXT call-ups, some people switching brands, and weirdness like John Cena being a “free agent” when he returned a few weeks ago (although he’s only appeared on Smackdown Live so far).
There’s long been some assumption that there will be more NXT call-ups following SummerSlam, with the most likely suspect being NXT Women’s Champion Asuka (who might just emerge from SummerSlam weekend still undefeated). As it turns out, we might just get another full-blown Superstar Shake-Up after SummerSlam instead. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, APPARENTLY.
The latest Wrestling Obersver Newsletter, via Mike Johnson of PW Insider, reports confirmation that there is “talk” of doing another Shake-Up in the fall. Part of the tentative plans for this upcoming Shake-Up may actually see wrestlers from the main roster moved down to NXT. The candidates for being moved from WWE to NXT would be some wrestlers “that Vince McMahon simply isn’t going to push even if they are over,” or main roster members who have nothing going on at the moment and could potentially make a big impact in NXT.
Obviously, these are all just rumors for now, but the most likely candidates, in my estimation, to be sent back to NXT include former NXT standouts Aiden English and Tye Dillinger, and perhaps people like the Hype Bros, Darren Young, Curt Hawkins … heck, there are a bunch of candidates who could get a bigger role in NXT than they currently have in WWE. The huge problem with this, of course, is that there are already dozens and dozens of wrestlers in NXT and at the Performance Center that already don’t get enough reps on television. If we’re really starting to send Superstars from WWE to NXT, maybe it’s inevitable that the weekly NXT show one day goes to two hours.
As for who might be called up from NXT in a potential Shake-Up, Asuka seems like a lock, as well as perhaps Bobby Roode if he loses the NXT Championship during SummerSlam weekend, or people like Roderick Strong, Kassius Ohno, Hideo Itami, or others that have accomplished about all they can down at Full Sail. SAnitY, anyone? Hell, bring up No Way Jose to feud with Elias Samson. BRING UP EVERYONE. Just have NXT and WWE swap rosters. Vince will probably be okay with that, right?
