On the March 24 edition of WWE NXT, Johnny Gargano made his return to the brand as an entrant in the Gauntlet Eliminator match to determine the number one contender for the NXT North American Championship.
Now with Gargano trying to rediscover his passion for the business back home, there could be other WWE main roster stars who try to do the same thing in NXT.
Whether it be long tenured main roster talent or newer stars who have lost their way, a run on NXT could benefit these names to tap back into what got them started in WWE.
Here are seven more WWE main roster stars to potentially return to NXT.
7. Chelsea Green
Chelsea Green is someone who is no stranger to going back-and-forth between the main roster and WWE NXT.
From her original stint on the brand to recent visits where she formed an alliance with Ethan Page, Green has been a consistent presence on NXT over the years.
Following her recent ankle injury, Green could get her ring rust off by returning to the NXT brand.
Considering all of her accomplishments, Green could return to NXT and immediately find herself in the mix for championship gold in her former home.
6. Apollo Crews
After being sidelined for nearly a year, Apollo Crews recently made his return to WWE and the SmackDown brand.
While he has stepped back in the ring, Crews is not consistently featured on Friday Night SmackDown as of late.
The former Intercontinental Champion has had two separate stints on the NXT brand where he has been able to find a spark for himself.
Wanting to rediscover this spark yet again following his lengthy injury layoff, Apollo could be due for his third run on the NXT brand where he could gain some opportunities that he does not have at his disposal on the main roster.
5. The War Raiders (Erik & Ivar)
The War Raiders first made their mark in WWE when they made their debut in the company for the NXT brand.
Erik and Ivar showcased their size, strength and overwhelming presence to become NXT Tag Team Champions.
Since getting called up to the WWE main roster, The War Raiders are two-time WWE World Tag Team Champions.
With their resume and current place on Monday Night Raw, it might be the right time for The War Raiders to return to WWE NXT where they could add a great deal to their current tag team scene.
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4. The Creed Brothers (Julius & Brutus Creed)
Another pair of WWE stars who have their own legacy on the NXT brand are The Creed Brothers.
Julius and Brutus Creed made their WWE debut in 2021 and instantly became a hit in the tag team picture.
With their collegiate success and cohesiveness as a unit, The Creeds were able to capture the NXT Tag Team Championship and become a force on the brand for a year.
While they got initial success on WWE Raw, The Creed Brothers now find themselves not consistently appearing on the flagship show, so it could be the right decision to have the duo make a return to NXT where they could be thrusted back into the spotlight immediately.
3. Sami Zayn
At WWE Royal Rumble 2026, Drew McIntyre defeated Sami Zayn to retain the Undisputed WWE Championship.
Since this loss, Zayn has showcased a lot of anger and frustration with his inability to become a world champion.
After a series of intense interactions with Cody Rhodes and Trick Williams on Friday Night SmackDown, it might be time for Zayn to rediscover what makes him ‘The Underdog from the Underground’ in his former home.
Zayn returning to WWE NXT could allow him to find his true self and get back to basics that will help him eventually realize his dream of becoming a world champion on the main roster.
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2. Rusev
On the March 9 episode of Monday Night Raw, Oba Femi defeated Rusev in dominant fashion.
‘The Bulgarian Brute’ hasn’t achieved much success since making his WWE return in April 2025.
After a few failures on the main roster, Rusev might look at his past and go back to the place he started his WWE career.
A return to WWE NXT could help Rusev to find what built him to become the fierce athlete he has been for over the past decade and reignite his career in a meaningful way.
1. Shinsuke Nakamura
Another WWE star who might need to rediscover his spark on the NXT brand is Shinsuke Nakamura.
When he first debuted in WWE, Nakamura became one of the biggest stars to ever step foot in a NXT ring.
Over the course of his run on the brand, Nakamura was a two-time NXT Champion and took part in some of the most memorable moments in the brand’s history.
Having more years behind him than ahead of him, Nakamura could be a huge addition to NXT where his veteran experience would benefit a lot of the young stars currently on the brand today.
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