Rhyno’s WWE Main Roster Return is Positive for Samoa Joe’s Future

Rhyno going from WWE NXT to the main roster could work in favor of Samoa Joe if he moves up.

Last night on WWE Raw, Rhyno became the fourth member of Team ECW in the fight against The Wyatt Family. He is teaming with Bubba Ray Dudley, D-Von Dudley, and Tommy Dreamer.

Before the former ECW Champion returned on Raw, he was working in WWE NXT for the majority of the year.

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Back in Feb. of this year on NXT, Rhyno made his return to WWE for the first time in a decade. It was a huge surprise, as he was just working for TNA months earlier. No report of his impending return was circulating either.

His presence was refreshing for NXT. The brand needed a veteran presence, which Rhyno played to perfection. He put over NXT Champion Finn Balor, Baron Corbin, among other young stars. After losing to the Lone Wolf in Oct., the Man Beast wasn’t seen at the next two Full Sail University tapings. The reasoning made sense, as this ECW angle had to of been in the works.

Rhyno is one of a handful of veterans that have been brought into NXT. However, the most notable may be Samoa Joe, who has received the biggest push of them all. No one knows how long he will be in Florida but if Rhyno moving to the main roster is an indication, the Samoan Submission Machine has a chance of working the biggest shows.

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Joe has been in multiple feuds in NXT so far. He opened with a brief program against then-NXT Champion Kevin Owens. Corbin fell also fell to the Coquina Clutch at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn. Most recently, Tyler Breeze was defeated as well.

Now there’s an ongoing feud with Finn Balor for the NXT Champion. The two will headline NXT TakeOver: London next Wednesday in what will be Joe’s biggest match in NXT since arriving in May. It shows that there’s faith in him headlining a show to sell out a 10,000 seat area (already done) and how respected his talent is.

It’s no guarantee that the former ROH star wins next week, though. If that’s the case, what could he do next?

Joe likely wouldn’t have a main roster call-up on the horizon—it just doesn’t seem like his time yet. However, it doesn’t seem impossible like some thought since he was branded an “NXT guy” the second his deal was signed.

Some may look at Joe moving up as “yet another old guy on the main roster” (age 36). However, he would be a refreshing face. No one has seen him on the main roster before, so there’s a great chance to weave him into the show and make him relevant. Joe’s talent is off the charts in the ring and on the mic, where his promos can be captivating.

Making Joe a main roster talent became likely last night with the return of Rhyno on Raw. The NXT TakeOver: London headliner can and will shine if given the chance to entertain thousands of people every week.