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Ever since Brock Lesnar returned to the WWE after WrestleMania 28 in 2012, post-WrestleMania episodes of RAW and SmackDown have become highly-anticipated. In past years, the likes of Bobby Lashley, Paige, and Nia Jax have either returned to or debuted on the RAW immediately following WrestleMania.
Adam Cole is more than ready for the main roster but post-match footage was shown on NXT. Kyle O'Reilly is set to address his unsanctioned match with Cole from TakeOver: Stand & Deliver next week. If stars are primed for a move to the main roster, they usually don't show up on NXT TV for a few weeks or months.
After her loss to Raquel Gonzalez in a Last Woman Standing match at New Year's Evil, Rhea Ripley disappeared from WWE programming. She showed up in the 2021 Royal Rumble but didn't debut on RAW until March.
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The post-WrestleMania episode of RAW came and went without any NXT debuts. Meanwhile, Charlotte Flair and Ivar of the Viking Raiders both returned from their absences.
WWE SmackDown could be a different story. There are many names - both big and small - that could show up on the post-WrestleMania 37 episode of SmackDown. It could be a huge name returning to action. A hungry young star from NXT could also debut to start the next chapter of their WWE careers. Here are five potential returns or debuts that could take place on this week's SmackDown.
#5 Santana Garrett has been in WWE limbo but might join SmackDown
Santana Garrett has long been a solid in-ring performer and will help the SmackDown women's division. She had a few matches on NXT over the last two years but was mostly used to help put others over.
Some reports in November stated that Garrett had already been called up to the main roster but she has not been seen on WWE TV. Garrett was part of the 2021 Women's Royal Rumble match but disappeared after that.
She even posted a photo of herself backstage on SmackDown last month on Twitter. It teased her debut, but the show came and went without an appearance from Garrett.
That was likely done as a tease because things were already in full swing for WrestleMania 37 at the time of its posting. Reinforcements are needed for the division and new challengers for SmackDown Women's Champion Bianca Belair.
Belair has already faced both Bayley and Sasha Banks, so she'll need several new challengers going forward. Whatever happens, Garrett would be a good, veteran addition to the SmackDown women's roster.
#4 Roderick Strong could go to SmackDown
Could we see the first former member of The Undisputed Era join SmackDown this Friday? After the group's implosion, both Roderick Strong and Bobby Fish were left out in the cold. Strong seemed like he wanted to back up Kyle O'Reilly, but O'Reilly wanted to do things on his own.
On the March 31, episode of NXT, Strong simply left the Capitol Wrestling Center rather than competing in the Gauntlet Eliminator Battle Royal. He lost the night's opening match to Cameron Grimes and then decided to leave the building. In doing so, he missed out on a chance at the NXT North American Championship.
On the episode of NXT following WrestleMania 37 and TakeOver: Stand & Deliver, Strong was seen backstage. Alongside his wife Marina Shafir, he headed towards the office of NXT General Manager Williams Regal. It turned out that he handed in a letter of resignation from NXT.
Strong's NXT journey may have ended. SmackDown has long been considered more of the athletic showcase brand while RAW is more of the entertainment brand.
Strong joining SmackDown will give the Blue brand another high-caliber in-ring performer. He routinely displayed the ability to hang with anyone on the roster. Right off the bat, matches against Daniel Bryan, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, and many others would be intriguing tests for The Messiah of the Backbreaker.
His actions on the most recent NXT could be an ongoing storyline for the Black and Gold brand, but it wouldn't be a shock to see Strong on SmackDown this week. He has not removed any trace of NXT or WWE from his Twitter bio yet, but stars have done that in the past during a storyline.
The best way for The Undisputed Era to be completely finished is for at least one member to move on to RAW or SmackDown. Bobby Fish is still injured but he could return to NXT. O'Reilly is being primed as a top face on the Black and Gold brand. For that reason, Strong going to SmackDown seems like a logical next step.
#3 Io Shirai could debut on SmackDown after losing the NXT Women's title
In the wake of several releases in WWE on Thursday, SmackDown could certainly gain with some additions to its women's roster. Gone are the entertaining Billie Kay and the unlucky Chelsea Green. Green had been slated for a debut a few times but contracted COVID and then got hurt in November. Enter Io Shirai.
