Former Champion Returning To NXT At TakeOver

Some extra spice has been added to the NXT TakeOver 31 show on October 4 as a former champion will seemingly be returning to the brand.

A promo video aired on this week’s NXT with a night vision camera following around a mysterious figure in NXT, who, in an edited voice, said:

“I’m not sure what happened. I helped create something out of my own blood. Years and years of dedication, only to be taken over by paper champions. These NXT Championships have been in isolation for far too long. Now, I’ve come back… to take what’s mine.”

Factoring in the fact that it pretty much surely has to be a former champion, and taking out anyone who is being used prominently on the main roster right now, here are the most realistic candidates:

• Bo Dallas – Has been off TV since October 2019 and his tag team with Curtis Axel was broken up when Axel was released earlier this year
• Erik – This is less likely but he is a former Tag Team Champion and his tag partner Ivar is going to be out for at least a year due to neck surgery
• Robert Roode – Has been off TV since the start of the pandemic due to being stuck in Canada but is reportedly returning soon

Of course, it could be one of a whole host of names as there are plenty of former NXT Champions on the main roster. Here’s everyone else who would fit that description:

• Aleister Black – Just turned heel and in a program with Kevin Owens
• Andrade – Has a Raw Tag Team Title match at Clash of Champions and is seemingly splitting from tag partner Angel Garza
• Angel Garza – Has a Raw Tag Team Title match at Clash of Champions and is seemingly in the middle splitting from tag partner Andrade
• Angelo Dawkins – Is current Raw Tag Team Champion with Montez Ford
• Asuka – Is current Raw Women’s Champion
• Bayley – Is current SmackDown Women’s Champion
• Big E – Just started a singles push on SmackDown
• Charlotte Flair – Has been out of action in recent months due to corrective surgery and not expected back quite yet
• Drew McIntyre – Is the current WWE Champion
• Ember Moon – Has been out injured and believes her career may be over
• Ivar – Is out for at least a year due to neck surgery
• Jason Jordan – Hasn’t wrestled since January 2018 due to neck surgery and has been working as a producer, in-ring career likely over, but still listed as active on WWE’s website
• Kalisto – Just returned from injury to reunite with Lucha House Party, but dissension has been teased amongst the trio
• Keith Lee – Just got to Raw and has been embroiled with Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton
• Kevin Owens – Is in the middle of a program with Aleister Black
• Matt Riddle – Was only just moved to SmackDown
• Montez Ford – Is current Raw Tag Team Champion with Angelo Dawkins
• Murphy – Is embroiled in the animosity between Seth Rollins the Mysterio family
• Paige – Hasn’t wrestled since December 2017 due to injury and retired, has been off TV completely for several months after being removed as the Kabuki Warriors’ manager
• Ricochet – Is rumoured to be leaving WWE come the end of his contract
• Sami Zayn – Just returned to SmackDown after being absent for months due to the pandemic and has IC Title ladder match at Clash of Champions
• Samoa Joe – Has been out of action due to a concussion since February and has been on the Raw announce team for a few months
• Sasha Banks – Just started the build to a huge match with Bayley
• Seth Rollins – Is STILL trying to mess with the Mysterio family
• Shayna Baszler – Is current Women’s Tag Team Champion with Nia Jax
• Shinsuke Nakamura – Is current SmackDown Tag Team Champion with Cesaro
• Wesley Blake – Has been absent since Jaxson Ryker’s pro-Trump comments got Forgotten Sons taken off TV several months ago

Well that took ages, so if I missed someone, well, oops.

Anyway who do you think it’ll be? Let us know in the comments.

• TakeOver 31
• Return
• nxt
• wwe

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