WWE Rumors: Sami Zayn the most likely to move to NXT?

As their win at Survivor Series made clear, NXT are a third brand in WWE on the level of Raw and SmackDown, so fans can expect a few wrestlers to move to the Black and Gold show during the Superstar Shakeup. And Sami Zayn looks like an early favorite to make the switch.

Sami Zayn has recently been doing some fine work as a manager, serving as Intercontinental Champion Shinsuke Nakamura’s “hype man” on SmackDown. He also appeared on Raw to manage Mojo Rawley – and trade verbal jabs with old frenemy Kevin Owens – with a so-called managerial license allowing him to cross into Raw territory.

But Zayn could be headed for a more permanent swapping of brands in 2020. According to Sportskeeda reporter Tom Colohue in another one of his excellent video news updates, Zayn is the “favorite name” among those mentioned for a move to NXT. He is sure to mention that nothing is “certain”, but he is hearing Zayn’s name most frequently in conversations.

Colohue previously reported on SK that WWE will add “a small number” of Raw and SmackDown superstars at the next Shakeup after WrestleMania 36. He wrote NXT only want to sign wrestlers who will “maintain the NXT spirit the fans have come to expect.”

This desire to maintain NXT’s vibe makes sense, and recent addition Finn Balor certainly fits the bill. Like Balor, Zayn is a former NXT Champion and is still a fan favorite. His character work and in-ring style would still fit perfectly with the Black and Gold brand, so he would be a fantastic addition to NXT after WrestleMania. Although he’s a good manager, he could be doing even more important work on Wednesday nights.

The wrestler he’s managing, Shinsuke Nakamura, was also wildly successful in NXT and won the NXT Championship twice. Colohue also mentioned him for a possible move back to the brand he began his WWE career with.

There are a number of main roster stars, such as Cesaro, whom fans would love to see in NXT. Returns to the brand seem the most likely, though, and Zayn would be a welcome addition to Full Sail if such a move were to take place. However, it’s still early, so keep an eye out for more rumblings as we get closer to April. Thanks to NXT’s heightened prominence, the 2020 Superstar Shakeup should be the most exciting one yet.