The January 6 episode of WWE NXT will be a big one being the New Year’s Evil 2026 special and kicking off a new year for the brand.
While the show has already announced some important title bouts on the card, there could also be some notable former NXT talents who make a comeback during the broadcast on The CW.
From injured stars making their return, to previously released stars who are back to make a statement, WWE has the chance to have the entire wrestling world talking with a few returns on the first NXT of 2026.
Here are nine former NXT stars to potentially return at WWE New Year’s Evil 2026.
9. Apollo Crews
During a recent Lucha Libre AAA event in November 2025, Apollo Crews competed in his first match since suffering a serious injury that kept him sidelined for 10 months.
The former Intercontinental Champion had been someone who was viewed as one of the more underrated performers on the roster.
Potentially finding a spot for himself in AAA, this should lead to his proper return on WWE TV in some form.While he has most recently competed in a dark match on the January 2 episode of SmackDown, Crews would likely be better off heading back to WWE NXT.
Crews could show up on the New Year’s Evil 2026 special to start a third stint on the brand since signing with the company in 2015.
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8. Shayna Baszler
In May 2025, Shayna Baszler was part of a string of talent cuts that saw over 16 wrestlers released from WWE.
After an eight-year run with the company, Baszler is someone who had earned a reputation as one of the most feared and intimidating female stars on the roster.
Since her WWE exit, “The Queen of Spades” has only made sporadic appearances for independent promotions and has not signed elsewhere.
Shayna Baszler making her return to WWE could see her return to NXT where she first made a name for herself and have her grand comeback on the New Year’s Evil 2026 special.
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7. Wes Lee (Dezmond Xavier)
Another WWE star who received their release from the company in 2025 was Wes Lee.
Viewed as one of the best in-ring competitors on the entire NXT roster, Lee had earned this reputation thanks to his catalog of quality bouts against the likes of Nathan Frazer, Donovan Dijak and Oba Femi.
The former NXT North American Champion has most recently made his return to TNA Wrestling as Dezmond Xavier, but there has been no confirmation about him signing a long term deal.
Wes Lee could be someone that would excite fans greatly seeing him back on WWE NXT if he decides to make a comeback at the New Year’s Evil show.
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6. Cora Jade (Elayna Black)
One of the more surprising WWE releases of 2025 had to be former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Cora Jade.
Jade was considered one of the future stars of the WWE women’s division over the last few years, but a string of injuries led to her falling down the pecking order.
After being released, Jade looked to hit the ground running back on the indies as Elayna Black once more. However, she decided to take some time off for mental health reasons.
Posting on social media for the first time in months at the start of 2026, fans could see Cora Jade make a shocking return to NXT by appearing at New Year’s Evil 2026 in an impactful way.
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5. Donovan Dijak
Back in 2024, Donovan Dijak shocked many fans when he announced his departure from WWE after his contract expired.
Not one to rest on his laurels, Dijak did not waste any time in making his return to the independent scene and has since been making his mark for Major League Wrestling.
While he is one half of the MLW World Tag Team Champions, Dijak remains a free agent and could potentially sign for a major promotion at any time.
Considered one of the most talented stars to ever step foot in a WWE NXT ring, Dijak would be considered a huge return if he makes a surprise comeback at the New Year’s Evil 2026 special on January 6.
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4. Baron Corbin (Bishop Dyer)
Speaking of Donovan Dijak, his current tag team partner in Major League Wrestling is another former WWE star Bishop Dyer.
For a 12-year run with WWE, Dyer was known as Baron Corbin and had reached heights that many stars wished they were able to get to in their careers.
Dyer is a former United States Champion, King of the Ring winner and a former Mr. Money In The Bank as well.
While he has found a place for himself in MLW right now, WWE could come in with a lucrative offer to start 2026 and lead to a shocking return for the former Baron Corbin at New Year’s Evil.
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3. Karrion Kross & Scarlett
Following WWE SummerSlam 2025, Karrion Kross and Scarlett announced their departure from the company after contract negotiations fell apart.
Feeling shunned by the promotion after rising to prominence last year, Kross and Scarlett have started to emerge as a top act on the independent scene.
WWE could realize the mistake made and want to bring him in to bolster the NXT roster that has seen several significant losses in recent weeks.
Kross and Scarlett back on WWE NXT could see the former two-time NXT Champion regaining his spot atop of the brand in 2026 starting with New Year’s Evil.
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2. Paige
Since announcing her departure from All Elite Wrestling in March 2025, many fans have been speculating when Saraya will make her return to WWE.
After nearly a year as a free agent, Saraya has made it clear that she is more than open to making a return to her persona of Paige back in the company she made a name for herself worldwide.
The former WWE Divas Champion is someone who can take credit for the Women’s Revolution that started in the company on the NXT brand in a lot of ways.
With how much has changed since her last run in the company, Paige might make her long awaited return on WWE NXT by showing up as a surprise guest on the New Year’s Evil 2026 special on January 6.
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1. Dakota Kai
With the aforementioned slate of talent cuts that took place in May 2025, there might not be anyone who was more shocking on that list than Dakota Kai.
Considered by many fans as one of the most underutilized talents in the WWE women’s division, Kai has always been someone the company relied to make things work regardless of who she stood across the ring from or was in a storyline with.
The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has since been teasing her next move with many fans expecting her to return to STARDOM in Japan after a series of vignettes.
However, things could change very quickly in the world of wrestling, which could see WWE come in to offer a deal to Dakota Kai with her return at NXT New Year’s Evil 2026.
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