5 surprise WWE NXT call ups we could see on SmackDown following recent releases

#3 Roderick Strong's decision to quit NXT could take him to WWE SmackDown

Undisputed Era holding all the gold in NXT

Roderick Strong was seen as one of the biggest stars on WWE NXT. As part of the Undisputed ERA, Strong was able to make a big impact on the NXT roster. However, things went downhill for the WWE Superstar once the Undisputed ERA imploded.

Strong was stuck in a rivalry between Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly, and he could not handle the stress and frustration. After a loss to Cameron Grimes in late March, Strong decided to quit NXT on-screen in mid-April.

During the segment, William Regal praised Strong’s work in the ring and told him that he would be welcomed back to the brand at any time.

"I can't say that there weren't times that were trying when dealing with you and UE, but you are the ultimate professional and you're welcome back here any time. Thank you," Regal said.

We're huge fans of @RealKingRegal giving it a bit of the old @FootballManager to wish Roderick Strong all the best as he leaves #WWENXT"You're welcome back here in NXT anytime." pic.twitter.com/p3eEBwYpmy

— WWE on BT Sport (@btsportwwe) April 15, 2021

The Messiah of the Backbreaker seems to be done with the Black & Gold brand, however, he still has a lot left in the tank for the rest of WWE. Strong could end up moving to the main roster and showing up on SmackDown to surprise the WWE Universe following his exit from NXT.

He is among the top wrestlers in the company today and could do well to replace Aleister Black or Murphy on the Blue brand. Strong could appear to ignite a rivalry with Big E or Rey Mysterio before moving forward on SmackDown.