Former WWE Stars To Return To NXT

WWE

On the August 3 episode of Monday Night Raw, Big Cass made his return to WWE for the first time in eight years with an attack on Je’Von Evans.

Meanwhile in July, Baron Corbin returned to WWE and has already won the United States Championship on Friday Night SmackDown.

After these recent returns have impacted the main roster, it might be time for some former WWE stars to make their own comebacks and head to the NXT brand next.

Here are seven former WWE stars to potentially return to NXT.

7. Tyler Breeze

When WWE NXT first grew in prominence in the 2010s, Tyler Breeze became one of the top names on the roster.

Known by many fans as the gatekeeper for the brand, Breeze stood out as a reliable in-ring worker who could work with anyone on the WWE roster.

Breeze also found some success alongside Fandango in Breezango during his time on the WWE main roster.

Now that he has been a free agent for several years, Breeze could be a strong contributor as a player-coach on the WWE NXT brand moving forward.

6. Victoria Crawford (Alicia Fox)

TNA Wrestling has seen a number of departures and requested releases as of late.

One of the stars who most recently exited the promotion was Victoria Crawford. The former Alicia Fox is someone who first made her name on WWE TV.

While she recently left TNA, there could be a door left open for Crawford to make her return to her former home promotion.

Crawford returning to WWE could see her play several different roles, whether it be as a backstage correspondent or even as an on-screen manager.

5. Shayna Baszler

In May 2025, many fans were surprised to see Shayna Baszler get released from WWE after eight years with the promotion.

‘The Queen of Spades’ had been one of the most dependable performers in the WWE women’s division as an in-ring competitor and character.

Over the past year, Baszler has appeared a few times on WWE NXT TV in different roles and seems to maintain a strong relationship with the company.

Bringing Shayna Baszler back into the fold would be a smart move that should help the progression of the young talent in the NXT women’s division right now.

4. Carlito

One of the more notable departures from the WWE roster over the past year or more had to be Carlito.

After being featured alongside The Judgment Day for months, Carlito seemingly vanished before the fans’ eyes without an explanation.

Carlito is still a veteran that young stars can learn from in the ring and behind-the-scenes, so it feels like he could be useful to the NXT brand in a significant way moving forward.

3. Mara Sade (Jakara Jackson)

Another 2025 release saw Jakara Jackson end her run in WWE NXT after signing with the company four years prior.

However, it seems like this has been a motivator that has seen Jackson become Mara Sade outside of the WWE banner.

In TNA Wrestling and on the independent scene, Sade has showcased steady improvement and seems to understand what her role in wrestling is now.

Having learned from the experience following her release, Sade could come back into WWE as a brand new performer who can offer much more to the table by returning to the NXT brand.

2. Enzo Amore

Over the past few months, there have been a ton of rumors in regards to Enzo Amore potentially making his return to WWE.

Getting released from WWE in 2018 under controversy, Amore has since made a name for himself in promotions like Major League Wrestling and 4th Rope.

With his silver tongue and established character, Amore is someone who would instantly garner attention if he were to officially sign with WWE sometime soon.

Enzo Amore returning to WWE NXT would give the entire brand a boost with his star power and talking ability.

1. Steve Maclin

One of the most noteworthy exits from TNA Wrestling over the past calendar year has to be Steve Maclin.

The former TNA World Champion has been someone considered a flagbearer and stalwart for the company over the past four years.

However, it seems like Maclin wants to explore his opportunities outside of the promotion and asked for his release.

If Maclin returns to WWE NXT, it would be intriguing to see if he can garner a top spot on the brand in comparison to the lesser role that he played in his first run in the company.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• nxt
• wwe

Share this article with friends