Shirai's impressive run as NXT Women's Champion was ended by Raquel Gonzalez at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver. She has little left to prove on NXT unless she wants to get her title back. Shirai could opt to chase the gold, but other feuds for the title were set up on the most recent episode of NXT.
Franky Monet debuted and put Gonzalez on notice. Mercedes Martinez and Zoey Stark also made their cases for a title shot. TakeOver: Stand & Deliver could have been the NXT send-off for The Genius of the Sky.
There hasn't been a huge debut from NXT this week, though the shows following WrestleManias are usually anticipated for that reason. Shirai joining SmackDown would shake things up on Friday nights. It would also add another legitimate name to the roster.
Shirai wouldn't have to challenge for the SmackDown Women's title right away but it would be in the future. Feuds against Bayley, Sasha Banks, Carmella, and Natalya could easily keep her busy until a potential title shot.
Will it happen or could Shirai take some time off from WWE following an impressive run as NXT Women's Champion?
#2 Finn Balor could return to SmackDown
Finn Balor has already had runs on NXT, SmackDown, and RAW. He won the Universal Championship and Intercontinental title on the main roster. His tenure on the main roster might not have been what he or his fans wanted, but a few things outside control contributed to his up-and-down run.
Despite becoming the inaugural Universal Champion, he was hurt in the title match at SummerSlam 2016. He had to relinquish his title the next night and never regained it.
Another factor working against The Prince is his size. While stars under six feet and 200 pounds can have long careers in WWE, they are not traditionally pushed in the main event. There are some exceptions like Daniel Bryan. But for the most part, it is hard to maintain main-event success in WWE if a star is on the smaller side.
Balor's charisma was only average, but as he returned to NXT when it moved to the USA Network, he came into his own. Balor acted with more confidence and was a no-nonsense superstar. It helped him rebrand his persona after getting squashed by The Fiend.
That character shift also led to another successful run on NXT, which included becoming the NXT Champion. An injury to Karrion Kross might have helped him get another opportunity, but it was still a fruitful run with the title.
Balor has already proven to be a work-rate maven who has the backing of the WWE Universe. He's one of Triple H's favourites and is an important part of any roster he joins. SmackDown has a talented mid-card and Balor would seem like a good fit should he move on from NXT.
The Prince wasn't featured on the Black and Gold brand after dropping the NXT title, but he was referenced in Kross' promo. He could show up next week, but when stars disappear, it could be a sign of a potential move to the main roster.
In Balor's case, it would be rejoining SmackDown rather than RAW. Keeping him away from The Fiend would be the best thing for him until he is built back up again on SmackDown.
If WWE wants to revisit a feud between Balor and The Fiend, then they could break out The Demon in the future. For now, Balor could reset his main-roster run with a strong showing as a member of SmackDown.
#1 Becky Lynch could return to SmackDown
The biggest name that could shock the world by showing up on SmackDown would be Becky Lynch. One of the bigger surprises in WWE during the pandemic era in 2020 was Lynch announcing that she was pregnant.
On the night before her huge announcement, she had defended the RAW Women's title at Money in the Bank. Instead of getting a future title shot, Asuka was awarded the title since Lynch had to walk away. Even though some WWE women have mentioned that Asuka was "handed" the title, she actually did win a match to earn it.
Since then, Lynch has been out of action. She gave birth in December but was keeping in shape during the whole process.
The Man is more synonymous with RAW due to having been a member of that brand before her hiatus. She was the longest-reigning RAW Women's Champion in WWE history and one of the biggest stars in all of wrestling. Lynch even trolled the WWE Universe before the 2021 Royal Rumble.
Things have changed since she left, however, as her partner, Seth Rollins, was drafted to SmackDown during the 2020 WWE Draft. WWE tries to keep couples that are dating or married together on the same brand. Montez Ford and Bianca Belair are both on SmackDown, as are Corey Graves and Carmella.
Since Rollins is now a member of SmackDown, it would line up with that thinking if Lynch returned to the Blue brand. If she does return to action on SmackDown, it would instantly improve the division from top to bottom.
She has feuded with Sasha Banks and Bayley (briefly) but Lynch could tussle with Carmella for her first feud back. From then, she could be eased into a Championship program at some point with Belair. If WWE wants to make a huge splash on SmackDown - and if she is ready - few things would be bigger than The Man showing up on Friday.
