5 Main-roster stars who should return to NXT

Over the last two years, the likes of Finn Balor and Breezango have returned to NXT. Balor had a feud with The Fiend that sent him back to the drawing board in WWE. Breezango had an entertaining run on SmackDown with their "Fashion Files," but received few shots at the SmackDown Tag Team titles.

Kevin Owens took part in the previous WarGames in NXT while Bayley and Sasha Banks defended the WWE Women's Tag titles on the black-and-gold brand. With such a loaded roster, there isn't a spot for everyone on RAW and SmackDown. Some stars could be used but are left on the sidelines.

RAW has three hours to fill but is utilizing non-wrestlers like Shane McMahon and Reginald. That has left even less time for the likes of Tucker, Angel Garza, Andrade, Humberto Carrillo, Ricochet and Drew Gulak.

NXT itself is extremely stacked with talent throughout its divisions. It can be argued, however, that the black-and-gold brand is the best at maximizing most of its roster in its storylines. NXT is only a two-hour show but is among the most compelling and interesting programs in wrestling.

That's why there are some current members of RAW and SmackDown that could benefit from a move back to NXT. Here are five of them.

#5 Angel Garza is a former NXT Cruiserweight Champion

Garza was initially brought up to RAW early last year when Andrade was feuding with Humberto Carrillo and the Mysterios. It led to an eventual partnership alongside Zelina Vega and Andrade, and a few shots at the RAW Tag Team titles.

Austin Theory was also briefly brought into the fold for a tag team match at WrestleMania 36. The duo of Garza and Theory fell to the Street Profits. After that, the partnership fizzled out as each member went in different directions.

Vega was let go, Andrade has been off of TV and wasn't even selected in the 2020 WWE Draft. Theory returned to NXT while Garza remained on RAW following the Draft in October. Garza has been used sporadically since and lacked direction once his partnership with Vega and Andrade was dissolved.

A move back to NXT would allow him to build himself up as a singles star. He did have a brief run as NXT Cruiserweight Champion but his reign was forgettable. If he returns to NXT, he could pursue that title or enter into a program with Legado Del Fantasma.

#4 Nikki Cross would add a new wrinkle to NXT's women's division

Cross is a female star from RAW who would benefit greatly from a move back to NXT. She never captured the NXT Women's Championship, but was always hovering around the title. Since her partnership with Alexa Bliss dissolved, Cross hasn't been used much following the 2020 WWE Draft.

She did have success as a part of a tag team alongside Bliss, winning the WWE Women's Tag Team titles. Following the Draft in October, the main women featured on RAW have been Asuka, Nia Jax, Shayna Baszler, Bliss, Lana, Dana Brooke, and Mandy Rose.

When Charlotte Flair returned in December, she immediately jumped ahead of all the aforementioned women. Naomi also returned during the 2021 Royal Rumble and has been featured regularly over the last few months.

That has left Nikki Cross in limbo. It would have made sense for Cross to partner with Randy Orton if there was a mixed tag match against the Fiend and Bliss. But that angle was never pursued.

Now that NXT has its own set of Women's Tag Team belts, it would be a good move for Cross to go back to NXT. She can battle the likes of Toni Storm, Candice LeRae, and Xia Li. She could also form a tag team with a new recruit like Cora Jade or Gigi Dolin, or with an established member of the women's division.

Ember Moon made a shocking return to NXT and captured the NXT Women's Tag Team belts alongside Shotzi Blackheart. If RAW isn't going to use Cross, they should let her go back to NXT.

If she isn't getting air time on RAW, even NXT UK would be an option once travel bans are lifted. NXT UK Women's Champion Kay Lee Ray always needs new challengers and Cross is a natural fit in NXT UK.

Once Sanity was disbanded, Cross was left to wander aimlessly until she was reintroduced and paired with Bliss.

That seems to have happened again as the last two major appearances she made were in the Royal Rumble and on Legends' Night. If she isn't going to be booked on RAW, then she deserves to go back to NXT. Her husband, Killian Dain, is also there. It makes a lot of sense for her to be a member of the NXT roster again.

#3 Peyton Royce could be reborn in NXT

A lot of the points made around Nikki Cross on RAW apply to Royce and why she could go back to NXT. The IIconics were broken up prior to the 2020 Draft with the thought that it would give Royce a singles push.

During the Draft, Royce was drafted to RAW and Billie Kay was drafted to SmackDown. Instead of the rumored singles push, Royce was put into tag team action alongside Lacey Evans.

