The events of WrestleMania 41 should directly change the course of the entire WWE across all three brands.
Following the show, there will be talent moving between Raw, SmackDown and NXT with the WWE Draft 2025 taking place shortly after.
While most of the changes will take place between Raw and SmackDown, there may be other stars who move from the main roster to the NXT brand.
Here are eight WWE Raw and SmackDown stars to potentially move to NXT after WrestleMania 41.
8. Zoey Stark
In February, WWE surprisingly informed Sonya Deville her contract wouldn’t be renewed after over 10 years with the promotion.
Following the departure of Deville, the Pure Fusion Collective stable seems to have ended as a result with Sonya leaving behind both Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark.
WWE should now consider Stark going out on her own and returning to NXT where she could rediscover what made her a top name on the brand.
Zoey making a comeback to NXT could offer some main roster experience to the brand where she could be a formidable opponent for the likes of Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker or Lola Vice.
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7. Shayna Baszler
While Zoey Stark may have not reached her full potential as a singles star on NXT, Shayna Baszler did in fact reach the mountaintop on the brand.
The two-time NXT Women’s Champion set the record for the most cumulative days holding the title in the brand’s history.
Adding a star of her caliber back to the NXT brand, Baszler could totally change the landscape over on the Tuesday night show that now boasts one of the most impressive women’s rosters anywhere in the world.
From battles with top stars like Giulia and Roxanne Perez to working with up-and-comers like Karmen Petrovic and Kelani Jordan, “The Queen of Spades” could be very beneficial long term to NXT upon a return to the brand.
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6. Apollo Crews
Despite having two separate stints in NXT, Apollo Crews finds himself once again lost in the shuffle over on the main roster.
Coming back to Raw and SmackDown in the 2023 WWE Draft, Crews only briefly found a role alongside Baron Corbin in tag team competition before his partner departed the company in November 2024.
The former Intercontinental Champion may be in need of a fresh start once again by making a comeback to the NXT brand.
Crews’ return to NXT could help raise the in-ring quality for the brand’s men’s division by having him compete against the likes of Ricky Saints, Shawn Spears and Ethan Page in high profile matches.
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5. Michin
After several battles against Chelsea Green for the WWE Women’s United States Championship, Michin has found herself without a storyline direction over on SmackDown.
In recent interviews, Michin has revealed that she feels a lack of connection with the audience on the main roster.
When first signing with WWE back in 2018, the former TNA Knockouts World Champion was consistently featured on NXT, so a return to the brand may be necessary for her to reignite her career.
With her matches against Jaida Parker in 2024, Michin proved that she can be a beneficial contributor that helps younger talent elevate their games and could help the brand long term with a return after WrestleMania 41.
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4. Austin Theory
At NXT Vengeance Day 2025, Oba Femi defeated Austin Theory and Grayson Waller to retain the NXT Championship.
Making a return to the brand earlier this year, Theory proved that the NXT audience was interested in seeing the former United States Champion.
The A-Town Down Under member could potentially split from Waller and go out on his own over on NXT in a longer role on the brand.
Theory could potentially become a main event player in the NXT Championship scene and find himself doing battle with the likes of Trick Williams or Je’Von Evans upon moving to the brand after WrestleMania 41.
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3. Santos Escobar
At one time, Legado Del Fantasma was among one of the most prominently featured factions on the NXT brand.
Upon making the move to the WWE main roster, the group were highlighted in a rivalry with the LWO, but since then, they have not always consistently appeared on the SmackDown brand.
While Los Garza have found their place in the SmackDown tag team division, Santos Escobar could get a top spot over on the NXT brand.
Despite getting opportunities during his first stint in NXT, Escobar never captured singles gold and this could become a more obtainable goal with the current state of the brand.
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2. Nia Jax
At WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, Tiffany Stratton and Trish Stratus defeated Nia Jax and Candice LeRae in a tag team match.
Since then, the former WWE Women’s Champion has been absent from the company’s programming. With mere weeks to go until WrestleMania 41, it feels like Jax is directionless ahead of “The Showcase of the Immortals.”
After spending two years on the brand from 2014 to 2016, Jax was never able to capture the NXT Women’s Championship.
Coming off her most successful year of her career, right now feels like the perfect time for Jax to make a return to NXT where she could become a monster heel for babyfaces like Jordynne Grace and Stephanie Vaquer to overcome in the months to come.
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1. Andrade
Returning to the WWE at the start of 2024, there were high hopes for a second stint in the promotion for Andrade.
After a three-year run with All Elite Wrestling, Andrade came back to WWE and looked to have renewed focus last year.
However, things haven’t worked out as well as he would have hoped to start 2025 with Andrade not being prominently featured over on the SmackDown brand.
Going back to the start of his first WWE run with a comeback to NXT, Andrade could become the best wrestler on the entire brand and offer fresh matchups for a litany of talent like Oba Femi, Tony D’Angelo and more.
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