Former NXT Champions To Re-Sign With WWE

The list of men’s and women’s NXT Champions over the years boasts impressive talent and certainly future WWE Hall of Famers.

While many remain in the company, others have parted ways but seemingly could be poised to return to WWE at some point in the future.

Here are seven former NXT Champions who could re-sign with WWE.

7. Dolph Ziggler

An interesting NXT Champion, Dolph Ziggler actually held the title for about a month in 2022.

Recently getting a shout out on SmackDown from John Cena, the former Ziggler now using his real name Nic Nemeth is otherwise occupied at the minute.

The veteran star continues to be signed to TNA Wrestling where he is currently half of the TNA Tag Team Champions with brother Ryan Nemeth.

Since he had quite a long tenure in WWE, there is some reasonable cause to believe someday Dolph Ziggler might be back in action.

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6. Indi Hartwell

While she was both NXT Women’s Champion and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion, Indi Hartwell failed to capture the same success on the main roster.

Although after being released in October 2024 the star didn’t remain dormant long – taking independent scene by storm before being revealed to have a new home.

Revealing that she had signed to TNA Wrestling, Hartwell is still a fan favorite star that WWE fans hope to see return again one day.

With the Evolution 2025 PLE on the horizon, it could make sense to see Hartwell pop back up for an appearance which could eventually lead the way to her re-signing with the company when she’s back on the free agent market.

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5. Samoa Joe

While Samoa Joe remains signed to AEW – he would be an amazing former NXT Champion to see return to WWE.

Since signing with AEW in April 2022, Joe has gone on to infiltrate Hollywood with major roles including starring in the Twisted Metal series on Peacock.

Since Samoa Joe is now in a different stratosphere of mainstream recognition – perhaps pivoting towards WWE would be a wise overall career move, not just in regards to wrestling.

Joe has commented in the past that he may be nearing retirement from in-ring competition so maybe a return to WWE could be in the cards before he hangs up his boots.

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4. PAC

Another current AEW star who had their hands on the NXT Championship in the past is PAC.

While he may be a member of Jon Moxley’s Deathriders now, PAC (under his WWE name of Adrian Neville) held the NXT Championship twice.

With PAC reportedly having signed an original AEW contract in 2019 with speculation he re-signed back in 2022 – it has yet to be confirmed if he is currently in a contract year.

However with his Death Triangle stablemates Penta and Rey Fenix already having departed AEW for WWE – perhaps PAC would make the leap as well.

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3. Adam Cole

Adam Cole is a notable past NXT Champion, having held the title for 396 days in 2019 and 2020.

After departing WWE in August 2021, he would later re-appear in AEW in September at AEW All Out.

While he has had several top stories in AEW, his time in the company has unfortunately been plagued by injuries which has seen his rise a bit stunted.

While Cole remains a fan favorite (and current TNT Champion) in AEW, it seems totally possible that he will return to WWE one day.

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2. Paige (Saraya)

After having become the first ever NXT Women’s Champion back in 2013, Paige would go on to make waves on the main roster in WWE as well.

More recently, Saraya was signed to AEW where she not only resumed in-ring competition (after being medically unable for a period of time), she also captured the AEW Women’s World Championship.

Now that the veteran has departed AEW after her contract came to an end, it would make sense to see her return to WWE.

Either for an appearance in NXT or on the main roster, Paige would certainly be an exciting blast from the past.

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1. Mercedes Mone

Although Mercedes Mone is currently set to headline AEW’s biggest United States event yet at AEW All In Texas 2025 – it doesn’t mean that she won’t return to WWE one day.

With details of her contract with AEW reportedly set to have an opt-out clause in the third year of the deal – putting a potential WWE return to be sooner rather than later.

While Mone has no doubt gone on to achieve new career heights since having departed WWE, it still seems likely that someday the CEO will head back to her old stomping grounds.

Given the massive changes in regime in WWE since her initial departure – it could make sense to see her be willing to at least negotiate regarding a return.

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