Former NXT Stars To Return To WWE

Over the course of 2025, various former WWE NXT talents have returned to the brand whether it be from the main roster or from outside of the company.

From Tyler Breeze to Shayna Baszler, these names have made special appearances and competed in the ring with the current crop of talent on the brand today.

Looking at the current free agency market and outside of WWE, there are a variety of former NXT stars who could appear on the company’s programming in the coming weeks and months.

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

6. Bishop Dyer (Baron Corbin)

After being released from WWE in November 2024, Baron Corbin hit the ground running and wanted to make a name for himself outside of the company.

Not resting on his laurels, Corbin reinvented himself as Bishop Dyer and has made an impact in several different promotions, most notably in MLW.

Dyer currently holds the Major League Wrestling World Tag Team Championship with Donovan Dijak, but there is always a chance he could appear back in WWE due to still remaining a free agent.

Bringing Dyer back to the company could give him a renewed role where he could become an established top star in NXT again.

Click the next page button below for more

5. Donovan Dijak

Speaking of Bishop Dyer, WWE could also bring back his current tag team partner Donovan Dijak.

One half of the current MLW World Tag Team Champions, Dijak has been showing up all over the world in several different independent promotions.

Dijak has proven himself to be one of the most consistent in-ring competitors in the world today and wants to be considered the very best.

Coming back to WWE, Dijak might have shown the company his worth on the indies and MLW enough to return to get a bigger push on the main roster than he ever received in his first run.

Click the next page button below for more

4. The IInspiration (Cassie Lee & Jess McKay)

At WWE NXT & TNA Showdown, The IInspiration competed back in a WWE ring for the first time since 2020.

After Team TNA came up short in their Survivor Series Elimination Match, it remains to be seen when Cassie Lee and Jess McKay will wrestle on WWE TV again at this point.

However, The IInspiration are one of the more experienced and tenured tag teams in all of women’s wrestling today and could be utilized well back in WWE.

Cassie Lee and Jess McKay could come back and immediately find themselves in title contention for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship.

Click the next page button below for more

3. Indi Hartwell

Earlier this year, Indi Hartwell signed with TNA Wrestling and looked to find a fresh start in her career after being released from WWE.

Hartwell is someone who accomplished a lot in a short amount of time in the promotion as a former NXT Women’s Champion and NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion.

Now that she is one of the top stars of the Knockouts division, it would be logical for WWE to feature Hartwell back on NXT television.

Hartwell’s return could see her work as someone who could be the veteran stateswoman of the women’s scene in WWE again.

Click the next page button below for more

2. Dakota Kai

On May 2, many fans were shocked to find out that Dakota Kai had been released from WWE after an over seven-year run.

The former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion has often been regarded as one of the most underrated and underappreciated in-ring competitors on the roster for a long time.

Since her release from the promotion, Kai has been relatively quiet in regards to what her next move will be at this time.

Kai returning would open the door for a potential return with her former Damage CTRL stablemates whether it be The Kabuki Warriors or Bayley on WWE Raw.

Click the next page button below for more

1. Killer Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux

To the surprise of many fans, Karrion Kross and Scarlett announced that their WWE contracts had expired and thus they were free agents.

Despite many fans believing it was a work, Kross and Scarlett started to return to the independent scene under their previous names Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux, becoming a standout act once again.

With all the momentum from his rise in the past few months of his WWE run, Kross feels like someone that the company should do its best to bring back and capitalize on all the buzz he has created.

Kross and Scarlett could return and target one of the top babyfaces in the company, such as Cody Rhodes, Randy Orton or CM Punk, in an attempt to take their spot atop of WWE moving forward.

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