The new duo had a few shots at the WWE Women's Tag Team titles but the focus was more on the ongoing drama between Evans and Flair. There were weeks when Evans was still on TV with Royce nowhere to be seen.

With so few teams to vie for the WWE Women's titles, it doesn't make sense to have split up Kay and Royce. Since she isn't getting much time on RAW, a logical move would be for her to go back to NXT.

In NXT, she could be established as a singles star and even potentially get a shot at the NXT Women's Championship. Depending on how long Io Shirai is NXT Women's Champ, she may need new challengers if she holds the belt past WrestleMania 37. And if they want Royce back in a tag team, they could have both her and Kay return to NXT.

If Kay stays on SmackDown, then Royce can be paired with a newer star to help that star learn the ropes in NXT. Both Royce and Kay are too talented in different ways to be sitting on the sidelines.

Some of the teams in the Women's Dusty Classic were thrown together. That offered up the predictable notion that they didn't have much of a chance of winning the Classic. With teams that are more established - or with stars that are more established - the match ups are less predictable.

Royce herself cut a passionate promo on RAW Talk following a recent episode of RAW. It's hard not to get behind a WWE Superstar when they aren't getting pushed and randomly appear to say that. If Royce isn't going to get any time on RAW, she should be allowed to go back to NXT.

#2 Ricochet has a history in NXT

Ricochet had a brief run in NXT before joining the main roster in early 2019. Then he appeared randomly on RAW both before and after the 2020 WWE Draft. He had an ongoing angle with the Hurt Business and Cedric Alexander. After that, however, he has not appeared consistently on Monday Nights.

He's too talented and unique a performer to be sitting backstage. If he's not going to get a singles push, it would make plenty of sense to put him in the tag team division.

That is precisely what happened when he was paired with Alexander in an exciting new tandem. The partnership was short-lived as Alexander would betray Ricochet and join the Hurt Business.

In NXT, Ricochet had a brief run as NXT North American Champion. Other than that Championship run, he didn't win any other titles in NXT. He was a featured member of NXT as he took part in one of the WarGames matches during his tenure.

Most of the male stars featured on RAW have been with the WWE for a long time. Sheamus, Jeff Hardy, Drew McIntyre, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, MVP, Randy Orton, the New Day, the Miz, and John Morrison have all had long runs with WWE. AJ Styles is one of the biggest stars in wrestling and always has a program.

Braun Strowman has also been featured lately as he was injured following the Survivor Series. Other than that, the only other newer star that is featured on RAW is another former NXT North American Champ, Damian Priest.

Mustafa Ali has had his storyline with RETRIBUTION go on for the last few months but has had limited success. Elias ping-ponged between RAW and SmackDown and is usually at the losing end of his feuds.

There were reports that this year's Royal Rumble featured the oldest average age of the competitors. If that's so, some of the younger and newer stars should get pushed. If not, then they should be allowed to return to NXT.

Ricochet is one of those cases and he would immediately improve the already strong NXT product. He could challenge for the NA title again or go after the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. Ricochet is a special talent and if a trip back to NXT is the best way to utilize his talents, he should return.

#1 Aleister Black is a former NXT Champion

Aleister Black, a former NXT Champion, had a good run atop the black-and-gold brand. His last feuds were against Seth Rollins and then Kevin Owens on RAW. Against Owens, he experimented with a heel turn that was quickly forgotten.

Things took a turn when his wife Zelina Vega was released from WWE. Even following her release, the former NXT Champion has remained off of WWE TV.

The exact reason for why he hasn't been used has been debated ever since Vega was released. One report suggested that he may have asked to go back to NXT but his request was denied. It's a shame he isn't being used because he is a unique Superstar.

Black has a history with the black-and-gold brand, and could at least enjoy a run similar to Finn Balor. That doesn't mean he should win the NXT Championship outright if he were to return, but he could be a main-event star.

If Black did go back to NXT, there are several feuds he could have. Dexter Lumis has a quiet charisma and Black was a man of few words when he was a part of NXT. Karrion Kross would be another unique challenge for the Dutch Destroyer.

LA Knight is a man of many words and would be the antithesis of Black if he remained a face/antihero. A return to NXT would also allow Black to test out a heel character if that's the direction he went in.

Some reports mentioned that the former NXT Champion was a favorite of Paul Heyman when he ran RAW. Once Heyman was removed from his brief run in charge of Monday nights, those he wanted to push fell to the wayside.

A move back to NXT could help Black recapture some of the magic he had when he was firing on all cylinders in NXT. Whatever happens, he's too talented and unique to be off of TV. Will he appear on WWE TV again? The man certainly deserves the chance.